http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/09/27/cuba.guantanamo.closure/index.html?eref=rss_politics
The planned closing of the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is going to take longer than originally planned. Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, isn't against closing the facility after the proposed deadline, but says that if that is what is going to happen there needs to be a strong plan in place that will show progress towards closing the facility. Senator John McCain also said that he didn't think it was likely that the facility was going to close on time. McCain does support the closure of the facility though because the image that it portrays of brutality is directly linked to the United States. The original deadline was set by President Obama and was supposed to be January 2010. Many republicans would rather have the facility keep operating instead of having to bring terrorism detainees into the United States. Democratic Senator, Dianne Feinstein, said that the terrorism suspects could be held in maximum security prisons, and that no one was going to be putting these people in anyone's neighborhood. Administrative officials in the White House have been working with many third-party countries in hopes that they will accept some of the detainees.
I think even though the Guantanamo prison is a downfall for the United States to be linked to, I would rather keep it open. I feel that way because I think it would be safer for the citizens of the United States to keep the terrorist suspects out of our country. I also think that if we are going to close it, it should be a planned closing. It should be a closing that is followed step by step and is planned all the way up until the last detail. If we are going to transfer the detainees from Guantanamo to the United States into maximum security prisons it should be done with great care. But more than anything if it is going to close I believe that the detainees should be transfered to other countries outside of the United States. I don't think it would be a good thing for any of the detainees to be transfered to the United States because what if some of them were able to escape. Even maximum security prisons have prisoners that escape. And terrorism suspects are not ones that should be fooled around with. Just think if some of them were able to escape and group together, the damage that they could do to the United States would be incredible. I think it would be in the United States best interest to extend the deadline, and plan the closing of the prison very carefully, and take the time to talk with other countries that would be willing to take some of the detainees. But by transfering any of the detainees to other countries, it would require the United States to trust that country that they would not use the terrorist suspects against us. So I think more than anything that time just needs to be put in to the closing of the prison, and that once the time is put in, our goal of closing the prison will be reached.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Michelle Obama could be a secret weapon in health care reform
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/18/michelle.obama.health.reform/index.html?eref=rss_politics
Last Friday Michelle Obama spoke to a crowd at the White House about health care reform. She talked about her own experiences with her father and daughter. She says how she doesn't know how they would have gotten by without having health insurance in either case. Some critics say that by her playing both the daughter role and mother role, it humanizes the issue. They also say that with her personal stories it personalizes the issue, and fills the spaces that Obama missed. Because Obama's perspective is mostly focused on the financial end of things, Michelle's focused on the personal end of it. It was also said that when Clinton was in office that health care was a common topic and that Hilary became involved in it, so the involvement of the first lady in such an issue is nothing new. But it was found that Hilary and Michelle's debates came from different directions.
In my opinion I think it is a smart move on Michelle's part to take a stand on the issue. I believe that it is the first lady's job to support her husband, but also to support her own thoughts. And I think that Michelle did a very good job of this. I think they are a good balance for each other in that Obama talks about the funding end of it, and she talks about the motherly end of it. I think that by her sharing her personal experiences it makes the American people realize that she's really just another person. And in the end, convinces them that a health care reform would be a benefit to everyone. But also by sharing her personal experiences she instantly becomes easy to relate to for the American people. I think by Michelle sharing her perspective on the issue it changed a lot of people's minds, republican women in particular, on the issue of national healthcare. And I think if she continues to share her perspective more people will be more likely to jump aboard with Obama on the national healthcare. I think if she is able to get her message across strong enough on the personal level Americans will be able to set aside the financial burden of it and support the health care reform.
Last Friday Michelle Obama spoke to a crowd at the White House about health care reform. She talked about her own experiences with her father and daughter. She says how she doesn't know how they would have gotten by without having health insurance in either case. Some critics say that by her playing both the daughter role and mother role, it humanizes the issue. They also say that with her personal stories it personalizes the issue, and fills the spaces that Obama missed. Because Obama's perspective is mostly focused on the financial end of things, Michelle's focused on the personal end of it. It was also said that when Clinton was in office that health care was a common topic and that Hilary became involved in it, so the involvement of the first lady in such an issue is nothing new. But it was found that Hilary and Michelle's debates came from different directions.
