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The Middle East Peace Process and the Threat to Peace

When we talk about the Middle East, we talk about the Arab states, Palestinians, the Gaza strip, oil and most specially Israel. The history of the Middle East dates back in Ancient times when various religions such as Christianity, Islam and Judaism were first founded. But perhaps the most famous and most significant event worth mentioning is the continued conflict between Israel, the Arab league and several neighboring states as well. With Palestinians trying to claim back their land (Israel), it is certainly a very complicated task to settle both parties.

The 2008-2009 Gaza war is a perfect example on how unstable and unpredictable the situation is in the Middle East. The Hamas and other Palestinian groups used the Gaza strip to fire thousands of rockets aiming at hitting the cities in Israel and inflicting significant amount of damage and casualties. Because of the danger it imposed to its people, Israel immediately staged a massive invasion aiming at capturing Gaza and preventing any further missile attacks to Israel. There was widespread bloodbath with over 1000 civilians losing their lives and over 5000 getting wounded. The Arab states strongly condemned Israel and even tagged the event as the Gaza Massacre.

And just recently, yet another conflict has erupted with the Israeli armed forces attacking the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. The flotilla explained that they wanted to deliver precious supplies of food and other essential materials to the people of Gaza. The raid claimed the lives of 8 Turkish and 1 Turkish-American passengers. After the event, Israel faced widespread criticisms for violating international law as it resulted in the loss of lives. This event has also deteriorated the Turkish and Israel relations as Turkish citizens lost their lives during the raid.

There is also a growing pressure to the United States to take a stand in preventing any further conflict and maintain the Middle East peace process. As a close ally of Israel but also has growing relations with some Arab states, the U.S. is torn in preserving its foreign relations with these countries that is why it is being very careful with its decisions especially if it will affect the other.

American writer George Will argued that the greatest threat to peace in the Middle East is the peace process. The fact that the Palestinians deny the very existence of Israel is already a proper indication that there will always be conflict as long as Israel is around. The peace process has been going around for decades now without gaining any significant results.

Evaluating the Results of the Stimulus Fund

After suffering significant losses mostly economically from the recent economic recession, Pres. Obama ordered the passing of the economic stimulus bill which provides funds to various financial institutions and also to fund the basic social services of the government. The bill was aimed to create more jobs and to promote rapid consumer spending as a way to stimulate economic growth and get the country out of the recession. Of the over $800 billion stimulus fund, $100 billion was spent for the development of innovative technologies which the government treats as equally important in generating more jobs and improving healthcare, transportation and energy efficiency.

But despite of the level of positivity that the present administration has declared unto this stimulus funding, there are drawbacks and flaws that went unnoticed. Take for example the claims of the government that the stimulus funding doubled the U.S. renewable energy generation capacity and renewable manufacturing capacity by 2012. The truth is the fact that it has doubled isn’t meaningful at all as we are still uncertain of its results in years to come. It is still difficult to predict and project if the growth will continue in years to come.

With regards to health and information technology, the government also claimed that the stimulus law provided a significant boost in creating electronic health records, computerizing medicine prescriptions and conducting remote treatments to patients who live in hard to reach locations. Much of the computerization of health documents and health records are still in its early stages. It is still prone to errors and glitches which will surface in years to come. Also, much of the funds haven’t still utilized while there is still no system qualified and certified enough to satisfy the needed capabilities of the health department.

There are also assumptions that the $8 billion allocated to the creation of a high-speed rail will yield favorable results in the field of transportation. In reality, not all projects will be reaching the required speed of trains as some would prefer upgrading the existing freight rail tracks with speeds up to 110 mph. The speed is considered way short compared to the standards of other countries. There is also the challenge to the meet the 2017 deadline in spending all the funds brought by the recovery act. While the U.S. is capable of manufacturing passenger rail cars, it will take years to design and test newer models of rail cars which can satisfy the high safety standards of the U.S. society.

While the stimulus act is proven to be of great help for the recovery of the U.S. economy, there are still instances where results are irrelevant in measuring success as it is still too early to tell. The government should conduct an extensive review unto these programs in order to ensure that the funds used in these programs are reaping better and favorable results. It is also equally important to provide transparency in where and how will these funds be used.

Dismantling Drug Cartels Through Legalization

Because of its unfavorable psychological effects to humans and its direct linkage to increasing crime rates in cities, illegal drugs has been widely banned and criminalized by most countries such as the United States of America, Mexico and the United Kingdom. In Mexico, there is an ongoing war between the government of Mexico and the drug cartels responsible for the distribution of these illegal drugs. The Mexican drug cartels are such a big concern to the U.S. society as they are responsible for most of the wholesale illicit drug market in the United States.

The war in Illegal drugs has evolved over the years. Today, drug cartels and drug trafficking organizations are now powerful enough to wage an armed conflict against the government. These organizations are now strongly considering the acquisition of tanks, strong firearms and hand grenades to kill everyone that blocks their path. Mexico has become a dangerous place as even police officers and drug narcotic agents are killed almost as immediately. The deaths in Tijuana are considered higher than the death tolls in Baghdad, Iraq.

Police officers are often given a choice: either to accept bribery and allow these cartels to operate or reject them and suffer death. The streets of Mexico are not anymore safe as frequent stabbing, murder and mutilations are seen frequently. These acts are initiated by drug cartels to warn any people who want to get in their way. Illegal drug trafficking has grown into a widely profitable business being able to generate income that almost as big as the income of a U.S. state.

There is a growing movement in Mexico which aims to legalize the use of these illegal drugs. There reasons are based on the assumption that drug cartels will lose tremendous amounts of profit when they encounter stiff competition. The reason why these drug cartels are so powerful is because they control much of the supply needed to satisfy the huge demand of the world. If you legalize these illegal drugs, then many more organizations will be tapping this product significantly reducing the profits of these drug cartels.

Mexico on the mean time faces tough criticisms from countries that are previously drug users. There is an intense pressure coming from the United States and Britain to keep Mexico from fighting the war on illegal drugs. There is a universal argument that legalizing drugs will entail into massive usage and will greatly increase crime rates in each city. There is now a tough debate on whether or not illegal drugs should be legalized.

Will the Date of Withdrawal of U.S. Troops in Afghanistan Boost the Morale of Insurgency Groups?

With over 3,000 lives lost during the September 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center, the U.S. and its allies wasted no time in trying to eradicate a growing problem. Terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda were directly blamed for the incident and are now highly considered a threat to the peace and security of every country. And thus, Operation Enduring Freedom was launched on October 7, 2001 to hunt down and destroy terrorist groups and their training grounds. Along with other NATO countries, the U.S. armed forces have been facing strong resistance from Al Qaeda and from the Taliban Insurgency.

With every American solder getting killed in Afghanistan, the lower the confidence and trust of the American people in pursuing the war. For years, the armed forces have not only faced armed resistance but also harsh criticisms from several politicians, lawmakers and citizens themselves. It is evident that more and more people have lost their patience with the armed forces indicating that the war itself isn’t winnable at all.

After over 9 years in combat and with almost 8,000 allied casualty, the U.S. has finally decided to end the war by bring back home their troops. U.S. President Barack Obama’s announced that the U.S. will begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in July 2011. With suicide attacks increasing every day, the troop withdrawal is good news to all the families of U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan. Some said that it will help prevent any further bloodshed and save more American lives.

But retiring marine General James Conway said that the announcement by Pres. Obama is just going to boost the morale of insurgency groups. It is good to note that the Taliban Insurgency has been mainly responsible for the recent attacks on allied bases which are constantly claiming the lives of many allied soldiers. Conway believes that the insurgency can now wait till the last U.S. soldier leaves Afghanistan in order to reclaim the land back.

While the argument of Conway may be partly true, it is still reasonable to withdraw those troops as the war has been going on for over 9 years without any significant results. More and more U.S. servicemen are losing their lives in foreign soil on a war that is perceived as unwinnable. Many people believed that the moment the U.S. armed forces step foot in Afghanistan was already a big mistake. With the insurgency not going any weaker, it is best to withdraw those troops to save lives and be reasonable enough. Also, with the economic recession depleting the federal budget very rapidly, ending combat operations in Afghanistan will save a lot of federal money which can be used to create jobs instead.

The Government Should Grant Equal Access and Funding to Independent Researchers of the BP Oil Spill

The Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting oil spill has been widely considered as very destructive not only on the environmental habitat surrounding the Mexico gulf but also for the thousands of business establishments and residents that were affected by the incident. With the large volumes of oil that leaked into the sea, it is widely regarded as the largest oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry and the one of the worst oil spill in the U.S. The extensive damage to wildlife and marine habitat has been a major concern to local residents, environmental experts and to the U.S. government itself.

Because of the major environmental disaster that is had caused, scientists are now scrambling to collect valuable data which will be used to determine the extent of the disaster and effect it will bring in the future. Although the oil blowout has been capped and the surface oil slick already been dispersed, there may still be the presence of toxic chemicals that has combined with sea water. These chemicals are a huge threat to the surrounding habitat and may disrupt the food chain. Scientists believed that despite of the successful cleanup operations, there are more work to be done in assessing the long term effect of the disaster.

