Proposition 25

Proposition 25 claims that the California State Legislature will not be paid if they do not pass the Budget Act on time. This proposition also allows the legislature to raise taxes. I would vote no on proposition 25 because higher and unnecessary taxes could be enforced.

If Proposition 25 is passed the two thirds majority vote that is required to pass a bill will be changed to a majority. If the Legislature does not pass the Budget Bill on time, this proposition will not allow them to be paid until it is passed. Some people want this proposition to be passed because they think it will be beneficial.

"Proposition 25 should end budget gridlock by reducing the thresh hold to a simple majority." (Quote). There are some who think that The problem with changing the two thirds majority vote to a majority vote is that more people would be angry. Proposition 25 would also allow the Legislature to raise taxes.

Also, if this proposition is passed the Legislature will have the opportunity to raise California's taxes. "Small businesses are already struggling to stay in business. Higher taxes makes it even tougher to keep our doors open and people employed." - Janine Montoya, Valley Aire Heating and Air." (Quote). Personally, I don't think that this bill should be passed because more money will go to unecessary spending.

I don't think Proposition 25 should be passed because, although it sounds good at face value it would end up being more detrimental than helpful to California citizens. The propositions not only changes the two thirds majority vote, it enables the Legislatures to raise taxes. All in all Proposition 25 is a way to pass the Budget Bill on time and raise taxes at the same time.

Note: This was written for a project!

Funding Education

I plan to go to Victor Valley College for two years to get my Associates degree before transferring to a four year college where I will complete my education. In order to accomplish this, I have been researching different scholarships and gathering the information needed to apply for FAFSA.

Although I have not applied for any scholarships as of yet, I am researching scholarships in creative writing, such as the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, or APW. This program allows people to enter works of poetry, short fiction, nonfiction and novels. The awards for poetry and short fiction is five thousand dollars each. The reward for the nonfiction and novels is two thousand for each. I am still researching this opportunity and am not completely sure that I am eligible to enter. Another scholarship opportunity I am looking at is the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers.

This program offers scholarships in areas such as drawing, architecture and writing. In order to be eligible a contestant must be from seventh to twelfth grade, and be enroled in a public or private school, or be in an after school or home school program. They must also be a citizen of the United States or California, or be enrolled in an American School abroad. A couple of the scholarships offered are for the creativity and citizenship: Art for social change, which is for one thousand dollars, offered to three people, and the New York Life Award, which will be given to six winners with a reward of one thousand dollars.

I am also going to try to apply for financial aid, and continue to search for scholarships offered by different colleges and programs. Once I go to college I am going to use the money from FAFSA and the scholarships I am eligible for to pay for Victor Valley College and a four year college.

Treaty of Versialles and its Consequences

During this last quarter I have learned many important things. However, the most important topic that I have studied this quarter was on the the ending of World War One with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. This was probably the most important because of the consequences of the treaty.

The Treaty of Versailles was the treaty that ended World War One. It was signed by the "Big Four: Woodrow Wilson of the United States, David Loyd George of Britain, Georges Clemenceau of France, and Vittorio Orlando of Italy" (Davidson Dr. James West, Stoff 706). The treaty put Germany under very harsh terms, and was essentially punishing Germany for the war (Davidson Dr. James West, Stoff 706).

"Germany, which had not even been allowed to send delegates to the peace talks, was shocked by the terms of the treaty" (Davidosn Dr. James West, Stoff 706). The treaty made Germany pay for the losses of the war. Germany was also required to have a limited military to ensure that it wouldn't go to war with any other nations (Davidson Dr. James West, Stoff 706). This would also prevent them from expanding and becoming a major power.

The Treaty of Versailles was one of the major factors that caused World War Two. Hitler used the feelings of resentment that the German people had toward the Treaty of Versailles to begin the Nazi party (Davidson Dr. James West, Stoff 775). World War Two soon broke out after this.

The Treaty of Versailles was the most important thing that I learned about this quarter because the treaty was one of the factors that caused World War Two. I find this important because we can learn from the mistakes of the past and adress certain matters using different methods that would prevent wars from happening.

Davidaon Dr. James West, Michael B. Stoff. The American Nation. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey; Pearson Prentice Hall, 2003.