The income tax has been a staple of American life since the beginning of the 20th century. While no one really enjoys paying taxes, most tend to think of it as a civic duty. But here in Massachusetts, Question 1 on the ballot would eliminate the Massachusetts state income tax, which at present is a flat 5.3 percent.
In the Oct. 24 issue, a picture of Freida Lee Mock was attributed to Tien Tien. It was actually taken by Danai Macridi.
On Wednesday, I witnessed a situation I had never seen in my four years here at Tufts. One of my professors had difficulty projecting her slides from a computer. The professor tried to conduct class while the TA worked on and was finally able to fix the technology. Although the slides were working, our professor was frustrated with the way they were being displayed and the speed at which the TA was clicking through them. With exasperated sighs and hands thrown into the air, she expressed her dissatisfaction with the TA. Members of the class looked around at each other to make sure that everyone else had noticed what seemed like odd behavior for a professor. Still, her frustration continued to mount, and her tone turned edgy and cold as she admonished the TA. Eventually the professor turned to personal attacks, including phrases like, "If you can't do it, then just forget about it," and finally, "Just let me do it myself!"
To echo the words of Bobby Kennedy in 1968, "This is no ordinary time, and this is no ordinary election." The list of crises that the new president will have to face on inauguration day is more daunting than at any other time in recent memory. Economic uncertainty is at its peak as the stock market plunges and lawmakers and the American public alike view possible remedies suspiciously. An energy crisis threatens America's families and industries, depleting our oil reserves and our savings even as the global climate crisis makes our need for alternative fuels abundantly clear. Millions of Americans are without health insurance, and many more are struggling to get by with what they have. Children are being left behind in inner cities and underserved communities, and even for the lucky ones, college is often out of reach. Hostile nations like Iran and North Korea continue their pursuit of nuclear weapons, and radical terrorists threaten our security at home. Meanwhile, American men and women — teenagers and young adults — are at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, fighting and dying in strange lands far away from home.
Halloween has to be one of my favorite holidays. How often do you get to dress up in some wild costume, wander the streets at dusk and get rewarded with candy for your efforts? Like most people, I plan on partaking in the lively festivities that accompany this season. But this year it won't be just sugar-craving children knocking on doors.
Veteran activist and politician Ralph Nader broke the Guinness World Record for the most speeches given in a day on Saturday, making a total of 21 stops all across Massachusetts and topping the previous mark of 15. Currently running as an Independent candidate for president, Nader pressed the importance of having a strong third party to rival the two mainstream ones. Additionally, he tried to make the presidential campaign experience more personal by speaking directly to small communities instead of at mass rallies or via television or radio. Although formerly respected for his activism, including advocacy for automobile safety, Nader now acts as a mere distraction in the crucial election that we face. Although mildly amusing, this stunt of Nader's is devoid of any larger meaning. As part of his motives, Nader explained that he wanted to win at least 5 percent of the vote nationally so he could participate in future presidential debates. Nader, still under fire for potentially handing the election to President George W. Bush in 2000, now seems utterly unconcerned about doing the same thing this cycle. Third-party candidates can have an important function in elections, but Nader's ranting is a distraction from the repressed economy, America's weakening reputation abroad and a host of other issues that should define the election. One could argue that Nader is doing a positive service to the country by promoting a third party and giving voters more options to choose from. As a democracy it's nice to think that we have more than two parties to consider. Additionally, third parties can often bring attention to issues that the Democrats and Republicans brush over or ignore. Nevertheless, Nader is hardly the ideal candidate for this job. In order for a third party to successfully break onto the scene, it would need an interesting candidate who brings new ideas to the table. Even Ron Paul would have made a better third-party candidate, as his libertarian ideals seem to have attracted a surprising number of new voters. Although Nader did touch on important issues that may have not been emphasized as much by other candidates, it is difficult to believe that this played a major role in his decision to go record hunting. Historically, third parties have never played a major role in American politics, and that's not likely to change anytime soon. If Nader had wanted to do something productive, he should have dropped out of the race and either endorsed one of the candidates or stayed quiet until after Election Day. Unfortunately, Nader didn't get the message after voters' anger in 2000. And while another upset spurred by a third-party candidate seems unlikely, with so much at stake, that's a hard message to ignore.
All across America, Democrats and liberals constantly announce that Barack Obama is the John F. Kennedy of the 21st century. Certain individuals feel that both Kennedy and Obama are the types of politicians that can transcend politics to improve society for the better.
When rumors were circulating about former Secretary of State Colin Powell's intention to endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president about a week before he actually did on the Oct. 19 edition of "Meet the Press," I confided to a friend my belief that such an endorsement would be devastating to the McCain campaign. In light of Powell's decision to officially throw his weight into this election, I cannot pretend that his endorsement does not indeed undermine Sen. John McCain's message and hurt his presidential campaign.