But despite of the massive efforts of scientists to conduct research, there has been an unequal treatment with regards to funds, access to vital information and access to key locations in the gulf. Since the location of the oil spill is owned by BP, only those who are directly working for them or those who are working for the federal government’s Natural Resource Damage Assessment program are given enough funding and the privilege to access those important sites. Other independent researchers are discarded or have limited access to the research site.

The results of the numerous will be used to pursue the legal remedies that BP will be facing. Without proper transparency on these researches, expect a one-sided result which will surely favor BP. The results will be in total secrecy without uncovering the truth to the public. Independent scientists are now asking the government to grant them access to affected sites in order to conduct their own research and investigation on the disaster. Without the commitment to provide appropriate funding and vital access, the rehabilitation and restoration of the gulf will be in jeopardy.

More Americans Now Believe that Obama is Indeed a Muslim

Before his presidency, Barack Obama was a democratic Senator of the state of Illinois. Having graduated at Harvard University law school with Juris Doctor (J.D.) magna cum laude honors, he was then perceived as an intelligent and skillful man. On February 10, 2007, Obama announced his bid for presidency. During his campaign, his platforms with regards to ending the war in Iraq, improving and increasing energy efficiency and creating a universal health care program caught the attention of a lot of people. Obama would then win the presidential race being the first African-American to take the highest position in office in America.

During the early days of his presidency, there was renewed hope felt by millions of citizens especially that the nation has been plagued by a lot of social, political and economical problems left by the previous administration. Because of him being considerably black, there were also high hopes in the restoration of freedom and justice regardless of race. But after almost 2 years in office, it seems that the voting population has been steadily losing trust and patience with Obama.

His inability to resolve the rising death tolls in both wars (Afghanistan and Iraq) have drawn many criticisms from several politicians, lawmakers and citizens. Also, the controversial health care reform bill has also received negative reviews stating that it is unreasonable and will only negate the freedom enjoyed by millions of Americans. Another big issue is his capability to find a solution to the present economic crisis that has left 12% of the population without a job. The increasing budget deficit is also a huge concern limiting government funding on basic social services and also erasing thousands of federal jobs.

But perhaps the most controversial issue that the President has faced is with regards to his comments on the proposed Mosque to be constructed two blocks away from Ground Zero. Because of that incident, more people have developed doubts about the real religion of Obama. A recent poll indicated that 1 in every 5 Americans believed that Obama is a Muslim. Even before his comments on the proposed Mosque, there is already a continued rise on the belief that he is indeed a Muslim.

Various democrats label this as a politically-charged action ahead of the Congressional elections. They also argued that some of the disagreements that pertain to Obama’s religion were linked to discontent of his performance. Whatever the real score is, the degree of distrust to the president is really increasing. I can fully say that this has also something to do with the lack of transparency that the present administration has. If indeed Pres. Obama is really a Christian, then the government should have nothing to hide and show the actual proof to the people. With lack of confidence and trust, the nation will never achieve national unity.

The War in Iraq is Not Yet Over

After 8 years of hearing suicide attacks, scud missiles and coordinated drone bombings, the U.S. armed forces has finally called on the withdrawal of its troops in Iraq. Standing firm on his decision to end the highly controversial and chaotic war, Pres. Obama implemented an August 31 deadline to cut its troops to below 50,000. For the past few weeks, the armed forces have been busy with the withdrawal of 90,000 troops, 40,000 vehicles and 1.5 million pieces of military hardware. This move was highly praised by the international community and the American majority as well.

Considering the number of U.S. servicemen who either lost their lives or lost a limb trying to fight for a war that isn’t anymore progressing as it used to be, the troop withdrawal will save thousands of lives and save the American taxpayer’s money too. During the course of the war, more than 4,400 U.S. soldiers have been killed and thousands more were injured. But despite of the massive troop withdrawals, there is no clear guarantee on whether or not the war will be over and will the U.S. lost more of its troops in the ground.

Amazingly, all indications point to the continuation of the war with more U.S. troops under constant threat of an attack from rebel positions. Just in case you didn’t know, there will be over 50,000 troops which will be left in Iraq taking on an advisory role. They will help train and assist the Iraqi police and military to be self-sufficient in protecting their nation against internal and external threats. With the growing strength of the insurgency, there might still be huge possibility that the U.S. will again be involved in a combat role to fight these rebel activists.

The Iraqi armed forces may not be capable enough to handle the different of their country. The recent suicide bomb attack in an army recruitment center which killed at least 58 people is a testament to the growing concern of insurgency and the incompetence that the Iraqi forces have been showing. There may also be a possibility that the remaining U.S. troops will be attacked forcing them to switch back to their combat role.

Despite of the wonderful and flowering promise by Pres. Obama, it is no doubt that it is just a deception as the war continues. As long as there are U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq, the war will continue and the lives of these Americans will constantly be at risk. The War in Iraq will serve as a grim reminder to the suffering felt by thousands of Americans and Iraqis too.

The Truth and Lies of Obamacare

All humans are prone to sickness, diseases and ailments which threaten are very existence. We do have a choice to apply for an insurance which will guarantee health assistance in times where we need medical attention. But research showed that the cost of health care premiums have double over the course of 8 years and will again be doubled over the next decade making more people less capable of getting an insurance plan. Pres. Obama then introduced the Obamacare health plan in order to provide a reform in the flawed health insurance system of the United States of America.

The Obamacare will improve and modernize the U.S. health care system in a way that all citizens will have the capacity to avail of an insurance premium. It aims to protect the financial health of families by reducing the costs being paid by families and businesses for health care. It also aims to promote the universality of health care covering all Americans if possible. It will also eliminate the notion that for one to secure health coverage, one should be locked unto his/her job. No American shall be denied from health coverage.

The bill claims that it will bring down the cost of medical care. Despite of the many wonderful guarantees that this bill introduced, the reality is far from how it should be as certain flaws are found. A new book entitled “The Truth About Obamacare”which was written by Sally Pipes explains to us what Obamacare is all about. Government-run health systems are very attractive as they are cheap and very affordable by most citizens. The downside may lie on the quality of health service which is often unnoticed by the media.

In Britian which implements a government-run health care system, there are over 4000 expectant mothers who gave birth to their children at unexpected places such as hallways, bathrooms and even elevators. The widespread neglect of patients from proper health service is already a growing concern in Britain. The Obamacare may in fact cost less but will also degrade the quality of service get. It will also reduce your freedom to choose as it is compulsory to all Americans.

The media often claimed that the U.S. has a higher infant mortality rate compared to other countries who has implemented government medical-care systems. What the media don’t know is that America do count babies who died while other countries do that. If the media will not tell you that, then Obamacare will also not. There are a lot of implications that the Obamacare doesn’t simply tell people about it. Then there is also the issue with regards to freedom of choice.

Imagine if you are young, healthy and don’t want to get health insurance. You are starting up a small business and need to cut on cost to pay for startup expenses. And one way to do it is to forego and ignore health insurance. Despite of your decision to avoid any health insurance, the Obamacare tells you that you should subscribe to it by paying $750 annually. It has removed the freedom that was previously enjoyed by millions of Americans.

Medical Marijuana and How it can Help Solve the Problem of Budget Deficit

Marijuana or Cannabis plant is a green, brown or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves of the hemp plant. It is often referred to as a psychoactive drug as it has the capability to alter the workings of the brain. Illicit usage of such drug is prohibited by most countries as it can cause severe health problems and may cause crimes too. Several crimes with regards to homicide, rape and murder were widely attributed to the suspect having consumed a high dosage of Marijuana. But despite of its unwanted effects, it too can provide medicinal benefits when processed and used at the right manner.

More commonly, Marijuana is known to be an effective cure for common ailments such as headaches and menstrual cramps. Just recently, it has also been tried and tested with several severe diseases such as glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and the Tourette's syndrome. There have also been unofficial studies linking Marijuana to the cure of lung cancer. In Puerto Rico, there have been reports that a chronic smoker who also smokes pot will less likely develop lung cancer compared to chronic smokers who does not smoke pot. The medicinal value of Marijuana may be huge only that research is still needed to tap all the wonders it can do.

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter said that Marijuana may in fact help the government recover from the ills brought by the huge budget deficit. In the state of Denver, Gov. Ritter used Medical Marijuana registrations amounting to over $9 million to help the state meet a $60 million fiscal emergency. The state expects a sudden surge in registrations which could reach 150,000 by the end of the year compared to 41,000 in 2009. He sees that the government can take advantage of the huge demand for medical Marijuana to raise funds and avoid any further deficit.

A Marijuana card reportedly costs $90 per year. Several legislators and policymakers are eyeing the potential of implementing taxes and other fees for the access to Marijuana medicine in order to supplement fiscal funding. In a time of recession, the government is finding ways to save money, cut cost and generate funds to maintain stability among its resources. The medical marvels of Marijuana may indeed have a huge potential. The only problem I see is the danger it could impose if there is easy access to it. The federal government should impose policies and regulations which will create controls in order to avoid the abuse of this drug.

