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Life
in the eye of the storm Sarah Cornwell, 10th Grade, Dreyfoos School of the Arts
There’s an expression that too much fame can result in one’s undoing. In the case of Palm Beach County, our egos are about to explode. Before this election ordeal, the county was known only for its ritzy mansions and ideal vacation spots. The rich and famous were secure and snug in their cozy estates, and the rest of us continued with our normal lives. Then came the political frenzy after the votes were cast, hurling Palm Beach County into a state of confusion. When the dust cleared, the nation’s finger was pointing at us as the sole cause of the mess. Now, we are the thorn in the lion’s paw, and boy, can that lion roar. The situation is making everyone uncomfortable. While all the national attention seems to benefit Palm Beach County, bringing in more business, the jokes and criticisms are still stinging (Click for David Letterman jokes). Basically, the situation should end. The views of the nation seem to be that we are too involved in our BMW’s and gated communities to even vote properly. The late-night talk show hosts view Palm Beach County as a joke. The attention isn’t very flattering. Palm Beach County
has been delivered a serious blow from this political mess. While we’re
becoming famous, the attention is not favorable. And until this is resolved,
the county will continue to be the laughingstock of the nation for quite
a while. Tori Palace, 10th Grade, Dreyfoos School of the Arts
Endless recounts, tiring lawsuits and unnecessary propaganda have been the core ingredients of the 2000 election. The endless cycle of lawsuits, conflicting stories and guesstimations has become the media’s focus here in Palm Beach County. The contrasting decisions and contradictions throughout the state are unacceptable. The current election is a disgrace. Not because voters misvoted, not because presidential candidates want an honest and fair total, but because government officials are contradicting each other. In a country that is supposed to be unified, this should not happen. Secretary of State Katherine Harris’ refusal to accept Palm Beach County hand recounts is completely in opposition to court rulings that stated the hand counts could have an extended deadline. The state, the lawyers, the governor and the officials need to come together in a common decision that’s fair and unanimous. Hilary Brown, 10th Grade, Dreyfoos School of the Arts
At long last, Florida is known for something other than our older population. However, television’s cult-like following of the events in Palm Beach County has created nothing more than another #1 on Letterman’s Top 10. Florida has become a political circus, and the joke of the other 49 states. But where will the punch line land tomorrow? In lieu of efforts to get our deciding votes “over with”, we have devised our own list of ways to choose the next president. As our technological age has peaked, we suggest asking Jeeves. After all, Jeeves possesses all the answers. Hand recounts would be rendered non-existent. If all else fails, we propose a presidential “sack race” to take place on Capitol Hill prior to the inauguration. Maybe pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey would be more precise. This, however, raises the “donkey” conflict. It is highly unlikely that our Republican friends would succumb to utilizing the Democratic symbol in voting methods. Perhaps pin-the-tail-on-the-marmoset would prove more effective. With the media out of the way, Florida would have only one problem to focus on – the conspirators at the bingo halls. Now that's a challenge.
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