Four Locos, One Genius

I actually enjoyed reading Cooley's commentary. She writes in a way that makes it more interesting and easier to read. That's good since I find politics quite dull. I liked the analogy she used about the person in self realization and then directs in towards the U.S. Government. She gives a brief background of the hierarchy of Maslow's needs and makes it easier to understand how it relates to the government.
Don't ask, Don't tell is brought up and while it is an issue that is important right now and is in the spotlight, I agree that it's really not at all that important compared to the other issues surrounding us such as the outrageous national debt and the still ongoing war. I thought the idea of manufacturing American made goods thus creating more jobs was a great idea. Also bringing up the fact that we did do this in WWII and how it improved the economy was a nice way of showing that we've done it before and it worked so why not try it?

Homeless Veterans

Most of us see homeless people as we go about our day and some of them you see have written "Vietnam Vet" or a veteran from some other war. I see one just about everyday. I am a compassionate person and although some homeless people may have caused this situation for themselves, I think they still deserve more help; the veterans especially.

Veterans fought for our country and should be at the top of the priority list of getting the homeless off the streets; along with those already set as a priority, such as homeless families and homeless mothers with dependent children.

Currently, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) states that the VA estimates the number of homeless veterans is at 107,000. They also say that over twice that many experience homelessness. This may be the count now, but in an article from The NewStandard written in 2005, the VA estimated there were 300,000 homeless vets and over half a million experience homelessness. This is very upsetting to me. Seeing people without homes upsets me in general but homeless veterans is worse because these people risked their lives for our country and deserve better. "It’s outrageous that anyone who has put their life on the line for their country should have to live on the street," Stoops commented. Michael Stoops is Director of Community Organizing for the National Coalition for the Homeless, a separate organization based in Washington, DC.

Now the question is, "what is the government doing about this issue?" Not enough. According to Linda Boone, executive director of the NCHV, "the Veterans Administration doesn’t have enough resources to take care of our veterans, and Congress doesn’t want to pay for them." Congress doesn't want to pay for them? A discouraging statement, yet probably true. Congress is more concerned with tax cuts for the rich than the homelessness of our veterans. A great comment by Maria Fostarinis, executive director of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty in Washington, DC, "Budgets are not acts of God. They are political choices. The VA needs to be out there making the case for veterans."

So, Congress needs to make more money available for the VA, veterans benefits, and other organizations trying to help homeless veterans and those at risk.

Healthcare

I agree with Sarah that healthcare should be made more easily available to anyone who needs it. I personally have had to go without any kind of insurance for three years due to the fact that my father lost his job and my mom can't work. I've experienced working for companies that didn't provide health insurance but I recently got lucky enough to find a job that provided health insurance for part time employees. Although this is great for me, I wish there was a way my family could also have health insurance. My parents are now considered senior citizens yet because of other benefits they receive they would get their benefits cut and not be able to afford other bills but health insurance. This doesn't seem right to me.

I don't know much about the new healthcare reform bill but I know it impacts the middle class more than others. I can't say I agree with it because my family is considered middle class. I think Sarah has good insight into a part of healthcare billing companies and she can show how hard and expensive it is for people who do not have insurance and are considered self funded. Less than 5 percent of the "self funded" pay those bills.
Lawmakers should also realize that people who can't afford to pay the healthcare bills, also hurts the economy. Therefore, they should find a way to help those who can't afford healthcare but don't qualify for government aid, especially for those in the middle class that were severely impacted by the job losses experienced in recent years.

Border Security

Border security is a big issue here in Texas. I know it's an issue for all of the border states, especially Texas, Arizona, and California. I know California deals with such problems as the Tijuana cartels and other Mexican drug cartels. Arizona, who has gone to an extreme of targeting illegal aliens in the state. I have a friend who made a good point about this new Arizona immigration law. She said, "you know there are more than just illegals from Mexico in this country, but you know only those people who look like hispanics will targeted." I think this is an accurate but sad realization. The reality is that those of light colored skin will not be targeted.

Now Texas deals with Mexican cartels and all kinds of immigration issues such as the border patrol. It's really upsetting to me that one politician could say shoot them on sight- referring to illegal immigrants. That politician obviously has no respect for life but I believe those illegal immigrants should respect our country and its laws. Most illegals come across for a better life and do create one, but others remain unemployed, live off the government, its welfare programs, and put the burden on the Americans and depleat the economy even more.

Now more with the safety and security of our borders, there needs to be a BIG improvement. Earlier this month there was an American couple jet-skiing on Falcon Lake, which is 30 miles south of Laredo. Falcon Lake rides the border of the U.S. and Mexico- half Mexican waters and half U.S. waters. This couple was on the lake on the way back from Mexico when some Mexican pirates rode up to them in boats and started opening fire. The wife made it safely away but the husband is feared to have been killed by those pirates. The wife tried to circle back to get her husband but the pirates opened fire again. The U.S. has been searching the U.S. waters but all the sheriff of Zapata County can do is ask for help from Mexican authorities and according to what I read, he hasn't heard back from them. I think the U.S. needs to do something more for this man and his family. U.S. officials need to push for the help and recovery of this AMERICAN citizen who was so wrongly murdered.

