Letters from Rodion

May 9, 2011

Hi Maria,

I think, it is my last letter to you because very soon I will meet with you in Ukraine. I have already written you many letters telling about different aspects of life in the United States. However, I have never mentioned the first thing that impressed me in the United States. Approximately a year ago my plane took off from the Chicago airport in the direction of San-Francisco. I was really lucky because I was sitting near a window and the weather was sunny. During the time the plane was starting to ascend, I began to "examine" America through the illuminator. The first thing that impressed me was the great number of roads with huge numbers of clover bridges. It was amazing! Well, let me tell you in more detail about the American infrastructure and make comparisons with that of Ukrainian.

Compared with the United States, Ukraine has extremely undeveloped infrastructure. In the United States a huge amount of money is invest in roads. The government tries to balance building new freeways and keeping the old ones in good condition. Freeways are also very elaborately built. The American government understood a long time ago that the number of cars will only increase. That's why a lot of freeways have 6 or more automotive fringes on both sides. Can you imagine how huge they are? However, traffic jams take place on American roads, especially in big cities like Los Angeles. The way to call for help in case of an emergency on the roads was also thought out. If something happens with a person on the road and he/she doesn't have a mobile phone, special roadside telephones exist, by which a person can call in a rescue service. Almost all roads also have special reflectors that help drivers get oriented in foggy weather.

As you can see, the road system in the United States was designed very thoughtfully. To achieve the same level of infrastructural development, Ukraine should just follow the pattern. It requires huge budget contributions, but it is the only way to build a working economy.

Rodion

May 1, 2011

Hi Maria,

In this letter I want to tell you about negative influence of sports on children's personality in the United States. If you are still interested in sports, you probably know that United States frequently takes first place in total ratings in World Cups or on the Olympic games. This happens because the US government invests a big amount of money in different kinds of sports and provides good conditions for athletes' preparation. Beginning with elementary schools, American children become highly involved in different kinds of sports. However, this sports involvement can extend a negative influence on the child's personality. Not infrequently parents become really involved in children's sports and thus ruin the desire of a child to participate. Sometimes parents instill in their children the idea that victory is the most important thing, the only way to achieve something. Let me tell you in more detail about the negative influence of sports on a child's personality in the United States, which takes place because of the parents' involvement.

People are accustomed to hearing that sports are the key to a child's health. However, sports become the key to health if they are introduced to children in a healthy way, without fanaticism from the parents' side. Because of the parents' involvement, children become too competitive and emotionally unstable. The participation in sports competitions turns into a constant pursuit for victory. Therefore, in the case of losing, a child's self-esteem can be ruined. Parents who teach their children to be extremely competitive forget that for a child winning is irrelevant; he or she just wants to have fun. It should not be emphasized that to be the best is the main goal. Parents usually want to prove to themselves that their child is extremely successful and deserves only to be a winner. Such fathers and mothers, impose this idea to their children. As the result, the child is no longer proud of his or her achievements and becomes very irritable and closed in the case of losing.

As you can see, parents who are involved in children sports can render negative influence on the child's personality and discourage any desire to continue to participate in sports. Although this does not take place in an absolute majority of families, it is quite common in American society. Parents should always remember that participation is much more important than winning. Kids should stay kids.

Rodion

April 24, 2011

Hi Maria,

I have already written many letters telling you about politics, the death penalty and the national park system in the United States. However, this letter will be dedicated to the attitude toward people with disabilities in the American society. Compared to Ukraine, where a disabled person can hardly survive, in the United States everything is created for people with different kinds of disabilities. The US government provides normal, humane treatment to invalids, helping them not only to exist, but to be a healthy part of the society. Let me tell you in more details how everything is organized for people with disabilities in the educational field, particularly in the CCSF, where I study now.

In the educational institutions, particularly at CCSF, everything is accessible to invalids. When I entered CCSF last semester, I was very impressed to see a huge numbers of special tracks for people on wheel chairs so that they can use them to go from one building to another. Even special slopes exist to help them slide off the sidewalks with no harm or discomfort. Also every building in CCSF has an elevator that makes it possible for a disabled person to move upstairs and downstairs. Even all the restrooms are built to accommodate people in wheelchairs. City College also provides all different kinds of classes for deaf-mute and other handicapped people. Almost every classroom has reserved front seats for people in wheelchair that must be ceded in a reserved time specified on the desk. The deaf-mute person has also an opportunity to take some classes in the CCSF. My uncle took a photography class three semesters ago and he was so surprised to see a deaf-mute person there with two translators that periodically switched places. Isn't that amazing!? It was unbelievable for him and for me, when I heard the story!

The US government has done a lot to provide the same opportunities for disabled people in the field of education. Everything is created to help people to feel that they are not derelicts, but healthy parts of the society. I wish Ukraine followed the US example to provide the same opportunities for people with disabilities. Everything has been already created by the US; Ukraine should just follow the example.

