I read a commentary written by Ryan, titled. "A Solution Made Into A Problem", under his blog, Ryan's Slice of American Hypocrisy", dated December 1st, 2009. His comments and opinions are supported by a recent NPR story titled "California Officials Target Big Marijuana Growers". Ryan, as well as many other citizens if this country strongly believe that marijuana should b legalized, regulated and taxed. For starters, marijuana is now being used as a medication for cancer and AIDS patients to help with the nausea, pain and lost of appetite. Although, marijuana has been proven to have medical benefits, I do not believe Americans are ready to manage and control the usage of this drub. California is now allowing not-for-profit-cooperatives to supply medical marijuana to persons who carry proper documentation, these facilities have become profit-making marijuana retail outlets. It seems to be that these sites have become a center for other types of criminal activities a well. Susan Manheimer is the police chief in San Mateo California. Her comments in reference t legalized usage of marijuana were published on the New york times, and she said ," there is already the legal support to ruled on the illegality of these dispensaries by Los Angeles County though the Los Angeles district Attorney and the Los Angeles city Attorney.
Marijuana also has psychotic and physiological effects when consumed. Stronger strains of marijuana are now available. The new marijuana has higher ratio of THC (tratydrocannabinol) to CBD (cannabidol). THC tends to induce anxiety, and CBD tends to relieve anxiety. In other words, it is expected to create a higher rate of panic attacks. The consumption of marijuana has been proven to have a correlation with anxiety, psychosis and depression. The drug presents all the properties of a stimulant, depressant or hallucinogen.
Marijuana is potentially addictive. The University of Washington has been following dependence counseling studied for 20 years. Approximately 3.6 million Americans are daily or near daily users. Those who have been daily or near daily users for 10 years, have tried quitting more than six times and failed. I respect Ryan's opinion, but I do not share it. Marijuana has many good properties, however;the fact that it was introduced into this country as a recreational drug tends to limit its benefits. The use and abuse would skyrocket it is were to be legalized.
http://roomfordebate.blogs,nytimes.com/2009/10/19/a-new-course-on-medical-marijuana/
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytiems.com/2009/07/19/if-marijuana-is-legal-will-addiciton-rise/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marijuana
Friday, December 11, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Congress Expands Hate Crime Protection
United States is a very violent country. The American Government textbook shows on page 90, the firearms death rates in this country compared to other countries. I knew that the number would be high, but it honestly shocked me, when not only do we have the highest incidents, but the second highest was only half of the total that we carry.
Hate crimes law were ordained after the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King JR. in 1968. This law is centered on crimes based on race, color, religion or national origin. The Congress has now approved an expansion of civil rights based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability,and President Barack Obama signed this federal law last month.
Those against the expansion are concerned that it will create a special class of victims. However, what were to happened, to these people who are exposed sometimes on a daily basis to discrimination based on what they look like or how they live their lives. If the protection does not come from the law ,then these hate crimes will continue increasing. The federal government is now able to give resources and assistance to the communities dealing with these kinds of crimes. According to an FBI report dated for 2008, there is an 11 percent increase on hate crime offenses based on sexual orientation. Among all the categories of hate crimes, about 30 percent involve intimidation of some kind and another 30 percent were physical attacks. The FBI reports show that half of the hate crimes are motivated by race, one out of every six is based on sexual orientation bias, and one out of every five is led by religious bias.
Regardless of what anybody's ethnic, cultural or religious background is, when someone is led by any reason to foment and show hatred and violence towards someone else only because they are different, he or she should be accountable with the law. I hope that this expansion of the civil rights will stop the discrimination that prevails in a country, which is also know for its democracy and equality. Hatred and violence does not resolve the issue, it only teaches the younger generations that it is okay to think that one person is better that another. Just like a human being does not have the legal right to own another human being, no one has the right to take someone else's life due to discrimination.
Hate crimes law were ordained after the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King JR. in 1968. This law is centered on crimes based on race, color, religion or national origin. The Congress has now approved an expansion of civil rights based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability,and President Barack Obama signed this federal law last month.
