I have a hard time agreeing with Stark and his opinion on the death penalty. The death penalty is the one topic that flusters me the most in life. I’m completely against it because who are we to decide whether someone lives or dies? What gives us the wisdom to discern whether or not a felon has committed a crime equivalent to punishment by death? Many people say it is a waste of money to keep these criminals alive and well in prison. I find that reasoning absolutely ludicrous! Are we so stingy that we can’t all shell out some extra cash to keep someone alive? In my opinion, criminals are no different than you and me. They are living and breathing human beings, but have done something extremely wrong in the eyes of man. Is it really necessary to treat them like dirt because they’ve messed up?
I definitely respect Stark’s opinion; it’s just hard to fathom how people can be content with the death penalty. For quite some time now I’ve found myself fighting against the death penalty. In my US history class this past year I dug myself into about a 40 minute heated debate regarding the death penalty. My rival and I were literally yelling across the room to one another and I became so fed up with her stubbornness that I almost left in the middle of class. I wish people could understand why it’s wrong to murder people because it’s the same thing we are condemning them for. So, wouldn’t it make sense to sentence that person to death as well? If we don’t we’d be considered hypocrites.
As for sentencing an innocent person to death, that fact also plays a huge role towards my opposition of the death penalty. Imprisoning innocent people happens quite often and we’ve killed many innocent people because we support the death penalty. It’s a risky punishment and I don’t think it’s worth it at all. Whether the criminal is innocent or not, you are still taking away someone’s life. You’re taking them away from their friends and family. Their death causes many trials and tribulations for all the people that were connected to that person. You’re not just punishing the criminal for their wrong doings but you’re punishing any human that is remotely connected to them and that isn’t right.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
There's Always Room For Improvement
In all honesty, whether you support or reject our current form of government or the way things are run, it is a fair and accurate claim that our government works tremendously hard and does a plethora of duties for our beloved country. Though that statement may be plausible, the government still contains its imperfections; there’s always going to be room for improvement. There could potentially be significant adjustments to health care, such as creating a universal health care plan for the nation. The government could also invest more time in helping decrease homelessness in America.
Health care is imperative to the well being of our entire society. I feel the need to fight for a universal health care plan because there are too many Americans that aren’t able to get the proper medical, dental or mental attention they need because they can’t afford it or they don’t have the proper insurance. It’s not right to penalize citizens because they aren’t as wealthy as the person next door. In fact, it’s simply inhumane to not allow any American proper health care due to their financial/personal issues. Implementing a universal health care plan would only benefit a multitude of people and save millions of lives that are lost due to lack of health care. I believe that if Americans saw all the incredible benefits this plan has to offer then many people would convert and begin to support this universal health care plan.
Now for homelessness, homelessness in America is a crisis that society typically takes lightly. The American population needs to be concerned of their fellow Americans and that can only take place if they become more aware of the severity of what’s happening. The government also needs a wake up call; they need to set the example for Americans and become active in striving to solve this dilemma. There have been efforts to help mend the homelessness in America but not enough national efforts. A National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual Conference was held in Washington DC, but that’s not enough! More conferences and actions such as this need to take place nationally, not just in the area of the world where our government is prominent. Secretary Donovan spoke at the conference in Washington DC and stated, "We have proven we can house anyone. Our job now is to house everyone - to prevent and end homelessness. All homelessness." This should be the mission statement that Americans follow. I propose that we educate Americans by discussing homelessness frequently on the news, create support groups for the homeless and form more conferences and groups that will continue to think of new ways to reduce homelessness.
The United States is a family and families stick together through thick and thin. We can’t abandon our family members when they’re in trouble therefore we can’t disregard the American people when they are struggling to survive. It’s our job as a community to support one another and it’s the government’s job to lead the way.
Health care is imperative to the well being of our entire society. I feel the need to fight for a universal health care plan because there are too many Americans that aren’t able to get the proper medical, dental or mental attention they need because they can’t afford it or they don’t have the proper insurance. It’s not right to penalize citizens because they aren’t as wealthy as the person next door. In fact, it’s simply inhumane to not allow any American proper health care due to their financial/personal issues. Implementing a universal health care plan would only benefit a multitude of people and save millions of lives that are lost due to lack of health care. I believe that if Americans saw all the incredible benefits this plan has to offer then many people would convert and begin to support this universal health care plan.
