The Oak Fire burning on September 5, 2020 [Picture from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office]
Damian Amaya, a Junior at Ukiah High School and staff member of UHS News, offers this first-hand account of evacuating his Brooktrails home as the Oak Fire raged.
On September 5th, a mandatory evacuation was placed north of Willits and in the Brooktrails neighborhood. The Oak Fire began raging in the area and the fire line moved quickly. My mother told me I had to pack up. I wasn’t sure where we would be going.
After quickly packing and leaving with my mother and pets, a car crashed into us. I remember my mother quickly pulling to the side and the car just veering at us. I thought it would clip our vehicle and maybe cause scratches at most, but then it was like everything changed faster than I could process. Suddenly, there was a car filled with smoke, an airbag in front of me, and the other car sliding backward down the road it came from. My mother had said she had a pain in her forearm and asked if I was ok. I had only had really fuzzy vision (partially since my glasses fell off) and a loud ringing in my right ear.
I quickly jumped out to check the damage and it seemed the car could still run. I quickly opened the windows and helped my mom air out the car so the animals wouldn’t get smoked out. A man offered me ice and an old ripped shirt to make sure my mom’s arm was fine and tried to exchange info with the guys who crashed into us. He had no insurance but gave me his other information, he wasn’t able to drive away since his car had been damaged more. We then left and my mother started to call her insurance.
Worried we would run out of gas, we decided to stop in Laytonville to fill up the car. The line was so long it filled the gas station lot and the street next to it. I went to buy water while my mom waited in the line. I came back and she conveyed that the fan was broken so we had to be careful with how long we let the car sit or it would overheat.
We couldn’t go south since that was where the fire was coming from, so we decided to head west to Fort Bragg. It took hours, there was so much traffic, but the coastal breeze helped our car keep cool.
Once we reached there we had to spend the night in a car at a Safeway parking lot. Before going to bed, we waited the recommended time for minor concussions since my mother had shown some symptoms, and we fed the pets. The oldest dog was shaky on her leg, and we thought it might be busted. There wasn’t much we could do, however.
The next day my friend Gavin and his dad picked me up along with my stuff, and my mom’s friend helped her get the pets and rest of our stuff somewhere safe. After a week at my friends where I was able to do school, relax a bit, and help get my ukulele fixed (it’s still in progress), I was told that my mom was able to help other people get their pets and items to safety and that the oldest dog had to be put down due to her hurt leg adding on to the pains she had from cancer, weak hips, and memory issues.
Overall it was a bit stressful but I didn’t feel panicked or depressed. I was able to return home and continue my everyday life. I feel lucky for that.
Most animals are unanimously loved. Some are just terrifying. Of course, that leads to yet another list that can lead to your gut twisting like a thousand worms. So sit back, but get a little closer to the edge, and prepare yourself for some awful animal facts.
The Greater Short-horned Lizards are flat, wide-bodied reptiles with a particular ability. They can build up blood pressure in the regions behind their eyes and accurately squirt their blood up to three feet. The blood is shot through ducts in the corners of their eyes to protect from predators. Their blood even contains a chemical noxious to coyotes and wolves. Imagine startling a lizard, and instead of it biting you or running away, it aggressively cries blood like a possessed little girl in a horror movie.
Would you prefer bread, plants growing in a lake, or the flesh of the nearest person to you? As it turns out, some ducks would answer with the third option. Yes, some ducks turn to cannibalism and can do so at any age. The underlying reason for this is not entirely known, but it has been associated with if you can believe it, boredom. This occurrence has also been aggravated by faulty nutrition, overcrowding, and a lack of ventilation. There is a way to stop a cannibalistic duck, but this article isn’t about that, is it?
When you think of sharks, you probably envision something powerful, dangerous-looking, and awe-inspiring to look upon. And then there’s the goblin shark. It looks like the illegitimate child of a great white and an anglerfish and generally looks like an easy target for a “not even once” joke. Those horrible jaws of its extend to snatch its prey, like Hell’s claw machine. If this is your first time finding out about the goblin shark, it is probably going to be living in your mind rent-free for the remainder of your life. Enjoy!
