Sadly Disillusioned

Melissa, I definitely agree with you that all this controversy over President Obama's origin of birth has turned into a media circus. I understand the concern when he was running for election, but it's a little late to be questioning whether our president has fulfilled the requirements necessary to hold his position in the White House. I mean, we're already looking forward to the 2012 presidential election.

Anyone who is now starting to raise suspicion about Obama's legitimacy as president is a fool, and they are also making fools out of all of us. This is a total waste of energy that our political leaders have invested at a time when our country is in need of some productivity. I believe there is sufficient circumstantial evidence that points to a possible motive behind the whole "birthers" movement.

The so called birthers are comprised mainly of Republican conspiracy theorists who seek to discredit the president in an attempt to gain public support for their campaigns. I find this ironic because the birthers project is a conspiracy in itself. These are the same people who have been criticizing Obama throughout his tenure and planting the seeds of doubt in the minds of Americans. Recent coverage of possible candidates for the next presidential election has put pressure on Republicans not only to argue their strengths as the next president, but also bring attention to reasons why our current president is not fit for a second term.

One aspect of you commentary that I do disagree with Melissa, is your statement that this is an example of innocent until proven guilty. I clearly recognize that President Obama has been labeled as a guilty defendant and has been compelled to provide proof on his behalf in order to protect his name and reputation. Now that Obama has done so, some Republicans are retracting their affiliation.

I have faith that if Obama was not qualified to obtain the role of president, our government has the intelligence and means necessary that would have prevented him from being elected. It's a shame to realize the lengths that people would go to to get ahead.

Political Feud in the Media

I’ve noticed lately that political coverage in the media has been reporting more like celebrity gossip. Maybe that is because a well known reality television star by the name of Donald Trump has entered the arena. What we’ve been seeing is Donald Trump and President Obama being pitted against each other in a political feud.

Sure, we know Trump is an outspoken individual and has publicized his political views in the past, but his recent actions are coming across as someone competing for the title of CEO of America. Although Trump has not confirmed any intentions of running in the 2012 presidential election, there is speculation that his name may be on the ballot.

I think Trump is either very politically involved or he’s setting the foundation for a long term goal by winning supporters. The first is a given, so I’m going to go with the latter. Every potential candidate in any major election usually tests the waters before jumping in and Trump is no exception. He’s been taking jabs at Obama and offering solutions to significant issues concerning the welfare of our country. Trump has called Obama out on several occasions by questioning his education at Harvard and pushing for the release of his long form birth certificate. Other issues Trump has addressed include the national deficit, taxes, and gas prices.

Obama isn’t taking all this sitting down. He’s put a label on the “birthers”, calling them “carnival barkers” and accepted the challenge by releasing his long form birth certificate in an attempt to make his opponents look foolish. His plan had an adverse affect as Trump claimed victory and took credit for accomplishing a task that has yet been achieved.

So why is Obama playing into all this hype surrounding Trump? It was a bit of a surprise to some and made headlines when Obama reciprocated in a press conference. Perhaps Obama perceives some sort of threat to his reelection and feels the need to clear the air regarding certain subjects. After all, there is an ample supply of critics and Republicans concocting formulas for his replacement. The current economic crisis and declining approval ratings for Obama is an invitation for low blows.

Trump is setting the stage by making promises of change, but Obama is quite familiar with that strategy. The only problem is, Americans have an inflated perception of presidential power and do not realize that the policies passed today will have little effect on tomorrow. Change takes time, but we need to follow through with our commitments and allow it to happen. History has it that when there is a change in political party, the incumbent usually wins the second term. The media should stop dramatizing the exchange of words and focus on the matters that are important.

Bad Example in Banking Industry

William, you are absolutely right about the government setting a bad example for future generations by bailing out the banks. They should be held responsible for their own actions. Many U.S. banks have taken advantage of people for long enough with their predatory lending practices, sub-prime loans, outrageous fees, and sky high interest rates. It’s just silly to think that the majority of people that are suffering from the actions of these irresponsible financial institutions are struggling working class Americans. The CEOs of these companies shouldn’t be given bonuses and seven figure checks. They should face consequences for ruining lives and bringing down the economy. Not to mention bankrupting entire corporations.

The money that the banks are getting are actually being created by the Federal Reserve, which is a large privately owned bank that loans out money to the government, who in turn lends it out to national and local banks. At the bottom of this hierarchy are individuals who borrow that money and are obligated to return the principal amount including interest. The interest that we pay on our debt is shared between the banks, the government, and the Federal Reserve.

In order for our society to function on an economic level, these loans need to be repaid. This is an endless cycle of debt that allows the wealthy few to profit leaving the rest of the population trying to make up for it.

Debt is a modern form of slavery where people are forced to work to pay off that debt. The people at the top of this food chain are the ones who created this game that we play. Therefore, they are the ones that decide when to change the rules or make some up as they go along. The whole objective is to keep people playing. 

Low Approval Ratings for Libyan Intervention

On March 19, 2011, Qaddafi’s regime attacked the Libyan city of Benghazi where thousands of civilians were in danger of being slaughtered. Libyan rebels defended the city in a bloody confrontation. In response to Qaddafi’s threat to his own people, U.S. military warplanes accompanied by allied nations were sent into Libya to take out Qaddafi’s defenses and disable his forces. This was achieved with no American casualties, no ground troops, and few civilian casualties. 

