The change we need
Category: National
January 1, 2009 | BY Kasey Ruedas Yanna
Barack Obama is scheduled to take office, the Oval Office that is, on Jan. 20. His election platform called for change and that is exactly what people are expecting when he enters the White House. Some people may have ideas about exactly what they want Obama to change, but I think most Americans just want change in general.
As for me, I have a few things I want Obama to do when he becomes my president and here they are:
- Boost the economy – I don’t expect Obama and his cabinet to fix all of the problems the global economy is facing, but I do expect him to fulfill the tax cuts he promised for the middle class. Hopefully putting money back into our hands will give the economy some relief.
- End the war in Iraq – There is a lot of controversy about why our soldiers are still in Iraq and even why we went there in the first place. I don’t think we need to have thousands of soldiers in Iraq trying to protect people who don’t necessarily want protection. I think terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan need more of our attention.
- Border security – The immigrant population reached 37.9 million in 2007 and nearly one third of them are illegal immigrants. I work at a place where almost half of the students enrolled are illegal immigrants and I fear that their parents don’t pay taxes. I want more U.S. border security and am in favor of Obama’s plan that will require “undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens.”
- College student tax credit - When I read about Obama’s plan to give college students a tax credit, I got pretty excited. Obama promised to provide a $4,000 tax credit for college students who conduct 100 hours of community service. I volunteer for community service every now and then, but not as much as I would like. This tax credit would be a great incentive to volunteer more!
These are the issues I want Obama to deal with immediately, but there are several other issues that also need attention, such as making more energy green, Social Security reform, and improving veterans’ benefits. So, after reading my to-do list, what are the main issues you want Obama to take on?
About the Author
Kasey Ruedas Yanna: Kasey recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin. Her writing focuses on shedding light on current political issues from an independent point of view. While she tends to vote with the Democratic ticket, Kasey has conservative views as well. She thinks that what’s most important is that people are knowledgeable about all sides of an issue before forming an educated opinion. Kasey and her husband, Jason, reside in Arlington, Texas.
