Panhandling in Portland

Sean Kenny

Wed May 29

Red Day, Block 2

Panhandling in Portland

        While in Portland, no matter where I'm going, I almost always see at least one man or woman holding a sign and asking for money. They will usually say 'God bless you.' or Homeless, please help.', or even have a pet with them [for sympathy?]. That's happened only a couple of times. But very rarely do I see people stop to actually give them money. It does happen, just not often. So why do they spend so much time, getting very little money from strangers they've done nothing to earn? They could be spending the majority of the time looking for a job, because even if it takes a while, eventually they will find one. If thirty people died like the article said, that means at least two people every month were dying on our streets. If they aren't smart enough to stay away from that living style, maybe the government should take action, and outlaw panhandling. Then they won't have a choice but to find employment.

Threshold for Drunken Driving

Sean Kenny

Fri May 24

Red Day, Block 2

Threshold for Drunken Driving

     I believe what the author of this article is saying, is very true. They say lowering the threshold of blood-alcohol content from .08%, to .05%, is useless, because 99% of people who are currently breaking the first law, are getting away with it anyway. Nobody is going to start following the rules, just because they would only be further breaking them otherwise.

The author says that, before making people less drunk on our roads, lets take care of the people who are already going past the legal limit, with checkpoints, and taxes on alcohol. By doing this, 85% of those already breaking the law (the binge drinkers), will be forced to drink less by the tax infringed on them, and the money made by the government, can be used to build the checkpoints, busting the people who still are going beyond the legal limit.

I completely agree with what he/she is saying. The logic in his/her theory makes perfect sense.

(Current) Maine Evaluation System

Sean Kenny

Mon Wed 20, 2013

Red Day, Block 2

(Current) Maine Evaluation System

 

         I do not think our current system is very fair, if we are all graded the same. With slight alterations, a school can move from an 'F,' to a 'C' or 'B?' The new system such as in the article, similar to NCAA, where there are groups of similar school, that get their own funding amount, and are ranked differently seems much more fair. This way, resources are also equally distributed, based on location, or school.