Political Cartoon: Barack Obama

This political cartoon criticizes President Obama's action plans in different fields: the war in Afghanistan, the New Health Care Reform, the increase in taxes, and  his attitude as President. The artist depicts this concept by illustrating four different situations involving the President in four different issues. In addition, the artist conveys President Obama with ignorance and naiveness in his expressions. The artist also use ironic diction and oxymoron to express the absurd contradiction of the President's plans.

In the war of Afghanistan, the artist presents the irony by using the quote "The only way to get out is to go in." This refers to the current President's plans to send more troops to Afghanistan, believing that it is the only way to defeat the corruption in Afghanistan, and withdrawing the US troops by 2011.

Numerous Americans oppose Obama's new single-player universal Health  Care plan because billions of dollars are going to be spent on it. However, Obama believes that this type of health care plan would appease and benefit today's poor economic situation.

Furthermore, the Obama administrative government is raising the taxes on many fields of the industry, in order to get the economy flowing. However, this artist depicts this action as hurtful to the lower, middle, and even the high class, given that the taxes are raised even more for them.

Lastly, the artist conveys the government as inattentive and  not vigilant of the nation by presenting it with the satirical quote above, "The only way to watch is to cover your eyes."

http://cartoonbox.slate.com/walthandelsman/

More troops to Afghanistan?

7,000 more troops are promised to be sent to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban and al Qaeda extremists and train Afghan forces, according to Nato. "At least 25 countries will send more forces to the mission in 2010," Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters after holding talks with NATO foreign ministers. "They have offered around 7,000 forces with more to come."

 Despite President Obama’s priority plan to withdraw the troops from the Afghanistan war in his presidential campaign by July 2011, more troops are needed to defeat corruption in Afghanistan. "ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) will have at least 37,000 more soldiers in 2010 than it did this year," Rasmussen said. "That is solidarity in action." Currently, there are 68,000 U.S. troops operating under both NATO and U.S. commands, and around 42,000 non-U.S. forces under NATO.

The US has also reaffirmed ISAF to be an ally and a partner in defeating the Afghan war and coordinate civilian and development assistance in increasing the troops. "We have come together in NATO and in ISAF because we recognize that our security is shared -- that we have a collective responsibility." 

Even though more troops are deemed to be sent in Afghanistan, hopefully, Obama's plan of withdrawing troops by July 2011 will be attained by this upcoming input of troops.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/12/04/afghan.nato.troops/index.html?section=cnn_latest 

Push for a health Care debate

One of the major issues facing the US is our Health Care system. Recently a bill for a single-player universal Health has been a focal topic of the House and the Senate. The bill has passed the house of representatives by a 220-215 vote. Now, it is being processed by the senate. The conflict now is whether the debate for the health care bill should happen sooner, specifically the saturday preceding Thanksgiving. It would need to have 60 senate votes to approve this debate, which will eliminate filibusters who want to delay the historic health care bill, most of whom are Republican.

Two final holdouts, Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, announced in speeches a few hours apart on the Senate floor they would vote to clear the way for what is expected to be a bruising, conflicting debate.
"It is clear to me that doing nothing is not an option," said Landrieu, who noted the legislation includes $100 million to help her state pay the costs of health care for the poor."

"This bill would require most Americans to carry insurance, and large firms would be liable for large costs if they did not provide it to their workforce and employees. Moreover, Congressional budget analysts put the legislation's cost at $979 billion over a decade and said it would reduce deficits over the same period while extending coverage to 94 percent of the eligible population."

"Senators who support this bill have a lot of explaining to do," said the Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. "Americans know that a vote to proceed on this bill is a vote for higher premiums, higher taxes and massive cuts to Medicare. That's a pretty hard thing to justify supporting."

Filibusters, mostly republicans in the senate, are delaying this health care bill, believing that time will solve their problems. In my opinion, they are running away from a conflict that they could express in the debate for this bill.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091121/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul;_ylt=Aguc0BHYgIG9Mtnpj7EuZGayFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTJvdWoxNzl0BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMTIxL3VzX2hlYWx0aF9jYXJlX292ZXJoYXVsBGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDMwRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNmdWxsbmJzcHN0b3I-

US Supreme Court: Should minors get life sentences?

Supreme Court Judges are torn on the issue of sentencing minors (people under the age of 18) to life without parole. Some argue that life sentencing is almost to the same degree of the Death penalty on minors, which is "cruel and unsual punishment." The two judges who favor life sentencing without the possibility of parole are Justice Alito and Justice Roberts, claiming that "death is different." Thus it cannot be compared to the degree of life sentencing. “The worst case you can possibly imagine, that person must at some point be made eligible for parole, that’s your argument?”argues Alito.