The Housing Sector Crisis and the Possibility of a Double Dip Recession

The liquidity shortfall in the United States banking system resulted in the collapse of large financial institutions and other business firms. This in turn created a domino effect triggering the worst economic recession in the modern era with many countries including major players deeply affected. Because of this, the economies of other countries have significantly slowed as international trade declined and confidence in spending has slowly diminished. The U.S. also incurred a very large budget deficit that threatens the country’s stability in the future.

The home and housing sector is obviously one of the most affected by the recent economic and financial crisis. There was widespread foreclosure as prices of house loans and interest rates soared up. In April this year, the number of home sales went down due to the expiration of federal tax credit given to buyers. Experts and economists are now deeply worried about the possibility of the double dip recession since the economy and the housing market are two different entities that worked with each other.

The fall of the housing sector can greatly affect the stability of the economy and the stimulation of economic growth. According to West Chest, Pennsylvania-based Moody’s Analytics, 15 percent of the gross domestic product during the second quarter was attributed to home construction materials and home furniture and appliances. Also, the housing sector may also influence consumer spending by enabling consumers to receive extra money to buy more goods. In the mid 2000’s, consumers used the equity of their homes to purchase automobiles and take on a holiday vacation.

With over 14.6 million Americans having no work or going underemployed, homeowners are struggling to cope up with their housing loans or in paying for their ownership of properties. Figures showed that one in seven mortgages resulted in foreclosure in the first quarter. Although Pres. Obama has already implemented the Home Affordable Modification Program, there are still a lot of instances where the consumer defaulted on the loan. The unstable economy has forced homeowners to default and instead chose to save more money for future use.

Previous economic recessions make use of the housing sector to generate economic growth and encourage consumer spending. That is not the case today as people are losing hope with fewer jobs available in the market. If the housing sector continues to fall with little positive effects done by Obama’s Home modification program, the country may well be experiencing a double dip recession resulting in negative economy growth. The government must act now and take on the right decisions to be able to steer the economy from other crisis waiting to happen.

The Global Crisis Brought by Climate Change

Climate change have been occurring for millions of years now only that what is happening today is significantly destructive enough compared to previous occurrences. Climate change can be simply described as a sudden change in weather patterns over long periods of time such as extreme heat or the frequency of flooding. It can have devastating effects to human civilization such as newer diseases, flashfloods, earthquakes and other calamities. Weather patterns today provide us an indication that we are heading into an environmentally chaotic future.

What better way to measure climate change than to monitor the current situation of the Arctic Ice cap. In 1994, a United States Cost Guard-owned icebreaker went on a journey to the North Pole encountering thick packs of ice ranging from six to nine feet thick. The captain of the ship, Marc Rothwell, recalled that they never encountered any problem with strong waves as the ice prevented them from developing. Today, the open sea has expanded giving us an idea that much of the ice seen before has now melted and joined the sea water.

Studies showed that the Arctic is indeed warming twice as fast compared to other parts of the planets. The increased temperatures are melting the ice caps turning them into sea water which in turn accelerates the melting process. Also, the warmer Pacific Ocean water is also passing through the Arctic basin further melting a larger area of ice. The rapid melting of ice caps is expected to increase temperature levels to record highs. It will also significantly increase water levels making more places prone to flooding and more vulnerable to storm surges.

If you have been hearing the news lately, you may have heard about the flashfloods in China that killed over 50,000 people and the wildfires in Russia which threatened to destroy its capital city. Studies also indicated that the year 2010 will be the warmest year all throughout the history of the planet. While we are already experiencing the negative effects of climate change, efforts by government with regards to climate policy have been dull. In fact, the senate democrats have rejected the proposal to instill a climate policy bill.

The recent economic crisis has also snatched the attention of most governments. The governments of various nations are quite busy solving their economic woes while also forgetting the responsibilities they need to do for their environment. Without adequate attention poured unto a climate bill, we will be facing an environmentally devastating future. The lives of our sons and daughters are totally dependent on the decisions we make today. Countries and nations should cut on greenhouse gas emissions and create an environmental policy that will restore and normalize the environment. If we are really concerned about saving Earth, we should really act now.

China’s Rise: Should the U.S. be Concerned?

For many years, the U.S. has enjoyed so much publicity and honor as it tagged as the last remaining superpower and having the largest economy in the whole world. With a GDP of over $14 trillion, the U.S. enjoys being tagged as the center for global manufacturing and financial sector. Also, having a per capita income of $46,381 indicates that Americans have one of the highest qualities of living in the world. That is why the sudden boom on the Chinese economy has caused a certain sense in urgency for the U.S.

Recent figures showed that China’s economy has replaced Japan as the second largest economy in the world. In the April-to-June quarter, China’s nominal GDP accounted to $1.335 trillion compared to Japan’s $1.286 trillion. Although Japan’s economy never really shrunk, the growth was slower. Also, the Chinese economic boom was dubbed as miraculous having become the number 1 exporting country in the world. A power shift is expected in the next couple of years as China might decide to assert its power and influence unto the world.

There have been frequent debates and arguments with regards to the concerns of the U.S. on the sudden rise of China. Some feared that the sudden shift in power will result in conflict and aggression. Recently, the U.S. has expressed concern on China’s ambitious plan to fully occupy the controversial Spratlys islands and deploy naval troops there. The U.S. has mentioned that China should resolve that matter along with other claimants in a peaceful way. The Chinese naval presence has been continuously expanding and covering more space than ever before.

Despite having the 2nd largest economy in the world, China still has internal issues such as only having $3,999 in per capita income. It is still home to some of the poorest people in the world while Japan enjoys a $41,366 per capita income which is one of the highest in the world. China still needs to scatter the wealth if it wants to overtake the U.S. and claim the number one spot.

The possibility of a U.S.-China conflict is still inevitable as both countries are totally dependent with each other especially when talking about trade. I don’t see anything wrong about the sudden rise in power by China. The only thing that the world has to be concern of is when China decides to be aggressive. Nevertheless, a productive China will still benefit a lot of countries such as the U.S. as trade and economic activity will be very much active.

The U.S. Leaves a Legacy in Iraq: Torture, Corruption and Civil War

Going to war and invading another country is certainly a serious and very complicated task done only with the best and brilliant minds. On March 20, 2003, the U.S. armed forces initiated a military campaign against Iraq with the aim of disrupting the terror network and seizing weapons of terror and mass destruction. It was a well-coordinated and well-planned attack that saw the use of modern high precision military hardware and effective military tactics. With the world watching in awe, the world’s only remaining superpower showed the very reason for its dominance.

And now after 8 grueling months of intense battle and dramatic scenes, the last batch of U.S. troops that faithfully served the war is finally leaving the country. Many questions still remain especially with regards to the reasonability of the war and the success it has done. With over 4000 U.S. personnel deaths, 31, 827 wounded in action and an ever growing insurgency, many are still convinced that the U.S. fought an unwinnable and irrational war. Facts show us that the insurgency today is more willing and more determined to kill compared to the insurgency faced by the invasion forces.

But perhaps the most destructive stain the U.S. has brought to Iraq is the plague of Al Qaeda. The invasion caused a massive civil war which explains the existence of mercenaries and insurgent groups threatening to create havoc and bloodshed all across the country. Almost every day, there is at least an Iraqi or an allied soldier who gets killed by attacks from insurgency. It also resulted in widespread corruption with government funds going unaccounted. And worst of all, the number of human rights violation soared so high that torture became a norm for punishment.

It is also good to take note that America is leaving 50,000 troops to teach and train the Iraqi army. These troops will definitely be attacked and be forced to also defend themselves. Just recently, a suicide bomber blew himself just outside an army recruiting center killing over 60 Iraqi recruits. It clearly shows the danger faced by those troops and the degree of civil unrest that U.S. forces left in Iraq. It is also quite disheartening that there are now over 1 million Iraqi’s who lost their life since the conflict started.

The U.S. fully believed that they have achieved victory in this war. What they don’t know is that millions more are suffering because of their wrongdoings. The legacy left by U.S. forces in Iraq is not really honor but torture, corruption and civil war instead.

Food Safety Modernization Bill: Ensuring that Food is Clean and Safe to Eat

There are many important elements needed for humans to continue living in this world. One of them is food which enables a person to satisfy his/her gastronomic needs. It is very essential as it stimulates growth, produces energy, repair damaged cells and maintain proper nutrition and health. What people don’t know is that food is also vulnerable to various diseases that can easily infect millions of people worldwide. That is why it is the job of government agencies to ensure that the food eaten by citizens is clean and safe to eat.

Eggs, regardless of how it’s cooked have been a worldwide symbol for breakfast. Just recently, Iowa-based egg produced Wright County Eggs initiated a massive recall of its products due to fears of contamination. It recalled over 380 million pieces or 32 million dozen of eggs. There is a huge possibility that those eggs were contaminated by Salmonella virus which can infect humans. Salmonella is caused by bacteria that spreads the disease and can put the life of an infected person in peril.

In the month of May this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began noticing a sudden spurt in Salmonella infections. The number of cases further multiplied during the months of June and July prompting them to conduct an investigation. The massive recalls were already considered a failure by the government to effectively screen food and ensure safety. It also implies that millions of those potentially contaminated eggs were already found in grocery stores and even in households.

