Thursday the Senate took a vote to break the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and came up 3 votes short. Gay and lesbian soldiers serving their country are forced to keep quiet about their sexual orientation. Many are banned from serving their country for this reason alone. Absolutly ridiculous, some of the most amazing minds are being turned away for no particular reason.
Later this month there will be another vote and I hope they make the right decision this time. Only 60 votes are needed to break the filibuster. "The defense bill would also have raised pay for soldiers, improved their medical care and provided troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with additional equipment and support. It would be the first time in 48 years that Congress did not approve such a bill — all because of an irrational prejudice against gay men and lesbians." The United States has had many cases with prejudice involved in the past, and we have always over come it. This may be an issue now, but it won't be for long.
The Senate Stands for Injustice
Friday, December 10, 2010
Abortion: The choice to choose
I could not agree more. In the end the decision is up to the woman. Though one group may think that killing a fetus is murder, it does not reflect the views of a whole population. A woman should be able to decide whether she wants to have her baby, give her baby up for adoption, or terminate. Women have options nowadays, and shouldn't have to choose having the child if they won't be able to provide for them. Individuals have the constitutional right to do anything to their body, and taking that away would definately be a violation.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
No Bacon for Me..
I could not agree with you more. Pork Barrel Projects are totally ridiculous. Sure they help people, but honestly there are more important things to worry about. Pork Barrel projects are an informal way of bribing. There are so many other things the government could be spending their money on. They need to change their priorities around, and start making some real changes.
It is unfortunate that people such as those involved in the Hurricane Katrina disaster could not get the help they needed. Katrina was not their fault, no wonder they don't trust the government. Where were they when they were needed most? Spending money that could have been used in rescue and rebuilding efforts on some bullshit.
Every community has its problems, battered roads etc., but in retrospect, are there not bigger problems? Problems like bettering education? Maybe a huge oil spill taking out ecosystems? I guess not if you are a congressman coming up on elections.
It is unfortunate that people such as those involved in the Hurricane Katrina disaster could not get the help they needed. Katrina was not their fault, no wonder they don't trust the government. Where were they when they were needed most? Spending money that could have been used in rescue and rebuilding efforts on some bullshit.
Every community has its problems, battered roads etc., but in retrospect, are there not bigger problems? Problems like bettering education? Maybe a huge oil spill taking out ecosystems? I guess not if you are a congressman coming up on elections.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Legalize It!
One issue I've seen talked about a lot recently is medicinal marijuana. Tuesday California is to vote on whether to broadly legalize marijuana. Should we? I don't see why not. Marijuana helps many ailments ranging from headaches to curbing nausea caused by cancer. On the other hand, marijuana use supposedly leads to greater drug usage.
By legalizing this wonderful plant God gave us, the U.S. could generate billions of dollars in profit. If California legalizes it on Tuesday, they have an opportunity to raise approximately $1 billion in taxes. Money that could be used towards education by improving schools. Not to mention the much appreciated jobs to be created by allowing this business to be brought to light from the black market, which would decrease the resources exhausted by the police and prison systems. People who have been charged with crimes related to petty possession and growing medicinally are being viewed as criminals.
In a much needed change of pace the Justice Department stated on Monday that they were dedicated to the efficient and rational use of resources and clearly complying with state laws. “It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana,” Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. said in a statement, which accompanied a memo sent to federal prosecutors in the 14 states where medicinal marijuana has been legalized, “but we will not tolerate drug traffickers who hide behind claims of compliance with state law to mask activities that are clearly illegal.”
I feel as though any law disobeyed by millions of Americans, shouldn't be a law in the first place. As far as marijuana use leading to harder drugs, I don't think that will be as big as it is blown up to be. Just like alcohol produces alcoholics, there will be those who take mariuana use to an extreme. Potency is a cause of that very concern. Hate to be the bearer of bad news but there are already stronger strands of marijuana out there that are not being regulated. Responsible consumers should know their limit, consuming less of the more powerful strains. With a little help from the government people will know exactly what the contents are of their marijuana. For example, we have acces to the alcoholic content of whatever we are drinking.
Regulation would allow the government to provide medical treatment, counseling, and prevention programs for those who abuse it; as well as assure that citizens were purchasing what they wanted, as opposed to whatever is available on the street. It is possible that use and abuse would decrease with public education, following in the footsteps of tobacco.
