2007
5
Forum
%Obnoxious campaign ads
fail to inform community
u
K elsey S chrader ___________
Entertainment Editor
Excluding people who take
up two spaces to park their
car or maybe dropped phone
calls, this year's election
advertisements might be the
most irritating thing we have
to live with on a day-to-day
basis. For some reason, these
campaigners seem to think
that unclear and misleading
ads actually help their
cause, but really, it confuses
voters or makes people not
want to vote at all. Instead
of clarifying campaign
issues, they are doing the
opposite with these dumb,
unnecessary, and annoying
election ads.
Measure 49 is currently
reigning as my #1 most
irritating campaign. First,
what the heck do they mean
by "Love Oregon?" Honestly,
that sounds like a student's
last-minute attempt at a
catchy motto for a student
government class. Yes, I love
Oregon, and I'm not saying
that we should develop more
(in fact, I think that West Linn
needs a little construction
time-out), but this argument
seems to be based only on
emotion.
And, who hasn't seen those
obnoxious Measure 50 ads
they play at least once every
commercial break? Maybe
it's just me, but honestly, who
cares if they tax the pants
off tobacco? It would benefit
health care for children that
are uninsured. Do they even
have an argument? The whole
commercial is about how it
is using an amendment to
change the constitution. That
is done all the time; that's
not a valid argument. (With
that aside, all the commercial
boils down to is two very
bad actors who apparently
love tobacco and hate
healthy children. Who knew
America's priorities were so
out of line?)
The problem at hand
is that campaigns use the
wrong strategies to get
results. Both sides use biased
opinions and slanted facts
to tell you what they want
you to hear. In the end, the
only impartial information
is the measure description
and the explanation listed
in the Voter's Pamphlet
and information from non
partisan organizations like
the Oregon League of Women
Voters. Let's face it, once the
community actually gets to
the pamphlet itself, they've
been subjected to so many
biased opinions on billboards
and through advertisements
that almost no one votes with
a clear idea of what they're
voting for.
If you are voting this
year, you don't have to be
confused or misled. Before
voting, take a little bit of time
to research both sides of the
measure either online or with
the Voter's Pamphlet. Make
sure you understand both
arguments and which one
appeals to you more. Also,
ask around your community.
You're much more likely to
understand your friends or
colleagues than the dull and
puzzling descriptions in the
pamphlets, not to mention the
deceptive commercials on TV.
"If people would
rather die than go
through the pain
of a terminal ill
ness, then let the
choice be theirs."
---- David Burke,
senior
"It's the person's
right. If they're
going to suffer,
why can't they end
in peace?”
— -Kaylyn
Schaber,
sophomore
Technology is damaging lifestyle
a
A dam H olmes ______________
we can accomplish amazing
Staff Reporter feats as the character that
4j£
nerica is a society
is running around on the
where much is taken for
screen. All of this, without
granted: food, money, shelter, leaving the comfort of our
freedom, and the list goes
home.
on. Another thing we take
The youth of America are
for granted is technology.
spending more time using
We use it every day, but we
technology than any other
think nothing of it. Well,
age group. A recent study by
think about it. An electronic
California State University
alarm clock wakes you up in
showed that preteens, aged
the morning to get ready for
10-12, spent 10.5 hours a day
school. A cell phone provides
using game, Internet and
you constant communication
entertainment technology.
with the world. Our school is
Teens, aged 12-17, spent
dominated by computers and
13 hours a day, and young
televisions in every direction.
adults, aged 18-25, spent
But with so much
11 hours a day. All of these
technology at our disposal,
results averaged over a year.
we tend to lose track of
While preteens did spend the
how much we use it. We
least amount of time with
technology, the amount is still
have become dependent on
excessive.
gadgets. I can't walk more
Many parents consider
than a few steps in this school
technological entertainment
without seeing someone text
messaging on their cell phone a way to keep their kids
entertained while being able
or watching a video on their
to keep an eye on them. It's
laptop. If technology is being
no secret that the world is a
used so much, is that a good
much more dangerous place
thing?
than it was 20 years ago.
Over the past decade,
Children are kidnapped by
Americans have not been
predators and are found dead
as physically active as we
several weeks later. School
were a few decades ago.
shootings plague us. One
Over 58 million Americans
disturbed youth will lose it
are overweight in some
and decide that he needs to
way, with 40 million of
kill classmates. Parents want
those obese. Technology
to keep their kids safe from
is a major contributor to
the dangers of the outside
this. With television, we are
world and technology can be
able to find out all that is
a way to keep them home.
going on in the world and
With more kids staying
vvatch endless amounts of
inside, fewer are going
Ynindless entertainment.
outside. Fewer are socializing
With computers, we are able
with other human beings.
to access vast amounts of
Too much time spent with
information on everything
that exists. With video games, technology can encourage
laziness and unhealthy eating
habits, which can eventually
lead to becoming sick in some
way, physically, mentally or
socially.
That's not to say that all
technology is bad. With the
Internet, we are able to find
the necessary information
for school assignments or
conduct research. Then there
are all the uses for e-mail.
Cell phones are a tool that
allow you to contact friends
with the portability of fitting
inside your pocket. Then
there is all the other electronic
appliances that make our
lives easier, such as washing
machines, dishwashers,
microwaves and refrigerators.
If we want to enjoy the
benefits of both technology
and a healthy lifestyle, we
need to find a balance. When
using your cell phone, there
really is no need to send
200 text messages a day.
Set limits: when watching
TV, playing video games or
surfing the Internet, spend
30 minutes or an hour, and
then go do something else for
a bit. You will find you enjoy
it more. And, make sure that
you go outside every once in
a while. It is refreshing and
healthy for you.
Technology is a tool that
we use. It is both necessary
to survive in modem day
life and provides us with
entertainment as well;
however, we must remember
that too much of almost
anything can be a bad
thing. We should control
technology. Technology
shouldn't control us.
How do you feel
about doctor
assisted suicide ?
mi
"It's better to have
a doctor help you.
That way it won't
be a surprise for
your family and
they will under
stand. It's not just
your life; it's your
families too."
— Amanda
Patz, junior
"It's their business.
I can't say it's the
wrong thing to do
because I've never
suffered through a
terminal illness, so
I wouldn't know
the pain of that."
---- Andrew
Daniels, freshman
All photos
by Malia Chong