There is such a thing as a parasite that eats and replaces a fish’s tongue. It gets in through the gills and severs the blood vessels in the fish’s tongue. This causes it to come off, so this freakish isopod can sit where it was. The parasite then proceeds to leech off the fish, taking the fish’s food for its own gain. Now, what if subspecies of that very creature evolved specifically for bigger targets? Let that idea hang in your mind for a bit.
A horse’s teeth take up more space in their skull than their brain does. Of course, it makes sense with how much they eat, but it results in their skulls looking horrific. They can have between 36 and 44 teeth, depending on the horse’s sex. You may think you are safe, but horses can be raised on a (vaguely) omnivorous diet, not to mention how fast they are. Watch your back.
With that said and done, we can release this article back into the wild. Of course, there are plenty more facts about animals where these five came from, so feel free to head out and learn more… unless you’re now thinking, “that’s enough internet for today, actually”. That’s completely understandable.
Many high school students have dreamt of getting their first car after earning their driver’s license. UHS News reached out to a Redwood Credit Union spokesperson seeking advice to Wildcats hoping to save their money and purchase their first car.
Wrynn Valentine, Redwood Credit Union’s financial wellness advocate, emphasized the importance of having a financial goal and establishing the mentality for saving up money.
Valentine told us Ukiah High students could utilize Redwood Credit Union to set up their first savings account. Valentine recommended that students hoping to save up money for their first vehicle open an individual savings account. She added if Wildcats lets the bank know why he/she opened this account, the bank will help the individual stay focused and not give up on their goal.
Valentine provided information on how a Wildcat can get a loan from Redwood Credit Union. She characterized the process of getting a loan as very fast and easy. She explained teens do not have a credit score, which requires an adult to co-sign for the loan. The adult must have an acceptable credit score to make sure if the loan is accepted assuring the bank that person will be able to pay the bank back their money.
Financial success is about setting small goals to attain big ones. If any Wildcat is interested in buying their first car or saving money, contact Redwood Credit Union to begin your journey to financial independence.
You turn on the radio on a summer’s afternoon of 2001. Expecting another nu-metal blunder, an aging boyband still lingering on from the 90s, or a tired old R&B beat that has been beaten to death. But you hear something different, something you haven’t heard before since records in the ’60s. You hear the blaring riff of an Epiphone Riviera with more instruments slowly leading in, and then you listened to a growling voice yell out to you. You hear “Last Nite,” the lead single for New York City’s hottest new band, The Strokes.
The album had been riding a wave of hype for months before it’s release, having produced an EP entitled The Modern Age, which would contain three songs that would be used on Is This It expect with slightly different lyrics. The EP came to such high praise that every major record label began a bidding war to sign the new band, finding the record as incredibly refreshing compared to what was on the Billboard Charts at that time.
However, what was truly refreshing about the Strokes is that even though every single record produced was put into million-dollar studio techniques, they stuck to the classic vein: no laser sounds, no ethereal reverb, and no pre-programmed Aphex beats.
Their influences are fairly obvious if you are into grade and punk rock. Frontman Julian Casablancas has nearly identical vocals to the late Lou Reed’s in his Velvet Underground days. A type of singing that had been unheard of for decades. However, unlike the drug drawls and big-city topics of Reed’s music, Casablancas writes of the frustrations of relationships, practically being the entire album’s theme.
The record begins with “Is This It?” a sad melodic song with a heavy bassline, making you believe it would be a softer rock album, but as the next track clicks, “The Modern Age” begins. A track jam-packed with guitar solos and a hard-hitting snare. Every track afterward complements the one before, shifting the lyrics into one of more aggression. The record eventually ends with “Take It or Leave It,” an incredible garage rock song that makes even the White Stripes look like amateurs, and the squarest of squares start to bob their head. Their 2 Dollar Bill performance of the track gives the overall stage presence of The Strokes and the aggressiveness they can reach.
However, the record did receive some slight controversy. The 9th track of the album “When It Started” was a last-minute add-on to the wide release of Is This It. The track in its place was originally a single track released with “Hard to Explain,” entitled “New York City Cops” where the bridge contains the lyrics “New York City cops they ain’t too smart.” This obviously would be perceived with some sensitivity given the album’s release so close to the September 11th attacks, not to mention the track would be placed on the 9th place on an overall 11 track album.
