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