Rodion

April 2, 2011

Hi Maria,

It this letter I want to tell you about the National Park System in San Francisco. When I came to San Francisco I was very surprised to see an extremely large number of "green zones" in the city. Although American society uses 25% of all oil recourses of the Earth and contaminates the environment, a huge number of parks are created in big cities, particularly in San Francisco. San Francisco is full of big and small parks, which are scattered throughout the area of the city. Thus, let me tell you what has impressed me about San Francisco's parks compared to the parks in Ukraine.

Firstly, everything is very organized in the parks. Compared to parks in Ukraine, where it almost impossible to find a table for a picnic, San Francisco's parks were thought out by the designers a long time ago. Every big tree in Golden Gate Park is marked with the special unique number and watered by an automatic watering system. Most of the parks are very groomed, with no garbage on the footpaths. Secondly, the government strictly controls the land and does not allow new buildings in the parks. Compared to our city, where big areas of the parks were redeemed by businessmen for building multi-storey buildings, this is absolutely unacceptable in San Francisco. These "green zones" are very protected by the city government and appreciated by residents. Thirdly, the National Park Service always improves the parks by planting new flowers or trees to replace the old. It is really amazing!

As you can see, National Parks in San Francisco are really protected and well-organized. I have been living near Golden Gate Park, one of the most famous parks in the United States, since I came to the US. Can you imagine how lucky I am? I was dreaming of living somewhere near a big park when I lived in Ukraine, and now my dream has come true. Any time I can take a bike and go to the park with my laptop to do my homework, breathing fresh air. And it is exactly what I am doing now...

Rodion

March 18, 2011

Hi Maria,

I have already written you many letters about American Politics. However, in this letter I want to tell you about a topic that is completely different from what I have already discussed in my previous letters: positive changes in American families.

Today America doesn't have only one traditional family picture; as a result, it is now believed that it is not important to have a traditional family. I can agree with the idea that changes in the family can cause a positive impact on society. Having a healthier society in the future depends on several things such as giving opportunities for fathers to share childcare and housework and having self-realization for women and men.

In my opinion, it is an excellent tendency for families and society when fathers have more opportunities to equally share child are and housework. Men can create close relationships in their family. Close relationships lead to good, strong families, which is absolutely perfect for a modern society. On the one hand, when a man takes care of his children, he forms emotional bonds with his children that women formed during the pregnancy. On the other hand, men often don't consider all the duties when they decide to stay at home with their children. When men understand that housework is the second full-time job for working women, there is have more understanding between women and men in a more stable family.

Equal opportunities for women and men in the family create a society where people can realize themselves. Before, even in America people had traditional families where the man was the head and the woman was his full-time helper who cared for the children and house. However, people's views have changed and a different economic situation dictates new family rules. Now women have more opportunities to have a good education and job. Sometimes if a woman has higher job position and she can earn more money than her husband, they decide to switch roles. The woman becomes the financial supporter and the man becomes the primary childcare provider. Therefore, both can realize themselves equally.

Right now American society is changing and the influence of modern life is huge. I think that the best of these changes should be saved and developed. Different variants of families give opportunities for people to realize themselves to build a stable society.

Rodion

March 5, 2011

Hi Maria,

In this letter I want to tell you about the death penalty in the United States and some arguments against it. The death penalty is the deprivation of a person's life as a punishment for a crime. Currently, the laws of different states provide five different kinds of capital punishment: electric chair, gas chamber, hanging, firing squad and lethal injection. However, since the end of the 20^th century, the lethal injection has been used in most executions. Although a lot of people support the death penalty, arguing that the person who kills another person doesn't deserve to live, I have formed an opinion against capital punishment. The brightest fact that motivates me to be against the death penalty is that a large percentage of innocent people have been executed.

According to statistics from 1970, more than 1200 people were executed in different states in the United States. 10% of them were innocent people. When I first heard this number I was shocked. Can you imagine that more than 120 people were executed just because of some mistake during the police investigation? I put myself for a moment in the place of an innocent person who faced capital punishment. I can imagine myself trying to prove that I did not commit a crime, that it is a huge mistake. But no one believes me because the evidence and witnesses are "playing" against me. So, I think, the death penalty is a "wild" punishment that cannot take place in modern society.

The really great examples of innocent people who faced the death penalty, are depicted in the famous American movies: "The Green Mile" and "The Life of David Gale". Although these films are emotionally completely different, both of them show the disadvantages of the American policy of death penalty.

That the death penalty still exists in America is absolutely unacceptable for me. Many innocent people were executed in American history, and I think that it is time to stop this. I highly recommend you to watch these great American films that prove that mistakes in police investigations are possible and innocent people can die because of them.

March 4, 2011

Hi Maria,

In this letter I want to tell you about the power that the President of the United States has. As you probably know, the President of the United States can be seen as the most powerful person in the world. The President has the power to nominate cabinet officers, ambassadors and judges, who must be approved by the majority of the Senate. The president is also the Commander in Chief of military forces; as a result, he can declare wars. However, some of the powers that the President has may be unknown to you. The right of veto is a major example that demonstrates presidential power in the United States.

