Adding to Madame Amy's post, trying to stop the war on drugs is like trying to stop the sun from rising. Its not going to happen. With that said, why don't they stop the fight and start the control. The Mexican cartel has power, because we let them. We're giving them business. There are solutions.
You always hear "Legalize it!" and there's an obvious rift in Americans about the subject. The 70's and 80's were the major cocaine era's, but these day's, it seems almost out of fashion. Especially with younger generations. The American struggle is now in marijuana. So, how do we stop the violence over this? Legalize is right. Imagine government grown, inspected, and distributed marijuana. With the quality difference alone, the Americans would stop buying from the cartels. Not to mention the in house money the nation would acquire to settle our debts. As for the other drugs, keep up the good fight. You have to crawl before you walk.
The solution for Mexico might be one similar to Portugal's. Portugal decriminalized all drugs and the numbers have shown dramatic drops in all areas. Specifically, the use by teens and homeless people. The savings they acquired has accumulated in vast numbers due to less prison sentences and offered therapy sessions to peoples out of control. This would not work for the United States, being that we are a little more conservative than most. But, like I said before, baby step, and the cartels will fall; on both fronts.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
I See Now Trump!
The L.A. Times has written an article on the recent events, announcements, and blast given by Donald Trump. Donald Trump is smart. I totally get what this plan of action is. After his victorious triumph in getting the release of President Obama's birth certificate, Donald Trump has boasted and ranted to the media. Of course he's announcing his intentions for presidency. Of course Sarah Palin applauds his relentless efforts to receive the "questionable"document, but encourages followers to focus on more important issues.
Are Trump's recent activities fueled by racism? Deval Patrick, the governor of Massachusetts, says that he is unsure if racism has anything to do with it, but questions the if American people are buying into this. Veteran Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer says that Trumps latest Obama investigation, regarding his grades and legitimacy of graduation from Harvard, are just flat out racist. If so, this adds fuel to my suspicion.
So let's break this down. Trump rally's under the Republican Party to fight for the birth certificate. Trump receives support from Palin and other republican states. Trump challenges college legitimacy and uses basketball comments with an underlying racism. Sounds like this is turning into an early catapult strategy for the republican presidential race.
For those who have never seen the show "Survivor," they use the catapult strategy on a constant basis. There are a jury of peers who were voted out of the game, and they vote on who, out of the final 3, will receives the million dollars. It's based on relationships and most of the time, the one with the most power will carry the most hated person to the final 3 with them. Why? The most hated will most likely not receive a vote from anyone. The same thing is happening with Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Trump, with his witch hunts and closet racism, will be the perfect candidate for this strategy. He will continue to stir the waters and make enemies; literally starting from the top. With a television show and celebrity status, he is guaranteed to be heard. Just when he's upset half of the country and it looks like there's no hope for republican nominees, a savior will rise. Someone with LEGITIMATE arguments, few enemies, and poise will become the new face of the party. Perhaps Palin...again? Who knows?
Are Trump's recent activities fueled by racism? Deval Patrick, the governor of Massachusetts, says that he is unsure if racism has anything to do with it, but questions the if American people are buying into this. Veteran Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer says that Trumps latest Obama investigation, regarding his grades and legitimacy of graduation from Harvard, are just flat out racist. If so, this adds fuel to my suspicion.
So let's break this down. Trump rally's under the Republican Party to fight for the birth certificate. Trump receives support from Palin and other republican states. Trump challenges college legitimacy and uses basketball comments with an underlying racism. Sounds like this is turning into an early catapult strategy for the republican presidential race.
For those who have never seen the show "Survivor," they use the catapult strategy on a constant basis. There are a jury of peers who were voted out of the game, and they vote on who, out of the final 3, will receives the million dollars. It's based on relationships and most of the time, the one with the most power will carry the most hated person to the final 3 with them. Why? The most hated will most likely not receive a vote from anyone. The same thing is happening with Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Trump, with his witch hunts and closet racism, will be the perfect candidate for this strategy. He will continue to stir the waters and make enemies; literally starting from the top. With a television show and celebrity status, he is guaranteed to be heard. Just when he's upset half of the country and it looks like there's no hope for republican nominees, a savior will rise. Someone with LEGITIMATE arguments, few enemies, and poise will become the new face of the party. Perhaps Palin...again? Who knows?