Although the mission seemed to be a success, a recent survey conducted by the Gallup Poll showed that the percentage of Americans who support U.S. military action in Libya ranks lowest compared to past U.S. military campaigns in four decades. The United States has a history of supporting countries that are undergoing uprisings. After all, Americans are the first to revolt against their own mother country. 

President Obama’s decision to intervene in Libya has resulted in much criticism from Congress and low approval ratings by Americans for U.S. military action has not helped the situation. The media is on top of all of this and there is no shortage of news coverage reflecting the disapproval by various organizations.

The Gallup Poll also showed that the approval rating for the war in Afghanistan ranked highest at 90%. This is because Americans felt a direct impact at home from the September 11^th attacks. Without the threat of imminent danger to our citizens, less people are willing to show support for war. Perhaps some people feel that we do not have a good enough reason to interfere overseas at this time.

The fact is, the United States has already stepped into the situation in Libya and we are not alone in our position on the matter. Diplomatic efforts by the President achieved no resolution and military force was the last resort. Instead of Congress bitterly complaining about how President Obama did not consult with them prior to the attacks, their time would be better spent focusing on where we go from here. Whenever a country is at war, it is critical to have the support of its people.

The Voting Issue

If you browse through Think Progress’ left-leaning blog site, you will find a post by a guest blogger with an interesting headline. It boldly reads, “In 22 Statehouses Across The Country, Conservatives Move to Disenfranchise Voters”. Kevin Donohoe, the blog’s author, announces the efforts of Republicans in various states to pass laws that will lengthen and complicate the voting process for many Americans. He claims that Republican lawmakers are intensifying the issue of voter fraud in order to win support for the proposed bills.

Donohoe believes that this is part of a plan aimed at suppressing the voices of middle class Americans. He argues that these new laws will exclude millions from voting, lower voter turnout within minority groups, and will be very costly at the expense of taxpayers. He also points out that we already have tough laws in place that address the concerns of fraudulent voting and these new laws may be unconstitutional.

To add credibility to his statements, Donohoe offers a list of states involved in this trend and a brief description of the proposed policies. The majority of bills being considered will require voters to obtain photo identification to exercise their right to vote. New Hampshire introduced a bill that would bar college students from voting where they live and attend school on the grounds that college students lack life experiences.

It seems to me that the author intended this blog to be a call for action. Donohoe views these initiatives as a threat to democracy and is taking an active approach to the issue. I clearly understand Donohoe’s position on the matter. The main issue isn’t the photo IDs or voter fraud, but a hidden objective conspired by individuals motivated by self interest. His concerns are valid and he provides a substantial amount of information to back up his argument.

I agree with Donohoe that the voting process should not exclude anyone that is currently qualified and to discourage specific groups from voting is unconstitutional. If voter fraud is such a huge issue, there should be ways to safeguard elections that will be fair to everyone and increase voter turnout.

Overall, this blog is an attention getter and achieves the blogger’s aim for reader interest. I would like to see how all this concludes.

Why the Celebration?

David Person’s position on the celebration of the Civil War is apparent in his editorial posted on USA Today’s website titled "Should we 'celebrate' the Civil War?". He is a black columnist living in Huntsville, Alabama and the anniversary of the historic event is significant by a different standard to him than some residents is the South. A line between celebration and commemoration has been drawn by supporters of the Confederacy and groups comprised primarily of African Americans. Person is apparently perturbed by the fact that many people find cause to celebrate from tragic and painful memories. He points out that one of our nation’s most bloody wars should be remembered, not glorified. In December, the NAACP actively protested a Secession Ball hosted by the Sons of Confederacy.

Person was a writer for the Huntsville Times for nearly 13 years and his works have earned him accolades from the Alabama Press Association and the Alabama Associated Press. He currently writes for USA Today and is also a radio talk show host.

I have construed this commentary as an attempt to educate the public and suppress the actions of individuals believed by Person to be immoral and ignorant. His argument makes sense and the evidence behind it seems to personal eyewitness accounts backed by records of organized celebrations.

I support Person’s claim that the Civil War should be commemorated and not celebrated. I find it ironic that organizations such as the Sons of Confederacy would celebrate a war in which they’ve lost. It should not be forgotten that there were many casualties resulting from the conflict and that the main cause of the war was slavery. All over the world people celebrate for many reasons, but those reasons should be because of a positive outcome from a situation or a moment we would want to relive. 

Border Control

I came across this article today on the CNN website and think everyone should read it. Border security has been a controversial issue for the United States overall, but Arizona has taken extreme measures in an attempt to remediate the problem. Here’s a summary of the article:

Governor Jan Brewer says that security and border control are the number one issues right now in Arizona. She recently announced that her home state is countersuing the federal government for the authority to lead their own efforts in the fight against illegal immigration. Brewer and Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne feel that the federal government has been unsuccessful in protecting Arizona and enforcing federal laws. The lawsuit is a response to a suit filed in the previous year by the Obama administration. In 2010 Brewer signed into law a measure known as Arizona Senate Bill 1070 that required state law enforcement officers to apprehend and deport illegal immigrants. Before the law was to go into effect, the Obama administration filed a suit against Arizona claiming that only the federal government has that authority. A federal judge issued a temporary injunction blocking the law.

It will be interesting to find out who comes out on top here. California filed a similar suit in the 90s and failed.  If Arizona wins the countersuit, will other states follow in its path? The outcome of this legal battle will have a profound effect on the citizens of Arizona and across the nation.