However some judges like Justices Kennedy are opposed to giving minors such a harsh degree of life sentencing. “What is the state’s interest in keeping the defendant in custody for the rest of his life if he has been rehabilitated and is no longer a real danger?” said Justice Kennedy. He believes that minors, who are more susceptible to peer pressure and immature choices, are not the worst offenders.

On the contrary, the court is considering appeals by Joe Harris Sullivan, who was convicted of raping an elderly woman when he was 13, and Terrance Jamar Graham, who was found to have violated his probation by taking part in an armed robbery at the age of 17.

Justice Roberts and Justice Alito, on the case of life sentencing with the possibility of parole, suggest to compromise with the concept of case-by-case basis.

In my perspective, people are different; some criminals may change and some may not. If the death penalty and life sentences were abolished, more criminals would be encouraged to commit more crimes. However, sentencing a minor, a person who has yet to learn from the reality of the world, should not be given life sentences without parole. It's a whole life wasted, just like the concept of the death penalty.



http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=azXT0bzvWHWU&pos=9

Congress expands FBI power in Patriot Act

Congress approved the bill that will allow the FBI to subpoena business documents and transactions from a broader range of businesses -- everything from libraries to travel agencies to eBay -- without first seeking approval from a judge. The FBI, under this bill that expands the Patriot Act, will be allowed to get bank records and Internet or phone logs just by issuing a letter that doesn't even need to be consulted by a judge. Basically, the the balance of power will be altered as power will shift more to the FBI, and will take some away from the judicial court.

Some officials believe that this bill will strenghten US's national security. "This provision brings the definition of 'financial institution' up to date with the reality of the financial industry," Goss said on the House floor. "This provision will allow those tracking terrorists and spies to 'follow the money' more effectively and thereby protect the people of the United States more effectively(Wired.com © 2009 Condé Nast Digital)."

Nonetheless, some people believe that the expansion of power in a certain group, like the FBI, will create an imbalance of power in the government, and therefore, creating more corruption or abuse of power in the nation.

In my perspective, there should be a line between national security and invasion of Privacy. Giving the FBI the power to search and acquire anyone's personal records, without even a warrant, or consent of other higher officials, will put the the privacy and identity of everyone at risk.
http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2003/11/61341

cyberbullying

Lori Drew, who is 50, was accused of participating in a cyber-bully plan  against 13-year-old Megan Meier on Myspace, who later committed suicide.A federal judge on Thursday overturned guilty verdicts against Lori. Her case argued the fact that violating the rules and terms of hacking was equivalent to computer Hacking. However,District Judge Wu thinks otherwise, stating, “It basically leaves it up to a website owner to determine what is a crime." Ron and Tina Meier, the parents of the victim whose marriage fell apart after their daughter's death, is extremely upset with Judge Wu's ruling in her daughter's case. Drew had been charged with four potential felony counts of unauthorized computer access under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

In addition, Drew conspired to create a fake MySpace account for “Josh Evans” with her then 13-year-old daughter, Sarah, and a then-18-year-old employee and family friend named Ashley Grills. Thus, it was difficult for Judge Wu to reach a verdict, provided that other assailants were involved in the tragic cyber bullying scheme. 

Surprisingly, after weeks and days of trials Wu reached a decision. Drew had faced a maximum sentence of three years and a $300,000 fine. Although prosecutors sought the maximum, probation authorities, in a pre-sentencing report sent to the court, had recommendedprobation and a $5,000 fine.

In my opinion, it is absurd to give such a light penalty to a person that practically committed murder, despite it being indirectly online. Even if Drew did not kill the victim with her own hands, she instigated the situation and thus murdered her through verbal abuse.

 Drewhttp://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/07/drew_court/

Obama's health Care Plan

WASHINGTON: Despite a bitter partisan battle between the White House, insurance companies and Republicans, a new poll shows that a clear majority of Americans support a government-run option in any reform of the country's health-care system.

Regardless of opposition of the insurance companies and numerous republicans towards Obama's universal Health care plan, statistics show that support for the one player universal Health care has risen from 52 percent from mid-August to a 57% support. However, 40% still are opposed to this type of Health Care. Nonetheless, the issue of public option or the mandate for everyone in the nation to have some type of health insurance is still in progress with the majorities. Obama is trying to hold on to his democratic congressional votes, as well as to liberal parties, while trying to get a couple of republican votes. Over a half of the people in the US favor the requirement of having health care for all its citizens.

