No more Palin...We need more Stewart!!!

          Responding to Michael Gonzalez’s Sarah Palin in the Spotlight Again is an absolute treat for me. I couldn’t agree with Gonzalez more. Sarah Palin has zero authority concerning government workings, which makes it baffling that news organizations cover her opinions so thoroughly. Even if Palin still had anything to do with the government I wouldn’t care to know about her ideals concerning foreign policy. This reminds me of the crossfire episode with Jon Stewart. He is pleading for the focus to be directed towards helping rather than hurting the people of our country.

          Gonzalez forgot to mention the new reality television show that is all about Sarah Palin and her family. The media not only cares for her every opinion about government but the interest in her personal life has grown to unbelievable heights. Unfortunately, the media’s primary concern is entertaining regardless of how ridiculous the outcome.

          Gonzalez mentioned Palin being compared with Obama, which almost caused me to laugh out loud. There are no other two people who could be more different. I agree that the media outlets are afraid to be branded “liberal” and that causes them to completely fail to point out the shortcomings of people like Palin. Isn’t it time for a change concerning the political arena? The media needs a new set of guidelines when covering our national news. I know we have to uphold freedom of speech but for the sake of fellow Americans there should some form of media outlet that can be trusted rather than despised because of its inability to tell it how it is. The American people need to be informed and so far it seems the only one willing to do so is Jon Stewart. We need more Jon Stewarts in the world!!!

Security For Airports...Security For Health

              When putting into account the outrageous amount of people who die every day from cigarette smoking, it seems there would be a bit more emphasis put into the safety of our fellow Americans caused by smoking than there is put into the possibility of terrorist attacks involving our Air travel. Not only does smoking this poison harm the one doing it but it also puts all who are around them in danger as well. If the dangers of smoking can be overlooked why is there so much attention and action being taken for the possibility of terrorist attacks regarding the recent security changes taking place in our Airports?

                I in no way intend to bash security for airline passengers. I love to travel and I fly at least a few times a year. I am only highlighting the irony involved in the recent extreme measures being taken for Airport security and the lack of anything to fight the threat of second-hand smoke. There are body scanners and pat downs in place to protect us from those who may wish to harm us at the Airports. All the while there are millions of people all over the place who are harming us every day with second-hand smoke. Since there is no way to do away with cigarettes all together, smoking has the ability to continue to in its path of destruction with no end in sight.

                I say if we are going to spend such time, money, attention, etc. on Airport security for the protection of the people in our country then we should spend the same for one of the deadliest killers, one of our biggest threats…Cigarette Smoking.  

Healthcare Subsidies for ONE...Healthcare Subsidies for ALL

According to the blog, Healthcare Reform Leaves Gaps for Federally-Qualified Students, the Healthcare Reform Act should include healthcare subsidies for students who qualify for the TEACH Grant Program. The argument presented holds that since the decision has been made for these students to receive special help from the Government in exchange for their service to society they will be doing, then why not grant the students the ability to continue their hard work with the security that free or affordable health insurance would bring them.

I personally plan to become a teacher as well. I plan to do contract work in a low-income school that will repay a majority of my student loans. This opportunity to have loan repayment had much to do with my decision to return to school. Of course, these reimbursements do not begin until I finish school and begin my teaching career. At this time I will be receiving health insurance that is available to all teachers in the state of Texas. We do not expect the Government reimbursements for services to society until we are actually giving back to society, so how could we possibly expect Government Healthcare subsidies to be given in advance either.

I agree that it would be nice to have insurance while attending college, but why would these subsidies be limited to one particular category of students? We are all working hard to earn our degrees. If we are going to fight for insurance for college students wouldn't it be fair to fight for insurance for ALL college students. Until we finish school we are all doing the same thing. There is no way to judge whose degree does the most good for others. So I say if we are going to fight for insurance then let’s fight for insurance for ALL students. After all, we are the future...ALL of us.

GET WITH THE PROGRAM GOVERNMENT!!!

Our U.S. National Government is a roller coaster of change on an unfinished track. Although we have experienced several technological advancements, we are still a far cry from having an ideal governmental system. Thankfully, we have been given the opportunity to experience a change that in the past would have been completely unheard of. By electing President Barack Obama, our country has taken a step forward regarding prejudices that have ran our government for much to long. We have come a long way but clearly there is much that still needs to progress for the future. The underlying issue is the lack of conforming to today’s advancements. It is 2010, we have a President of mixed races and an abundance of ways to receive information about our government online, and wouldn’t it be beneficial for our government to catch up with our Country?