The Daily doesn't typically use this space to trumpet the causes of its sports teams, but we could no longer ignore how the National Field Hockey Coaches Association has shortchanged the Tufts field hockey team of its rightful place atop the national rankings.
As the November election approaches, we are hearing an ever-louder chorus of voices from the left calling on the United States to normalize relations with the oppressive Cuban regime. Advocates of a rapprochement between the United States and the regime claim that our policies have been a failure. They insist that closer economic ties between the two countries would better serve U.S. interests than our current approach toward the regime. Contrary to the assertions of some academics, pundits and talking heads, the embargo has not been a failure. It has been a proven and effective means of keeping the United States safe. Curiously, those who support closer ties with the Cuban regime never discuss the Castro brothers' long record of anti-Americanism. In view of that oversight on their part, a brief discussion of the historical record might serve to shed some light on why we should maintain the current U.S. policies against the regime.
Over the past two months, followers of both John McCain and Barack Obama have closely examined the vice presidential candidacy of Sarah Palin. When McCain named Palin, the little-known governor of Alaska, as his running mate, he sparked a frenzy unlike any that had come before Palin's selection, as millions attempted to determine (as Palin, curiously, now wonders of Obama), who is Sarah Palin?
In a recent conversation with the Daily, University President Lawrence Bacow cautioned against pushing bricks and mortar at the expense of people. As Wall Street continues to disappoint and the economy plunges, the university will be pushing a lot less bricks in coming months and maybe even years. The planned construction of a sports complex and a lab facility are two of the casualties, with work on them being pushed back as Tufts tightens its belt and pulls in the reins on the endowment.
While the presidential election is still weeks away, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) seems to be on the path to the Oval Office. For the second time in the past decade, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will fail to reach the presidency because of one man: George W. Bush. The 43rd president has proven to be a cancer to a McCain candidacy.
Most people know that computers and other electronic devices contain toxic materials that can harm both the environment and human beings if not disposed of properly. This is why people are encouraged not to throw their used electronic devices away but rather to responsibly recycle them through an e-waste recycling system. Many companies offer take-back services, in which they will take care of recycling your old electronics for you (usually for a small fee, or the cost of shipping). These programs have made recycling electronics much simpler for the ordinary American, and many concerned citizens have dropped their computers or cell phones off and walked away feeling good about reducing toxic waste in landfills and protecting the environment.
Harvard Law School recently announced that it will be moving to a modified pass-fail grading system starting next fall. Law School Dean Elena Kagan said that the change was motivated by a desire to "promote pedagogical excellence and innovation and further strengthen the intellectual community in which [Harvard Law students] live." Harvard's new system will closely resemble the ones used at the Yale and Stanford law schools.
Why is it that the more I find out about the blackout, the angrier I get? I was angry when I received a phone message five hours in that told me that there was a blackout and not to use candles. Then I was angrier when I heard that the reason they waited so long was to make sure that they could provide useful information but then inexplicably failed to actually do so.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on "Meet the Press" yesterday morning, calling Obama a "transformational figure" and criticizing the McCain campaign for its negative tone. He also stated that, in his mind, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) is not "ready to be president of the United States," should calamity befall Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) while in office. Once considered a likely candidate to be the nation's first African-American nominee for president, Powell told host Tom Brokaw that his choice had nothing to do with race.
Blackouts rarely make for a good time. They make it impossible to charge phones, computers and iPods (every college student's nightmare), sneakily reset clocks and turn even the simplest tasks into arduous chores. These issues, however, pale in comparison to the inconvenience of last Sunday's blackout, which came complete with closed dining facilities (except for Dewick), pitch-black residence halls and malfunctioning key fobs.
Sex is a part of college life for many Jumbos. Often times, these sexual relationships leave unintended negative emotional consequences, which can affect the ability to maintain a healthy mental, emotional and spiritual balance necessary for having happy marital relationships in the future. While contraception can protect against STDs, sex is far from "safe." Contraceptives cannot protect against the psychological sense of loss and betrayal that accompanies hookups and breakups. Abstinence is a realistic and basic principle preceding sexual happiness that anyone could follow even with the expectations that come with college.
Teaching since 1997, Denise delayed completing college when she had her first child. For the next 10 years, Denise continued to accrue "continuing education units" and "professional development points" that did not count toward a bachelor's degree. About three years ago, Denise again attempted to return to college and finish her bachelor's degree, but was told that she would have to complete several remedial courses in order to fulfill the requirements. Since she only makes about $23,000 annually as a preschool teacher, she cannot afford to take all the courses needed.
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