Issue #1: All Things Being Unequal

Links to other issues:

Boosting the Minimum

Putting Welfare to Work

Between 1979 and 2004, the share of national income going to the wealthiest 20 percent of households increased from 45.4 percent to 53.5 percent, while the share for the bottom 20 percent decreased from 5.8 percent to 4.1 percent.

Although they agree that some inequality benefits the economy by offering increasing incentives for hard work, advocates for government efforts to reduce income inequality say that the current gap is unfairly wide.

Ultimately, say free-market supporters, the forces of supply and demand, if left alone, will eventually— and more effectively—reduce income inequality.

I agree with the side that wants to tax the people with the most money more heavily. It is their right to make all the money they want but it is the governments right to tax that money as much as they want. The class gap cannot continue to grow. Obama's health care plan is just one form of how our system is moving more towards the service of everyone.

Security a Thing of the Past

A Georgia couple arrived at the White House on the wrong day for a tour recently and got much more than they bargained for.
After being screened by the Secret Service, Harvey and Paula Darden of Hogansville, Georgia, were led into a lavish invitation-only breakfast where they met the president and the first lady.
How the couple was able to get into the White House event without being on the guest list was called "dumb luck" by the Dardens. The White House is calling it a "nice gesture" and has been explaining how this incident is nothing like the breach of security that took place when Tareq and Michaele Salahi infamously crashed the Obamas' state dinner.
The Dardens got into the White House on Veterans Day, weeks before the Salahis' infamous party crashing. The couple mistakenly arrived a day early for a tour that was booked by their congressman.
The White House says it put the Dardens through the appropriate screenings and criminal background checks before allowing them to go to the Veterans Day breakfast because there were no tours scheduled that day.

So I guess anyone can get into the White House now without proper clearance? Well, it's okay I guess. They were a veteran family and had the proper background checks but this really doesn't make me feel secure about the job being done in the White House that all of our tax dollars go to. When people can just slip through the gaps there might as well be a door that says, "Please don't enter under punishment of the honor system." Because people will start intruding where ever they are able.
All in all security is going well though. People are able to feel safe enough about our country and even if the wrong kind of person slips through there are enough blockades of guards and such that can protect and defend our nation.

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H1N1 Virus complications? Or Just Plain Complicating?

"800,000 H1N1 vaccine doses for young children recalled; safety not a concern" reads the headline on one of today's most recent articles.
The potency of the H1N1 vaccines is falling short of what it should for one of the 5 companies manufacturing vaccines.
The French manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur is voluntarily recalling about 800,000 doses of vaccine meant for children between the ages of 6 months and 35 months.
The company and the CDC emphasized that the recall was not prompted by safety concerns, and that even though the vaccine isn't quite as potent as it's supposed to be, children who received it don't have to be immunized again against H1N1.
The CDC emphasized that there is no danger for any child who received this type of vaccine.
When asked what parents should do, CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said, "absolutely nothing." He said if children receive this vaccine, they will be fine.


So here's the deal... They recall a vaccine. And at the same time they say everyone immunized with it is fine.. And yet they have to recall the remaining doses because they aren't strong enough? I call Bullshit... These companies have to start telling the truth about their products before people get hurt.
Kids lives are at risk and telling the public that the doses aren't potent enough to protect their children and then turning around and saying they don't have to get another shot is just pure wrong... You can't argue logic verse logic using different facts. That's a fallacy.

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Capable of Killing

The man convicted of killing British student Meredith Kercher has given an interview from his Italian jail cell, insisting Amanda Knox is a "sweet girl" incapable of murder.
Raffaele Sollecito, who was sentenced to 25 years for his role in Kercher's death, told an Italian newspaper that he was struggling to come to terms with the verdict and feared going "insane" in prison.
Asked if his former girlfriend Knox -- also convicted of Kercher's murder and jailed for 26 years -- was capable of killing, Sollecito told Il Messagero: "It is absurd and inadmissible. She is a very sweet girl."
He also rejected claims he and Knox had acted inappropriately by shopping for underwear after Kercher's murder -- an incident that was cited as an example of Knox's lack of emotion following her roommate's death.
"We went shopping for underwear because Amanda had everything sequestered. All of which was said was wrong," he said.

Are you kidding me!?@ These people are being persecuted for this crime and a peice of evidence used was whether or not they felt guilty.... Sad! Of course they can go shopping and they shouldn't feel guilty or bad because they didn't kill the person. Maybe they did? They were found guilty, so I guess I can't judge; but, can they?




