Reach Out!!

Upon Reading Save America - she needs all the help

From Government: A Student's Perspective

Firstly, I do not deny the greatness of what The United States have achieved in the course of its history and amount of contribution to the better of the world. However, from taking this class and the history of the United States at ACC, I have learned (I am very history-ignorant person, a Electrical Engineering major who had absolutely no whatsoever interest in either history nor government) that there exist such a horror, an abject history behind a lot of success of the United States.

The subject of slavery and the Blacks of course, is topic number one when talking about subject of inequality. Although much has been changed and the degree of such inequality is less, even today one can not say that all blacks are treated equal. Perhaps it is the history of slavery and considering them the “inferior race” is the cause of it.

In any case, however, as they say “the world is unfair” and I agree. If it is fair to some, it will be unfair to others, and vice versa. Perhaps compromise can be reached to a certain extend for fairness, but a complete fairness can never be reached. One’s gain is other’s loss; when one becomes rich and lead a comfortable life, someone else will become poor. Yes, as you have said, “The national government has to step up and fix these problems”, but I think otherwise. Government can help, but only to a limited extend. It must be the people who reach out and work their way up not the other way round. As there is an old saying, to help someone, you do not provide them with the fish, but instead teach them how to fish.

Bush vs Gas

Gas price is one of the major issues that concerns us as we live in a nation where the land is big and driving is a necessity (be it personal vehicle or public transportation) even just to shop for grocery. As many people probably notice as I did, despite the fact that I do not drive and gas price never concerned me, the price of the gas increased vastly over the last few month. A car that used to be $40 a tank now requires at least $60 to fill up that same tank.

As there is a reason to every incident, I knew there had to be reason why the gas price increased so much. I knew there are at least more than one factor that contributed to the rise in gas price. I just did not know if it was the big oil company, conflict with the Middle Eastern Countries, or the U.S. government itself is to be blamed.

In truth, the rise in gas price is mostly based on the most fundamental law of economics: the supply and demand. The decreasing quantity of oil supply and the rising demand for oil, as the development of the countries national wide has created increasing need for oil, meant that gas price had no choice but to rocket upwards.

However, the question here is, could the U.S. government have taken the steps needed to prevent such from affecting the U.S. residents. Was the increase in gas price inevitable? Data from Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll taken on June 19, 2008 shows that 29% of the people asked (1233 adults nationwide) says that Bush administration (29%) followed by oil companies (25%) are to be blamed for the rising fuel prices. Furthermore, 81% of them think that the bush administration has not done enough to control the rising oil and gas prices and ease its affect on American families. True enough, while President Bush’s plan was to convince (not successfully) the Congress to “expand domestic oil production”, apparently not enough has been done to halt the decreasing oil and gas prices.

On the other hand, however, I have to admit that increasing oil and gas prices has its merits. First of all, it discourages people from driving and encourages them to use either cycle or take public transportation. Secondly, it is environmentally beneficial. Less usage of gas means less harmful gases are released into the atmosphere. And lastly, it saves us money. In any case, the rise in oil and gas price will not concern me as much...until I get myself a car.

An insight into U.S. Government

Upon Reading Trouble and its true source

From Government: A Student's Perspective

I found your insightful commentary on the U.S. government system on how "three-way division between powers" to create a balance very interesting. As it is proven mathematically, three different divisions to constantly check each other like a triangular system, ought to provide an idealistic governmental system.

However, as you have specifically pointed out, there is a flaw to this system. It will work solely on the condition that all three divisions are honest checking one another's work and carry out their duties like they are supposed to. Evidently, as can be seen from the examples present in your commentary, such is not the case in the present government. Actually, some of those that you have mentioned have been repetitively occurring within the U.S. government. For example, gerrymandering came about in year 1812 when Governor Gerry signed a bill into law that redistricted his state to benefit his Republican party. Likewise, corruption always seems to have accompanied those in power.

You have said in your conclusion that “in due time, the problems will definitely find a solution”. No doubt, mankind has always changed and evolved through out the history. However, in my opinion, those solutions never appeared out of thin air. I do not agree that “the system seems to find a solution each time”. I feel that it is the act of the individuals, upon realizing the grave situation the nation has fallen into, come together to form a powerful entity to correct the problem. If one does not act when one sees the problem, the system will remain stale and rot. Although, perhaps there is a point in saying that “the system seems to find a solution each time’. A dam that confines a river will break and collapse under the weight of the water when it becomes overwhelming or if the dam is defective, even by a single tiny hole. Similarly, when the system upon which the government is built is unstable, corrupted and/or gives hardship to the people, it is bound to disintegrate and either a new system or new group of leaders will emerge. So there is a point in saying that “the system seems to find a solution each time”.

It is my hope that the people of the U.S. will detect such problem before it is too late and take action against it. As is shown repeatedly in the history, I believe it is not an impossible task and we can all do it.

