With another month to go before Election Day, the dollar amounts used in campaign spending for all candidates are already staggering.

In August, a total of $53 million was reported for Barack Obama, compared to $41 million for John McCain. Total, the reports were upward of $368 million for Obama, and more than $192 million for McCain. Combined, the money spent — not including the total amounts raised — was in the ballpark of $589 million. 

That’s right — more than a half-billion dollars has been spent on presidential fundraising.

One has to wonder: Couldn’t that half-billion dollars be spent better elsewhere? Say, pumping it back into the health-care system? Paying off national debt? Pulling our economy out of a recession?

It seems almost un-American that these politicians spend so much money funding … themselves. It is hard to take someone who is fighting for the rights of Social Security recipients seriously when they are pulling in millions of dollars. What could these people possibly know or understand about financial burdens? Although this stereotype does not hold true in all situations, a majority of politicians come from privileged backgrounds.

True, the money isn’t specifically going toward them. Rather, it’s going toward the party, the election and the good of the general public.

Or is it?

Editorial originally published in the Sept. 15 edition of The Journal-Register.

While at this point it is uncertain whether the capitol will be run by a Democrat or Republican following November’s election, one thing is for sure: It will be occupied by a minority.

This year sets a new precedent in the American electoral process. A woman is nominated for the second time as a vice presidential candidate; the first time for the GOP. Meanwhile, a black man has been selected by the Democratic party as their presidential front-runner, the first for any major political party.

What’s an elitist to do?

Regardless of how far the country has come since suffragettes and fights for civil liberties, the fact remains that many Americans are still biased against minorities. Race and gender should never be an issue when selecting a nation’s leader, and many are choosing to turn a blind eye to the obvious. But the fact remains there is a large, glaring elephant — or donkey — in the room.

For many people to declare either candidate unfit based on his skin tone or her gender would be considered ignorant. However, racism is something that still very much a part of this country. Americans like to think we have come far in tolerance of others, but behind every confederate flag still flying in the south stands an extremist who still believes equality is not for all. Even north of the Mason-Dixon line, there are many unbiased prejudices — some of which seep unconsciously into even the most enlightened of minds.

Gender also remains to be a major issue in this campaign. After all, how much backlash did Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton receive after she dared to cry in public? Sarah Palin, the winner of the 1984 Miss Wasilla Pageant and second runner-up for Miss Alaska, has been scrutinized repeatedly for her good looks. The Internet is flooded with references to the “hot” vice presidential candidate, and many voters are regarding her as merely eye candy to carry the GOP campaign. 

The question remains: Are we really ready for this monumental race? After all, the first president to break the WASP mold and move into the White House as a proclaimed Catholic was murdered in a brutal assassination that left the nation stunned. John F. Kennedy’s assassination took place at the height of the 1960s, a supposed time of peace and love.

The FBI is already investigating a would-be assassination attempt on Barack Obama after three supremacists were captured with rifles outside the Denver Demoratic convention. Sadly enough, this is not an isolated incident — a quick Google search yields terrifying results.

Election Day will be only the beginning for the country. The reaction of the public and their actions in the next four to eight years will paint a true picture of how the nation has matured. Only time will tell if America is ready for the next step.

Editorial originally published in the Sept. 15 edition of The Journal-Register.

Working at a newspaper and typing police reports, I’ve come to realize the drunk driving debate extends far beyond the 18-21 age group. In fact, a great number of people cited for drunk driving are well into their 30s, 40s and beyond. Ages that we deem, as a society, deem to be mature and sage. Yet, these are people who are endangering not only their own lives by hopping behind the wheel of a car with slow reaction times, but the lives of countless others.

Having just escaped the 18-21 age bracket a few years ago (today I’m 24) I know exactly what’s going on at college campuses. Being a rugby player, I’ve partied hard with the best of them. When choosing housing off-campus at Fredonia, my beloved alma mater, my housemates and I always had one major requirement: walking distance to the bars (and for me, the car-less wonder, walking/biking distance to campus). 

Debates have been raging recently about lowering the drinking age to 18. The idea is, if a person can enlist in the army and fight and die for their country, they should be able to have a beer. Well, that’s fine in theory – but one beer? That’s questionable. Last April, seven U.S. states announced they were considering legislation that would lower the legal drinking age from 21 to 18 either for all residents or for members of the military. Lawmakers in Missouri, South Dakota, Vermont, Minnesota, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and South Carolina all discussed the idea of lowering the age to 18 – the first four for everyone, the last three states for military personnel. Just this past August, college presidents from more than 100 schools across the country called for an amendment in the drinking age.