By legalizing this wonderful plant God gave us, the U.S. could generate billions of dollars in profit. If California legalizes it on Tuesday, they have an opportunity to raise approximately $1 billion in taxes. Money that could be used towards education by improving schools. Not to mention the much appreciated jobs to be created by allowing this business to be brought to light from the black market, which would decrease the resources exhausted by the police and prison systems. People who have been charged with crimes related to petty possession and growing medicinally are being viewed as criminals.
In a much needed change of pace the Justice Department stated on Monday that they were dedicated to the efficient and rational use of resources and clearly complying with state laws. “It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana,” Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. said in a statement, which accompanied a memo sent to federal prosecutors in the 14 states where medicinal marijuana has been legalized, “but we will not tolerate drug traffickers who hide behind claims of compliance with state law to mask activities that are clearly illegal.”
I feel as though any law disobeyed by millions of Americans, shouldn't be a law in the first place. As far as marijuana use leading to harder drugs, I don't think that will be as big as it is blown up to be. Just like alcohol produces alcoholics, there will be those who take mariuana use to an extreme. Potency is a cause of that very concern. Hate to be the bearer of bad news but there are already stronger strands of marijuana out there that are not being regulated. Responsible consumers should know their limit, consuming less of the more powerful strains. With a little help from the government people will know exactly what the contents are of their marijuana. For example, we have acces to the alcoholic content of whatever we are drinking.
Regulation would allow the government to provide medical treatment, counseling, and prevention programs for those who abuse it; as well as assure that citizens were purchasing what they wanted, as opposed to whatever is available on the street. It is possible that use and abuse would decrease with public education, following in the footsteps of tobacco.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
1st Amendment Protects Protests
Recently a case has gone to court because a man by the name of Albert Snyder is sueing a group led by Reverend Fred Phelps for "invasion of privacy, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress," due to the fact that picketers from Kansas waved insensitive signs at his son's funeral, who had died as a U.S. marine in Iraq. The small group of followers from the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka believes that the 9/11 attack and soldiers dying are God's way of punishing the U.S. for tolerating homosexuality. They claim they're waving their distasteful signs around to draw attention to their cause. How does this attract public support? I couldn't tell you.
At first Snyder was awarded $10 million later dropped to $5 million before a federal appeals court ruled that "notwithstanding the distasteful and repugnant nature of the words," our freedom of speech protects the Westboro group's right to protest and say whatever they want. However, this freedom can reach a level of harrassment, leaving the court to decide on an acceptable buffer zone to allow families to grieve, and protesters to protest. Allowing Snyder's lawsuit would have been dangerous, and raised quite a few questions. Should women seeking an abortion win damages for emotional distress from anti-abortion protestors outside of an abortion clinic at a distance required by law? I don't think so.
As long as adjustments are made to prevent harrassment, then the courts are obligated to protect our freedoms. Most don't agree with how the Westboro group went about getting their point across, but the fact is it was NOT illegal, only inconsiderate. In conclusion, the first amendment protects protests at military funerals, just from a distance.
At first Snyder was awarded $10 million later dropped to $5 million before a federal appeals court ruled that "notwithstanding the distasteful and repugnant nature of the words," our freedom of speech protects the Westboro group's right to protest and say whatever they want. However, this freedom can reach a level of harrassment, leaving the court to decide on an acceptable buffer zone to allow families to grieve, and protesters to protest. Allowing Snyder's lawsuit would have been dangerous, and raised quite a few questions. Should women seeking an abortion win damages for emotional distress from anti-abortion protestors outside of an abortion clinic at a distance required by law? I don't think so.
