Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Exploring possible issues to blog about
Identify three topics that you think look interesting from the list we brainstormed together as a class (or from your initial list.) Write a brief paragraph for each issue: explore what you already know about this issue, entertain some possible arguments you might make about it, and explain why you’re interested in possibly writing about it.
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Renewable energy-Colorado is a beautiful and colorful state, which is exactly how we got our name. However, if you drive from the mountains to Denver you will notice something few mention about this great state, the smog cloud that fills the air over Denver. It looks as if a cloud has settled over the city polluting our air. Given the current energy situation, I would like to look into what the state legislature is doing to make it better.
ReplyDeletePublic Transit-Up until a few years ago, the only public transport that Denver had was a city bus system, this made Denver one of the most heavily polluted states in the U.S. In a city where the altitude is 5,280 feet, we need all the air we can get. So, with the addition of the RTD light rail, I would like to know more about public transportation. Such as who takes it, how often, and thoughts on the system in general?
Education Budget-After reading about the school lunch issue, it is no wonder the education budget seems so interesting. Especially with Hickenlooper’s latest budget, I would like to investigate more into what our state plans to do. This would be a current and relevant topic to discuss.
One topic that interests me is homelessness. I know that this is a big deal in many cities but I don’t know much specifically about the issue in our area. In my argument, I would want to take the angle focusing on shelters and support that the homeless can receive. I would possibly make the argument that more public funding should go into this issue because it is one that overall can help the public good so people should be worried about it. It interests me because it is an issue that has to do with the well being of human beings.
ReplyDeleteAnother issue that interests me is the issue of gas prices. This is an issue not just in Denver but everywhere around the country. The rocketing gas prices have made it more challenging for people to get around and many people cannot afford gas. One possible argument for this would be the argument for more public transportation especially in cities and also more physical exercise, like biking or walking, when possible. These are things that would benefit gas prices but also benefit our environment and our health. This interests me because of how current it is.
A third issue is that of renewable energy. I don’t know but about the topic but I know it is something that the state of Colorado is working on and something that can benefit the public good in many ways. Not only does it helps with energy prices, it also helps with the greater good of our environment. I would definitely argue for the continued research in renewable energy and encourage others to follow along. It is a big issue and an interesting issue and I think it is something that citizens of Colorado should be aware of and should support.
Recently, the Colorado Government has been making some dramatic budget cuts and a lot of the cuts are coming from public education. Although this does not directly affect me because I attend a private institution, I have many friends that attend the various public universities in Colorado and have to pay out of state tuition. At this point, the out of state tuition for CU Boulder is inching towards to tuition for DU. It seems unfair that someone could go to Boulder, be spending the same amount as I am and be stuck in classes with over a hundred students. Part of the reason why I am okay with spending so much money on school is because I know that I will be able to have personal interactions with my professors and reap the benefits of small class sizes. I am interested in writing about it because it’s an issue I am directly involved in and something that could possibly affect me in the long run.
ReplyDeleteDenver is a very environmentally aware city and prides itself on being green. It also happens to be a place where it snows quite a lot during the winter months. The government has chosen to not allow the salting of roads when it has snowed or is icy. I know that this is bad for the environment and I love a snow day just as much as the next student, but it is hard for us to walk to class when it is icy and no one wants to be publicly humiliated when they slip on the way to class. It makes it hard for people to get to work and also makes it dangerous for drivers and pedestrians alike. There has to be a way for them to ice the roads without overdoing it and being an actual threat to the environment. This interests me because I am directly affected by the snow and the snow days.
Homelessness is an issue almost everywhere in America. I noticed it a lot in my home town, but Denver also has a very large homeless population. While wandering down 16th Street Mall, I see a homeless person on almost every corner. Although I do want to help homeless people, I often feel foolish handing them a dollar because the chances that it will change their life is very minimal. We need to look at our options in order to fight this problem. Having homeless people strewn about the streets makes the city very unappealing and we need to figure out a way to help people turn their lives around and get them off the street. No one likes being harassed by someone to give them money and as a victim of such hassling, I would love to see this problem defeated and changed.
Domestic violence can be abuse towards a loved one that you live with. An example is Husband physically abusing wife, or vice versa. One cause of domestic violence is large amounts of stress on the abuser. A possible argument for this issue is obviously that domestic violence should not happen. But how to prevent domestic violence… Relieve the stress. The reason I’m interested in it is because of how unjust domestic violence is. What would give someone the right to beat a loved one?