The pressure now lies on the U.S. Congress to implement a reform in the nation’s food safety system and submit the Food Safety Modernization Bill that will expand the authority of the FDA to inspect food processing facilities and keep unsafe food off grocery store shelves. It will also provide policies, procedures and funding that will further prevent any disease outbreaks in the future. The bill will still need to go through Pres. Obama though and will need his approval.

There are about 76 million cases of food borne illness each year resulting in 325 hospitalizations and 5000 deaths. Knowing that the food we are eating isn’t thoroughly checked for safety standards is already a primary cause of concern for consumers. It is the full the responsibility of the government to check these food processing companies so they will only produce clean, safe and healthy food. By implementing the Food Safety Modernization Bill, we will be able to prevent future outbreaks and maintain the high quality of food that is served in every household.

Flashfloods in Pakistan: A Major Cause of Concern

The world today is far different and not as safe as before. Climate change has long been blamed for numerous disasters and catastrophes that have deeply affected the lives of millions of people. The frequent occurrence of earthquakes has caused widespread damage to infrastructure and made more people homeless. Tsunamis have also swept the land taking the lives of thousands or even millions of people. But perhaps the most destructive of them all are abnormal weather patterns that have caused flashfloods and made more people homeless.

In recent news, the country of Pakistan was ravaged by unexpected flashfloods submerging a fifth of the nation’s total land area. Estimates reported that over 10 percent of the population which is roughly 20 million people is deeply affected by this catastrophe. More than 1,500 people were already killed by the floods and about 3.5 million children are in imminent danger of contracting various deadly diseases such as cholera, acute diarrhea and malaria. The millions of people who are stranded are also in danger of starvation and may lack clean drinkable water. Without the necessary help, thousands more may die.

Pakistan currently relies in foreign aid to help give their people basic commodities for survival such as food, water, clothing and medicine. Currently, there have been a lot of countries who contributed already only that it is still not enough to alleviate the problem. The U.S. government has recently pledged $150 million along with 12 transport helicopters. Other countries such as U.K., Japan and France have offered $48.5 million, $10 million and $1 million respectively. It is sad to note that the U.S. is only able to offer so much when in fact it has spent over $100 billion just to battle Taliban forces.

The destruction to property and livelihood may have caused not only starvation to Pakistanis but also reshaped their thinking about survival. The influence brought by severe poverty may cause more Pakistanis especially the young ones to consider Islamic extremism as a primary means to survive. This in turn provides a severe threat to security for the U.S. and the weakened Pakistani government. Without ample help, Pakistanis are forced to commit crimes or even join the Taliban for relief.

The U.S. along with other nations should take this matter very seriously. If the U.S. is very much capable of spending so much money in procuring military hardware and staging many different wars, then they must also focus in saving lives and maintaining trust among the Pakistani people. International cooperation is badly needed to save millions of Pakistanis and prevent further hostilities in the region.

More Crimes are Now Directed Against Homeless People

During this time of economic recession and uncertainty, losing your home may be a very serious thing to happen. With the collapse of top financial institutions, remortgages become more expensive and people just couldn’t do anything but default on their real state plans. Uncontrollable debts have also caused widespread confiscation of homes and real estate properties and will continue to do so as interest rates soar high. People across the nation are losing their homes faster as the economy is still at a standstill.

What makes things more complicated is the sudden increase in crimes that target homeless or street people. In the year 2008, there were about 27 homeless people killed. In 2009, that figure almost doubled with 43 people getting killed. The figures only count the number of deaths not counting the thousands more of physical and verbal abuses experienced by these already struggling people. What makes them more vulnerable to these abuses is the fact that they live in streets making them more near to criminals and other evil elements.

This is such a huge concern especially among law enforcers, politicians and human rights advocates. National Coalition for the Homeless, a human rights advocacy group, implied in their report the traumatic and sometimes near-death experiences faced by homeless people. According to the report, there were cases when homeless people got doused by gasoline and were set on fire. There are also others who were badly beaten by bottles, baseball bats, metal pipes and other hard objects which can inflict direct physical pain and suffering.

It is intriguing to hear that the F.B.I. does not keep track on crimes committed to homeless people. Because of this, Maryland Democrat Senator Benjamin L. Cardin has already passed a bill which will require the F.B.I. to monitor the crimes committed to homeless people. The bill is already under review and will await deliberation. This rising problem with regards to violence against homeless people should be taken by politicians more seriously. As the recession continuous, more people are expected to lose their homes and live at city streets.

In a case in April 2009, three teenage boys were accused of beating a homeless man to death by smashing his skull with metal pipes and makeshift bats. Their plan was to beat up a “bum”. The homeless people are ones who are the most vulnerable to these inhumane attacks. If the government doesn’t do anything about it, more people will lose their lives and human rights abuses will continue. We call on the U.S. government to provide appropriate protection to these people and also help people to secure their homes.

Islamophobia: America’s Problem with Muslims

With a death toll of about 3000 people and with thousands more having suffered major or minor injuries, it is no doubt that the Ground Zero site is ultimately considered a sacred place for most Americans. It has become a national symbol for mourning and a strong condemnation against terrorists and their inhumane acts. The September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center paved the way for a more structured and more determined approach in eliminating terrorism and keeping American cities safer.

With the proposed $100 million Mosque which was then described to be an Islamic Center to be erected two blocks away from the 9/11 site, various major controversies have recently surfaced. A strong opposition by a growing number of Americans has created numerous debates with a major focus on religious freedom and tolerance. The remarks of Pres. Obama days ago also received a lot of negative criticisms from activist groups, politicians and citizens themselves. Pres. Obama reportedly extended his support to the building of the Mosque as it is in line with religious freedom in America.

Several Republicans has tagged Muslims as disrespectful and insensitive in choosing to put a Mosque near the shadow of Ground Zero. They also introduced the idea of putting the Mosque someplace else instead of disturbing the sacredness of the historic place. But the Islamic Center opponents may just be motivated by Islamophobia or the fear with Muslims. There is indeed massive stereotyping going on tagging all Muslims as Al Qaeda terrorists.

With the midterm elections going near, the recent controversy is also being used by influence groups as a political issue to target their counterparts. Anti-Muslim protests are now so widespread with a lot of Americans believing that Muslims are indeed in favor of violence. According to a recent poll, 46% of respondents believe that Muslims are more likely to cause violence against non-believers. Trends also show that more instances of hate speeches against Muslims are taking place compared to years back.

Today’s situation is a manifest about the difficulties faced by Muslim Americans in living their day to day lives. Ignorance and political propagandas have all contributed to more tense relations against Muslims. Let us not forget that there are also Muslims who died during that fateful day. Instead of promoting dialogue amongst religions, what is happening now is resulting in conflict and misunderstandings. Regardless of the real intention of the building of the Mosque, people should begin to realize that isolation isn’t going to do any good at all. Dialogue is the ultimate solution for a peaceful world along with unity amongst our leaders.

Flaws in U.S. Border Security: Grade Control Structure Also Acting as Foot Bridge

For decades, mainland U.S. has hosted millions of illegal immigrants or aliens or those who enter the country without proper legal procedure. In fact, it is estimated that there are over 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants who are now in the U.S. though more accurate figures are still unknown. About 57% of these immigrants are Mexicans themselves trying to find greener pasture in America. This is an indication that there are certainly numerous flaws with regards to border security in the U.S.-Mexico border.

It is quite intriguing that despite of the established electrified fences, barbed wires and security personnel patrolling the border 24/7, there are still a lot of illegal entries that go unnoticed. Illegal immigration is proven to cause a lot of problems for society. First, illegal immigrants compete against legal citizens for available job slots. They may also carry along with them contagious diseases such as Cholera and Tuberculosis. And finally, smuggling of illegal drugs is also attributed to them. Not to mention the high crime rates of cities with higher concentration of illegal immigrants.

The mighty Rio Grande River which separates the U.S. from Mexico serves as a natural barrier in preventing people from crossing opposite sides. Despite of this natural border, the construction of a river structure held it useless. The structure is rumored to be used by immigrants who would like to cross across the river. It could have functioned as a bridge for people to cross and illegally enter the border. As evidence of such claim, frequent sneaker tracks were spotted within the area.

The spokeswoman for the International Boundary and Water Commission, Sally Spener, mentioned that the structure was not made to function as a bridge but as a grade control structure. They help soil erosion caused by water washing off sediments. Grade control structure or not, illegal immigrants have been using it as a reliable platform in crossing the river and conduct their illegal deeds. Various citizens have now petitioned to remove the “bridge” as it will only contribute to more illegal entries within the country. I say they should put border guards to patrol the structure or at least put fences on both ends to repel any person who is trying to cross.

Today, the issue with regards to illegal immigration has really been a hot topic. Various states are now toughening their stance with the passing of anti-illegal immigration policies and laws. Obama’s added funding for border security is also welcome news for legal citizens as it implies the government’s willingness to solve this issue and fight off illegal immigration. By removing numerous flaws in these borders, more illegal entries will be prevented and illegal immigration will be better controlled.

