"...liberty, justice and equal opportunity for all..."

So the September Issue of CosmoGirl! magazine is having a reader face-off: Democrat v. Republican. As a Political Stringer, an opportunity has been opened for me to have a byline in the magazine by writing an opinion piece (if it's selected; wish me luck!). I'm an Obama girl, so it's no secret where my politics lie -- here is my article on why a Democrat would be better suited to lead the country than a Republican:

In his Inaugural Address, John F. Kennedy said that “the world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.”
Those powerful words still hold a great deal of truth forty-seven years later. The United States has suffered socially, politically and economically under the Bush Administration. More and more families are living below the poverty line. Our country is sitting back, watching genocide take place in Darfur. And gas prices are through the roof. “Change” has been the most commonly used word in the 2008 Presidential Election because America is starving for something new and different. The solution to this hunger for “change”—a party change within the executive branch.
History has shown that the Democratic Party is more socially recognizant than the Republican Party—dating back to the 1930s when the Democratic Party began advocating for social reform programs, labor unions and regulations on businesses under Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Throughout these reform movements, it has been shown that social improvements lead to economic prosperity, and with our country in its current fragile economic state, social change is necessary to begin the road to recovery.
In 2000 and 2004, the Republican Party ran on the platform of getting back to the moral principles our country was founded upon. The Republican candidates often referred to abortion and gay marriages in their debates on ethics and morals; however, the modern Democratic Party has always advocated for the moral principles stated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution—liberty, justice and equal opportunity for all. Now, more than ever, is the time for young voters across the nation to realize that moral issues expand outside the realm of the extreme and personal matters of abortion and gay marriage, into poverty-stricken communities, a stagnant education system and a flawed heathcare system.
For us as young women, it is imperative to put a progressive Democrat in the White House who will take a stand on matters that directly affect us; so we can afford a proper education, have the right to choose what goes on with our bodies, and have true equality in the workplace. Did you know that women would have to work seven days a week and an extra four months a year to match men's earnings in 2007? Or that with a majority conservative court system, there is a possibility of overturning the court case Roe v. Wade and therefore not allowing women their right to privacy?
In George Washington’s farewell address, he cautioned the United States citizens to stray away from political parties and factions, saying that it would only lead to a divided nation. However, two very distinct political parties have evolved over the years, bringing with them a unique system of beliefs, ideals and controversy. Our country would not be the great nation it is today without the coexistence and political dialogue of the Democratic and Republican Parties. Unfortunately, under the current Republican leadership, our country is suffering and in dire need of new domestic and foreign policy. Now, we must decide if we want the world we leave for our daughters to be better than the one we inhabit today. As active, driven young women, we now hold the power in our hands to create true change through electing a Democrat to not only lead our nation, but to instill us with hope for the future.

PS -- Thank you Ms. Wagner, Ms. Altman, my wonderful mother and ESPECIALLY my conservative, Regan-loving AP US teacher Mr. Brown for helping me out :)

Also, if you comment and I don't reply right away, please don't take it personally. I have AP exams this week and next, so I'll be eating, sleeping and breathing United States History and English Language and Composition for the time being :(.

Other randomness:
~Happy Belated Cinco de Mayo!
~Si se puede -- Obama '08! I am quite proud of be a southern gal from NC at the moment...
~Prom is now in less than a month (as if anyone cares...)!
~I'm also going to visit Wake Forest, ASU, Clemson, Davidson and UNCA over the next month -- any thoughts on those schools? My next blog may be a pro/con list...
~I'm loving this warm weather; hello sunshine :)

Peace<3Love&Happiness,
AH