Now for homelessness, homelessness in America is a crisis that society typically takes lightly. The American population needs to be concerned of their fellow Americans and that can only take place if they become more aware of the severity of what’s happening. The government also needs a wake up call; they need to set the example for Americans and become active in striving to solve this dilemma. There have been efforts to help mend the homelessness in America but not enough national efforts. A National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual Conference was held in Washington DC, but that’s not enough! More conferences and actions such as this need to take place nationally, not just in the area of the world where our government is prominent. Secretary Donovan spoke at the conference in Washington DC and stated, "We have proven we can house anyone. Our job now is to house everyone - to prevent and end homelessness. All homelessness." This should be the mission statement that Americans follow. I propose that we educate Americans by discussing homelessness frequently on the news, create support groups for the homeless and form more conferences and groups that will continue to think of new ways to reduce homelessness.
The United States is a family and families stick together through thick and thin. We can’t abandon our family members when they’re in trouble therefore we can’t disregard the American people when they are struggling to survive. It’s our job as a community to support one another and it’s the government’s job to lead the way.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Texting and Driving
I definitely see eye to eye with Hwong and his take on texting while driving. I’ll be honest and say that it’s unfortunate that I’m the one who’s actually doing the texting and driving. Even being the one to fall into this habit, I think it’s fantastic that Senators are pressing for a bill to ban texting while driving. It’s a far fetched plan, but it would be time well spent to push towards this goal because it would reduce the number of accidents and even deaths.
Every teen or even adult needs a slap on the wrist because this isn’t a good habit and it’s not something that can easily be broken. Even knowing how dangerous this act can be I still find it nearly impossible to stop texting, it’s now second nature to pick up my phone every time I hear it buzz. The whole texting and driving thing is definitely a phenomenon; no one can really explain why it’s such an addicting habit. It really isn’t that big of a deal to go a day without texting your buddy and yet a good majority of people flip out, including myself when their phones dies or the person they’re texting doesn’t immediately text back.
People are way too caught up in the whole idea of constantly keeping in contact with their peers and I’m guilty as well. I strongly hope that this new effort to punish people for texting while they are driving becomes effective fast because many people die or become severely injured because of this ridiculous habit. It won’t be easy by any means to get people, especially teens off their cell phones but it’s a good goal. Personally, if I was more educated about the dangers and other statistics of texting while driving it would be more encouraging to stop. Other than that, I’m not sure there is much we can do to prevent it because the use of your cell phone can easily be hidden by keeping it beneath the window and wearing a pair of sunglasses. None the less, texting and driving should be banned unquestionably. It’s a safety hazard not only to the ones texting but to all fellow drivers.
Every teen or even adult needs a slap on the wrist because this isn’t a good habit and it’s not something that can easily be broken. Even knowing how dangerous this act can be I still find it nearly impossible to stop texting, it’s now second nature to pick up my phone every time I hear it buzz. The whole texting and driving thing is definitely a phenomenon; no one can really explain why it’s such an addicting habit. It really isn’t that big of a deal to go a day without texting your buddy and yet a good majority of people flip out, including myself when their phones dies or the person they’re texting doesn’t immediately text back.
People are way too caught up in the whole idea of constantly keeping in contact with their peers and I’m guilty as well. I strongly hope that this new effort to punish people for texting while they are driving becomes effective fast because many people die or become severely injured because of this ridiculous habit. It won’t be easy by any means to get people, especially teens off their cell phones but it’s a good goal. Personally, if I was more educated about the dangers and other statistics of texting while driving it would be more encouraging to stop. Other than that, I’m not sure there is much we can do to prevent it because the use of your cell phone can easily be hidden by keeping it beneath the window and wearing a pair of sunglasses. None the less, texting and driving should be banned unquestionably. It’s a safety hazard not only to the ones texting but to all fellow drivers.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
My Personal Take on National Government
The U.S. national government is unquestionably a double sided subject. It plays a huge role in society and is greatly needed to keep a peaceful aura among the nation. Without it, the general public would become quite chaotic and even helpless to some extent but even with it things still become crazy because of the tight hold they tend to keep. The Government provides endlessly for its citizens, from financial aid and heath care to military protection and law enforcement. They do so much for the community and even though they aren’t perfect we still tend to take our government for granted. If we stopped to reflect about the things they do for us then I believe many Americans would form a greater appreciation and respect for the government and what they do.