Our governmental system will not be able to experience similar advances because we are still following the rules and expectations that were developed during a time that had completely different issues. To expect our government to be changed in a drastic way would be unrealistic, but a few advancements here and there would make a huge difference in many processes, such as voting. To find a solution that is realistic, our society would need to take a stand. We would need to demand new governmental procedures that are more appropriate to the time that we are living in. It’s time for us to shout from the rooftops…GET WITH THE PROGRAM GOVERNMENT!!!

The Smirking Chimp

Rule of Law is Alive and Well Outside the United States

The rule of law does not have a precise definition, and it's meaning can vary between different nations and legal traditions. Generally, however, it can be understood as a legal-political regime under which the law restrains the government by promoting certain liberties and creating order and predictability regarding how a country functions. In the most basic sense, the rule of law is a system that attempts to protect the rights of citizens from arbitrary and abusive use of government power.
 (University of Iowa) According to the blog, Rule of Law is Alive and Well Outside the United States, the author is making a plea for more attention to be given to America instead of the 35 other nations around the world takes the stage. Not only does the author not have enough information to back his reasoning, but the claim is outrageous for people of the other nations that take part in the rule of law. The rule of law will clearly stand by the same obligations regardless of however many nations are involved in it's functioning. Rankings on education, infant mortality, work hours, lifespan, retirement security, health, environmental impact, incarceration rates, violence, concentration of wealth, and other measures of quality of life should be supported by the rule of law in all parts of the world because after all, we are all human beings who deserve the best basis of law regulations that exist with the rule of law, regardless of where we call home. Since the blog was intended for Americans, hope for a better system is in most of our hearts to begin with. Instead of striving for more attention to America's downfall's, there should be more attention given to the other nation's ability to be successful in particular areas such as access to civil justice, fundamental rights, and absence of corruption. Learning and then applying the steps and processes that cause the other nations to be successful could help improve America's quality of life. So, instead of seeking attention to the negative, we should be working together with other nations to form a better balanced America.

Austin American Statesman

In the immigration debate, remember the kids are American

We tend to forget about the children who are involved in the controversial debate concerning illegal immigration. Most of these children are born in America. This is their home; the only home they've ever known. It would make sense to send these children of immigrants back with their families, but is that constitutional? Republicans seem to think so. A movement has been set to motion to change the 14^th Amendment to strip citizenship from the American-born children of illegal immigrants. Shouldn’t all American citizens have rights regardless of how their parents arrived to the U.S.? If my rights had anything to do with my parents past, I would be in big trouble. It is imperative that these children receive what they are entitled to as American citizens. It is easy to think of the children as abstractions, a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance, but the reality is that they are here and they were born here whether some may like it or not. These children risk being punished for nothing more than being born. The setting of this blog is the District of Columbia, which is the home to illegal immigrants ranging in the thousands. Irony floods this Washington area with the Capital standing tall and proud, yet most of the “locals” are illegal immigrants and their American-born children. Regardless of how the illegal immigration debate should turn out, it is against all that our country stands for to treat these children as anything but American citizens. After all…These Children Are Our Future.

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Who is a citizen? The Founders Left Us A Riddle.

USA Today

The issue of immigration has been a product of debate for much too long. This article is expressing the importance of giving immigration well defined boundaries that will put a stop to the confusion once and for all. Rather than continue to debate, we should come to a common ground that will be as fair and beneficial to everyone involved as possible. The article begins by addressing "the constitution and the fact that citizenship itself is poorly defined and even more poorly understood." Birthright citizenship, a persons acquisition of United States citizenship by the virtue of the circumstances of his or her birth, is discussed because questioning it has become increasingly difficult as the numbers of birthright citizens grow each year.
As the article delves into the history of our country and it's people, the reader is better able to understand where the vague legalities regarding immigration were originally devoloped. To make the changes needed for immigration the supreme court, congress, legislative, and judicial processes would have to come together and form a basic framework for all the factors pertaining to citizenship and immigration. Although this is a process that could take some time, the lack of conflict will be well worth it in the end.