The US National Treasures Are Also Being Threatened

American national parks and landmarks are iconic symbols of America’s rich heritage and culture. They are often considered national treasures and thus its preservation is given more importance. There cultural and historical value contributes to the educational, inspirational, and recreational benefits of its citizens. It has also helped represent America into the whole world with its uniqueness and natural beauty. Perhaps one of the most important national treasures of America is the Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone Park was the first declared national park in the whole world. On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant together with the U.S. Congress spearheaded the signing into law of the park. It boasts a diverse ecosystem complete with a lot of geothermal features and wildlife. The world’s most famous geyser “Old Faithful” is also located inside the park. The park is visited by millions of tourist every year with camping being the more popular activity for families. Educational trips are also occasionally conducted by various universities and educational institutions which provide sufficient knowledge to students with regards to American geography, science and culture.

The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a tragedy that is very much relevant to other national treasures of the country. It has reminded the people that these treasures are indeed constantly being threatened by poor decisions of the government. Figures show that over the years, while the defense spending has significantly increased, funding for science and conservation efforts have been at a standstill. Same as what happened to the BP oil spill, lack of funding and attention will certainly make conservation efforts ineffective and be more prone to environmental damage in the future.

Not only is the lack of funding to be blamed but also the ever changing climate that will someday spell disaster to all of us. The hotter winter has caused abnormalities in the life cycle of certain insects, animals and even plants. This has affected the overall balance of the ecosystem creating chaos instead of harmony. And if we don’t act fast and do the necessary steps to protect these national parks and icons, we may lose these national treasures which were used to be loved and preserved by our ancestors. The challenge is to instill in the minds of the youth to work for the preservation and conservation of these natural resources as they are considered valuable assets of the entire nation.

Stimulus Bill for Education Sector: Schools are Just Saving and Not Rehiring

The recent economic recession has not only affected the financial sector but also the education sector as well. Lack of school funding has caused school districts to lay off thousands of teachers, a few administrative employees and some blue collar staff. According to estimates, there were not less than 300,000 teachers who lost their teaching jobs because of inadequate funds to supplement their salaries. The budget cuts in education also hampered educational reform and reduced the quality of teaching that the schools are producing especially that the teacher to student ratio has become more undesirable.

With the massive degree of public outcry initiated by thousands of state teachers, Washington eventually came up with a solution to prevent future layoffs and rehire back those teachers. The U.S. Congress approved a legislation that will provide $10 billion in stimulus aid to school districts in order to protect its workforce. Intriguingly, instead of rehiring those teachers who recently lost their jobs, district schools have instead saved the money in order to prevent future layoffs.
They argue that with the economic outlook not going any better, it is best for them to preserve the money and prepare for another trying future.

Schools have predicted more budget shortfalls and deficits to come enabling them to save money as much as possible. For example, in Los Angeles, estimates show that over $280 million in budget shortfall will be acquired next year that could threaten more jobs and further increase unemployment levels. Reports show that the district removed 682 teachers and over 2000 support workers just this spring. Recent indications show that the district might again remove over 4,500 workers next year. In New Jersey, over 3000 teachers were removed in May and are still uncertain whether they get their jobs back.

While economic uncertainty still looms, this federal aid package for the educational sector will only create a minor impact unto teachers. Schools are still worried about future outcomes and thus would save the money instead of using it to hire more workers or teachers. While protecting and preserving jobs will definitely contribute to a better economy, there is still a massive disappointment among teachers and individuals who recently lost their jobs and expects a rehiring to happen. The federal government should make sure that schools will ultimately utilize the additional funding to bring back those teachers. But then again, until the economy hasn’t normalized, more and more problems will just surface and people will never be happy again.

Building of Mosque in Ground Zero: Obama was Right After all

For most Americans, the site of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center or most famously called “Ground Zero” is a very sacred place which commemorates the thousands of Americans who died during that fateful day. It is a special place that is very relevant most especially to the families who lost their love ones during one of the most brutal terrorist attack in the history of mainland America. Up until today, the sorrow and mourning is still felt by a lot of families unable to accept the grim reality and continuously blame the government for its failure to defend and protect its citizens against unlawful acts most specifically terrorism.

But then again, a newer controversy has again surfaced questioning how much sense of patriotism is left from the government. More particularly, the remarks of Pres. Obama at the White House which was celebrating the holy month of Ramadan stirred negative criticisms. Pres. Obama mentioned that despite of the traumatic event that has stained the grounds of the 9/11 site, Muslims still has freedom to build a Mosque nearby as everyone in America has the ultimate right to religion. The proposed Islamic center will be 15-storeys high amounting to over $100 million.

Republicans were quick to question the remarks of the President tagging it as an unacceptable view. New York Representative Peter King called the Muslim community as insensitive to the feelings of the families who lost their love ones during the attacks. He also added that the building of the Mosque nearby was very offending especially that a lot of people suffered on that very site. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich made similar the building of the Mosque near Ground Zero to putting a Nazi billboard right next to the Holocaust Museum.

On the other hand, Boston Globe Columnist Derrick Z. Jackson opposes all the ideas of Republicans tagging them as ignorant. He believes that Pres. Obama is right to put religious freedom into outmost importance as it is after all one of the integral parts of the U.S. bill of rights. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg ultimately defended the building of the Mosque stating that the government doesn’t have any power to deny that right. He also added the Muslim people also grieved during the attacks as some of their relatives also feel victim to it.

Mayor Bloomberg is quoted saying “We do not honor their lives by denying the very constitutional rights they died protecting. We honor their lives by defending those rights.” As what your political standpoint will be, one thing is certain. Instead of uniting for a common goal which is to achieve the American dream, U.S. political groups have been creating issues in order to destroy the other. Let us set aside our difference and instead work together for a better tomorrow. America was created to be the land of freedom and the President should continue to protect religious freedom regardless of the controversies he is facing.

Voter’s Desperation Due to the Looming Budget Deficit

If you have been hearing the recent news, you may have heard about the Chinese economy overtaking the economy of Japan. The slow growth of the Japanese economy enabled China to capture the 2nd spot in the world’s largest economies. Rumors have surfaced that China will eventually overtake the US for the top spot. While figures show that China will still need a whole lot of years before it can match the full economic value of the US, recent events showed that it is indeed a possibility considering the continuous increase in US budget deficit.

American citizens are now more desperate than ever in finding solutions to solve these economic problems and cut down the budget deficit. For example, drug-maker engineer and a Republican, Leonard Anderson, said that he would definitely agree to national sales tax in order to increase the tax collection and revenue of the government. A Richmond Democrat and bank IT analyst, Kimberly Moore, said that the nation should openly accept budget cuts even if it will reduce the quality of service that the government can produce.

People are indeed taking drastic measures in order to at least save America from total failure. As the national election is coming, the Republicans and Democrats are talking more than ever about their possible solutions to the looming budget deficit. Republicans recently questioned Democrats for allowing several Bush-era tax cuts to continue. The Democrats, on the other hand, accused Republicans for trying to kill Social Security by opting to privatize it. Instead of working together to formulate effective solutions, both parties have been fighting over ideologies and differences.

The American voting population is more confused than ever unable to decide on who’s side will they be. According to recent poll conducted by the new Wall Street Journal/NBC News, the Republican Party gained 32% votes for their ability to reduce the budget deficit. On the other hand, the Democrats received 24% of the votes. Despite of the clear lead by the Republicans, about 40% of the respondents saw no difference by both parties in handling the issue. This is an indication that Americans undecided and unimpressed by how these two parties will handle the current economic problem.

A particular challenge faced by politicians is the fact that budget cuts on various government programs are strongly opposed by particular groups in society. There has to be a resolution to the budget wars faced by the Republicans and Democrats. As the national midterm elections go nearer, voters will eventually decide on whose view and strategy is more effective and more feasible than the other. The Government should take the necessary measures by implementing budget cuts on unreasonable programs, providing transparency and improving tax collection for high revenues.

The Economic Recession: A significant Increase in Suicide Cases

In this past, there have been numerous shortfalls and setbacks by the US government that left American citizens weeping in vain. The 9/11 attacks on the world trade center that left over 3000 people dead along with the recent Ground Zero controversy were highly considered a national humiliation on the failure of the government to protect its citizens from terror attacks and promote respect to the victims of the tragedy. What people don’t realize is that there is something more humiliating than these previous events.

Since the beginning of the economic recession, people have been losing there jobs from left to right. The failure of every business entity created a domino effect that affected thousands of workers or employees leaving them without a source of income. This resulted in widespread panic and threatened the well-being of people. But recent studies showed that unemployment or joblessness may in fact affect the psychological aspect of every person. Aside from having a low morale and lesser productivity, joblessness may in increase the tendency of every person to commit suicide.

Suicidal tendencies are usually triggered by excessive drug usage, relationship problems or social struggles. But the economic recession has brought so many problems to individuals that they tend to believe that these problems will go on forever. Losing a job can really bring a huge burden especially to couples who already have children. Unemployed individuals tend to feel desperate and unease thinking about their bleak and uncertain future. Hopelessness will eventually force someone to do this immoral act of taking one’s life.