Looking deeper into some of these topics you can see how much the government tries to make our lives easier. They not only help their fellow colleagues but they have all “genres” of people in mind; normal American adults, teenagers and even children. They have a full plate on their hands but some how they manage to frequently meet our wants and needs. When it comes to children and young adults, the government helps supply the funding for multiple places for them to become educated, whether it’s school buildings, college campuses or tutoring facilities. The lack of education poses a huge threat to the well being of the citizens of the United States. Therefore, without the national government, a good majority of the American population would be ill equip to hold a job or even function properly in the real world.
Not only do they give us the opportunity to become knowledgeable, but they help us with our physical needs by providing health insurance, care and benefits. They assist the elderly by providing multiple Medicare programs so that each individual can find a plan that they are eligible for. They also provide adults and their families some sort of medical coverage through their particular employment. Without the government’s service to our medical requirements Americans would be equally lost and incapable of not only mentally functioning but now physically as well.
These two focal points that I have mentioned are the basis of living. Without them our country would cease to exist even remotely the way it currently does. The national government is a necessity for our society to be viewed as highly as it is today. After researching the U.S. national government, I now see how ludicrous it was to think that the nation could function without the government. They do more for their people than we will ever know and that is why we need to stop being so nit picky when criticizing them with every little action they make. We need to be grateful that our country is blessed with such a compassionate and understanding government because there are many other countries that are not nearly as fortunate as our beautiful home we call America.
Looking deeper into some of these topics you can see how much the government tries to make our lives easier. They not only help their fellow colleagues but they have all “genres” of people in mind; normal American adults, teenagers and even children. They have a full plate on their hands but some how they manage to frequently meet our wants and needs. When it comes to children and young adults, the government helps supply the funding for multiple places for them to become educated, whether it’s school buildings, college campuses or tutoring facilities. The lack of education poses a huge threat to the well being of the citizens of the United States. Therefore, without the national government, a good majority of the American population would be ill equip to hold a job or even function properly in the real world.
Not only do they give us the opportunity to become knowledgeable, but they help us with our physical needs by providing health insurance, care and benefits. They assist the elderly by providing multiple Medicare programs so that each individual can find a plan that they are eligible for. They also provide adults and their families some sort of medical coverage through their particular employment. Without the government’s service to our medical requirements Americans would be equally lost and incapable of not only mentally functioning but now physically as well.
These two focal points that I have mentioned are the basis of living. Without them our country would cease to exist even remotely the way it currently does. The national government is a necessity for our society to be viewed as highly as it is today. After researching the U.S. national government, I now see how ludicrous it was to think that the nation could function without the government. They do more for their people than we will ever know and that is why we need to stop being so nit picky when criticizing them with every little action they make. We need to be grateful that our country is blessed with such a compassionate and understanding government because there are many other countries that are not nearly as fortunate as our beautiful home we call America.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Green the Capitol
I find that Nancy Pelosi’s Green the Capitol initiative is an excellent proposal to making society more environmentally friendly, for it demonstrates logical goals and plans that could realistically be executed. Just a few of the hundred plus changes that are being work towards are: selling only fair-trade coffee in its cafeteria, purchasing carbon offsets for the Capitol power plant and using carpeting and paint made of low-volatility organic compounds. This bold move is a step in the right direction to encouraging Americans to follow in their government’s footsteps. By having the House of Representatives become the “first carbon-neutral legislative body in the world,” it’s setting the example of what they're wanting Americans to do. If the government makes the plan of “going green” a priority then it only makes sense that Americans will catch on to how much better this sort of lifestyle could potentially be.
