The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/57885
Opinion is, unless the Republican Party can unite behind a single candidate. Unfortunately, Republicans are more divided than ever, like a group of children fighting over how to play a game that are fighting for so long they never have time to actually play. One of the republican candidates, Romney or Santorum, will win by a small margin, only to be blown out of the water by the Obama campaign. The bickering within the party will be used against the Republican candidate, and Obama, with rising popularity due to the improving economy, will get the Democratic vote, the Independent vote, Page 2 The outcome of the 2012 Presidential Election... Obama will win the presidency in 2012. That March 9, 2012 and the Latino vote (despite the Obama administration setting records for how many illegal immigrants were deported each year), ending the election without much dispute. There are only a few things the Republican Party can do to avoid this. One, it can hope for some kind of serious threat of another war. This will drive more moderate, God- " There are only a few things the Republican Party can do..." ecently, a controversial topic has come up: birth us have not even agreed to. Eleven Pennsylvania control. It became a hot topic when Rick Santorum, a Republican senator, said he was against contraceptives. Since then a bill has come up that would allow insurance companies to not pay for birth control. Republicans said that it was about religious freedom, but since when is freedom restricting access to women's control of their own bodies? Rick Santorum claims he wants more religious freedom, but what he doesn't say is that we will have to conform to Christian values that many of senators are backing this bill. It seems ridiculous that in these modern times the government is actually trying to control women's bodies. I may not be a girl, but if I was I would not like the government telling me what to do with my lady-parts. I understand why an individual would be against abortion, but trying to limit birth control? That is just extreme, and if birth control is harder to get, wouldn't that just make more women have abortions? People trying to force their values on others is just wrong. Another controversial bill is just plain demeaning. Many officials in Pennsylvania have been trying to pass a bill that forces women that are going to get abortions to have a trans- vaginal ultrasound beforehand. The government shouldn't be able to violate womens' rights or their bodies. They said that this process would not be too bad and women would not be forced to look at the images produced in the ultrasound. Like that makes it any better. That is like saying that you are going to stab someone, but you're not going to make them look at the wound. It doesn't help that you are forcing women to undergo this invasive procedure. Thankfully, neither of these fearing voters to vote Republican, the party that is more effective at waging war. Two, it can reduce the extremism, or at least turn its attention away from social issues. The issue of contraception and whether or not it should be covered by insurance policies has been a popular one among Republican candidates, but it also an issue that a majority of Americans have a clear opinion on. To most Americans, this isn't even an issue that can be debated, it is an issue society has already surpassed. Although any change in the party is very unlikely, it would be nice to see Republicans compromise, even if it's only with each other. Birth control bill violates women 49% of large group health plans do not routinely R cover birth control. ideas have a big chance of actually becoming a law. But the thought that congressmen are even considering these things is scary. We should not allow the government to violate our rights like this. It is just wrong. Josiah Vasey Women age 15-44 pay 68% more for out-of-pocket healthcare costs than their male counterparts, largely due to the cost of reproductive healthcare. 15% of large group plans cover the five most common forms of birth control: oral contraceptives, diaphragms, IUDs, Depo Provera, and Norplant. 97% of large group plans cover prescription drugs, but only 33% of those plans cover oral contraceptives, which are the mot popular method of reversible female birth control in the country. Staff Writer Media holds government accountable while giving a voice to the unheard T hroughout its history, media in all forms has played a vital role in keeping those in power accountable. It has done this by giving the public information, information that frightens those with power because, in a sense, information is power. It is this idea that motivates the world of journalism, a desire to uncover and reveal the truth to all willing to hear it. Often times, examples of how important an independent media is come to light on the world stage, such as the Syrian revolution. There are currently two sources of information coming from Syria: the government and independent journalists who have traveled to Syria solely to cover the revolution. The government tells the rest of the world and its own people that the violence is either very small or blames the violence on the opposition or outside influence. Independent journalists such as Marie Colvin, who recently died in Syria due to the violence there, have reported that hundreds of people have been massacred in their homes as the government militia shells its own people without mercy. Because of her and other journalists' reporting, the U.N. has become involved, along with the Arab League of Nations, in an effort to put pressure on the Syrian government so that it will stop the violence. Through my experience covering organizations and figures of authority in my