In my opinion I think it is a smart move on Michelle's part to take a stand on the issue. I believe that it is the first lady's job to support her husband, but also to support her own thoughts. And I think that Michelle did a very good job of this. I think they are a good balance for each other in that Obama talks about the funding end of it, and she talks about the motherly end of it. I think that by her sharing her personal experiences it makes the American people realize that she's really just another person. And in the end, convinces them that a health care reform would be a benefit to everyone. But also by sharing her personal experiences she instantly becomes easy to relate to for the American people. I think by Michelle sharing her perspective on the issue it changed a lot of people's minds, republican women in particular, on the issue of national healthcare. And I think if she continues to share her perspective more people will be more likely to jump aboard with Obama on the national healthcare. I think if she is able to get her message across strong enough on the personal level Americans will be able to set aside the financial burden of it and support the health care reform.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Well...a healthcare bill is going to pass, the question is when
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32825593/ns/politics-health_care_reform/
Congress has been busy in Washington trying to come up with a good healthcare bill. Some members have been playing down the immediate government insurance option. Others have been trying to set up a complete road block to national healthcare all together. But President Obama believes that there will be enough votes in Congress to not only set up a healthcare bill, but a good one as well. He spoke to both houses of congress last week in hopes of calming the waters and keeping everyone's minds open. Obama is more for a national healthcare plan than a non-profit organization system because sucess of those has been inconsistant and Obama wants a plan that is going to work and benefit the people for sure.
Personally, I do not want a national health care system. My mom gets health insurance through her work and given that if she were to lose her job my family would lose its healthcare coverage, but I think it's a risk worth taking. I think it's a risk worth taking because if we had a national healthcare system my paycheck along with every other working American's paycheck would get nailed even more than it already does. In the end everyone would benefit, but why should we all have to pay for our healthcare individually when it can be done souly through my mom. Also, what about those that aren't working and don't have a job? Would they still get healthcare benefits then? Or would the working class still be paying for their healthcare just like we are now for the ones that don't have health insurance? I think these are all very good questions that deserve an answer, and depending on how they are answered will decide if the bill receives my support or not. But as of right now I feel as if I do not know enough of the details to fully make a decision other than that I am against it, because as of right now it just seems that it wouldn't be a bill that would benefit me directly. I think if I am already covered under my mom, and will be for the next few years of my life until I am on my own, that paying for healthcare out of my own paycheck is one less thing I should have to worry about. Plus when I am older I'm pretty sure that I will have a job that will provide health care for my family and I. So maybe national healthcare could become a choice thing, if that would be possible?
Congress has been busy in Washington trying to come up with a good healthcare bill. Some members have been playing down the immediate government insurance option. Others have been trying to set up a complete road block to national healthcare all together. But President Obama believes that there will be enough votes in Congress to not only set up a healthcare bill, but a good one as well. He spoke to both houses of congress last week in hopes of calming the waters and keeping everyone's minds open. Obama is more for a national healthcare plan than a non-profit organization system because sucess of those has been inconsistant and Obama wants a plan that is going to work and benefit the people for sure.
Personally, I do not want a national health care system. My mom gets health insurance through her work and given that if she were to lose her job my family would lose its healthcare coverage, but I think it's a risk worth taking. I think it's a risk worth taking because if we had a national healthcare system my paycheck along with every other working American's paycheck would get nailed even more than it already does. In the end everyone would benefit, but why should we all have to pay for our healthcare individually when it can be done souly through my mom. Also, what about those that aren't working and don't have a job? Would they still get healthcare benefits then? Or would the working class still be paying for their healthcare just like we are now for the ones that don't have health insurance? I think these are all very good questions that deserve an answer, and depending on how they are answered will decide if the bill receives my support or not. But as of right now I feel as if I do not know enough of the details to fully make a decision other than that I am against it, because as of right now it just seems that it wouldn't be a bill that would benefit me directly. I think if I am already covered under my mom, and will be for the next few years of my life until I am on my own, that paying for healthcare out of my own paycheck is one less thing I should have to worry about. Plus when I am older I'm pretty sure that I will have a job that will provide health care for my family and I. So maybe national healthcare could become a choice thing, if that would be possible?
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