In my opinion, I think that Universal Health Care as a public option would be the best decision because it helps the poor get health insurance, while the middle class working families and the elite class can get their own private health care, if they prefer to. However, it would create an abundance of competition amongst other health Care HMO, which could significantly increase or decrease rates of health care groups, and even lead to elimination of private insurance groups.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/support-grows-for-obamas-health-scheme-20091020-h6ze.html

Protest for Single Player Universal Health Care

A Protest filled with Excitement, anxiety, and disagreements over the major Health Care Plan was taken place at a Senate Finance Committee hearing. Supporters  of single-payer universal healthcare—the system favored by most Americans—continue to protest their exclusion from discussions on healthcare reform. On Tuesday, five doctors, nurses and single-payer advocates were arrested at a Senate Finance Committee hearing, making it thirteen arrests in less than a week. 

Obama's plan to restructure the US nation's health care system is one step closer to being fulfilled after the pivotal Senate Finance Committee approved legislation on Tuesday requiring nearly all Americans to purchase insurance and ushering in a host of other changes to the nation's $2.5 trillion medical system. Some residents, comprised mostly of Republicans, are opposed to this plan.

"The bill includes consumer protections such as limits on co-pays and deductibles and relies on federal subsidies to help lower-income families purchase coverage. Insurance companies would have to take all comers, and people could shop for insurance within new state marketplaces called exchanges.'"

I am neutral about the Universal Health Care idea. It benefits, low-income families, but it also hurts middle-class working families, which I classify with. "Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) pointed out some middle-income families would have to spend $13,000 on health care before qualifying for subsidies. "Those middle class families are going to seek an exemption [from the proposed requirement to acquire insurance] given those costs and be uninsured," he said(CBS News Online). "

I think that Universal Health Care should not be a mandate, but rather a public option. Public option would give the everyone their own personal decision to pursue Universal Health Care or a private Health Care.

 

 http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/13/baucus_raucus_caucus_doctors_nurses_and

Delmy and Regine Government Radio Show

Orphans

Orphans are children who were abandoned by their parents at childhood, or at any point of their young lives. Having no sense of family at a young age really destroys the foundation of living for an individual. Which is why this issue is our main focus for our service learning projects. We plan to give optimistic talks to these orphans and give them hope for the future, despite their lack of root, connection, and belonging. 

"Orphans are relatively rare in developed countries, as most children can expect both of their parents to survive their childhood. Much higher numbers of orphans exist in war-torn nations such as Afghanistan"

Orphans can be uplifted from their depressed situation, as long as their is someone there to remind them that there is a better future ahead of them if they don't let themselves get carried away by their sadness.In the worst cases, orphanages can be dangerous and unregulated places where children are subject to abuse and neglect. Orphans are educated within their orphanage institution. Orphans are released from orphanage care when they are 18 years of age. After that, it is up to them to tend for themselves. Notable orphans include world leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Andrew Jackson, and even the prophet Muhammad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphan

Liberal me

Based on the Typology test, I am LIBERAL, also known as the modern day hippie. Liberals make up 17% of the American public. Liberals are Predominantly white (83%), most highly educated group (49% have a college degree or more), and youngest group after Bystanders. They also are also the wealthiest of the  democratic group. My Ideological group tends to fight for the welfare of others, especially towards minorities. They are the most opposed to an assertive foreign policy, and take the most liberal views on social issues such as homosexuality, abortion, and censorship.  They believe in peaceful diplomacy rather than war and violence and they are huge advocates for protecting the environment. Liberals believe in the right to choose or deny abortion and they do not criticize against anyone's sexual orientation; they support gays, and believe that they should have the same rights as anyone else protected in the constitution. However, they generally do not involve themselves in religious activity. This is the part that doesn't correspond with me; maybe I'm a religious liberal...sounds more like an oxymoron than a realistic statement. But anyways, Liberals are most sympathetic of any group to immigrants as well as labor unions, and most opposed to the anti-terrorism Patriot Act. 

Tagger injunctions Next???

LA City Attorney Carmen Trutanic is planing to create tagger injunctions, after proposing it for gang members. In my opinion, this plan just goes overboard due to the fact that taggers don't even need to do anything illegal to be arrested!

Trutanic states,"If you want to tag, be prepared to go to jail. And I don't have to catch you tagging. I can just catch you . . . with your homeboys."

Like gang injunctions, it causes racial profiling and an invasion of privacy. How would police know who the taggers are? Are they going to search every person's belongings to look for any tagging materials?

In my opinion, this enforcement is just a way for authorities to scare taggers away and prevent them from tagging on public or private properties. Who would tag on a place where it is police enforced or within a radius of an authority.

Overall, I oppose this new idea of tagger injunctions because it's not worth it to spend a great amount of money on an issue that is not as damaging as gang activity, especially during US's economic crisis.

Gang Injunctions

Gangs and violence has always been in inevitable existence since society began. It is almost impossible to completely get rid of it. However, that doesn't mean that we cannot create ways to appease it or improve safety for those affected by gang violence. Therefore, rules, regulations, and laws are essential, along with the enforcement of it.