Those against the expansion are concerned that it will create a special class of victims. However, what were to happened, to these people who are exposed sometimes on a daily basis to discrimination based on what they look like or how they live their lives. If the protection does not come from the law ,then these hate crimes will continue increasing. The federal government is now able to give resources and assistance to the communities dealing with these kinds of crimes. According to an FBI report dated for 2008, there is an 11 percent increase on hate crime offenses based on sexual orientation. Among all the categories of hate crimes, about 30 percent involve intimidation of some kind and another 30 percent were physical attacks. The FBI reports show that half of the hate crimes are motivated by race, one out of every six is based on sexual orientation bias, and one out of every five is led by religious bias.
Regardless of what anybody's ethnic, cultural or religious background is, when someone is led by any reason to foment and show hatred and violence towards someone else only because they are different, he or she should be accountable with the law. I hope that this expansion of the civil rights will stop the discrimination that prevails in a country, which is also know for its democracy and equality. Hatred and violence does not resolve the issue, it only teaches the younger generations that it is okay to think that one person is better that another. Just like a human being does not have the legal right to own another human being, no one has the right to take someone else's life due to discrimination.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/10/23/senate-votes_to_expand_hate_crimes
http://www.statesman.com/search/content/shared-gen/ap/Other_us_Government/US_Hate_Crimes
Monday, November 9, 2009
Our Country Needs A Health Reform
Our Country Needs A Health Reform/Blog stage #6
I read a commentary written by Chelsea Quimby on her blog http://chelseauslately.blogspot/. Her title reads: "Health Reform In The General Public". Although I am able to sympathize with Ms.Quimby's comments my opinion in this matter is still the same. I believe our country needs a health reform. Ms. Quimby is basing her conclusion on the results obtained from Stanford's "Building Sensible Health Care Solution"project . According to these results, 62 percent of the Americans are saying to be fine with the current system and 68 percent of the Americans are saying that the current system does not work for them. However, 14,000 Americans lose their health insurance everyday. As for the Americans who do have insurance, there is always the concern of meeting deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance and never being certain as to what or how this so call "explanation of benefits" will really benefit the member. She is suggesting that the public option and the private firms should be able to exist independently without hurting each other. That will never happen, there is too much money and power involved in this matter. Insurances have become greedy, and they have proven over and over again that they are not out there to give the best health care possible to Americans but to look after their profits.
The new health care reform has passed through the House of Representatives and in the process to be presented to the Senate. This health reform is supported by President Obama, the American Medical Association, the American Nursing Association and AARP. These identities know the needs of the Americans and understand that there is a need for a change. The Stanford Project, may have come up with an impressive statistic. However, it is also important to remember that there are about 36 million people who are now without insurance. The new health care plan will end the practices that certain health insurances have to avoid giving services if there is a pre-existing condition. Some insurances will go as far as dropping a member if he or she has become seriously ill.
Ms Quimby, with all due respect, your opinion is sensible but not realistic. The insurance companies need to be under control, so that they can no longer take advantage of those who are going through cancers or terminal illnesses. I worked in the medical field for many years and as someone who has been exposed to these matters I can say that it is in due time that someone puts a stop to these skyrocketing premiums established by insurances. I will give you a personal example. This is how the introduction begins with the medical insurance that I currently have: "Benefits are subject to changes without notice. The benefits verified today are not warrantied. The claims presented are susceptible to the policy and guidelines established in the contract..... how may I help you"
This new health reform will give better preventive care and the insurance companies will be accountable to give all Americans stable health care. President Obama has won commitments from hospitals groups and insurances to cut the rate of increase of their costs by 1.5 percent per year over next decade.
http://chelseauslately.blogspot.com/
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php.storyId=105417097 &ps=rs
08/health/policy/08health.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=health%20reform%20by%20obama&st=cse
Friday, October 30, 2009
Stage Five: Original editorial or commentary #1
The American Clean Energy and Security Act
For the first time, both houses of Congress addressed and approved the Bill involving the seriousness of global warming pollution. In June.2009 the House of Representatives successfully passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act. This legislation created a plan to develop America into a clean energy economy and reduce pollution. The Bill proposes a cap and trade system. The government will set a limit (cap) for the total amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted nationally. Permits to emit these gases, primarily carbon dioxide, will be sold and bought by companies (the trade part of the program). In order to reduce the total carbon emissions, the cap is reduced overtime. The cap on total emission is set for a period of 2012, through 2050. The legislation would regulate specific entities to hold the right, or the allowance ti emit greenhouse gases. Those entities, which emit more gases, face a higher cost, providing an economic incentive to reduce emissions. The sharp increase of dramatic warming in the past fifty years is a result of human activity. The high levels of atmospheric gases are the results of burning fossil fuels, clearing of land and agricultural activity. United Stated energy-related carbon dioxide emissions represent 82 percent of our total human greenhouse gas emission.