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Sanctions Against Iran

Secretary Robert Gates said he expects Iran to face "significant" new sanctions over its nuclear program. Gates held a town hall meeting with about 300 soldiers and airmen in Kirkuk. He arrived in the country Thursday after a two-day trip to Afghanistan. At the meeting, Gates discussed Iran's nuclear program.
"I think you are going to see some significant additional sanctions imposed by the international community," he told the troops.
His comments came a day after the United States and other envoys warned that Iran faced tougher sanctions if it did not comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions. The envoys slammed Iran for transporting arms and ammunition to Syria, saying the clock is ticking for the Islamic republic.
"Patience is running out," said Mark Lyall-Grant, the British ambassador to the United Nations. "If there is no change of approach, then clearly the Security Council will need to look again at further sanctions against Iran in the new year."
Iran shocked the world in September with the revelation of a nuclear facility it had been building secretly in the holy city of Qom. Since then, it has allowed inspectors from the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency to visit the plant.

Well, this article poses the same threat we've been dealing with for about 50 years now. Nuclear weapons. And the thing is this will not go away, today it is Iran, tommorow, who knows?
The one thing we can be certain of is for the U.S. to maintain its grip on the world politically, economicly, and power wise we will do anything we can to keep the smaller countries from creating nuclear devices that would endanger our status as the head hancho in the world.
Regulations are never bad but when they impose on the rights of a nation watchout, there will be feedback, and it isn't always pretty.

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Indian prime minister makes state visit to Washington

President Obama will welcome Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for an official state visit Tuesday. The two leaders will discuss a range of global, regional and bilateral issues, the White House said. Those discussions are likely to center on Afghanistan, climate change and nuclear energy cooperation. Singh has been quoted as saying that a Taliban victory in Afghanistan would be disastrous for Central and South Asia. Singh's visit will be the first state visit hosted by the administration, the highest honor extended to a foreign dignitary. It will be Singh's second visit to Washington; he has also met with former President George W. Bush. Grammy- and Oscar-award-winning singer and actress Jennifer Hudson will entertain the black-tie crowd, several sources involved in the planning outside the administration said.

I agree with what Obama is doing with our nation. Opening up his doors to foreign officials will eventually lead to better relations and hopefully change the world one person at a time. Obama targetsthe leaders of this world who can make a difference in this world and in our economy and he will eventually make this country a better place.

Article found at.

Medical Issues

Issue Number 1
Comprehensive Verse Incremental Health care Reform

Most people who would agree with the government taking care of health care make the argument for equality and say that the government would be able to keep a high standard of care while reducing cost where ever they can. Others say that by having competition in the market people keep costs low and production high. This competition is seen by some people as a better thing than the government taking control.

I like the health care system the way it is and would disagree with changing it. The ability of our health care system to grow and take punishment is very great with independent parties controlling it. If we are going to reform the care it would take many many tax dollars to do and the overall effect would be detrimental.



#2 Issue

#3 Issue

Afghanistan! Decisions Decisions.

After a rigerous final meeting Obama has said they are very close to coming to a final decision. The U.S. commander on the ground has asked for more troops and Republicans have criticized Obama for the drawn-out consideration process. The White House has defended its timetable, saying the president wants to get the decision right, not fast. Monday's meeting, which ended at 10 p.m., included Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen, Afghanistan commanding Gen. Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry and other senior officials. Obama pushed for revisions in proposed plans for troop increases to clarify how and when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government.

I think we shouldn't send more troops to Afghanistan. This would only cause more hatred toward the U.S. On top of that we already have enough debt from this war. Cut the losses and lets just get out of there while we can.

Article found at.

The Murders of a Few Enrage the Masses

Ohio home of a convicted rapist had been turned into a tomb holding at least 10 bodies."I like to believe there is nothing else more there, but we will not know until we finish the search," said Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath. "It appears that this man had an insatiable appetite that he had to fill."
Authorities charged Sowell, 50, with five counts of aggravated murder Tuesday afternoon, police said. He was also charged with rape, felonious assault and kidnapping, police said. His arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday morning. The first six bodies found last week were all African-American women and five of them had been strangled, McGrath said.

This is appalling. This man was convicted of raping some people only 15 or so years ago and when released they didn't keep any sort of tabs on his activities until some lady said she was raped by him(which isn't confirmed) but it was what was needed to raise the alarm.
This man is sick and twisted and should be put away for a very long time. Having ten bodies in his home and counting his activities warrant the worst punishment his state can deal out to him.
The community around these rapes and murders are furious with rage, may Sowell's soul be saved by some higher power... Because no one else in this world is with him. That's what you get for being a murdering rapist though.

Pakistinians and Explosives: Death On Four Wheels

A Car packed with explosives was detonated near a shopping complex killing 90 and wounding 200. It is the deadliest attack to date that has been carried out in Peshawar and this is the second attack this month made on the city. Meanwhile the government is trying to use its military might to but down the regime of constantly growing terrorists. And being the helpful country we are, we are going to fund another war with 7.5billion over 5years.