Though it hasn’t been scientifically proven yet, trends from several places that experienced the recent recession showed a dramatic increase in suicide cases. For example, in rural Elkhart County, Indiana, the unemployment rate at this year stood at 13.7 percent while the suicide rate was 40 percent more compared to previous non-recession years. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also received more suicide calls at this time of recession. In Jan. 2007, there were only about 13,423 calls. A year later, there were 39,467. In August, 2009, there were now about 57,625 calls from across the nation.

But perhaps the most humiliating thing about this is the failure of the government to prevent such instances. The lack of preventive steps and assistance paved the way for more human suffering felt by millions of Americans all across the nation. It is a sad fact that America’s own economy is the one responsible for the deaths of its people. Lack of trust and confidence in the government forced people to end their suffering by taking their own lives. It is wakeup call to all politicians, policymakers and lawmakers to do whatever they can to protect the welfare and well-being of its citizens.

Lesser Spending Power from Retirees: Another Huge Threat to the Economy

For decades, the United States of America has been a major economic player and the only remaining superpower in the world. Despite of this highly respected status, the US economy has slowly but steadily declined with the recent economic recession creating havoc among financial institutions and business entities. Another troubling fact is the continuous rise in unemployment levels all throughout the nation. Massive layoffs implemented by big and small companies have contributed to lesser consumer income and spending. Lesser revenue collection while overspending on various government programs that resulted in a huge budget deficit have only made matters worse.

Despite the recent failure of the government to stimulate economic recovery, there is another looming problem which will eventually pose a bigger threat to the already suffering economy. In the years to come, a whole lot of people will eventually retire without having enough savings. With the devastating effects of the global recession that has continued to plague businesses, workers born in between the years 1946 to 1964 will have less money during retirement. The problem here is that these retirees will eventually spend less because of their lack in savings.

The financial crisis has affected not only the cash savings of individuals but also the value of their house as well. Close to zero interest rates on house mortgages benefited house buyers while leaving retirees to suffer from not having enough financial resources. It is expected that about 36 million Americans will be turning 65 in the next decade. With lower bond yields and a falling stock market, these retirees are facing a bleak and struggling future. Lower asset values will easily translate in lesser money for retirees to spend during their time of retirement.

Research showed that as of the year 2008, people aging from 65 to 74 were already spending 12.3% lesser than they did 10 years earlier. There was a 46% drop in car spending, 35% drop in home and household furnishings and 27% drop from eating in restaurants or food chains. Despite of this, they eventually spent 75% more on health care and 131% more on health insurance. This clearly showed how older people are now faced with the serious task of retiring without having enough money to buy basic commodities and enjoy life.

These implications are not only limited to people who will be retiring during the next decade. Younger people of today will now have to save more money by reducing consumption in order to ensure a brighter future. Without appropriate jobs for everyone, more people will eventually suffer poverty as they grow older. Also, the economy will be at a standstill if consumer spending is reduced. Economic recovery will only be achieved if the consumers are given back the capability to spend and buy goods and services. Job creation should really be the primary focus of the government if they want to save America and avoid double-dip recession.

Social Security Cuts are Indeed Unfair and Unreasonable

Social security is one of the major programs offered by the US federal government. The Social Security Act itself encompasses various programs such as benefits for those unemployed, retirement insurance benefits, the Medicare and the Medicaid. The primary goal of the act was to uplift and protect the social welfare of every American citizen. It is interesting to note that the program is considered the largest government program in the world being also the largest expenditure in the federal budget of America.

The program has been viewed as widely successful for years now and millions of Americans have already benefited from it. Just recently, the Social Security Program was being threatened by numerous politicians including the President himself. There have been extensive rumors about the impending benefit cuts and a change in retirement age policy. From 66, the proposed increase in retirement age is either at 67 or even at age 70. Previous benefits for retirement and unemployment are all in danger of being reduced or worst scrapped.

Politicians and lawmakers who favor these benefit cuts argue that the program itself is now experiencing crisis with its financial future going bleak. There is the assumption that the federal budget cannot fully shoulder the cost of the program and thus would need to cut on its cost resulting in benefit cuts. What they don’t realize is that the Social Security program actually has a trust fund which is estimated to last until the year 2037 or might even last for more years.
Financially, the program is self-sufficient and will not need any help from Congress.

Politicians also argue that the rapid increase in retired and unemployment individuals may also increase the overall cost of benefits offered by the program. Over the course of 20 years, the recent cost of these benefits that is about 4.8 percent of the GDP will significantly increase to 6.0%. It is intriguing to note that these politicians actually noticed the smaller increase in Social Security spending while ignoring the bigger increases in defense spending. The people need these benefits to survive especially at this time of crisis and economic turmoil.

The age 70 retirement policy isn’t viable at all. It may still be reasonable for those who work in comfortable office-related jobs. But imagine the millions of Americans who work in harsh working environments or those blue-collar workers. These cuts in Social Security will deeply affect most Americans in one way or another. In this time of economic recession, more and more Americans will suffer when these cuts will continue. There is a huge need for politicians and lawmakers to realize the real situation of its citizens and set their priorities right.

Ground Zero Mosque: Respect over Religious Freedom

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the worst terrorist attack in mainland US happened with the intentional crashing of hijacked commercial planes to the world trade center. With over 3000 people dead and another 6000 people injured, it is safe to say that it is one of the bloodiest and saddest event in the history of America. The Islamist extremist group Al-Qaeda group claimed full responsibility for the attacks. Because of this, the US has since instituted the war on terror policy promising to eradicate these terrorists.

A significant effect of the tragedy was the increase in hostility between Americans and the Muslims which have the same religion as the Al-Qaeda group. Just recently, there have been plans of putting up an mosque two block away from Ground Zero or the actual 9/11 site. The Islamic Center will be 15-storeys high with a reported budget of over $100 million. What caught the attention of the media is the fact that US President Obama himself supported the proposal indicating that everyone has the right to religion.

Several republicans directly opposed Obama’s opinion stating that the Muslim community is insensitive and un-respectful for building a mosque right in the shadows of Ground Zero. Co-founder of 9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America, Debra Burlingame, stated that the president has abandoned America not minding the heartaches and sorrow felt by millions of Americans 9 years ago. Freedom is religion freely grants Muslims to build a Mosque anywhere but common sense dictates that they should build it someplace else as a form of respect to the families who lost their love ones during the terror attacks.

In a recent CNN poll, 68% of respondents directly opposed the plan of building the Mosque near the 9/11 site. This is a clear indication that majority of Americans oppose the building of the Mosque and suggest that it be transferred some place else. Though the Islamic center has already got an approval from the local planning board, it is still likely to face legal and political protests from residents and opposing lawmakers.

It is such a huge shame for the President and the government if the construction for the Mosque will push through. Instead of promoting religious tolerance, it will instead increase further tensions with Islam against other religions. What the people are asking for is respect to the thousands of innocent Americans who died on that fateful day. Pres. Obama should realize that religious freedom also has its boundaries especially on the issue of respect and commemoration.

Create More Jobs by Removing “Job Killers”

The US being the only world’s superpower has enjoyed so much wealth and influence for the past decades. And it is very intriguing to note that one of the most serious issues faced by the recent government is the creation of jobs. Despite the mighty symbol of the country being the most powerful nation in the world, its citizens are still struggling to find jobs or any source of living. The recent economic recession has increased the unemployment rate to over 9.5%. There are actually numerous reasons for this and not all people are aware of it.

Illegal immigrants, for one, may have taken numerous jobs from legal Americans but it is certainly not enough to be widely justifiable. The emergence of cheap labor from China is also usually blamed for lack of jobs. What people don’t know is that existing laws on business and labor may have been the primary reason why the unemployment rate today is reaching record highs. Most Americans are unaware of the impending consequences to their daily lives brought by these laws.

With the recent BP oil spill disaster, the US government immediately passed a moratorium on all deep water drilling over 500 feet in the Gulf, and a moratorium on all offshore drilling in Alaska and off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. This resulted in thousands of jobs and revenues lost from the oil production sector in Louisiana. In Alaska, the startup of one of the world’s richest copper and gold mines was halted because they believed that the resulting smell of the drill will lower the air quality of neighboring places. Because of this, mining firms now favor Canada over the US to conduct their mining operations.

Another very obvious example is the utilization of nuclear energy to generate electric power. The US, being one of the early founders of nuclear technology is actually taking too much time building nuclear plants. The Chinese and French took about 3 years to build a plant compared to the US which is only capable of building 1 in 10 years. Existing US laws and policies have hampered the faster creation of nuclear power plants despite it being already a proven technology. Nuclear power plants can employ thousands of workers with average to above average compensation. Add the fact that it also contributes to the promotion of cleaner energy.

The strict yet unreasonable regulations implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency have caused a severe imbalance in worker to job ratio. These so called “job killers” are hindering progress and development within the nation. The government should conduct an in-depth review on existing policies that are deemed unnecessary and overkill. In this way, startup companies will be able to put up their businesses and provide more jobs to the citizens of the nation. At this time of recession, it is very important to focus on job creation as it will be the primary tool for economic growth.