As long as adjustments are made to prevent harrassment, then the courts are obligated to protect our freedoms. Most don't agree with how the Westboro group went about getting their point across, but the fact is it was NOT illegal, only inconsiderate. In conclusion, the first amendment protects protests at military funerals, just from a distance.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Grad Gamble
Back in the day it was thought that the longer you were in school, the higher your education, the richer you would be. However, in today's economy, grad's can't be sure that they will get a job straight out of college. Aimed towards those students who are still in school looking to graduate in the near future, With no jobs, grads 'gamble' on education, Laura Vanderkam writes about the debate facing most college graduates today. Will a bachelor's degree still set me apart from the rest of the population? Probably not with 70% of high school graduates going to college. What about a master's degree? It would definately put you at the top of the pile, but with the economy being in such bad shape the amount of jobs available are slim to none. No matter what piece of paper you earned, there just are not enough jobs to go around. Although a master's degree would help in the long run with raising your earnings over time. Most students are attending graduate school due to the competitiveness of obtaining 1 of few jobs available, but ending up with a larger school loan to pay off as opposed to a great career.
I agree with Laura because without enough jobs to go around, it really doesn't matter how much of an education you have. Yes, furthuring your education does give you a better skill set, but doesn't guarantee you a job after college. As opposed to traditional education, what is more useful now is to learn how to be more of a freelancer and entreprenuer. You have to be able to sort of create a job for yourself, because no one is going to hand it to you. College graduates would be more successful in the job hunt if they were taught other skills as well, such as how to find clients, suggest projects, and manage their ideas.
I agree with Laura because without enough jobs to go around, it really doesn't matter how much of an education you have. Yes, furthuring your education does give you a better skill set, but doesn't guarantee you a job after college. As opposed to traditional education, what is more useful now is to learn how to be more of a freelancer and entreprenuer. You have to be able to sort of create a job for yourself, because no one is going to hand it to you. College graduates would be more successful in the job hunt if they were taught other skills as well, such as how to find clients, suggest projects, and manage their ideas.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Who do Americans trust? No one.
Today I came across an interesting article that discussed how our faith in the government has been decreasing recently. Americans are really confident in...nobody grabbed my attention because I never realized the small things that have slowly been eating away at what little confidence I have in our present government.
Recent studies suggest that now more than 50% of people agree that homosexual couples should get the same legal recognition that heterosexual couples receive, an idea the government has never accepted. The government seems to think that requiring everyone to buy health insurance will help boost the economy, however I don't see how. Since the economy has been in bad shape people haven't been able to live as lavishly, and requiring health insurance does not help those who simply just cannot afford it. Not to mention the fact that we have not seen any action from the government to assist those who the recession is hitting the hardest. Of course small business owners run are the public's favorite when they want to trust some one. Small business owners are more close to home, and Americans feel as though they can relate to them better than corporations and the government.
As far as the Constitution goes, the government hasn't really kept up with some of the things mentioned like making us feel safe from foreign/domestic threats. With the economy not doing too well, the government has obviously not done a great job of making sure we can pursue happiness. No one is happy when they aren't making a living, or scraping by every month. Not to mention, the Supreme Court who we trust to interpret this sacred document, may be influenced by their own political views.
Although I think we have a pretty decent government, I don't always agree with their actions, but it could be worse. At least our government is organized thanks to the Constitution, and we have the power to elect whomever we want come election time. Plus, being that this government has been around for about 200+ years its hard for people to lose complete faith in something that has been able to help us throughout the years.
Recent studies suggest that now more than 50% of people agree that homosexual couples should get the same legal recognition that heterosexual couples receive, an idea the government has never accepted. The government seems to think that requiring everyone to buy health insurance will help boost the economy, however I don't see how. Since the economy has been in bad shape people haven't been able to live as lavishly, and requiring health insurance does not help those who simply just cannot afford it. Not to mention the fact that we have not seen any action from the government to assist those who the recession is hitting the hardest. Of course small business owners run are the public's favorite when they want to trust some one. Small business owners are more close to home, and Americans feel as though they can relate to them better than corporations and the government.
As far as the Constitution goes, the government hasn't really kept up with some of the things mentioned like making us feel safe from foreign/domestic threats. With the economy not doing too well, the government has obviously not done a great job of making sure we can pursue happiness. No one is happy when they aren't making a living, or scraping by every month. Not to mention, the Supreme Court who we trust to interpret this sacred document, may be influenced by their own political views.
Although I think we have a pretty decent government, I don't always agree with their actions, but it could be worse. At least our government is organized thanks to the Constitution, and we have the power to elect whomever we want come election time. Plus, being that this government has been around for about 200+ years its hard for people to lose complete faith in something that has been able to help us throughout the years.
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