Why? Look at our situation in Afghanistan, Iraq, look at all of the other wars we have fought. Once we give assistance to a side it just becomes a war of super powers backing the little nations till one emerges on top. This isn't the way to solve the problem. Open negotiations, talk to these people, talk to their leaders, and appeal to their other senses. Only once all else has failed should we start using our economical and military might to shut down installations.

Original Article Summary found at: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/28/pakistan.blast/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Social Insecurity

"War Dollars" as discussed on Steve's blog.

"Spending what we can afford" as discussed on Tim's blog.

And "Social Insecurity" which will be discussed here.

Are all very important factors in our growing deficit and debt. Currently at around twelve trillion dollars and growing at a rate of one and a half trillion a year the national debt has become a staggering monster hiding in the closet of every American man, woman, and, especially, child.

Social Security is a major issue in today's society because of the way it has been set up in the past. When it was created it made sense, in the process of its creation it reduced the unemployment rate of senior citizens from 50% to 10% in a matter of a couple decades. But, now as the baby boomers approach their retirement age and over one fourth of the country is going to be collecting social security the program suffers major short comings in its budgeting. The governments spending on this issue was doing just fine until congress stuck its nose into it and started to withdraw money in the form of IOUs which we all know can't be paid off if 12trillion is being tied up already. Good luck getting your social security on time... Or at all.

Social Security is a death trap or if not death certainly a trap in which starving to death is a great possibility. The positive side is that if we take the time now to fix the flawed system we have created it might get better and possibly, we will be able to get our social security benefits that we are paying into right now. I agree with raising the retirement age in the nation because truly we are a healthier long living country than we were 50 years ago. Also if this were to happen then more money would be coming in while people are working and this money taken in can be returned to the payers! Wow, what a system, you pay now and receive later, the amount people pay in should be the amount they receive out of they system. It isn't hard to add and subtract and when you look at someone's earnings in the end it should equal their spending. The concept isn;t hard to grasp and eventually congress will get it.

Image found at Site.

Distracted Driving: The Death of a Lifestyle

When a young man's mother is killed from a distracted driver who hit her going 50 he made his stand. Over 250 politicians showed up on the occasion to hear him speak. Another girl's mother was hit when a driver on a cell phone, having a conversation, ran a red light and slammed into the side of her car killing the mother on impact and traumatizing her forever. Drivers that use hand held devices have four times the chance of getting in a crash as other drivers and when you take into account these people kill over 6,000 others a year it is easy to see why the police are starting to crack down on them.

New laws are being enacted to cut funding from states that do not support a no texting while driving law and while these are strict and unfair (as even people driving and talking are at a major disadvantage compared to those that just drive) they are necessary for the safety of everyone.
"Safety is our No. 1 priority at DOT, and we're going to coordinate these efforts along with a lot of other people," [LaHood] said. Many people who aren't killed on impact still go through many hours of physical therapy and those that are lucky enough to make it out unscathed still have to live with the reality that they have caused massive damage.


In my opinion texting while driving, talking while driving, messing with i pods, eating, putting on cosmetics, and everything else should be stopped immediately while driving. The reality... People are people and unless there is a force large enough to stop them or incentive enough to deter them they will continue their bad habits.
It is not our fault that we don;t see the long term effect of such small actions. We are HUMAN and thus have human faults. The best the state can do to protect us from ourselves is prosecute when they can.
Life and Death are in the hands of everyone in this world. It ultimately comes down to the person who is in control to make the decision and nothing has or ever will change that.

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Obama and the World

Obama has many up and coming meetings to deal with everything from missile defenses to the world economy. Though people in other countries see America as a source of decline in their economy Obama still maintains a very good public rating. But public rating for the man doesn't always mean people support his plans. Although everyone awaits what will happen to the economy and to see how Obama deals with the problems in the middle east some still would like to see him deal more with global warming and the environmental issues. Onto the war topic most top advisors say that it will never be won and that the troop surge necessary would not be worth the cost or worth the negative feedback it would generate. (Summary of CNN)





I believe that what Obama is doing in the Middle East is the correct thing. He isn't mobilizing on a dime and acting out of impulse. This isn't just a normal war; you have public ratings, economic stress, and chance of victory to look at. This war in reality has more faces than any other war we have ever faced. Opening up negotiations with other countries and talking about economic improvements that can benefit both sides has been needed for some time now. Obama is accepted around the world and renowned for his people skills and ability to deal with situations in a well thought out manner. Hands down he beats Bush by a land slide on the public polls and it shows in his negotiations.