The US Government Sends Firefighting Aid to Cold-War Rival Russia

The United States of America has had numerous hostile rifts with Russia (Soviet Union) in the past. One of the most notable was the Cold War where fears of nuclear annihilation were instituted. It was during that time where both the U.S. and Soviet Union (now Russia) developed massive amounts of nuclear weapons in order to serve as nuclear deterrence against each other. Both nations developed intense hate for each other that a single wrong move by any party would trigger another major war. Eventually, the Soviet Union collapsed and the most feared war didn’t actually materialize.

Today, there are still conflicts that involve both the U.S. and Russia. For instance, the Russia-Georgia war was greatly condemned by the U.S. Also, the plan of the U.S. to install a missile defense complex in Poland was also contradicted by Russia. Eventually, Pres. Obama decided to scrap the missile defense plan in order to ease tensions with Russia. Since Obama took the highest position in office, the U.S. has put greater emphasis in rebuilding trust and partnership with Russia.

As proof that the long time rivals has finally decided to step up cooperation, U.S. Pres. Barack Obama told Russian Pres. Dmitry Medvedev that they are sending aid in the form of firefighting equipment in order to help Russia battle wildfires. If you have been hearing the news lately, you probably heard that over 500 separate wildfires have swept over 2000 homes and claimed not less than 50 people in Russia. In a move that might certainly ease tensions between two former rivals, the U.S. is helping Russia battle wildfires.

The White House clearly emphasized that there were no U.S. personnel involved and that the aid was purely firefighting equipments and protective gears. Russia reportedly asked for assistance from the U.S. and thus they obliged. It has also been reported that several nuclear installations in Russia are being threatened to be destroyed by these fires. With several Russian cities engulfed by thick black smoke, it is evident that Russia needs all the help it can get in fighting these destructive wildfires.

This move by the U.S. government is a strong indication that the two nuclear powers are easing tensions with one another and are starting to develop partnership. Also just recently, the U.S. held Anti-terrorist drills with Russia most specifically in intercepting hijacked aircraft. Both American and Russian citizens will benefit from this breakthrough as fears of the Cold War will finally ease. A stronger cooperation and partnership will yield better results rather than remain in hostility and fear.

The Master Plan to Cut Unnecessary Defense Spending

The United States of America is famous for the having the distinction of having the most technologically advanced armed forces in the whole world. The reason for such is that the U.S. also spends about 46.5% of the total defense spending of the whole world. According to the Department of Defense, the total budget for fiscal year 2010 is pegged at $663.8 billion. The nearest highest spender is China which spends about $98 billion for its military. If you compare both figures, you will notice the huge difference especially at this time where there is really no major world war going on.

In this time of severe economic downfall, any form of unnecessary spending is condemned and the government is desperately finding ways to save more money. Of all places to look at, the U.S. defense spending is probably the best thing to consider in cutting unnecessary expenses and generating more funds for other needed services. Just recently, U.S. Department of Defense secretary Robert Gates introduced a master plan that will significantly cut the defense spending but will still preserve the combat effectiveness of its troops.

The plan is projected to save around $100 billion which will be used for other important needs. There were several points that Sec. Gates mentioned. First, is by removing useless private contractors who is not really of good use to the army. Figures showed that about 39% of the entire defense department workforce was private contractors. Removing these unneeded personnel will certainly save more money. He also mentioned the removal of numerous Generals, Admirals and Senior Civilians. The increase in the number of higher positions was motivated by prestige for a particular service rather than the actual need for a particular mission.

Next, he also wanted to remove the Joint Forces Command which basically had more private contractors over government employees. Today, the USJFCOM is really fully utilized and that the money spent for the military command isn’t worthy enough. Sec. Gates also stated the plan to remove several IT offices of the military that was perceived to be redundant and having duplicate missions. And finally, the expensive studies conducted by the Defense Department which isn’t really giving useful inputs shall be stopped.

For years, a lot of opportunistic private contractors have cost the U.S. government millions or even billions of dollars. It is a sad fact that not all military personnel are doing their job right and yet are still receiving a fat paycheck. It is now time to determine who should leave and who to stay. The Defense Budget should never be used to only serve a particular group’s interest but instead be used to protect and defend the entire nation from chaos and unrest. At a time when the government needs all the money it can have, cutting unnecessary defense spending can really be a huge boost.

Bush Tax Cuts: To Expire or To Extend?

In case you didn’t know, the national debt of the U.S. is now projected to reach $13 trillion in the year 2018 which is about 65% of the gross domestic product that America produces. Way back in 2008, it was estimated that the national debt will only reach about $5.1 trillion by the year 2018. There is a huge difference of about $8 trillion which clearly emphasizes the struggle faced by the nation today compared to years back. A ballooning budget deficit along with an underperforming economy might still increase to these figures to unimaginable proportions.

The reason for such increase in national debt is the fact the America is known for having relatively high budget deficits. According to the Budget Office, the deficit for fiscal year 2010 is $1.3 trillion which is already 10% of America’s GDP. Because of this, fears of a larger deficit have hampered government spending especially on social services. The recent economic recession was blamed for the lower tax revenues collected by the government.

The public and business sector can’t stand to see the government accumulating more debt. Very high interest rates are the result of the loss in confidence by the financial sector to the government. The consumers are the ones who are directly affected by the poor decisions undertaken by politicians. In order to bring back investor and consumer trust and confidence, the government should put better transparency unto its programs and work to restore the healthy growth of the economy.

Another major issue today is with regards to the extension of former President Bush’s tax cuts. This bill granted tax discounts to large companies in order to boost their profit and create more jobs for the public sector. According to the budget office, the extension of the tax cuts will cost the government another $2.3 trillion in total debt. The assumption that tax cuts will trigger economic growth by increasing consumer spending is in fact a fluke. People prefer to save money for future use rather than spend most of it.

Pres. Obama’s version calls on the extension of tax cuts but only for people who earn not more than $250,000 per year. The good side is that it will only give tax discounts to people who really need it. In a country where over 50% of the total wealth resides only with the top 10% of the income list, several measures should be undertaken to ensure that proper distribution of wealth is guaranteed. While it is still best to permanently let the tax cuts expire in order to generate revenue for other better stimulus programs, letting some tax cuts to continue will still be effective as long as provisions will be established to automatically remove them when unemployment levels normalize.

U.S. Army Doctor Questions Obama’s Authenticity and Refuses Deployment Orders

For one to become a candidate for the highest position in government of the United States of America, he/she should first satisfy various conditions instituted by law. For one, the president should be a native-born US citizen or at least have both parents as U.S. citizens. He/she should also be at least 35 years of age at the time of the election though there is no maximum limit mentioned in the constitution. Finally, the elected president should at least live in mainland U.S. for 14 years though the constitution didn’t define well if it requires consecutive residency or not.

Since the time when President Barack Obama step foot as the president of the United States, there have been many questions and issues with regards to his eligibility most especially to his real birthplace. Pres. Obama along with the state claims that he was born in August 4, 1961 at Kapi'olani Maternity & Gynecological Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. Despite of these claims, many people are still not convinced that he is indeed born in America.

Just recently, an army doctor has reportedly refused to be deployed in Afghanistan as he questions the authenticity of Pres. Obama’s birth documents. Lieutenant Colonel Terrence Lakin is an 18 year veteran of the U.S. army and is currently serving as a senior physician. Lakin reportedly tagged his deployment order as invalid as his most senior commander-in-chief, being the president, has yet to prove the validity of his birthplace. He also stated that his actions were valid as he questions the eligibility of Pres. Obama in holding the highest position in the U.S.

His claim of Pres. Obama’s ineligibility for Presidency is supported by the fact that state officials have been sealing important documents about Obama. The failure of the U.S. government to present the actual documents has prompted several American citizens to question the real information about the president. Reports also suggest that about 25% of Americans are eager to find out if Obama was really born in the U.S. or not.

As for Lakin, he will eventually face court martial as a consequence for breaking his vow of duty. But his actions indeed opened up a new way of awareness especially with the government hiding a lot of secrets. All citizens of America have the all the right to know about the real truth with regards to their elected president. This issue is a product of the massive degree of secrecy brought by Obama’s administration. If only the government was more transparent and more vocal in informing people about the truth, this controversial issue would have been avoided.

Internet Caste System: A Big Threat to Net Neutrality

Since the introduction of the first internet line, net neutrality has been around to promote freedom and equality in the internet. It defines a set of internet standards where one is free to generate internet content (music, video, radio, image, and data) and share it with thousands of other users worldwide. It promotes equal opportunity for all types of internet data in the usage of the internet highway regardless of its source. In effect, the internet grew rapidly and now has over 8 billion pages at its disposal.

Whenever we hear of the name “Google”, we often attribute it to the very popular search engine site that is the most used today. Google is indeed considered a major player (if not the most popular) in the internet market. The Google search engine is undoubtedly the most used search engine site today while YouTube is the most popular video-sharing website which is also owned by Google. Despite of its massive popularity, Google is now being criticized for its unethical stance with regards to internet freedom.

