asandstrom

**Ama**﻿**nd**﻿**a Sandstr**﻿﻿**om** - Democrat (Mainly Li﻿beral)

My Bill: Rejuvenate, http://mockcongress2011.wikispaces.com/HB77, works to educate the public about the effects of both bullying and life decisions through one half year class.

Interesting Facts About Colorado: 1. All the Beulah Red marble in the world was used to make the Colorado State Capitol. It cannot be replaced at any price 2. C﻿ame into the union exactly 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independance 3. Colorado is the tallest state due to all its mountain ranges 4. The United States Air Force Academy is located in Colorado Springs 5. Colorado is the only state in history to turn down hosting the Olympics (they did so because of the pollution it would put into the community's ecosystem)

Facts Related to my Issues: 1. About 10,886 of the 16,272 murders ( 67%) committed in the United States during 2008 were committed with firearms [gun control] 2. Before Roe vs. Wade, about 100,000 illegal abortions took place [abortion/adoption] 3. From 1973 to 2008, __50 million__ legal abortions occured [abortion/adoption] <span style="color: #610561; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">4. In the U.S. 97% of students hear homophobic comments regularly from their peers [civil rights] <span style="color: #610561; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">5. LGBT youth living away from home are often threatened and abused by workers at the shelters where they stay due to their sexualit <span style="color: #610561; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">[civil rights]

<span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">Important Issues:

<span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">**1. __Civil Rights__** - I believe that everyone, white or black, gay or straight, disabled or <span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">not, should have the same rights. No one person or group of people deserves to be <span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">denied a common right. Though some laws are in place, they are not always followed and <span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">there are few laws in some cases to begin with. I want to at least increase awareness <span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">of the unfairness of some American laws and situations.

<span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">**2. __Gun Control__** - There is a lot of crime and delinquency happening at this time <span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">throughout our nation. I personally feel that if the presence and availabilty of <span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">weapons were to be minimized, we would have fewer dangerous situations to deal with <span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">and America might run a little smoother.

<span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">**3. __Adoption/Abortion__** - This is a very controversial issue because everyone has a <span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">different view based on their morals. I personally belive that there are very few <span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">instances when abortion is the best option. Some may disagree, but, having an adopted <span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">brother, I feel it is kinder to have the child and give it to a family who can better <span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">care for it than end its life before it even got the chance to live.I think the most <span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">productive angle to this issue would be not to attempt to put abortion down, but raise <span style="color: #0d870d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">adoption up.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">My Representative: Jared Polis; []

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Where and why we agree:
 * <span style="color: #043404; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Environment
 * Both Representative Polis and I feel that Earth's natural beauty is an amazing resource in itself. Without it, we would lose appreciation for simple things and for the tiny imperfections that make things beautiful. Americans alone thrust tons of pollution onto the earth, deteriorating its beauty. At the current rate, it won't be long before future generations will never get to experience the world as it is today, which isn't even close to pristine in every area anyway. When I think of some of the most beautiful nature scenes I personally have seen, it makes me sad to think that one day there might be people who will never even be able to see it because of pollution. Jared Polis agrees with me that the environment __needs__ to be helped and saved.
 * Civil Rights
 * Jared Polis is the first openly gay U.S. representative and feels very strongly about the issue of gay rights because of this. Both Polis and I agree that there is no reason one should be kept from life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness while others achieve it. Discriminating against LGBT ( lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender ) people, of any age, is no different from the discrimination and segregation African-Americans already endured; the black spot in America's past that is taught, even in school, as something terrible we will never do again. Yet here we are doing it. Representative Polis and I both belive that everyone deserves equality, no matter what their race, gender, religion, skin color, ethnicity, or sexuality is.

Favorite Websites:

[|http://www.r-word.org] (works to eliminate the word retard in everyday language) [] (youtube video of speaker about tolerance and Tourette's syndrome) [] (youtube video of autistic girl with a lot to say)

Sources: []; []; []; [] ; []; <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">1. Ernst, Jonathan. "Civil Rights Leaders, Sec. Arne Duncan Talk Education Reform - USATODAY.com." //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 22px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com //. USA Today, 26 July 2010. Web. 11 May 2011. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800080; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 22px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;">[]. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">2. Shue, Andrew, and Michael Sanchez. "Discrimination." //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 22px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Do Something //. Do Something Organization. Web. 11 May 2011. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 22px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;">[] <span style="color: #377cf6; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">3 <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">. Anup Shah “Racism <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">” <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">Global Issues <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">8/8/2010 May 20, 2011 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;">[|http://] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;">[|www.globalissues.org/article/165/racism] <span style="color: #377cf6; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">4 <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">. Robert Preidt “Discrimination Can Hurt Teens, Body and Soul” ( <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">HealthDay News) <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">FRIDAY, Sept. 17,2010 May 20, 2011 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;">[|http://] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;">[|www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=119859] <span style="color: #377cf6; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">5 <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">. Wiley-Blackwell“Gender Discrimination in the Workplace__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;">” Psych Central News __October 9, 2009 May 20, 2011 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 24px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;">[] <span style="color: #377cf6; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">6 <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">. Wallet pop staff-“Most Dangerous States: Crime Rankings for 2010” <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">Wallet Pop <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">4/5/2010 May 20, 2011 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 21px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;">[] <span style="color: #377cf6; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">7. IDRS“What is Discrimination?” <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">Intellectual Disability Rights Service <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">9/21/2006 May 20, 2011 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 21px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;">[] <span style="color: #377cf6; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">8. Not mentioned “Disability Discrimination” <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">politics.co.uk <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">Tuesday, 28, Jun 2005 02:43 May 20, 2011 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 21px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;">[] <span style="color: #377cf6; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">9. <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">Andrew Altman “Discrimination <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">” <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;"> Stanford Edu <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">Tue Feb 1, 2011 May 20, 2011 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 21px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;">[] <span style="color: #377cf6; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">10 <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">. Elizabeth Landau <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;"> “ <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">You may be more racist than you think, study says” <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;">CNN <span style="background-color: transparent; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;"> January 07, 2009 May 20, 2011 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #377cf6; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 21px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: auto;">[]