Appreciated Government

I feel that my classmate and I are on the same page on what we have learned from this government class. I truly appreciate knowing that one of my classmate’s opinions regarding what we have gained from this government class is positive and grateful. Reading Viola’s commentary which is titled Blog VII made me realize that now when I sit at the break room table at work with all of my co-workers talking about politics, or my family or whoever I come across that wants to talk about it. I have an opinion to state because I understand about what is going on. I have the right and a place as an American citizen to speak my mind because I have the liberty of freedom of speech that I took for granted just as well as I took voting for granted.

Viola states that “knowledge is power when it comes to our government.” I could not agree with her more. The more you know about the history of our government and the way it works. The more you want to become involved because you understand the founding and establishment of it, and what it represents. It gives you motivation to hold it true to what it does represent. Viola mentions that she has realized how important Special Interests groups are and how much difference you can make in our country by participating and being apart of such organizations.

Serving as a delegate for the Hilary Clinton Campaign, and treasurer of her HOA, she realizes government is everywhere. I believe she is correct, I work in a Pharmacy and even in a pharmacy there are government influenced laws that the pharmacy has to abide by such as the FDA as well as Texas State Board of Pharmacy policies. I have realized that many of the laws are influenced by federal laws and learning what I have from this class gave me the opportunity to understand these laws more properly and the reason for their implementation. I also agree with Viola when she says that we have a well established system of checks and balances within our government. We both believe that these checks and balances have worked so well for the U.S. that many have gone through hardships trying to seek it.

In conclusion the use of her statement “The seeds that have been planted while taking this government class give me a sense of awareness that I did not have before” nailed it for me. I definitely want to be involved more in politics as an American citizen because my knowledge of American government is broad now, and I have confidence that my voice of opinion can make a difference when before my ignorance allowed me to believe it really didn’t matter. I believe the Texas law that these government classes are a requirement to obtaining your degree is vital, and whoever proposed them and implemented them knew what they were doing when they passed it. I hope too to pass my knowledge gained from this class on to others that may not have the chance to learn what I have learned.

Napolitano calls Arizona immigration law a ‘cry of frustration’

I can’t help but to do my second to last blog of the semester geared towards the new law that has been passed in Arizona. Yes, I am Hispanic and the law outrages me. I’m not even in Arizona. But after reading through my suggested sources and literally looking for the stories about this law I am appreciative to see that there are some political figures that are just as outraged by it.

One article that I appreciated reading the most was one I found on the CNN website under politics titled Napolitano calls Arizona immigration law a ‘cry of frustration’. Not only did I read the article I appreciated all of the peoples comments below it that fueled my argument. I think it especially stuck out from all the other articles because Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano not only finds the law racially profiling, but makes a good point by saying that it now pushes Arizona police officers to be more geared towards putting this new law into effect than on other higher priority crimes. I was also pleased to see there was harsh rejection from Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico in passing the law, and Democratic Luis Gutierrez was arrested for protesting outside the white house.

I think what truly bothered me when I first heard about this is that probably Hispanics like myself who have never even stepped on Mexican land are being pulled over because they look Hispanic. My first reaction is that this is racial profiling. I don’t have legal papers I was born in Kansas, and yes I speak Spanish but I don’t consider it my first language!! What happens if I forget my wallet and get pulled over and have nothing? Are they going to ship me away???!!! Is this going to spread all the way here to Texas? This is awful!! There has to be a better way on cracking down on immigration.

Reading the comments below this article I came across one that the individual’s opinion towards the law was as if this is the way it needs to be, and tried to explain their opinion by comparing our country to a crowed elevator if we just keep letting immigrants come across the borders. They even stated that if these immigrants were forced to work for free (in reference to jobs now mainly performed by Hispanics) they would stop trying to cross it. I couldn’t believe I was reading this. Then who would do these jobs??? Him I hope!! But reading his comment brought to mind that the first people who came to this country that brought about the establishment of our government migrated here for freedom of religion and rights. Also in other words we are all generations of generations of our passed family that migrated here either from across the border or across the Atlantic and where ever else. I don’t think we should be prejudice about or towards immigrants. Everyone wants better for themselves.

I am not saying I am against immigration reform but I think there has to be a better way to go about it than passing laws like this one that make Hispanics like my self feel stereotyped. I sometimes feel in certain situations like I’m treated like I’m the immigrant when I’m not nor are the millions of Hispanics that feel the same way I do and that have received the same treatment.