Is This It will go down in music history as one of the greatest debut albums of all time, as seen time and time again on music publications internationally—the tracks reek of nostalgia and teenage freedom and the frustrations of being youthful. The hard-hitting drums, the groovy basslines, the complementing guitars, and Casablancas’ vocals are one worth hearing and storing in your music library.
The “horror” genre has always been an expansive genre that isn’t afraid to push boundaries. From the highly influential 1922 film, Nosferatu, to 2018’s critically acclaimed Hereditary, filmmakers have never been afraid to use whatever they can to induce a deep sense of fear and anxiety in their audience. Independent film distribution/production company A24 has been working to bring some of the best films to our screens since 2012. A24 typically brings more underground movies to life and works with many genres, including drama, horror, science fiction, comedy, noir, etc. A24 has gained a large following since its foundation. Several of their films are critically praised, such as The Lighthouse, Uncut Gems, A Ghost Story, Mid90s, Moonlight, Swiss Army Man, and the previously mentioned Hereditary. A24 has also brought us some of the best horror films of the decade, with one of my personal favorites being Robert Eggers 2015 full-length feature directorial and writing debut, The Witch.
Robert Eggers is a reasonably new name in the film industry, as he currently only has two films under his belt, those two being The Witch and 2019’s The Lighthouse, with a third film titled The Northman, presently in production. Robert Eggers specializes in horror, and his two current films are some of the most original, mind-bending experiences in the genre. Eggers’ debut The Witch is often overlooked in the film world, but the film perfects the art of capturing anxiety and inducing fear into an audience.
The Witch takes place in New England during the colonization of North America and revolves around a Puritan family forced out of their colony due to differing religious opinions. The family of seven travel far into the wilderness and settle in a field surrounded by vast forests, where they begin their new lives. The film then transitions to a regular day of work for the family and shows the eldest daughter, Thomasin, playing with her newborn brother, Samuel. After playing Peek a boo with her brother for several minutes, Thomasin uncovers her eyes one final time to see that her infant brother has vanished. The family then begins to suspect a supernatural force subsiding in the deep woods. The incident creates a tension between the family, particularly between parents William and Katherine and Thomasin, that is captured with absolute perfection by Eggers. The Witch is a film that works on all levels, regarding the storytelling and technical/cinematic aspects, and in my eyes, will forever be a cinematic and artistic masterpiece.
One part of this film that is done well is the characters. One of the essential elements of a great story (arguably THE most important) is the characters. If the characters in a film, book, video game, comic, etc., aren’t well written, the whole story tends to fall apart. Here, the characters are so full of life (albeit miserable) and feel like real people. The two significant factors that go into the characterization are the actors and Eggers himself, and both of these factors work together phenomenally. To start with the actors, each actor gives off some of the best performances I’ve ever seen in a film, with Anya Taylor-Joy (Thomasin) and Harvey Scrimshaw (Caleb) being the two stood out. Every actor portrays their character with complete honesty and with a substantial amount of energy, but to me, Taylor-Joy and Scrimshaw were the two that took absolute control of the screen. Scrimshaw might be one of the best child actors I’ve ever seen. His portrayal of the eldest son Caleb is both mesmerizing and heartbreaking, as he’s a kind and gentle child caught in the middle of a terrorizing situation, and seeing him struggle to support his family as it crumbles is suffering to the viewer. Being the lead character, Thomasin, Taylor-Joy displays the horror, disillusionment, and anxiety that surround the whole family with complete perfection. Thomasin is a teenage girl who desires a different life from her parents, and this conflict creates an even bigger tension between her and her family. Every shot of her reflects what the family is going through and what effect it actually has on her. As the tension and anxiety within the family escalate, so does the conflict between Thomasin and her family. Taylor-Joy captures the intensity of her character with a great amount of energy as the conditions worsen for the family, and it’s a performance that is truly jaw-dropping. Every time I watched this film, I could tell that Eggers did an amazing job instructing the actors on exactly what he wanted from them, as no actor in The Witch holds back at all.