There is a road block however; by creating a sense of mockery in this blog this discourages people of taking the new “Green the Capitol” plan seriously. Mark Hemingway, the author of this blog, mentions Green the Capitol’s offices most prominent member Allison Rogers frequently in his writing, but is sure to emphasize the fact that she’s Miss Rhode Island 2006. By drawing attention to that is he possibly trying to get readers to turn their heads away from what she’s desperately working towards? It seems that he’s trying to make Roger’s come across as a woman with just a pretty face and no capability of successfully executing this plan.
Hemingway is targeting all fellow Americans by writing this blog and one can only assume that he’s writing this to keep them from falling into the government’s “trap.” It’s obvious that he’s against the Green the Capitol movement and he feels the need to make others aware of this so called scam. While his facts are credible he still finds a way to camouflage his personal opinion in there to make it seem as if it’s the actual truth.
He makes it clear that he thinks making these environmental changes are a waste of time and cheating Americans out of their money when in fact it’s the complete opposite. In 2006, the House’s energy costs amounted to $15 million. In 2008, after the implementation of Green the Capitol, the House was spending over $20 million. The program claims that by 2017 it will have reduced the House’s energy use by over 50 percent, resulting in a significant annual savings. It’s apparent that this is a huge money stretch over an approximate ten year period, but in the end it’s going to enhance the economy so there’s no scam of which Hemingway claims there is. Green the Capitol could only benefit the entire nation and deserves all the support it can get. It’s not right for people like Hemingway to down talk a plan that has barely begun and not been given the opportunity to reach its full potential.
Author: Mark Hemingway
Date: July 27, 2009
Time: 4:00 AM
Title: Greening the Capitol
National Review Online (NRO)
There is a road block however; by creating a sense of mockery in this blog this discourages people of taking the new “Green the Capitol” plan seriously. Mark Hemingway, the author of this blog, mentions Green the Capitol’s offices most prominent member Allison Rogers frequently in his writing, but is sure to emphasize the fact that she’s Miss Rhode Island 2006. By drawing attention to that is he possibly trying to get readers to turn their heads away from what she’s desperately working towards? It seems that he’s trying to make Roger’s come across as a woman with just a pretty face and no capability of successfully executing this plan.
Hemingway is targeting all fellow Americans by writing this blog and one can only assume that he’s writing this to keep them from falling into the government’s “trap.” It’s obvious that he’s against the Green the Capitol movement and he feels the need to make others aware of this so called scam. While his facts are credible he still finds a way to camouflage his personal opinion in there to make it seem as if it’s the actual truth.
He makes it clear that he thinks making these environmental changes are a waste of time and cheating Americans out of their money when in fact it’s the complete opposite. In 2006, the House’s energy costs amounted to $15 million. In 2008, after the implementation of Green the Capitol, the House was spending over $20 million. The program claims that by 2017 it will have reduced the House’s energy use by over 50 percent, resulting in a significant annual savings. It’s apparent that this is a huge money stretch over an approximate ten year period, but in the end it’s going to enhance the economy so there’s no scam of which Hemingway claims there is. Green the Capitol could only benefit the entire nation and deserves all the support it can get. It’s not right for people like Hemingway to down talk a plan that has barely begun and not been given the opportunity to reach its full potential.
Author: Mark Hemingway
Date: July 27, 2009
Time: 4:00 AM
Title: Greening the Capitol
National Review Online (NRO)
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Childbirth in Chains
The editorial, Childbirth in Chains, was written to raise awareness to the reality that female impregnated prisoners are not being treated with the care and respect they should be receiving. During transportation to the hospital they’re being shackled down by their ankles, wrists and abdomens which is not only a risk to the baby’s health but the mother’s, as well as the staff/correctional workers in some cases.
This editorial was written towards the people in New York and any other state where this occurs, but it is mainly directed towards the governor of New York: David Paterson. I believe this article was published in hopes that Governor Paterson would read it and realize the severity of the situation at hand. The Legislature has presented him with the opportunity to sign an anti-shackling bill which would officially stop this sort of cruelty that female prisoners in New York face, but for some reason he did not immediately sign this bill.