Medicinal Marijuana by Shawnta Anderson

I really appreciated reading this article and reading the view of someone else on this matter that is not so conservative. I believe my colleague has come up with some very good view points towards this issue, and I commend her for taking the chance and writing her well thought opinions about it. For a different view regarding medicinal marijuana take time and read Shawnta Anderson’s Medicinal Marijuana commentary.

She begins her article by stating that several states in the United States have decided to allow the use of marijuana for medicinal uses and that many citizens argue that it would lead to extreme abuse of the substance and make it more easily obtainable by children. She also comments on the far more harmful affects of alcohol compared to marijuana. Reading her viewpoints made me do a little research of my own on how many states have legalized this drug, and what the harmful side effects could be. I also formulated my own opinion which is very much similar to Shawnta’s viewpoint regarding obtainment of the substance by children.

In the United States there are at least ten states that have passed legislation that removes state-level penalties from the use of marijuana by patients who have a doctor’s recommendation. But just to clarify it is still prohibited by Federal law. This means that if the substance is prescribed by your doctor and you have it on you and happen to be searched by an officer. There is a legal amount that you can carry, that will in most states only cost you a small fine for possession, instead of being hauled off to jail on drug charges.

In my opinion this is reasonable due to the fact that there have been so many useful medicinal purposes found to help with ailments in humans by ingesting the substance THC. Such as epilepsy, cancer, Chrohn's Disease, nausea, migraines, and premenstrual syndrome to name a few. I believe that some people have the misconception that people are just walking around smoking pot in these states when really there is already a FDA approved drug by the name of marinol (which is pure THC besides the other inactive ingredients that make it a capsule) that is just as potent as smoking pot to help with certain ailments in humans. Which is also already being prescribed to cancer patients in several states including Texas. I am not saying the patients in these states where it is medicinally legal do not smoke the substance because the option to do so is still an option. Also I can’t imagine how that has helped county and city jails to not be so crowded over petty marijuana charged criminals.

The side of effects of marijuana use is still under investigation and the ones that are known for a fact are short term when a patient is actually high on the substance. Which are a series of short breath, coughing, paranoia, dry mouth, and increased heart rate. Shawnta is correct when she states that there has not been any serious long term affects associated with the consumption of marijuana. In fact most websites and literature on the substance read that there are far worse bodily consequences with the long term use of alcohol.

In conclusion I would like to express my opinion towards that of Shawnta’s regarding the obtainment of the substance by children. I absolutely agree with Shawnta that it is far way easier right now for a minor to find and purchase marijuana than it is tobacco, or alcohol. What is worse is that that goes the same for far more worse drugs like heroin, cocaine, and meth.

I also believe that we need to stop spending tax dollars on charging citizens with marijuana charges and utilize the money to take down the trafficking of these life threatening drugs. Taxing the substance would be more beneficial and could be used for healthcare programs. Legalizing the substance not only for medicinal purposes would reduce trafficking along the borders as well. More time and money would be used to stop cocaine trafficking and take down internal meth houses. If marijuana was behind the counter and required an I.D. to purchase it there would be far more control over it than what there is now. It would have the same regards as alcohol in the work place. Also I believe children would be less likely to try it at young age or obtain it as easily as now. I believe Shawnta is absolutely correct when she says we need to evaluate the positive outcomes of the legalization of marijuana.

Unemployment Benefits Expire For Thousands

I came across a new topic on the CNN website titled Unemployment benefits expire for thousands and became curious of the content of the article because so many Americans are unemployed due to the current recession. I wondered why our government would cut this assistance received by so many American citizens. As I read the article I became aware that this issue is a partisan issue which means that both parties agree on the topic. So are you wondering if many Americans are left without long term unemployed benefits? The answer is "yes." Reading the article to my understanding the Senate decided to go on with their spring recession without approving a one month deadline extension for long term unemployment benefits for unemployed Americans. As of Monday April 5, 2010 at least two hundred twelve thousand Americans will be affected by this decision. Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning was the first to object to the deficit back in January. Now Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn is not willing single handedly to accept the reason for the extension not being met. He states that he voted to stay in session to work on fixing the bill stating “"Congress had several opportunities to extend these benefits in a fiscally-responsible manner before our Easter break but rejected all of them. It's time for Congress to do what's right for both the unemployed and future generations and do the hard work of paying for important priorities.” Bunning and Coburn believe that other government spending should be cut in order to pay for the bill instead of increasing the countries deficit. So instead of agreeing on an emergency extension with the belief that the country will find the money to pay for it in the future Coburn in my opinion with out his unanimous vote depleted thousands of benefits not only for adults but for children as well. It is to my understanding that one of the reasons backing this reasoning is because if we continue to put ourselves in debt the future generation of our children will be paying the price for decisions being made now. Many people disagree and say the future is now. This is one of those issues similar to ones in every day life where you have to hope for the best in the future because you have to make the most humane choice in the present.