As many of you probably know, many people have been kidnapped along the U.S./Mexico border. Not too long ago, there were reports of kidnappings of tourists in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo. The bodies of many many people were later found in a mass grave. This is what I am talking about. The border security isn't at a very high security standard if this is happening to American citizens. Personally, I am scared to death to go to Laredo or any border town, whether it's in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, or California. The drug cartels and other gangs have no respect for human life. The U.S. needs to crack down even harder on this ongoing issue.

Obama: Blame Yourself.

John Aravosis, the author of the blog post "Who are Obama's 'whiners'?" on AMERICAblog.com, refers to an article from Politico.com that argues that Democrat bloggers are to blame for the President's low approval rating.

Aravosis then argues in defense of his fellow bloggers, commenting that it is Obama's actions that caused his low rating and bloggers are just the messenger.

Aravosis is writing this blog with the intention of clearing the blogosphere's name and reputation amongst American voters. His audience is fellow commentators and their critics who say their "whining" caused "the President's problems."

Given the topic of this blog, I would argue that Aravosis is a credible source. He is, afterall, a blogger himself. He believes that his thoughts and writings only brought public attention to issues that the President had promised to fix while on the campaign trail. He mentions how Obama hasn't made good on any of his campaign promises and it is his job, as a commentator, to ensure that America takes note of it.

Aravosis points out that blogs can't be totally to blame for the low rating. However, he notes that these commentaries do have an impact. I would have to agree with his point because people who read political blogs are more likely to be the politically sophisticated, the ones who can make a difference on voting day.

While I do agree with the blog's arguments, I need to point out that Obama still has an average 52 percent approval rating, which according to Gallup polls isn't bad. In comparison, George W. Bush had a 49 percent approval rating. I believe this should have been included in his argument because it gives context to the issue and speaks on the fact that while Obama hasn't made much progress in his campaign promises, he still has the support of many Americans.

Obama: What change?

            I read this commentary by a journalist named Bruce Ramsey who works for the Seattle Times. The Statesman had the article posted online. I think Ramsey is trying to reach out to both Obama supporters and not Obama supporters yet it may appeal more to the non supporters. Ramsey talks about how Obama was more blown up and the hype about him was way out of hand. He says, referring to the blue and red poster with Obama's picture with the word HOPE, "Imagine such a poster of any other recent president. People would have laughed at it."

            Ramsey asks how could the Obama believers not be disappointed in him? They pumped him up into something Presidents are not. He was just a man. Ramsey states out the points that made Obama more appealing than John McCain. Obama was young and vigorous and he was half African; giving white voters some kind of racial redemption. Much of what Obama said was hard to believe. Obama said he would change the North American Free Trade Agreement but he didn't.

            Many voters voted for Obama because they were tired of Republican wars. Voters voted for him because Republicans were in charge when Wall Street went downhill. Ramsey states that the GOP didn't know how to run the economy but now a poll in the NY Times says that 57% of Americans think Obama doesn't know either. The president doesn't run the economy even though we like to pretend to believe it. We run the economy. Ramsey says this about how Obama has "helped" the economy: "the closest thing to an economic gas pedal is spending ... and Obama has stepped on it. Repeatedly. He has discovered what FDR did in the 1930s: that public spending works better as painkiller than as nutrition." I really like this statement. He is saying it may feel better for a while but it's not good in the long run.

           I agree completely with Ramsey and I believe he makes good points about all the hype people gave Obama. Not because they believed in him but because they were tired of the Republicans.

URL: http://www.statesman.com/opinion/ramsey-two-years-later-a-promise-unfulfilled-949146.html

Democrats control but Americans favor Republicans

Fox News Poll: Wide GOP Lead Among Interested Voters; Obama Job Approval Hits New Low

URL: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/09/17/fox-news-poll-wide-gop-lead-interested-voters-obama-job-approval-hits-new-low/

            On FoxNews.com, I found this article that I think is worth reading. This poll talks about how Republicans have an advantage over Democrats with Election Day quckly approaching. I find this interesting because this could possibly mean a turn in control in the House and Senate. The GOP currently has a 46-40 lead over the Democrats and the lead is larger when the poll was narrowed to voters who were certain they will vote in November. The Republican advantage was even greater when the voters were narrowed down to the most interested and involved voters.           

            With the spread 47(R)-43(D) more voters say it would be better for the country if all current members of Congress were kicked out. Two-thirds think that most officials don't relate to Americans today and 80 percent think that the United States are seen as weaker than they were a few years ago. As for Speaker of the House, 47 percent would like to see a Republican take over as leader compared to 37 percent who want Nancy Pelosi to stay. While 77 percent of Democrats want Pelosi to stay, 9 percent would prefer to see a Republican in place.

            Obama's approval rating has gone down since last time this year from 54 to 42 percent but the majority disapprove at 52 percent. Even fewer voters approve with the job he's done with the economy at 40 percent while 56 percent disapprove. The majority feel he hasn't spent enough time on the economy and 77 percent feel nervous about the stability of the economy. Maybe a Republican could do better?

            As for issues voters will be considering when voting for their candidates, the economy takes the top spot. The economy is followed by the trustworthiness of the candidates and taxes. With each issue, the GOP has an advantage over the Democrats so it looks like the Democrats have quite a bit of work to do if they're going to stay in control of Congress.