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, Rape Awareness/Prevention/Rehab centers are places for people who have been raped or those who want to eliminate rape. An argument there is rape is a horrendous thing. Let’s get rid of it. My interest in it has to do with a) how wrong rape is and b) learning what the effects of being raped are.
With education being so low on the totem pole for spending in CO, it’s no wonder people are getting frustrated. Without the budget to spend on schools and learning, how will the future generation be up to date with the world; how will they be competitive the rest of the world, academically? Everything costs money. One argument about education is that the government should pay for it. Another is the parents of the kids should pay for it. When the gov’t pays, there are more taxes. The reverse is observed when parents pay for schooling. My interest in this topic lies in the fact that I am currently in the education system, as are my friends. Being in a private university, this isn’t as much of an issue, but my friends that are in public institutions: what are they to do if the gov’t drops them like a hot potato?
There are a bunch of different topics I would like to blog about.
ReplyDelete1) Environmental Issues- I really enjoy the environment. I love being outside and doing active things. I enjoy fishing, hiking, and camping. I have noticed in the last couple of years the weather has been drastically changing in different places. Also, recently my roommate and I got netflix and there are a bunch of documentary's about climate change which we have watched and I have found very interesting
2) Homelessness- I would defiantly like to blog about homelessness. I do not know too many statistics on homeless people but it would be a topic i would like to research. We could talk about the shelters that are provided for the homeless whether they are good or bad. Also, could go in the direction of women with children that are homeless
3) Education- There could be a big budget cut going on at state schools in Denver. This would effect a ton of people that live in the state. It would be good to blog about this ongoing situation.
Exploring possible issues to blog about:
ReplyDelete1. Renewable energy: If I wrote about this topic I think that I would talk about the different ways to create renewable energy. I would talk about WHY renewable energy needs to be mastered and used, and also HOW it would be able to. For example, if I discussed the wind turbines that Tanner was talking about, I would explore the pros and cons of having that renewable energy based in Colorado.
2. Oil Drilling: If I wrote about oil drilling, I would pick either one or a few specific oil sites to discuss whether or not there should be drilling there, and how the drilling does or would affect the surrounding areas. An example of this is the drilling in ANWR. It is a touch topic, as the huge oil fields that exist in Alaska are under National Nature Preserves. It becomes more of an ethical question.
3. Environmental Issues: If I discussed issues concerning the environment, then I would talk about the issues themselves and who/what they affect. I would also talk about how to fix these issues and what it would take to fix them.
I don’t know what else to say.
One topic that looks interesting is the hate crime issue against homeless people here in Denver. The state of Colorado is thinking about adding homelessness as a category under hate-crime laws. I am not sure whether I agree with this idea or not yet. I will have to further look into the topic. I think I may agree that something could be done depending how bad this issue is in Colorado, but maybe not as drastic as adding homelessness under the hate crime laws. I am just interested in this topic because it seems like an easy thing to take a stand for or against and it is an easy topic for people to be able to also take a stand for or against.
ReplyDeleteThe environmental issues when talking about the snow and roads in Colorado is an interesting topic. I really do not know anything about the policy for roads in Colorado; whether they use sand or salt or which is better, but this topic seems very relevant for Colorado especially during these recent months. I guess an argument I could make would be that if Colorado uses sand rather than salt, then maybe it should be changed so that the roads are clearer after it snows.
Another issue that could be interesting would be immigration. I recently attended a small lecture on immigration so this topic would be relevant for me now. I could talk about immigration and how it is affecting schools or just take a stand for or against immigration. Maybe pick a specific point about immigration. One thing the speaker I hear at the lecture talked about was the way the border patrol treats people so that could be something I could take a stand against. I am interesting in this topic because I went to the lecture and enjoyed listening to the two men speak about their experiences.
Environment issue
ReplyDeleteTo help reduce the globe warming, encourage people drive together or take public traffic if they can.
Globe warming becomes a serious issue these years.
Education
Reform, it is better to continue graduated school after finish undergraduate or it is better to work for couple years first. Some people always said they don’t know their interests or they don’t really like their jobs. If people could work for a short time before they continue their study, they will know themselves better and know the job market better.
Homeless
Is it good to adore children who are homeless from other culture or country?
Like a case happened that, a black couple adore a white little girl. When they walk together in a park, there are people keep asking the little girl “are you OK?” It might make these couple feel uncomfortable.