Texas Education Board Approves Conservative Curriculum Changes By Far-Right

I recently have heard discussion between family members who are educators here in Texas about Texas textbooks and new content of history that will be taught if the Texas Board of Education approves certain changes. So when I came across the article Texas Education Board Approves Conservative Curriculum Changes By Far-Right, I had to read it and become familiar with the debate that I was reminded of between two my Aunt’s. The article is written by April Castro who is an associated press writer for the Huffington Post and who has written several articles concerning Texas politics which can be found on her blog page at life.com/journalist/april_castro. Her article is definitely geared towards parents, and educators. In her article she outlines the topics of history that would be introduced and spoken differently than what has been taught the last twenty years. Castro states “Following three days of impassioned and acrimonious debate, the board gave preliminary approval to the new standards with a 10-5 party line-vote”. Indicating after public comment and the final vote in May teachers will be required to cover the Judeo-Christian influences of the nation's Founding Fathers, but not stress the reason for the separation of Church and government. I think this a great new perspective instead of always ruling out church in everything. Our founding father’s came with the intent of free religion, or we would not have a United States to begin with. Also the new curriculum norms will have teachers teaching government described as a “constitutional republic” as opposed to a “democracy.” If you are wondering the difference between the two titles, democracy defines as: Rule by the people, and constitutional republic defined by John Adams is, “government of laws and not of men” which does not make sense in my opinion. Even teaching it with this title we are still practicing the same government. Teachers will also be required to teach the down fall of the devaluation of the U.S. dollar, including the abandonment of the gold standard. I have to say I think this is great because even I do not know the decline of the U.S. monetary system. Pat Hardy a republican and long time teacher says by doing this we are taking something that is already long and making it longer. It is too much for the teachers in her opinion to teach so much information in a short amount of time. I understand the point she is trying to prove but had it been this way in the first place it would be something she didn't realize so lengthy because teachers in general would be accustomed to it. As they will be become if the final vote in May approves. In my conclusion the addition of the contribution of other Texas minority groups would enhance a students understanding of our historical melting pot.

Pitts: On race and the tea party

I found an article in the Austin Statesmen titled “Pitts: On race and the tea party” and became intrigued because I have been coming across the term “tea party” quite a bit lately since I started this course. So I did my research thanks to Professor Seago and have formulated my own opinions about the tea party movement. First off the author of the commentary Leonard Pitts Jr. is a syndicated columnist for the Miami Herald who won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize of Commentary. His commentary is in regards towards Keith Olbermann‘s commentary stating that in his opinion the tea party movement is the outcry of people of this country who haven’t accepted that their president is black. Keith Olbermann if you are unfamiliar as I was hosts a nightly news show on MSNBC who is known for criticizing the political right. I believe that this article was intended for anybody who is familiar with Leonard Pitts and is intrigued by his writing. This being the first time reading an article by him I have to say I agree with the point that Pitts made towards Olbermann’s comments. His point being that Olbermanns comments are not wrong but rather incomplete. The term tea party movement is used to refer to themes or slogans of the Original Boston tea party. It is a conservative, populist protest movement here with in the U.S. who opposes the new stimulus and many of Obama’s new policies. Keith Olbermann claims that the real reason for the movement when you look past everything is racism; he believes that the whole reason for the movement is because the president is now black. Pitts on the other hand is reminded from Olbermann’s commentary the 2008 campaign election in which people claimed African Americans were only voting for Obama because he was black. I agree with Pitt when he says there were other qualities that gave Obama the peoples vote. Then Pitts asks the question stating “would the first pot of tea ever been brewed had Condoleezza Rice won the presidency”? He thinks the movement would definitely say “no” and claim they would have supported her. I would honestly like to believe that it would not have been brewed, but I believe it would have been brewed just the same had she won the presidency. But as the votes prove many of us are looking for more than just skin color, with Obama winning I would like to think Americans are pushing the old ways out the window. I think there are more Americans now that skin color is not even an issue subconsciously to them. We have new generations who do not know what segregation is like and grew up sharing the same bus and water fountain equally at school. I think our country has evolved into a nation that overcame inequality, but we certainly do not forget to teach younger generations how we got to the point of equality.