President Obama is in full support of the bill, and it is now time to send it through the Senate for approval. The Bill has created deserved excitement and mixed feelings about how it will affect the economy and the American citizens. This issue has been addressed for decades, and time is running out. Several members of the Congress and the Senate are concern that the fees in relation to the Bill, would equal an new tax, which would not only be affecting the consumers but hurt the nation's economy. This bill will lead to changes in many sectors of the economy, such as, electric power generation, agriculture, manufactures and construction. However, the bill also contains a provision; the Congressional Budget office estimated that the average American household would pay $170.00 a year in energy cost by 2020. The poorest household would receive rebates that would lower the annual energy by $40.00.
Even though, there is a concern about increased taxes and how this gradual change may affect certain individuals with job opportunities, it is important to understand that the global warming must be stopped in its tracks, because the overall effects are widespread and largely irreparable. Aside from the fact that it is affecting the animal and plant productivity and vitality, along with fragile ecosystem, it is also affecting the human race.
According to the Center of Disease Control, and increase of injuries and death caused by severe weather such as hurricanes is expected which, in return affects the economy and financial stability of the affected area. Due to drought and driven air pollution, there will be more cases of respiratory problems. There will be higher rates of waterborne diseases, such as cholera and mental health problems such as depression and post traumatic stress. It seems to me that the consequences can be so severe; we might be having a much larger issue with our health care than what we are experiencing now.
The Democrats and Republicans need to set their differences aside and support this legislation. If we do not take care of our Earth, pretty soon we will not have a safe place to live in. We need the political support and the economic capital to make clean energy. It is our moral duty to address the carbon usage in today's world, in order to protect the generations to come. If this bill passes then we are taking a huge step forward in securing our future energy and investing in the protection of natural resources.
http://www.globawarmingsolutions.org/basics
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press 111/20090724/hr2454 housesummary.pdf.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/us/politics/27climate.html
http://www.npr.org/blogs.thetwo-way/2009/06/obamalobbiesforenergybill.html
For the first time, both houses of Congress addressed and approved the Bill involving the seriousness of global warming pollution. In June.2009 the House of Representatives successfully passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act. This legislation created a plan to develop America into a clean energy economy and reduce pollution. The Bill proposes a cap and trade system. The government will set a limit (cap) for the total amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted nationally. Permits to emit these gases, primarily carbon dioxide, will be sold and bought by companies (the trade part of the program). In order to reduce the total carbon emissions, the cap is reduced overtime. The cap on total emission is set for a period of 2012, through 2050. The legislation would regulate specific entities to hold the right, or the allowance ti emit greenhouse gases. Those entities, which emit more gases, face a higher cost, providing an economic incentive to reduce emissions. The sharp increase of dramatic warming in the past fifty years is a result of human activity. The high levels of atmospheric gases are the results of burning fossil fuels, clearing of land and agricultural activity. United Stated energy-related carbon dioxide emissions represent 82 percent of our total human greenhouse gas emission.
President Obama is in full support of the bill, and it is now time to send it through the Senate for approval. The Bill has created deserved excitement and mixed feelings about how it will affect the economy and the American citizens. This issue has been addressed for decades, and time is running out. Several members of the Congress and the Senate are concern that the fees in relation to the Bill, would equal an new tax, which would not only be affecting the consumers but hurt the nation's economy. This bill will lead to changes in many sectors of the economy, such as, electric power generation, agriculture, manufactures and construction. However, the bill also contains a provision; the Congressional Budget office estimated that the average American household would pay $170.00 a year in energy cost by 2020. The poorest household would receive rebates that would lower the annual energy by $40.00.
Even though, there is a concern about increased taxes and how this gradual change may affect certain individuals with job opportunities, it is important to understand that the global warming must be stopped in its tracks, because the overall effects are widespread and largely irreparable. Aside from the fact that it is affecting the animal and plant productivity and vitality, along with fragile ecosystem, it is also affecting the human race.