Recently, a proposal for gang injunctions has been made by Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanic, specifically a mile radius from Fremont Highschool. Basically, this enforcement makes it illegal for gang members to be together as a group or duo. Brown and Trutanic believes that it will seize, although not completely, gang affiliations and/or violence around the Fremont area.

In my opinion, I think this is a great step towards protecting innocent people who follow the rules of the society and maintain a balanced peace. Even though gangs cannot be completely eliminated, this type of enforcement can reduce crimes, injuries, or nuissance that gangs provoke.

On the contrary, the negative effects of gang injunctions is that it triggers racial profiling. Authorities are most likely to arrest a group of young people who wear a gang attire, but might not be gang members, than a person wearing a more formal clothing, but might be a gangster.
Overall, it is hard to distinguish gangsters from innocent people based on their appearance.

Nonetheless, I support the idea of gang injunctions, and statistics will prove whether it is significantly useful or unecessary.

US no Longer the Superpower

You know how the US has been in an economic turmoil since early 2008? Well, just to add insult to injury, US has lost its title of world's superpower and knocked down to second place. Switzerland now has the world's most competitive economy.

The crash of the US Bank and the need for financial circulation caused this economic downfall because of its huge investments in banks. Consequently, budget cuts were made to different industries, such as business corporations, which caused unemployment rates to an increasingly high amount. With many people without jobs, business failed because of decreasing abundance of consumers. Without consumers, the economy wouldn't produce sufficient amounts of money.

I think the nation needs to put their differences aside because we have a great new president leading us. Obama should come up with a job stimulus so that unemployment rates will decrease on a significant level. This way, the economy can pick itself up and start functioning again. Moreover, the distribution of wealth needs to even out, mostly for the middle class, who are the nation's major consumers. The rich who take up most of the nation's wealth need to donate to the lower class, or organizations that help uplift those who are suffering from US's economy.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/09/switzerland_tops_us_for_first.html

Obama's Speech to school children criticized

President Obama's inspiring speech to school children is under attack by complete ignorance of some people.

In an excerpt from Obama's speech, he exclaims:

"At the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world," Obama said. "And none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities."

Obama also remarks[if they(students) quit in school], "you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country."

Basically, Obama is emphasizing the fact that the hard work of teachers won't show in students unless they[students] actually spend the necessary time in school. Therefore, he is encouraging school children to STAY IN SCHOOL and put effort in it. However, much contraversies within conservative organizations have arised with Obama's speech, claiming that it is too harsh for "local-education setting."

In my opinion, Obama is speaking hard truth. The truth might be harsh for some, but it is a necessary factor in life. It must be spoken.

"Conservatives have urged schools and parents to boycott the address. They say Obama is using the opportunity to promote a political agenda."

How can anyone oppose an enlightenly honest speech that could possibly broaden the minds of the future leaders of the world, and even accuse Obama of using it as a political strategy?

I think this speech would be useful in schools that host low-income students whose in dire need of some inspiration. I know some students in my school who are the first to go to college in their families or are hesitant to further their studies because they pessimistic and unsure of their futures. Imagine what Obama's speech could influence in these students. His Speech is the type of mind-opening truth that will inspire many struggling students out there.







http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090907/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_school_speech

Health care can careless about Health.

These passed couple of the days I've been hearing all sorts of criticism on President Obama's plan for Health care. Health is quite hard to manipulate because there are a lot of manipulators, such as greedy medical practitioners and corrupt insurance companies. Doctors prescribe useless medication and unnecessary visits to their patients just to gain more money. Hence, as the cost of health care rises, it seems like only those who get it for free or aided, such as low-income families and those who don't pay taxes, could afford it.

"Working families are experiencing double-digit increases in the costs of health insurance, more out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits and skyrocketing prices for prescriptions, forcing many to delay getting needed medical care or worse—to decline coverage for themselves or their families because of cost. Health care costs are rising at five times the rate of inflation."(2009 AFL-CIO "What's Wrong with America's Health Care ")

It seems like Middle class, working families, who do pay taxes, are the one's that are being mostly drained of health care benefits. Imagine a middle class family with five to six children who don't have health insurance because it's too expensive to afford?

"The U.S. system of providing health care coverage is employer-based."(2009 AFL-CIO "What's Wrong with America's Health Care ")

Another issue with health care is that employers do not give a fair share of coverage with their employees. This results in a pool of employees with families who don't have insurance or insurance that could barely cover all their needs. These days numerous people simply coerced to live without health insurance because of it's overpowering costs. In my opinion, the health of the people must be on top of the list of President Obama's agenda. People are consumers; consumers generate the economy; the economy controls the main function of the country.



http://www.aflcio.org/issues/healthcare/whatswrong/