Gas Prices-
ReplyDeleteGas prices in Colorado have been projected to change in the near future. As oil and gas are both huge enterprises and are very expensive, people rely on both every day. Gas prices are very determinant on oil prices. As oil prices rise, has prices will rise right next to it. High gas prices cause a huge problem for transportation, but at the same time could be very useful to out environment.
Renewable Energy-
Renewable energy almost goes hand in hand with gas prices. As gas prices go up, people should really start to think about new ways to create and use energy. Renewable energy could revolutionize the already revolutionized time period were in.
Education Budget Cuts-
Educational budget cuts seem a little but ridiculous at this point. I feel like there are other things that money can be taken away from. Education in this day and age is so important. In my opinion, kids already arent getting the most out of school, why make it even worse?
The first topic that I am interested in is the weather issue. This topic is relate to the public and the Economics. Also, it can relate to the safety problem. The argument that I might make about is when the temperature is too low or when the weather is too bad, public goods need to closed.
ReplyDeleteThe second topic that interest me is the carpooling. People need to use public transportation instead of driving by them own. Using public transportation is good for our environment. Public transportation, such as subway can let people be more on time. Also, using public transportation is more safer.
The third topic I am interested in is the homeless one. I have been volunteered in a homeless center before. I think some of the homeless is not really need help. They are just lazy to work.
1- Rape awareness centers (prevention, treatment, etc)→ I am currently working with RAAP (Rape Assistance and Awareness Program) through my Research Methods class in psychology. I am working on a study regarding the clients of RAAP. I have information on what kinds of questions were asked of the clients and what kind of treatment is provided by RAAP. In general, I think that these types of centers are very important to have in Denver so that rape/incest victims have a safe place to go to receive treatment or at least guidance. I am interested because after seeing some of the data from RAAP and having read articles about rape crisis centers, there are many possible options as to what rape crisis centers can do to help a person and the way they go about it may need to change.
ReplyDelete2- Immigration related to education→ Immigration is a big issue in the United States and is affecting Colorado rather directly. There are laws regarding employment and education in relation to immigration (DREAM Act). There are also lots of different views on how immigration should be approached as well as how education should be approached. A possible argument is that immigration may lower the availability of education for local children. Kids and education combined are very important to me. The youngest generations are the future of this country and without proper education; we cannot expect them to be able to run a stable country.
3- Local homeland security→ Colorado is a host of lots of different branches of the military as well as federal intelligence. We have branches of the Army, Air Force, and Navy as well as hubs for the FBI and access to the CIA. But I don’t really know what kind of specific effect these agencies on the state of Colorado in terms of homeland security. Possible argument: With how many hubs and centers of military and intelligence we have in Colorado, Denver has become a more likely possibility for a major attack. I have an interest in counterterrorism and security.
Crime:
ReplyDeleteI know that crime is a very serious issue in every state and around the world. I am from Baltimore, which has one of the highest crime and murder rates in the country. It can make cities unsafe and a major issue for the safety of the public. Some arguments would be that parks in the city and the schools are even unsafe for anyone to walk through at any time of day. There are also many drug deals so the shootings are hihg on the streets, so an argument to raise police safety in order for the cities to have an environment everyone can enjoy. I am interested in writing about this topic because crime and murders are an issue that has been around forever and has not gone away, but gotten worse with the new technology available.
Homelessness:
Homelessness is evident around the entire world, and still growing. Especially in third world countries, homelessness is a major issue. Homelessness can effect the standings of the country and the health of innocent people. Homelessness not only can effect those individuals but everyone else living in that same environment. It can effect the quality of the city and the people living in it. Homelessness is prevalent in Baltimore city, whenever I drive down there are many people on the streets begging for some food or money. Learning more about it would be interesting for me.
Rape Awareness:
Rape awareness is very serious and scary, especially for women. Rape can change a womans life in an instant and is a risk to their health and life. Rape can happen because of the date rape drug or pure attack. I am interested in this because it is one of my greatest fears and I want to be able to help women with this issue later in life.
A very current issue that has come to my attention in Denver is homelessness. It is a pretty well known fact that Denver has one of the highest homelessness rates in the country. I’m interested in seeing the steps that the city is taking to overcome this issue. Are they creating programs to prevent and stop homelessness? I also want to explore some ideas that could potentially alter the homelessness situation in the city such as shelters that are currently in use or could be redone to become more beneficial and helpful. I could also talk about the economy in Denver and the question of why there is so much homelessness. What could be done to create more jobs for these people? I’m really interested in writing about this topic because I really don’t know that much about it, but I know that it is a very prevalent issue in Denver.
