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

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