Senate Health Care bill: Fair yet Unfair

Now that the Health Care bill has made it through the House of Representatives, it needs to be passed by the Senate. However, the Senate Health Care bill is going to be definitely different from the House version. One of the major differences is that individuals would be REQUIRED to purchase health insurance if the bill is passed.

I personally think that something like that is ridiculous. Why should individuals be fined if they do not purchase health insurance? Something like that is their own choice and if they want to risk their health then that should be their choice.

Health Care plan could be beat in the Senate

While the Health Care plan (otherwise known as the Affordable Health Care for America Act) might have passed in the House of Representatives, that might not be the case in the Senate. Because of the stipulations concerning abortion that the Democrats added in order to get the Republicans to support the Health Care plan, Democrats in the Senate are threatening to vote against the bill unless the stipulations are removed.

Personally I think that the Democrats are being dumb. So what if women who have been RAPED, are involved in INCEST, or whose LIFE IS IN DANGER get insurance for abortions, abortion is still abortion right? (at least according to the democrats) Right?

WRONG

Health Care passed the House

Saturday night in the House of Representatives was the sight of the long-awaited voting of the Health Care plan (otherwise known as the Affordable Health Care for America Act). After a long-winded debate, the Health Care plan was passed 220 to 215. Oddly enough, both Democrats and Republicans joined together to pass an amendum on the bill to prohibit health care insurance to be given to those wishing for an abortion (excluding rape, incest, or if the mother's life was in danger).

The part about that I find most surprising is the fact that the Republicans and Democrats voting on the same side of an issue.

Just because you have the most, doesn't mean you get to boast!

The Democrats might hold the majority in Congress, but it doesn't mean that their health care plan will pass.

Some key Democrats were either forced to leave office or switched to the Republican party during the Presidential campaign which could hurt Obama's chances of appealing for partly loyal and Democratic achievement. Also, senators who are facing tough times in their home states will most likely vote in the way that will help their states the most.

I think it is a smart thing to do--voting in the best intrests of your state rather than what someone else says is best, even if that someone else is the President of the United States.

Maine, the Next Site of the Same-Sex Battle

In the upcoming week, voters in Maine shall decided whether or not to allow same-sex marriage in the state. A bill had been put forth some time ago that allowed same-sexes to marry, but enough opposition has been gathered to put the issue to vote. But, not only are supporters only from Maine, there are supporters flying in to lend their vote to both sides.

I personally think that same-sex marriage should be allowed. After all (to me at least) marriage could be seen as a 'Pursuit of Happiness', as mentioned in the Declaration of Independence. If we deny people of the same sex the ability to be married, will we not also be denying them their 'Pursuit of Happiness'?

President Aids Governor

The governor races are on! In various states, the elections will soon be held to decide the new governor of that state. In Virginia, President Obama goes on the campaign trail not for himself, but for a fellow Democrat: Creigh Deeds (the man on the right...obviously). In a debate, Deeds was asked if he was a "Barack Obama Democrat." Deeds replied; "I would try to escape that by saying I'm a Creigh Deeds Democrat."

Regardless of him trying to be a Democrat for himself, I don't think it's fair for the President to lend his aid in a political race to a fellow democrat.

"You lie!" man getting money?

Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, better known to some as the man who shouted "You lie!" during one of Obama's speeches on health care has been receiving millions of dollars in contributions from conservative supporters after his outburst in Congress. Wilson's campaing managers then began dealing out money from the contributions to various media and online advertising companies.

Personally I'm disgusted the this man is receiving support because he said President Obama lied, mainly because the two are from different political parties.

Obama on Gay Rights

Recently, President Obama appeared in a Gay rights rally to pledge his support for repealing the Defense of Marriage Act. The Defense of Marriage Act defines marriage as between a man and a woman and allows states to not recognize marriages performed in other states.
I think it's good that the President is supporting this show of equality. I personally think that same-sex marriage should be allowed since it could be seen as a part of the first amendmant as a pursuit of happiness.

4th President to get the Prize!

Not too long ago, we only had three Presidents to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, now we have four. President Obama has joined the prestigious ranks of Presidents who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. It was stated that Obama received this Prize for 'his "vision" and inspiring "hope" at the beginning of his presidency.'

I think that President Obama completely deserves this award. He is a representation of change coming to not only the United States of America, but to the whole world. He has brought multilateral diplomacy back to the center stage to emphasize the roles the U.N. and other organizations can play.

President Obama has worked hard to stand where he currently is and he should not be scroned simply because he is working for world peace.

Good visit or Bad visit?

President Obama recently made a trip for the chance to bring the Olympics to his hometown of Chicago. Unfortunately, Chicago was outbid in the first round of choices. Many wonder whether the President going to Copenhagen (the place the bidding was taking place at) was a good choice or not.

On one side, people say that it was a good choice and that it showed the President had leadership. The President himself thought it was a good choice and said that it is "always a worthwhile endeavor to promote and boost the United States."

On the other side are those who say that the failing to bring the Olympics to Chicago could serve as ridicule to the President for weeks to come. The nay-sayers also state that the President shouldn't have gone to Copenhagen with all the items he already had on his plate and that he should have focused on those instead of on bringing the Olympics to his hometown.

Is the Right to Bear Arms in danger?

Justices are gathering to discuss an appeal regarding one of Rights from the Bill of Rights: the infamous second amendment that deals with the right to bear arms. Talk has been going on about whether or not the amendment is meant for private ownership of guns or for Federally restricted militia.

Something that is also to be discussed is how the second amendment can be dealt with on the State level. It is mentioned that a 35-year old man was arrested for owning nunchuks- and those aren't even guns!

Soldier's Request

A soldier who was set to deploy to Afghanistan begged to be taken off the deployment roster because he believes Obama's presidency is not legitimate. Apparently, the soldier seems to believe that President Obama isn't a natural-born citizen and thus thinks he could be labeled as a war criminal if he follows the President's orders.

President Obama, however, was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1861...two years after Hawaii officially became a state.

I feel appalled that a soldier would try to use this as an excuse to not be deployed.

No Nuclear Arms

President Obama is the first U.S. leader to head a United Nations Security Council meeting.

Recently a gathering of countries that could be classified as 'nuclear powers' met in order to put forth tighter laws regarding all things nuclear. Our own President Obama called forth this gathering in order to "demonstrate that international law is not an empty promise."(Obama) President Obama is the first U.S. president to lead a United Nations Security Council meeting, but he was only able to call together this gathering because the United States held the revolving presidency of the council in September.

The gathered leaders agreed that word 'nuclear' should only be used in peacful terms, like 'nuclear energy' which all leaders agree could definitely cut down on greenhouse gases.

Obama's thoughts on race.

Come see what President Obama thinks on race.
He says that "Race is such a volatile issue in this society", and hints that race itself only comes into play when Presidents try to implement BIG change. He also states that people who set aside race are as passionate as they are because they wonder if the government can do anything right.
Head to the website linked to the title and form your own views.

Why Can't We Grow Up?

We constantly say that we're more equal these days...that race is no longer as big an issue as it was back in the past. Unfortunately that is not the case. Even now, with an African-American President in office we still use the excuse of race to either better or destroy other's views of one man's goals.
It shouldn't matter if the President is White, Black, Native American, or even a Martian. All that should matter is what he does for our country.