ReplyDeleteEnvironmental issues are extremely important in the state of Colorado especially. It seems to be a very environmentally conscious state. A topic of interest that could relate to current issues in Denver is the amount of pollution in the air here. A great way to combat that is by increasing public transportation, carpooling, and restrict the use of individual car use. I don’t know much about this topic, but I’m very interested in learning more about it.
I think environmental issues are very interesting things to talk about. I’m from Chicago and the amount of salt that they put on the roads is extremely damaging to the environment, but ultimately benefits the community. Even after a big snowfall school and work are almost never cancelled. The snowplows run so regularly and there is so much salt on the roads that snow often doesn’t get in the way of people’s day-to-day activities. However, since I moved to Colorado, I’ve noticed that there is a significantly less amount of salt put on the snow and ice here. Instead, there is a lot of sand put on the roads. Since the roads don’t get cleared as fast here, there are a lot more snow days for school and work, and it seems that it is much more difficult for people to go about their days. I’d like to talk about the comparison between such places as Chicago and Colorado, and the weight or the importance of environmental issues vs. everyday productivity. I’m interested in talking about these issues because it’s been very remarkable to watch first hand the difference of the two places and their stance on this issue.
Environmental- Preservation of natural resources and the implementation of renewable energy systems are ever prevalent in our society. There is a massive push for “green” methods in offices, schools, homes, and other places. This topic seems full of opportunities for various arguments which makes appealing. I could argue about solar panels, wind farms, natural resource preservation, and the oil industry. There are numerous options and since the issue is a strong debate topic nationwide, as well as worldwide, it definitely would benefit the “public good” to write on this topic.
ReplyDeleteEducation- Education reforms, education system restructuring, and budget cuts are a prominent topic in Colorado right now, in addition to multiple other states. There is not enough money to support the school systems entirety which is shifting education standards for the worse in many cases. Schools should not be taking the hits from this economic turmoil. Educating students should be a priority because one day we’ll be the ones dealing with similar economic issues. Also, the standards are incredibly high and students simply cannot handle the tremendous pressures. I find this topic interesting because it is relatable and I am empathetic to the students facing budget cuts as well as stress.
Homelessness- Denver has a high homeless population and although there are many places for these people to go, there are still many people in the streets. I have worked at the Dolores Project, a women’s shelter, and seeing the opportunities provided to these women is comforting. Denver seems to do a good job of housing these people and giving them food as well as the chance to start a life. I can argue about the current conditions as well as future plans for the homeless in the Denver area. I find this interesting because there are homeless people everywhere and in Denver specifically, addressing the issue helps gather volunteers, funding, and simply put the issue out there.
The environmental issue interests me. I think it affects Colorado a lot with how diverse the weather is. There has been a lot of snow this winter and the way the community deals with it has been somewhat of an issue. According to one article, there were arguments on the snow shoveling law and when residents had to shovel their walk or driveway. Other issues refer to the plowing of streets and the chemicals used. In Colorado they use salt, which does some damage to cars. In other states they use sand. It could be argued which one is better for the community. Also environmental issues could include pollution and public transportation. In Denver, there is the lightrail which eliminates some pollution for citizens. I am interested in possibly writing about this because I have lived in Colorado most of my life and this issue effects both me and my family.
ReplyDeleteI have done a few blogs and read some articles recently about immigration in Colorado. One looked at the education for illegal immigrants. It said that if an immigrant attended high school in Colorado, he or she should receive in state tuition for college. It focused on the argument that kids should not have to face the consequences or punishments of their parents. In another article it talks about the Dream Act. There have been multiple articles about the recent laws changing for immigrants in Colorado and not other states. I could argue why it is changing in Colorado and how it is negatively or positively affecting Colorado’s education system. This is interesting because I have don’t writing on this topic before and attended a presentation.
I do not know a lot about the issue of crime or domestic violence but it interests me. I think there is a lot of information one could write about this topic. The recent article by Susan Thornton, talks about shelters for domestic violence victims. She understands the severity of the issue. It is a huge issue in Douglas Country, Colorado. It could be argued that what should be done with shelters for women and children.