The direction that Eggers took with the writing and presentation in this film is some of the most unique and original I’ve ever seen. Every shot adds to the eerie and suspenseful tone that the whole film builds, and it reflects the emotions that the characters are experiencing. Many of the shots throughout the beginning feature landscape shots of the forest with the sky resting above. While it may seem fairly insignificant, Eggers uses these shots to build eeriness and suspense around the forest, letting the audience know that the forest will play a major role in the tension that builds within the family. Eggers also layers dissonant music featuring abrasive violins and a haunting female choir to capture the dark nature of the forest. Eggers frames his shots with the characters in a way that makes them feel intimate and intense. The Witch features many close up shots on characters when Eggers wants to emphasize a certain character and their current feelings. Something else that’s really done well with the cinematography is the importance of setting in every scene. Eggers does not show you anything that he doesn’t need to show you, whether the shot’s focal point is on the characters or some type of landscape/setting, he displays only what he wants the viewer to see. This detail makes the whole film a lot more cohesive, as scenes are able to progress more fluidly with the focus of each shot being consistently conveyed. Throughout the film, there’s a noticeable change in perspective when the characters venture into the woods, with the shots becoming a lot more distant from the characters. Eggers utilizes the power of perspective to showcase certain plot points from a different point of view, and in turn adds a new dynamic to the film; it makes the viewer realize that they’re seeing these characters from the perspective of the witch and the entire forest. This small detail makes the entire forest seem alive, it makes the forest really seem like a real threat, as this is the point when the characters start to lose control over themselves. The direction Eggers took with the writing was a really bold choice, as the characters speak in a colonial dialect, making extensive use of words such as “thy” or “thou.” Admittingly, this can make it a bit more difficult to follow the dialogue, but it also adds to the setting, making it feel like these characters are really in the time period they’re in. One more element that is done extremely well is the soundtrack to the film. The music featured are some of the most haunting and nightmarish compositions I’ve ever heard. The music is placed really well, and when it’s used it never fails to add an unsettling amount of eeriness and darkness to the given scene and exemplifies the haunting tone throughout the film. In my opinion, The Witch features some of the best stylistic presentation and direction from any director or writer I’ve ever seen, and Eggers manages to create something that is uniquely his own.
Thematically, The Witch covers fascinating topics revolving around Christianity and religion as a whole. Faith drives the narrative and the family’s actions, as the entire reason they were banished from their original home was because of their religious differences with the town. What exactly religion means to each character is explored throughout the film, and impacts how the characters function with one another. The conflict within the family is caused mainly by what each member believes to be sin, and how they treat each other is determined by their faith in God and the sins they’ve committed. Eggers simultaneously presents religion’s impact, ironically, as the family gets more and more desperate. Still, they keep being ignored by God, and the conditions of the forest and their home continue to worsen. Eggers presents the audience with many questions on how religion impacts people’s functionality and unity and how religion competes with nature and makes the audience think for themselves on the role religion plays in society.
Overall, The Witch is a fantastic film. It’s near flawlessly crafted, it features terrific performances, and explores religion and human nature in a thematic sense that demands the audience to engage in questions balancing nature and religion. The Witch is a 21st century masterpiece in my opinion, and I recommend this to anyone that loves horror films or has a deep appreciation for fantastic filmmaking.
Ukiah High Women’s Volleyball practicing at Vinewood Park [Photographs by Izabella Nickerson]
Though many activities for Ukiah’s youth have slowed down in the face of COVID-19, Ukiah High volleyball teams are finding ways to practice during the pandemic. This summer, Ukiah High varsity volleyball coach Amanda Brown decided to start an outdoor workout and volleyball practice for girls ages 13 through 18.
Coach Brown thinks exercise is essential. In addition to playing volleyball, the camp also includes a strength and conditioning workout.
Brown has set up two groups through the City of Ukiah. The camp was initially supposed to be at Todd Grove Park, but since the city’s Summer Safari camp was already there, she had to find a different park. Brown decided to use Vinewood Park, saying it “is great for volleyball.” She described the park as having ample shade and being great for dropping off and picking up athletes.
Since there are specific rules to follow during the pandemic, Brown said the camp is taking precautions. She described those precautions as limiting the groups to 12 people, including the coach, maintaining social distance, and hand sanitizing the equipment and hands throughout the class. Also, Coach Brown said the camp is limited to only playing outside.
9th grader Eva Bailey, a volleyball player and a participant in the Monday and Wednesday class for ages 13 and 14, said that she heard about the camp from one of her friends. Bailey expressed liking the camp because, despite the pandemic, she can still see her friends and have fun with them. Eva does miss not being able to play on an actual team.