All this brings me to the point of this post: drunk driving is not something defined by age. There are irresponsible people in every age bracket. Maturity can be difficult to define, but responsibility isn’t. I’m not the shining beacon of maturity, but I’m responsible enough to drink Coke when I know there is driving to do later. Likewise, drunk drivers come from every mature profession: doctors, lawyers, you name it. In the grand scheme of thing, it is difficult to tell if lowering the drinking age will cut down on binge drinking, and as MADD predicts will increase the number of alcohol-related car accidents.

I believe the only thing that will truly cut down the number of drunk driving cases is harsher punishments for those who are caught in the first place. First time, first offense. I find it obscene drunk drivers are back on the road after a figurative slap on the wrist. Those found drunk driving with suspended licenses should be facing serious jail time and harsh convictions – not fines. Until there are harsher punishments, people will continue driving beyond their limits. 

So next time you want to party hard, go ahead! Take a couple shots … and then call a cab.

The year 2008 began for me like many previous New Years. The semi-bloated feeling after gorging on Chinese food the night before – a Wasmund family tradition – a day spent relaxing in front of the TV followed by an afternoon nap, and leftover Chinese for dinner. But this year, I decided it was time to do something different – to make a New Year’s resolution I would actually keep.

It is now nearly October, and I am proud to say I was a woman of my word. I vowed to take greater advantage of the outdoors, and I made good on my promise to myself. Christmas morning brought a pair of snow shoes, which were happily worn on multiple treks with friends in the snowy Southern Tier. Once spring came, I used my birthday money to purchase one of my most favorite gifts to myself to date – a tent. That launched a whole new obsession, and now as the leaves begin to fall I am proud to report me, a first-time camper, used my tent a whopping six times this summer. While six may not sound like many, I am still impressed.

Along with the camping came other fun outdoor activities – kayaking, hiking, cooking outdoors, and spending long hours relaxing with friends. As winter is approaching, I find myself putting away my tent and sleeping bag for the year, and looking longingly at my snow shoes, and am excited to test out the trails of Niagara and Orleans Counties. 

When younger, I spent hours upon hours outdoors. My parents were strong believers in anti-cable TV – and still are today. Without a plethora of television programs to entertain me, I was forced to use my imagination (a crime, I know!) and developed a close relationship with my back yard. High school and college cut into that partnership, but now that I’m back on my own, I’m finding it fun and refreshing to return to the outdoors. The love of nature runs in my family – my grandfather will be giving me his collection of fishing equipment next spring, continuing a tradition of fishermen, and women, on my mother’s side of the family. Each weekend brings the opportunity for new adventures and exploring, and fall is always the most beautiful time for nature walks )

Me, kayaking on Canandaigua Lake in August, 2008.

Hello!

Welcome to my blog. After moving to the area just over a month ago, I have come to enjoy the beauty and friendly faces of the region. I left my job at The Post-Journal in Jamestown to move up here as City Editor, and I am loving every minute of it.

I spend my days writing, but my blog here gives me a chance to write about something I feel passionate about – what interests me. My journey into the journalism field was an accidental one, but most certainly not one I regret. While in college at Fredonia, I was a member of the women’s Blackhorse Rugby team. After my freshman year, I realized the games were not getting any coverage in the school paper. My mother suggested I join so they could have some exposure. 

Well, I marched myself into the office during open house – sweaty and covered with grass, coming directly from practice – to speak to the Sports Editor about my intentions. A chat, a couple articles later and one very convincing advisor, I found myself working weekly in the sports desk. After a semester, my interest peaked, and I worked my way through the ranks to Sports Editor, up to Managing Editor. Following graduation, I worked as a reporter for a year, but jumped at the chance to move back to western New York and my family, who reside in Orchard Park.

While this blog may not discuss politics or debate other hot-button topics, it will cover an array of things that interest me. Being a camping fanatic, there will no doubt be some posts regarding my numerous treks outdoors. Please feel free to provide feedback, and check out the other Journal-Register blogs by Robert and Ryan.