Voting for more than governor

We have social Institutions in our course. Government is one of the most powerful institutions in our lives. We have a major election in a week from now.

You’ve heard the candidates for governor battle it out over the airwaves. Next week we have other issues to consider in the election. The 2010 ballot will ends with proposed constitutional amendments and resolutions that require voter approval. These cover a variety of topics and are generally written in almost incomprehensible legal jargon. This section is important because they are proposals to change the highest state law in the land, our state constitution.

Even if you are not a Georgia resident, and subsequently don’t vote in this state, these laws may well affect you just the same as others. Regardless if you vote in this state or note please respond to the questions below.

Are you familiar with the proposed amendments and resolutions?

Which one is of the most interest to you?

Cash for Gold

In 1968, Tommie Smith won Olympic gold with a victory in the Track and Field 200-meters. Today, the former athlete and retire college teacher is auctioning off his Olympic medal. Speculation has the minimum bid starting at $250,000. Smith claims he is not in financial trouble, but rather he wants the money to fund a community service project. It’s his medal and he can do with it as he wishes.

Here’s the question, why would anyone buy an Olympic medal he/she did not earn?

Embarrassment as Enforcement

Daniel Mireles, a Harris, TX man, has been convicted of stealing money when he worked for the county. Along with paying back over $200,000, jail time and community service Mireless and his wife, and accomplice Eloise, must stand on a street corner in front of their home holding signs that read , "I am a thief. I stole $250,000 from a Harris County crime victim’s fund.” Each must sign their first and last name to the sign as well.

Do you believe this sort of legal sentence will work as a deterrent for other criminals, or is this cruel and unusual punishment?

To read the full story follow the link below:

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7544819

Books, Readers and Electronic Book Readers

A generation or more has no frame of reference for the works of Dante, Shakespeare or even Twain much less Socrates, Plato or Aristotle. In fact, some argue that books will soon become relics only found in museums.
Amid this literary doom and gloom electronic book readers like Nook, Kindle and several cell phone applications for electronic book readers are selling wildly.

The surge of electronic media of providing books, classics and contemporary novels, certainly will have a positive impact on future generations of readers. What do you think will be the implications for libraries, media centers and bookstores?