The author reiterates the idea of how this treatment towards pregnant prisoners is wrong and even bluntly states at the end of the editorial that “he should sign the bill into law and bring New York into line with the federal government and the other states that have wisely acted to protect pregnant inmates and their children during labor.” Obviously you can see their standpoint on this topic and they back up the information they’ve provided with outside credible sources.
This editorial mentions five other known states that have successfully passed the anti-shackling bill and discusses the debate that this bill has caused by bringing up how recent interviews of female inmates by the Correctional Association of New York have led to the notion that “this practice may be more common than corrections officials know.” It also provides links to past coverage of this topic; including people’s experiences of this act which is rather credible in itself.
Referring back to another article posted by the New York Times in early March, a prisoner by the name of Shawanna Nelson went through this “shackling” ordeal and shared her experience. She only received Tylenol to take away her labor pains and was not allowed to have the shackles removed until the minute of her actual labor. This is actually a relatively common issue that many pregnant prisoners face, which is a shame because it’s a small form of human cruelty. It puts a heap of stress on the mother as well as the baby during labor and increases their risk of a compromised delivery. It’s a relief to know that there’s a bill that can protect these women, but the whole method of chaining pregnant women shouldn’t even be an option. I agree completely with this editorial’s author and I feel that it’s necessary to demand that Governor Paterson sign the anti-shackling bill as well as highly encouraging other states that currently follow this treatment for prisoners to stop these careless actions and treat these women with more care and consideration.
This editorial was written towards the people in New York and any other state where this occurs, but it is mainly directed towards the governor of New York: David Paterson. I believe this article was published in hopes that Governor Paterson would read it and realize the severity of the situation at hand. The Legislature has presented him with the opportunity to sign an anti-shackling bill which would officially stop this sort of cruelty that female prisoners in New York face, but for some reason he did not immediately sign this bill.
The author reiterates the idea of how this treatment towards pregnant prisoners is wrong and even bluntly states at the end of the editorial that “he should sign the bill into law and bring New York into line with the federal government and the other states that have wisely acted to protect pregnant inmates and their children during labor.” Obviously you can see their standpoint on this topic and they back up the information they’ve provided with outside credible sources.
This editorial mentions five other known states that have successfully passed the anti-shackling bill and discusses the debate that this bill has caused by bringing up how recent interviews of female inmates by the Correctional Association of New York have led to the notion that “this practice may be more common than corrections officials know.” It also provides links to past coverage of this topic; including people’s experiences of this act which is rather credible in itself.
Referring back to another article posted by the New York Times in early March, a prisoner by the name of Shawanna Nelson went through this “shackling” ordeal and shared her experience. She only received Tylenol to take away her labor pains and was not allowed to have the shackles removed until the minute of her actual labor. This is actually a relatively common issue that many pregnant prisoners face, which is a shame because it’s a small form of human cruelty. It puts a heap of stress on the mother as well as the baby during labor and increases their risk of a compromised delivery. It’s a relief to know that there’s a bill that can protect these women, but the whole method of chaining pregnant women shouldn’t even be an option. I agree completely with this editorial’s author and I feel that it’s necessary to demand that Governor Paterson sign the anti-shackling bill as well as highly encouraging other states that currently follow this treatment for prisoners to stop these careless actions and treat these women with more care and consideration.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
This Will Blow Your Socks Off
After looking through the plethora of options of blogs to write about, my attention was quickly drawn to one when I read the words “$700 million welfare program for wild horses.” As I continued reading the plans for the renewal of the “American Mustangs Act,” I was completely blown away. Their goals are to conduct a horse census every two years, provide "enhanced contraception" and birth control for horses, establish an additional 19 million acres of public and private land for wild horses, cover a $5 million tab to repair horse damage to land and mandate that government bureaucrats perform home inspections before Americans can adopt horses. If you stop to think just for one second you could probably see how absurd this plan sounds. Personally, I find this article worth reading as it represents one of the many ways our elected officials misuse American tax dollars to fund a special interest group. Are we truly willing to put the welfare of animals ahead of our human race? One has to wonder what American’s priorities really are these days…
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