War of Politics

People tell me that politic is like a war on the battle field, fought with power of words and wit instead of swords and shields. One may not always be truthful and more often than not lies and deception seems to be employed in order to obtain the power and win. I have not always found this struggle for power interesting, although I have often looked at it with eyes of amusement.

However, a recent accusation of Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama whom I believe everyone knows as one of the presidential candidate in upcoming election, caught my attention. Although I am not a American citizen, the current election was very interesting even to me as it was first time ever in American History that an African American (or more crudely, blacks) is running as one of the candidates. Michelle Obama was recently accused of having radical ideas regarding “whitey” and tumultuous interactions with other minorities. Furthermore, she is rumored to have led a life deeply involved in a black community. However, one does not have to look far to realize how absurd those accusations are. First of all, as many might have failed to neither notice nor realize that Barack Obama is a half white American (Ann Dunham, his mother was “white” origin). To me, it seems like an irony that Barack Obama’s wife would be accused of making racial comments.

In any case, although I was not surprised to hear that there has never been any African American president previously in the U.S. It seemed strange that even till now, with such a diversity present here in the U.S. and lessening of racism (which never disappears), it took so long till the first one emerged. It is about time there are more fairer competition in this war of politics.

Commentary: No racism in the presidential election

Source: Commentary: No racism in the presidential election from CNN

Life gets much interesting every time election draws near and the candidates fight (with words) for the votes. The candidates present many different points in the debate to win the support of the Americans. Ruben Navarrette Jr. from San Diego, California (CNN) wrote another very interesting commentary on the yet another irony from the speech by one of the candidates (Hillary Clinton).

In “Commentary: No racism in the presidential election”, Navarrette brings up Clinton’s argument that “she should be the Democratic nominee because only she can win in November”. Navarrette mentioned that earlier Clinton said either she or her opponent could win in November, spotting the inconsistency in Clinton’s speech. Although I dare not say that racism do not exist anymore, I certainly feel that it has diminished by much compared to the era where blacks (pardon me) were slaves and had less than equal human rights. It definitely is not sensible for Clinton to say that the reason she could win was because the “whites” will vote for her.

There has never been a history of an African American presidency in the United States, but there always is the first to everything. Navarrette made a good point saying, “Some want to know why it isn't racist when 70 percent of African-Americans vote for Obama but it is when 70 percent of whites vote against him,” very interesting observation. Its irony runs deep in the blood of the “white American”. Especially, since “white Americans are still raised to think of black Americans as inferior.”

Navarrette seems to strongly support Barack Obama. He is urging the Americans to get used to having an African-American, “especially for people who never thought they'd see the day that an African-American would be elected president.” Navarrette also believe that America may soon have African-American president.

Commentary: Helping the Katrina Homeless

Hurricane Katrina showed the catastrophic force of the nature. It was formed on August 23, 2005 and resulted in fatalities of 1,836 confirmed and 705 people missing. On top of that, Hurricane Katrina destroyed all that was in her path. Hurricane Katrina was the costliest and one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States

I imagine a lot of helping hands from across the nation reached New Orleans after the disaster to help those who suffered great loss. However, according to an editorial published on June 9, 2008 in The New York Times entitled “Helping the Katrina Homeless”, it apparently was not enough. It says that “New Orleans is struggling with a growing number of sick and disabled people who have become homeless since the hurricane.” The editorial mentioned several matters that needed Congress’s attention: funding of $73 million to house many of the region’s ill and disabled residents, extending the disaster housing assistant program, and rewriting federal disaster law to permit the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide the long-term assistance that thousands of hurricane survivors need.

The people in New Orleans lost their belonging and properties not by their fault but because of a natural disaster. I feel that the government should lend every possible as well as all those out there who can support in anyway possible. It is in times of need like this that we, people on the same planet, have to help those in need. Especially, as the editorial stated that homeless people are more prone to illness both mentally and physically, a quick and effective solution is necessary. Furthermore, faster we “revive” the city and its people, the valuable asset of the country, more contribution they can make to the country, giving more benefit in the long run.

Cost of War

Source: War costs could total $ 1.6 trillion by 2009, panel estimates

For obvious reasons, war cost money. Money is spent for funding destruction; creation of weaponry, price increase in oil and gas, destruction of buildings and lives. After such destruction, money is yet again spent on reconstruction of the properties destroyed. Unfortunately, this war that I am talking about is not that of the past. The ongoing war between the United States and Iraq not only destroyed lives of thousands of people but it also brought the economy down as well. This economic affects more than the current residents of United States: it will be handed down to the next generation.

According to an article from CNN, War costs could total $ 1.6 trillion by 2009, panel estimates, congressional committee said in a report released Tuesday, "the total economic impact of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is estimated at $1.6 trillion by 2009." The article from CNN tells us that it is "nearly double the $804 billion in direct war costs the White House requested so far from Congress, the Democratic-led Joint Economic Committee said. Interestingly, White House says that these are datas manipulated by Democrats for political purposes.

In any case, regardless of the "supposedly hidden" purpose of this reports, don't you think it's time we put an end to this war that nobody wants?