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Book Smart, Maybe...Gun Smart, Probably Not
Jeff is absolutely right on this No Guns on Campus issue. Not a good idea! I would have like to see a source on the debate, but the general information is more than enough. If we allowed students to carry weapons, there would be more casualties than imaginable. Have you ever driven in your car and wished you could shoot someones tires out, because they cut you off? I have. Human nature, as proven in the past, is not prepared to control natural instinct of confrontation. Give a student, the most stressed individual in the United States, a weapon and you open doors to violence. Not only would you have afternoon duals in the quad between two class rivals, but the number of innocent bystanders would jump dramatically. Especially in institutions that are supposed to be safe, i.e. school or church. I cannot speak for police officers, but I was military police and we STRESSED the justifications of deadly force and rules of engagement. A firearm is the last thing you use and only if absolutely necessary. Will the common student elect to stop a threat and be sure to look past their target for innocent bystanders? Probably not.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Money Talks
Campaign finances has been a controversial subject for a while. In a recent Los Angeles Times article, the debate continues over an Arizona law that attempts to 'level the playing field' with campaign funding for public candidates. The Supreme Court Justice is now involved and are expected to object to public funding to be provided to candidates who do not raise private funding for their campaign. The main issue is the infringement on constitutional rights that excludes this issue as being a state affair. Since Republicans outnumber Democrats in The Supreme Court, it is obvious why the Arizona law will get rejected. Privately funded candidates are usually members of the GOP, so leveling the playing field would work against them.
Our constitution was founded and written on a number of basic truths that still stand true today. I can't deny that. Just look up The Virgina Dynasty and notice the similarities. However, the world and America have changed significantly since the time of our fore-fathers and now is the time for these issues need to be addressed. Advertisers pay approximately 2.5 million dollars for a 30 second commercial in hope of reaching 90 million people during the Super Bowl in 2011. Money talks, especially to the American public, and some base their vote purely on what they've seen on tv, not on research.
Perhaps the Arizona law had its flaws and may not be the best way to go about the issue. Progress still needs to be made to allow for a larger selection of candidates for the American public to choose from. We need to change the way people perceive politics and increase involvement from the public for our future democracy.
Our constitution was founded and written on a number of basic truths that still stand true today. I can't deny that. Just look up The Virgina Dynasty and notice the similarities. However, the world and America have changed significantly since the time of our fore-fathers and now is the time for these issues need to be addressed. Advertisers pay approximately 2.5 million dollars for a 30 second commercial in hope of reaching 90 million people during the Super Bowl in 2011. Money talks, especially to the American public, and some base their vote purely on what they've seen on tv, not on research.
Perhaps the Arizona law had its flaws and may not be the best way to go about the issue. Progress still needs to be made to allow for a larger selection of candidates for the American public to choose from. We need to change the way people perceive politics and increase involvement from the public for our future democracy.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Prep Is Key
New Orleans, Haiti, and now Japan. Once natural disaster strikes, it seems as if we're never totally prepared. So how prepared are we?
At www.townhall.com Hugh Hewitt explains our focus. First, he begins with offering links to different organizations, like Team Rubicon, who are accepting donations for Japan's emergency relief fund. Second, Hewitt attacks our government and media, and their priorities. Every time you turn on the news, it's something about Wisconsin's Union battles, or California's tax hikes. Where's our sense of priority? The evidence is clear and inevitable. The world is a never ending time bomb, due to change dealing in natural evolution. It is very likely that the U.S. will unfortunately suffer another disaster. His guess is California. With their current economic misfortune, would they be prepared to absorb "The Big One?"
Though Hewitt thrives on a conservative standpoint, his argument seem to be coming from a neutral stand. This isn't about right or left, it's about people. It's about humanity. Forget the "regular" problems of the day and focus on "real." Our economy can be going down the drain, but at the end of the day, if we can't protect ourselves from natural disasters, then Everything else is pointless. What good is an economy, if there aren't any people to fail, or thrive in it?
At www.townhall.com Hugh Hewitt explains our focus. First, he begins with offering links to different organizations, like Team Rubicon, who are accepting donations for Japan's emergency relief fund. Second, Hewitt attacks our government and media, and their priorities. Every time you turn on the news, it's something about Wisconsin's Union battles, or California's tax hikes. Where's our sense of priority? The evidence is clear and inevitable. The world is a never ending time bomb, due to change dealing in natural evolution. It is very likely that the U.S. will unfortunately suffer another disaster. His guess is California. With their current economic misfortune, would they be prepared to absorb "The Big One?"