The 13 and 14-year-old group takes place on Monday and Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The older group plays on Tuesday and Thursday at the same time. Anyone interested in playing this sport, here is one available activity.
In recent weeks, rumors of future blackouts have spread. Amongst all of the distress stemming from the fires, COVID-19, and more, the mention of these potential blackouts has been a concern for many. However, no clear answer has been given when they would occur. Under what conditions would PG&E decide to shut off the power? How long would the blackouts last? How often should the public expect to navigate them? How should we prepare? UHS News got in touch with PG&E Spokeswoman Deanna Contreras to find out.
Contreras explained that “We may need to turn off power during severe weather for public safety to prevent such fires. This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).”
What weather conditions must be met for PG&E to conduct a PSPS? According to Ms. Contreras, factors that would elicit that response would include:
“Low humidity levels, generally 20% and below.”
“A forecast of high winds, particularly sustained winds above 25 miles per hour and wind gusts above 45 miles per hour.”
“Dry material on the ground and low moisture content in live vegetation.”
“A Red Flag Warning declared by the National Weather Service.”
“Real-time ground observations from our Wildfire Safety Operations Center and from our crews working across the service territory.”
PG&E does not plan to shut off the power unless absolutely necessary. Ms. Contreras said, “We will only use PSPS events as a last resort when the weather forecast is so severe that people’s safety, lives, homes, and business may be in danger of significant wildfires.”
According to Ms. Contrereas, “We know that losing power disrupts lives, especially for those with medical needs, customers working from home, and students engaging in distance learning in response to novel coronavirus.” PG&E intends to reduce the length and impact of the blackouts, should they happen, in service of their customers. Ms. Contreras said, “We are focused on reducing PSPS events’ impact on our customers, without compromising safety. We will do this by reducing the number of customers affected and the length of time they are without power.”
Ms. Contreras admitted that “While we can’t forecast how often severe weather will require PSPS events, given the increase in severe weather events seen in recent years, power will likely need to be turned off several times this year to protect public safety.”
When asked how people should prepare for the blackouts, Ms. Contreras said, “The first thing is to have an emergency plan, which includes a plan for loss of power.” Ms. Contreras advises people to “…keep extra flashlights and batteries on hand.”
For more information regarding the blackouts and how to prepare, she suggested visiting the PG&E Safety Action Center at www.safetyactioncenter.pge.com.com. Emergency checklists and other materials are also available.
The long-awaited live-action Mulan reboot recently debuted on Disney+, but not everyone is thrilled about the film. Directed by Niki Caro, the film became a center for controversy, but how did it all begin? New Mulan Liu Yifei’s comments supporting Hong Kong police sparked criticism of the film, which quickly led to a call for boycotts among Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, as well as Thai and Taiwanese activists, among others. The film was also criticized for filming in Xinjiang, a region of China where Uighur Muslims have been detained in mass internment camps. They were also accused of being too white behind the camera.
Joshua Wong, Hong Kong activist, tweeted on Friday, “This film is released today. But because Disney kowtows to Beijing, and because Liu Yifei openly and proudly endorses police brutality in Hong Kong, I urge everyone who believes in human rights to #BoycottMulan,”
This film is released today. But because Disney kowtows to Beijing, and because Liu Yifei openly and proudly endorses police brutality in Hong Kong, I urge everyone who believes in human rights to #BoycottMulan. https://t.co/utmP1tIWNa
What did Liu say exactly? The current state of affairs can be partly traced back to a post that Liu shared on Weibo, a Chinese website equivalent to Twitter, in 2019. “I support the Hong Kong police,” wrote Liu during the height of anti-government demonstrations over a Chinese extradition policy, adding, “You can all attack me now. What a shame for Hong Kong.” In a February interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Liu commented on her earlier statement, saying, “I think it’s obviously a very complicated situation, and I’m not an expert. I just really hope this gets resolved soon.”