hometown, I have learned that I am always expected to write a positive story. It is an unspoken expectation, willing http://www.healthinsurancerates.com closing down after more than fifty years in the community. While researching for the story, I discovered that many thought that there was no reason the agency had to close, and it had simply been mismanaged into the ground. After they gave proof and examples to support their claims, I decided to put a portion of it in the article to be published in the local community newspaper at the end of the week. Although many were upset when this information was published, it forced the two agencies to confront the problem, and it was eventually resolved. After this I knew I should always try my best to give a voice to the unheard, to the problems that those in power wanted to deny. My independence allowed vanityfair.com Marie Colvin, journalist who died in Syria covering the revolution. me to ignore anything that could be negative. They expect me to say that everything is fine, never mind the screaming coming from the basement. Recently, two non-profit agencies wanted me to do a piece on how one of them was THE BLUFFER Editorial Staff News Editors Aaron Vasey Austin Chase Viewpoint Editor Marissa Chase Eddie Spidle Connor Ross A&E Editors Features Editors Ashlan Brunello Natalie Almond Sports Editors Egan Meagher Nick Reinhardt Shelby Keeler Laurel Shoop Topic Editors Editor-In-Chief Austin Chase Aaron Vasey Xarayna Sekscenski Bailey Patchen Veronica Smith Alaina Rudnick Carson Dunbar Brittany Villa Laura Defonte Editor-In-Chief The voice of Red Bluff High School since 1901 Editor-In-Chief Advertising Director Shantell Estrada Staff Writers Josiah Vasey Rebecca Blanchard Armando Aguilar Ryan Fisher Claire Samay KC Jacobsen Payton Cumpton Andrea Hveem Illustrator Editorial Policy: Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the district, staff, or student body. We welcome signed letters to the editor. Names may be withheld upon request. We also reserve the right to edit submission based on length and/or clarity. me to cover these stories accurately and truthfully. As the oft-quoted adage says, "It's journalism's job to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." Aaron Vasey Behind the Podium A A teacher's perspective sking me to write a guest editorial for the paper is dicey. My mind is filled with random oddities. I waste hours pondering over the silliest things: do chickens sneeze? Did Adam & Eve have belly buttons? If humans had tails, would women wear dresses? These are the kinds of thoughts that keep me awake at night. As I said, it's a bit risky poking around in my head, but, since Marissa Chase opened Pandora's Box, you'll have to deal with it. I was actually given a subject for this column: the Spartans Go Green Club. I assume they want me to write about the great group of kids we have in our fledgling club. I could explain our goals of creating an environmentally conscious student body, of initiating a recycling program at RBHS, or of our long term goals to limit the amount of non-recyclables that our school uses. I could do that… but I won't. You see, I have recently found my thoughts consumed with one of the labels used for environmentalists: tree huggers. I'm not so much hung up on the fact that there are people who disagree with us. Every group has its detractors. What interests me the most is the origin of this idiomatic expression. By definition, idioms aren't logical. Nobody really kicks the bucket when he/she dies. However, there are times when these sayings seem to have a logical origin. When I think of the saying, he has an axe to grind, I imaging a Viking- let's call him Olaf- who is mad at his neighbor Sven. Olaf decides Sven needs an attitude adjustment. So, in true Viking fashion, Olaf gets his battle axe. Noticing that his axe is dull, Olaf then goes and grinds it before settling the dispute. See how easy it is to create an origin story? Back to the tree-hugger. How did that one get started? Was there really a guy/girl who had a fetish for arboreal life? We all know that the Lorax speaks for the trees, but did he do a bit of caressing as well? As for the origin story, I can see it now…Olaf-of Viking decent, no doubt-after suffering another heartbreak, has sworn off women. Seeking a suitable substitute, he turns to the nearest Birch Tree. After looking it up and down, he moves in for a squeeze! I know, this is a silly explanation, but is it any sillier than those who believe that the earth isn't worth saving? We are all fortunate enough to live in one of the most beautiful and diverse states. California has beaches, mountains, deserts, and our central valley. Many of the people whose work and leisure are reliant upon maintaining the environment look down on "tree huggers"? Why? Hunters. Do you enjoy the time you spend in the woods? You're tree huggers! Fishermen. Would you rather catch a salmon or a boot? More tree huggers! Hikers & campers. Do you prefer a mountain top or a parking lot. Tree hugger! I could go on, but there's a sweet looking oak that I need to embrace. John Sheffield English Teacher Alisa Pelanconi Adviser SPARTAN THUMBS • Too much homework Students are unhappy and have complaints with the amount of homework in their classes. • Mr. Spartan tomorrow Mr. Spartan will be on Saturday, March 10, in the PAC at 7 PM. • Cell phone activity in class Too much cell phone activity is going on in class, and it makes it harder for students to focus. • Dance Show The Dance Show will be on April 4 and 5 in the PAC, and students are looking forward to it. • Black Light Dance Students felt that the Black Light Dance was a success and possibly one of the best. *These thumbs came from Mr. Pennerʼs 6th period class. Staff Editorial