Though Hewitt thrives on a conservative standpoint, his argument seem to be coming from a neutral stand. This isn't about right or left, it's about people. It's about humanity. Forget the "regular" problems of the day and focus on "real." Our economy can be going down the drain, but at the end of the day, if we can't protect ourselves from natural disasters, then Everything else is pointless. What good is an economy, if there aren't any people to fail, or thrive in it?
Friday, February 25, 2011
Fox News, Bias Media
Journalist Allison Kilkenny was featured in The Los Angeles Times Commentary Link because of her take on not only Fox News coverage, but also because of another Times' columnist's approach on the subject. Kilkenny discusses a leaked email from an editor at Fox News that uncovers a deliberate switch of words to sway the public's opinion on the subject.
Kilkenny is familiar with the subject because of extensive period of time she spent researching the claims on her blog. To me, that makes her a credible source, all the research and investigating she did prior to her Los Angeles Times web appearance. We have a direct link provided on how the managing editor Bill Salmon instructs his reporters to change the wording on a health care bill to be presented negatively to the public. This bill was controversial to begin with, so the fact that Fox News is guiding what information we hear about it, is wrong. I agree with how Kilkenny doesn't lightly sweep the issue under the rug. She also blasts The Los Angeles Times Editorial for doing just that back in December.
The Dec. 17th 2010 article states matter-of-factly the situation at hand and make a good point of challenging Fox News to decide what kind of show they want to be perceived as. I know when I watch ESPN news I'm getting sports. It should be upfront that when I watch Fox News I get Republican TV.... officially.
Media in general needs to have a wake up call like opinion blogs and articles to keep the real news honest about their public influence. Let the people know what their getting into upfront.
Kilkenny is familiar with the subject because of extensive period of time she spent researching the claims on her blog. To me, that makes her a credible source, all the research and investigating she did prior to her Los Angeles Times web appearance. We have a direct link provided on how the managing editor Bill Salmon instructs his reporters to change the wording on a health care bill to be presented negatively to the public. This bill was controversial to begin with, so the fact that Fox News is guiding what information we hear about it, is wrong. I agree with how Kilkenny doesn't lightly sweep the issue under the rug. She also blasts The Los Angeles Times Editorial for doing just that back in December.
The Dec. 17th 2010 article states matter-of-factly the situation at hand and make a good point of challenging Fox News to decide what kind of show they want to be perceived as. I know when I watch ESPN news I'm getting sports. It should be upfront that when I watch Fox News I get Republican TV.... officially.
Media in general needs to have a wake up call like opinion blogs and articles to keep the real news honest about their public influence. Let the people know what their getting into upfront.
Friday, February 11, 2011
America's Past Time, Present
Ask me who the Republican 2008 presidential candidate hopefuls were and I can tell you one name, John McCain. Presidential races for me thus far have been like baseball seasons. I'll catch a game score or two that makes the news, but nothing is really worth paying attention to until The World Series. I care who wins. So the fact that there is an article in the Los Angeles Times about a 2012 presidential aspirant Mitt Romney calling President Barack Obama weak makes me think, "Who the hell is Matt Romney?"
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-romney-obama-20110212,0,1131411.story
Well his name is 'Mitt' not 'Matt' and only time will tell if I will recall him as the former. He is what can be considered the first of many Republicans who will start the long road to trying to become the challenger of Obama in the 2012 election. Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, spoke to a packed ballroom in Washington at the Conservative Political Action Conference. His main topic of conversation was everything that is wrong with the President.
The article summarizes all Romney's accusations and mentions future key players in the GOP race to just the election. This article, along with others to come about these players, is important to read so that come election day we are not wondering how the Yankees got to the World Series AGAIN. Follow the road that leads us to how the final two candidates make it on the ballot.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-romney-obama-20110212,0,1131411.story
Well his name is 'Mitt' not 'Matt' and only time will tell if I will recall him as the former. He is what can be considered the first of many Republicans who will start the long road to trying to become the challenger of Obama in the 2012 election. Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, spoke to a packed ballroom in Washington at the Conservative Political Action Conference. His main topic of conversation was everything that is wrong with the President.
The article summarizes all Romney's accusations and mentions future key players in the GOP race to just the election. This article, along with others to come about these players, is important to read so that come election day we are not wondering how the Yankees got to the World Series AGAIN. Follow the road that leads us to how the final two candidates make it on the ballot.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)