A veto is a rejection of a piece of legislation that was approved by Senate and House of Representatives. When a bill is proposed in the Senate and House of Representatives it first goes to a Congressional Committee, where members decide to change or approve the bill. After that, the bill goes on the floor of the Senate and House and must be approved by the majority of both legislative bodies. If the bill was approved by Congress it goes to the president, where the president decides to sign it into a law or to veto it. So, usually everything depends on the president's decision and his/her opinion of the bill. However, the House and Senate can override the veto by gathering a 2/3 majority in both Houses. Although the Congress has such a power, it is almost impossible to collect a 2/3 majority. As a result, the main legislative power comes from the president because Congress doesn't make a final decision.

The President of the United States has a lot of powers. The right of veto is the brightest example of presidential power in the US by which the president makes a final decision to "kill the bill" or to sign it into law.

February 18, 2011

Hi Maria,

I want to continue to tell you about presidential elections in the United States. As you know, in any election the Media plays one of the most important roles. In the United States during the presidential campaign the Media usually doesn't give fully correct information about the candidate. As a result, people make wrong conclusions about the candidate. So let me tell you about negative influence of media on presidential elections and my solution to this problem.

Media attention is usually not focused equally. Some candidates, from minor parties, are ignored by the media because of lack of funding. The media only pays attention to the candidates that have money to spend for advertising. The media doesn't give any chance for a third candidate to be known. During political campaigns, the media talks about what someone wants them to talk about, so the media is not a resource of information that always gives people the truth. Nowadays the media misleads people more than informs them. That is why more and more Americans are relying less and less on the media to get truthful information about candidates. All the TV channels bring up unimportant stories that take attention away from the major issues, which makes people misinformed.

In my opinion, the Media is created not to earn money, but to give people correct information. That's why access to media should be equal. For example, the government should forbid broadcast media to show political advertising, except for brief political broadcasts, which are transmitted several times a day, at the same time, and on all principle channels. In this way, the public will know about the main issues that each candidate has and not about "mud"that candidates pour on each other.

It is difficult to make the Media a fully independent recourse of information, but it is really needful for a democratic society. In democratic elections, a person should be fully informed about the candidates to make decisions based on the issues that the candidates have.

Rodion

February 7, 2011

Hello Maria,

I want to continue to tell you about the presidential election in the United States. In Ukraine you probably used to hear that the presidential election in the United States is fully democratic. However this is not true because it is impossible to make completely democratic elections in such a big country. There are some facts that prove that American elections are not fully democratic. The Electoral College System, about which I told you in my first letter, is one of the main reasons that the presidential election can be seen as undemocratic.

By the Electoral College system a person can become a president without winning the most popular votes. The most recent example that describes this particular disadvantage was in the 2000 election. George W. Bush, who actually received fewer popular votes than his opponent Al Gore, won the election and became president. Al Gore got five hundred thousand more popular votes around the country but lost only because of one state, Florida. So actually, the decision is not made by the majority of citizens around the country. Many people are ignored. For example, in one presidential election, if the popular vote result in California is 30% for the Republican candidate and 70% for the Democratic candidate, all the electoral votes go to the Democratic candidate, and the 30% of people who voted for the Republican candidate don't have any influence on the final election result. So if you are living in the state in which most of the population has political views that are different from yours, your vote will probably have no influence in the presidential election. Using the Electoral College System not every vote influences the results equally and sometimes a minority may decide who will be the president.

So as you can see, the Electoral College System that is used to elect the president in the United States is not fully equal. But to change the whole system the Constitution must be rewritten and it is very long and difficult process.

Rodion

January 27, 2011

Hello Maria,

As I know you have entered a Law University to study Ukrainian government, election system and laws, it will be interesting for you to compare the Ukrainian electoral system with the system in the United States. As you probably know, Ukraine has a Single Vote System, by which during the election every part of the country can influence the election result equally. However, the United States has an Electoral College System, which is completely different from the system in Ukraine. So let me inform you about Electoral College System in the United States

There are 50 states in the United States and each state has an individual number of electoral votes based on the number of congressional districts of the state plus two. For example, I live in California which is divided into 53 congressional districts. So the number of electoral votes in California will be equal to 55 (53 + 2). After the election, the special machines count popular votes in each state, and to win the election in the state, the candidate must get the most popular votes of the state. If candidate wins the most popular votes of the state, he gets all the electoral votes of the state. For example, if in a presidential election, the popular vote result in California is 40% for candidate A and 60% for candidate B, all 55 of California's electoral votes go to candidate B because he got more popular votes than candidate A. After all the electoral votes are counted, in order to win the election, a candidate must get the majority of electoral votes (in total, there are 538 electoral votes and the candidate must score 270+ to win).

So as you can see the system by which United States elects a president is complicated and different from the system in Ukraine. Maybe this information will be useful for you to know.

Rodion

P.S. I have sent you a map with all Congressional Districts for your better understanding.