It has been rumored that Google and Verizon are now nearing an agreement that will change the way how websites are presented and seen in the internet. The deal allows Verizon to speed up the delivery of some online content to internet users provided that the owner of the site is willing to pay a priority fee. The effect of this deal is very crucial to website owners and content contributors as they will now have to pay before their works get decent exposure. Websites that do not subscribe to the priority list will get less exposure and slower delivery of its contents.

The actions of Google and Verizon are clearly directed to removing the existence of internet neutrality. Non-profit organizations and small businesses are the ones who will directly suffer from these actions as they are unable to afford the required subscription fees. Another aspect to consider is the hindrance to innovation. Facebook started out as a simple school project that eventually grew to become the most popular social networking tool today. If the deal is implemented, the progress of small but innovative start-up websites will be greatly halted.

Today, there has been widespread public outcry that ultimately condemns the Google-Verizon deal. The age of a free and just internet is put under greater risk. We might be seeing the establishment of an Internet Caste system where only the wealthy owners of website will dominate the online world. We all must call on Google to be responsible enough and preserve the freedom that internet users enjoyed for over 40 years. President Obama promised to protect net neutrality. Let us see now if he really keeps his promises.

The U.S. Government is Indeed Serious in Strengthening Border Security

The United States of America is indeed widely considered a nation of immigrants. With the continuous admission of numerous people with different races, it is no doubt that the U.S. has become a melting pot for culture and a diversified society. But sadly, with the high number of immigrants who come to the U.S. daily also comes the immigrants who enter illegally. Illegal immigration is a long time problem of America and is just getting worst every year.

The US-Mexico border is such a large border spanning four U.S. states and six Mexican states respectively. It is the most frequently crossed border in the world with an estimated 250 million people crossing the border every year. The problem is, not all crossings are legally documented as some prefer or intend to cross the border illegally. Illegal immigration brings along with it various problems to society. For one, it reduces the value and importance of people who legally achieved their immigration status.

Illegal immigration is also a primary source of crimes and health concerns. Smuggling is a primary concern as illegal drugs can affect the behaviors of society especially for the youth. Another problem is when criminals or drug addicts who illegally enter the U.S. may also commit the same crime and create chaos in any American city. Contagious diseases such as Tuberculosis or Hepatitis may also be carried by illegal immigrants. Since they are not properly screened and documented, they can freely bring along with them any ailment which may affect thousands or even millions of citizens.

Just recently, a border security funding worth over $600 million was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The funding will help utilize 1,500 new law enforcement agents, purchase several unmanned aerial vehicles or drones which can be used for monitoring the border, establishment of newer forward operating bases and roughly about $14 million for the acquisition of new communications equipment. This is very good news for the American people as the government has finally realized how important it is to secure the border.

Along with this, several anti-illegal immigrations laws have also been established by various U.S. states. With already over 12 million illegal immigrants roaming around mainland U.S., the government’s shift of attention to border security is still somewhat late. Nevertheless, toughening up the border security will significantly reduce illegal crossings and may also significantly reduce crime rates in every American city. It will also prevent any form of human trafficking which is already very rampant nowadays.

Democracy in the U.S. Political System is Long Gone

The U.S. political system is the oldest continuous democracy in the world. Being a democratic system, political power is spread amongst three institutions of the state namely: the executive branch, the legislative branch and judicial branch. All these three branches have equal authority and power over each other. By spreading equal power and authority, it is able to avoid a monarchist style of government where only one rules the whole nation.

Michael Brenner, a senior fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, openly claimed the death of the U.S. political system. He further emphasized that America’s political system is already non-existent brought by bad practices and habits done by voters and politicians alike. As a replacement, spin politics is instilled. Political decisions are now focused on a special interest by particular groups who favor them. They serve the interest of a particular group as opposed to another’s.

Brenner believes that a true democratic system should provide outmost importance to accountability and transparency. All citizens should get access to information and be well-informed of various public matters that may also affect every individual. Sadly, most of the decisions and actions undertaken by the government today are most likely to remain secret until devastating effects come out. He also believes that political leaders should be responsible in upholding the needs and desires of their constituents.

Public servants and public figures should also not be limited only to promises and charismatic speeches. There must be ample action which is more important than those flowering words. The press should perform its functions of facilitating the previously mentioned points with ample attentiveness and competence. These points should all coexist to uphold a better system and a better government. This was the system before that is lost today.

Today, the U.S. political arena is being dominated and disputed by Republicans and Democrats. 3rd party candidates are having a hard time getting in a ballot. None of the previously mentioned points are present in today’s system. The American people are paying the consequence of a compromised national welfare and disgruntled public integrity. The American voting population should begin to realize to only vote politicians who commit to their platform and really do what they ought to do.

During election time, it is sad to see and hear how power is gained only through money. Politicians spend vast amounts of money during the campaign period which proves that money can buy the government after all. People should begin to realize that responsible voting is very critical in creating a modest, accountable and top-performing government. Politicians should act as direct representatives of every state and not only to a particular interest group. Until we realize our mistakes, we will continue to live with the perils of a corrupt political system.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Over 40,000 Claims Left Unpaid and Unattended

The Gulf of Mexico is a Mediterranean-type sea that is shared by the United States of America, Mexico and Cuba. It provides a wide array of valuable resources such as crude oil and natural gas which provides an ample amount of money to bordering nations. Aside from that, it also has a very abundant supply of commercial fishes such as shellfish and crabs as well. The Gulf has really contributed to massive revenue harbored by these nations.

On April 20, 2010, the once very productive sea is being threatened by a man-made disaster that is projected to be the worst in history. An explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil platform and has been leaking not less than 5,000 barrels of oil per day. This catastrophic event has inflicted a massive environmental disaster which has also affected the revenues of businesses that are based on the Gulf.

Sheryl Lindsay is the owner of a wedding planner business which conducts beach-themed weddings in the Gulf. She reportedly received over 30 wedding cancellations which has greatly affected their income. Without a decent income and a monthly office rental payment, her business is well on its way to bankruptcy. She is just one of the 145,000 claimants who has lost their business since the oil spill and are now seeking for some assistance from BP.

BP claimed that it had released $324 million to pay every single claim from residents and business affected by the disaster. In contrast, frustrated claimants pointed out over 39,000 claims that have not been given attention yet. Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood stated that the BP doesn’t deny them but instead just hold them forever. There are also problems with regards to who are eligible to these claims.

Hood also speculated that BP might just be waiting for the appointed administrator of the $20 billion compensation fund Kenneth Feinberg, to take over the claims distribution. He sees this as a major strategy in protecting the firm’s image. Through this, a denial of claim will be directly blamed to Feinberg instead of BP.

What is intriguing is when BP proudly stated that they haven’t rejected any claim yet. This is strongly opposed by residents of the area who claimed that they were rejected for various reasons. Is BP desperate to maintain a good image despite its already damaged reputation across globe? Whatever the motive is, BP should pay these people rightfully. The blame for such disaster must still be directed to BP as they were not able to maintain a safe working environment. They should be speeding up the process for claims as businesses are starting to crumble as days pass by.

Civil Forfeiture: The Government’s Way of Stealing Private Property

The great nation of the United States of America has been a major symbol of power for a long time. Most people dream of living in the U.S. as it offers excellent lifestyle, a free and democratic government. But despite of its status as a leading icon for excellence, there are also various issues faced by the government that most people are not aware of. The government should be responsible in upholding the rights of every citizen. What is happening now is a culture shift where abuses have dominated and overshadowed service.

Not many people may be aware of it, but there have been many instances where government officials or workers are abusing the power of the government to confiscate or literally steal the property of an ordinary citizen. In the United States, there is a basic principle which tells everyone that a citizen is assumed innocent until he/she is proven guilty. But in today’s situation, that basic principle has been turned upside down.

It is very shocking to hear the existence of civil forfeiture which has dealt a significant degree of damage to citizens of the nation. With civil forfeiture, a property is confiscated and assumed guilty until you prove it to be innocent. For example, Margaret Davis is a 77 year old woman living alone who leaves her home open so that her neighbors may freely check on her anytime. One day, drug dealers who were chased by policemen entered her house and left some of their illegal belongings. The government then confiscated her house without any reasonable and legal reason. The federal government gets to keep it until she is able to prove its innocence. Now can Margaret, an old and sick woman, still have the capability to defend her house?

In Louisiana, there were several policemen who planted several crimes on private properties of innocent people. Those crimes never really happened and. The proceeds they gained were reportedly used to fund their ski trip to Aspen. Even though they were caught, it is still alarming to hear that U.S. public servants are the ones who steal people’s property and commit these unacceptable crimes. It is reported that the federal government is now holding billions of dollars in assets and properties seized through civil forfeiture.

The above examples are a testament to the growing number of abuses from government workers. The existence of civil forfeiture is plaguing the lives of thousands or even millions of innocent American citizens who are being tricked by supposed to be public servants. Because of this, U.S. citizens are now even more confused on who really to trust. The government should protect the properties of its citizen and not plunder it. Government abuses and corruption is really very rampant. But if people are really determined to erase this unacceptable behavior in the government, they should start during the electoral process.