As stated earlier, the film was shot in Xinjiang, a region of China where Uighur Muslims have been taken to mass internment camps. The Xinjiang re-education camps, officially called Vocational Education and Training Centers by the Chinese Communist Party and the Government of China, are internment camps operated by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region government CCP committee. The concentration camps are the most extreme example of China’s inhumane policies against the Uighurs, but even those outside the camps are subject to repressive policies. China has used mass surveillance to turn Xinjiang into a high-tech police state. Uighurs inside and outside the camps are exploited for cheap labor, forced to manufacture clothing and other products for sale at home and abroad. Recently, the New York Times revealed that some Chinese-made face masks being sold in the United States and other countries were produced in factories that relied on Uighur labor. Another recent investigation found evidence that Chinese authorities subjected Uighur women to mass sterilization, forcing them to take birth control or have abortions and putting them in camps if they resist. Some have argued this attempt to control the Uighur population meets the United Nations’ definition of genocide.
Today, The #BoycottMulan hashtag persists on Twitter and other social media platforms, even as the film whose release was postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic finally hits Disney+. The film’s debut has led to a 68% spike in Disney+ app downloads, but it’s unclear how, or whether, the ongoing boycott is affecting Mulan’s success.
COVID-19 has been obliterating us for the entire year. Because this country has no idea how to behave, people see the virus as a political opinion, and the smooth-brained science deniers are getting themselves killed believing it’s enlightenment. Yes, the whole pandemic is a horrible, hopelessly inescapable nightmare. Still, there are a host of other terrible diseases that, once we look at them, we can at least be glad that we don’t have Debra verbally abuse the seventeen-year-old Walmart minimum wage employee because it’s her ‘right’ to get the Bubonic Plague, vomit blood all over her bratty children and die in agony.
Since the intro mentions the Bubonic Plague, it is only fair that we start there. Nowadays, this disease is very rare, but back in the 1300s, the plague slaughtered 50 million Europeans. The most well-known symptom of the infection is the lymph nodes. They can become as big as a chicken’s egg, and can be tender and warm. The plague also can result in chills, fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. Of course, the deaths that result are particularly horrible, for apparent reasons. It was at its peak for around eight years and has haunted the planet since then. As I mentioned before, it’s rare now, but not gone. You could be next. Count your days.
Smallpox has been generally eradicated, yet it is still known to be contagious and deadly, disfiguring its victims like a substance-abusing mad scientist undergoing a divorce. We have a vaccine that can prevent it, but there isn’t a cure, so if you end up getting diagnosed, say goodbye. It spreads by air, in coughs and sneezes, alongside saliva, blood, and skin, which would make it as easy to catch as a thief who left their driver’s license at the scene of the crime back when it was at its peak.
Cholera is a bacterial disease best known to spread through water. It is fatal if it isn’t treated as soon as it’s noticed, and one symptom the disease has is dehydration, which is ironic as it spreads via water, but, surprising to absolutely nobody, it gets worse. Cholera can also cause shock and seizures in more extreme cases. Nausea and vomiting also occur, but they aren’t exactly as threatening as, say, hitting the cheap carpet and violently seizing. Oral rehydration therapy, antibiotics, and IV fluids are all used to treat this disease.
The Spanish Flu, also known as the 1918 flu pandemic, caused 50,000,000 deaths. Rookie numbers. It’s incredibly unlikely that the Spanish Flu is Spanish. People have suggested that it originated from China, France, and Britain, but we still are not one-hundred percent sure which country it is. The thing is, there’s a genuine possibility that between these three, the origin of this murderous flu was none of the above, and instead came straight out of the United States. The first known case was reported to be in a military base in Kansas, so it isn’t very farfetched. The only reason it is called what it is because the newspapers in Spain were free to report the disease’s effects. Because of the country’s ability to report on it, this paved the way for the Spanish Flu’s name to become known. This disease was so violent since it triggered a cytokine storm, which destroys and ravages immune systems.
Let’s have something more recent, this time around. In January of 2009, the Swine Flu had almost 500,000 confirmed cases, but there are many more suspected cases, up to 1.4 billion of them. It acts like the flu would under usual circumstances, fevers, headaches, sore throats, so on, but despite this, it still managed quite the kill count, as pandemics and plagues always do.
Now that we have completed this article, we can pull the plug on its life support. Hopefully, this article inspired interest in finding out more about diseases throughout the world and history or at least gave some perspective about our current situation.
The first 2020 Presidential Debate allowed the presidential candidates to discuss the state of our country in person. Almost immediately, the stage erupted in accusations and personal attacks. Despite this bloodbath, they provided their perspectives on and plans to deal with several issues that currently plague the United States. From healthcare to climate change, here are some of the new revelations that have emerged from last night’s debate.