According to the Center of Disease Control, and increase of injuries and death caused by severe weather such as hurricanes is expected which, in return affects the economy and financial stability of the affected area. Due to drought and driven air pollution, there will be more cases of respiratory problems. There will be higher rates of waterborne diseases, such as cholera and mental health problems such as depression and post traumatic stress. It seems to me that the consequences can be so severe; we might be having a much larger issue with our health care than what we are experiencing now.
The Democrats and Republicans need to set their differences aside and support this legislation. If we do not take care of our Earth, pretty soon we will not have a safe place to live in. We need the political support and the economic capital to make clean energy. It is our moral duty to address the carbon usage in today's world, in order to protect the generations to come. If this bill passes then we are taking a huge step forward in securing our future energy and investing in the protection of natural resources.
http://www.globawarmingsolutions.org/basics
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press 111/20090724/hr2454 housesummary.pdf.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/us/politics/27climate.html
http://www.npr.org/blogs.thetwo-way/2009/06/obamalobbiesforenergybill.html
Thursday, October 15, 2009
President Obama's Nobe Peacel Prize
http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2009/10/09/%e2%80%98obamas-nobel-farce%e2%80%99/
This is a Blog written by political writer, David Paul Kuhn and posted on "Real Clear Politics "on October the 10th, 2009. Mr Kuhn stated that President Obama has done nothing to deserve the prize, making it all a farce; however, I believe he is missing the point as to why he has earned such an honor. The Nobel committee awarded President Obama with the Nobel Peace Prize "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” and his “vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.” Quoted from the New York Times
The Nobel Peace Prize may be awarded to persons or organizations that are in the process of resolving a conflict or creating peace. Mr Kuhn , states that the Nobel Committee has done wrong by choosing President Obama for the Nobel Peace Prize. Obviously, the Nobel Committee is supporting Obama's worldview of bringing peace and ending war. As Americans, we ought to be pleased that our president was recognized by something of this order. This is a recognition which may allow other governments to react in a positive way to Obama's call for them to assume their accountabilities. The award emphasizes how much the International community wants and needs American leadership, and that is something all Americans should appreciate.
President Barack Obama was not only surprised, but deeply humbled for the nomination; and as for the 1.4 millions dollars which, is presented along with the prize, he is donating it all to charity. Our country is going through rough and critical times . Other nations are having to deal and struggle with wars, natural disasters, hunger, pollution, and worldwide economy. These are issues that should be addressed with the cooperation of the world as a whole.
On a personal note, I don't agree with Mr. David Paul Kuhn, and I know that President Obama deserves the award which is based on his accomplishments and the aggressive agenda that he is still working to fulfill.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10nobel.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=obamas%20nobel%20peace%20prize&st=cse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Peace_Prize
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113658854&ps=rs
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113669638
This is a Blog written by political writer, David Paul Kuhn and posted on "Real Clear Politics "on October the 10th, 2009. Mr Kuhn stated that President Obama has done nothing to deserve the prize, making it all a farce; however, I believe he is missing the point as to why he has earned such an honor. The Nobel committee awarded President Obama with the Nobel Peace Prize "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” and his “vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.” Quoted from the New York Times
The Nobel Peace Prize may be awarded to persons or organizations that are in the process of resolving a conflict or creating peace. Mr Kuhn , states that the Nobel Committee has done wrong by choosing President Obama for the Nobel Peace Prize. Obviously, the Nobel Committee is supporting Obama's worldview of bringing peace and ending war. As Americans, we ought to be pleased that our president was recognized by something of this order. This is a recognition which may allow other governments to react in a positive way to Obama's call for them to assume their accountabilities. The award emphasizes how much the International community wants and needs American leadership, and that is something all Americans should appreciate.
President Barack Obama was not only surprised, but deeply humbled for the nomination; and as for the 1.4 millions dollars which, is presented along with the prize, he is donating it all to charity. Our country is going through rough and critical times . Other nations are having to deal and struggle with wars, natural disasters, hunger, pollution, and worldwide economy. These are issues that should be addressed with the cooperation of the world as a whole.
On a personal note, I don't agree with Mr. David Paul Kuhn, and I know that President Obama deserves the award which is based on his accomplishments and the aggressive agenda that he is still working to fulfill.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10nobel.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=obamas%20nobel%20peace%20prize&st=cse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Peace_Prize
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113658854&ps=rs
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113669638
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