1. Trump’s Alternative to the Affordable Care Act
Moderator Chris Wallace said to President Trump, “Over the last four years, you have promised to repeal and replace Obamacare, but you have never come up with a plan, a comprehensive plan to replace Obamacare.” Trump responded, saying, “Of course I have. We got rid of the individual mandate…” Wallace asked, “What is the Trump health care plan?” Trump’s answer was, “I’m cutting drug prices. I’m going with favored nations, which no president has the courage to do because you’re going against big pharma.” He added that “Drug prices will be coming down 80% or 90%.” He used insulin as an example, saying, “It is destroying families, destroying people.” He claims that “[w]e are going to allow our governors now to go to other countries to buy drugs because they pay just a tiny fraction of what we do.”
2. Biden’s Perspective on Private Insurance
When discussing the Affordable Care Act, Wallace said to former Vice President Biden, “He (President Trump) points out that you would like to add a public option to Obamacare, and the argument that he makes and other republicans make is that that is going to end private insurance and will create a government takeover of health care.” Biden’s response was, “It does not. It’s only for people who are so poor that they qualify for Medicaid.” He said that “Anyone who qualifies for Medicaid would automatically be enrolled in the public option. The vast majority of the American people would still not be in that option.” Trump accused Joe Biden of agreeing with senator Bernie Sanders on the subject, saying, “You would socialize medicine.” Biden denied this, prompting Trump to claim that “You just lost the left.” He added that “You agreed with Bernie Sanders on a plan. It was absolutely agreed to…socialized medicine.”
3. Trump’s Federal Income Taxes
When asked by Wallace if he paid $750.00 in federal income taxes during the first two years of his presidency, Trump answered, “I paid millions of dollars in taxes, millions of dollars of income tax…” He stated the exact amount he paid. “I paid 38 million dollars one year, I paid 27 million dollars one year…” Biden interrupted, asking Trump to share his tax returns, to which Trump responded, “You’ll see it as soon as it’s finished.” He added that “You know, if you wanted to, go to the Board of Elections. There’s a one-hundred and eighteen-page report that says everything I have, every bank I have, I’m totally underleveraged because the assets are extremely good.” When Wallace asked again how much Trump paid, Trump assured him that “Millions of dollars, and you’ll get to see it.”
4. Biden’s Rejection of the “Green New Deal”
While talking over the issue of climate change, Wallace asked Biden, “Do you support the Green New Deal?” Biden’s immediate answer was, “No, I don’t support the Green New Deal. I support the Biden Plan that I put forward.” This prompted a response from U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Responding to former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, she wrote on Twitter, “This isn’t news, Kellyanne. Our differences are exactly why I joined Biden’s Climate Unity Task Force – so we could set aside our differences & figure out an aggressive climate plan to address the planetary crisis at our feet.”
5. The Bloodbath of Insults and Attacks
Throughout the debate, unprofessional behavior, not unlike petty schoolyard squabbles, abounded. Neither candidate was innocent of utilizing personal attacks, name-calling, and interruption to humiliate their opponent. Without proof, Trump stated that more civilians would have died of the Coronavirus if Biden had been put in charge of dealing with it from the beginning. Trump also questioned Hunter Biden’s (former Vice President Biden’s son) motives for taking money from China and Russia. Whether or not Hunter Biden’s motives were malicious in any way are yet to be determined. True or not, it was irrelevant to the debate. Despite starting rather civilly, Biden eventually began to interrupt Trump and, most often, prompted him to answer questions he was already in the process of responding. He called Trump a “clown,” a “liar,” and “the worst president America has ever had.” He said these statements as if they were self-evident despite not always providing evidence. Once, after being interrupted by Trump, he said, “Will you shut up, man?” Multiple times, Wallace asked both of them to stop talking over one another, eventually being forced to raise his voice to get them to move on. Those who watched the debate were taken aback by the hostility coming from both sides. Often, the issues at hand seemed to be put to the side for petty argument.
Two more debates are scheduled to happen. Hopefully, both of our presidential candidates, each possessing the potential to be our country’s future leader, will show more grace and civility in the debates to comes. UHS News encourages Wildcats to watch a recording of the first presidential debate for themselves, to understand the other topics covered and to form their own opinions.
