Gun Laws

"Justices Take On Potentially Landmark Gun Rights Cases"

Overall Summary:

The Supreme Court is recently challenging the strict enforcement of gun laws in many states. The Supreme Court is determining whether or not the Second Amendment refers to local areas having the right to bear arms or their specific state government. Many appeals for the right to have a weapon have come to the Supreme Court as of late. In the most anticipated case, a Chicago citizen requested the right to carry a weapon for protection against local gangs. The Supreme Court has issued a right for an individual to bear arms but it is now up to local and state governments to approve, support, and enforce these upcoming rights.

My Opinion:

I think the right to bear arms is one of the most controversial topics possible. I believe it really depends on the individual case. I think that the Constitution implies that each state militia has the right to bear arms against the federal government but does not specify whether or not it is the states job or the people of the state to protect themselves. However, I think that state rules often are too strict on the gun laws. These laws are hard on average people such as hunters or regular citizens. In larger cities I can see where one would need a weapon of some sort to defend themself however I dontthink that weapon has to be a huge assault rifle, which would be disproportionate tothe issue at hand. Therefore, I think gun laws as they are by state are a bit too strict and demanding however the right to bear arms should be limited based on the circumstances.

Racist Email

"Racist Email Aimed at Obama Raises Hackles in Tennessee"

Overall Summary:

The assistant of Tennessee senator Diane Black sent an email around the office in which President Obama was depicted as cartoon eyes on a black background. When Sherry Goforth sent out the email it was set with the 43 past presidential portraits. Senator Black assures the press that the email does not display "the beliefs or opinions of her office". Mrs. Goforth was strongly reprimanded yet got away with her keeping her job as senator's assistant. However, the Senators assurances against the email did not persuade state democrats to wonder whether or not this email showed what republicans thought of our president. The chairman of Tennessee's Democratic Party insists both the assistant and the senator apologize to President Obama.

My Opinion:

I think that this email is just one persons opinion, a joke even, and should not be taken so seriously. Bad publicity or not, everyone has the right to the own opinion, whether it be supportive or unsupportive of the president. I defiantly think that the Democratic chairman is taking this situation too far by insisting a personal apology to the president. This case is displaying a mere democratic against republican publicity brawl, I say they forgive and forget.

Missile Protection

"Obama Scraps Bush-era Missile Defense For New Plan"

Overall Summary:

The United States has decided to downsize the missile defense systems in Europe. Intelligence believes that Iran's missiles are for short and middle range distances and therefore missile defense for long-range missiles are not needed. Unfortunately, President Obama is faced with Pole and Czech beliefs that lessened American defenses leaves Europe vulnerable. Some say that Obama's change in defense is an attempt to renew relations with Russia. The new missile system has hundreds of shorter range missile interceptors as opposed to Bush's ten centralized long-range interceptors.

My Opinion:

I think that Obama's change in security is rushed and unsafe. Poland and The Czech Republic are right to be concerned because they are less sheltered by the U.S.'s defenses. Iran intelligence is not necessarily trustworthy and Obama has spent only a short time in office and has quickly concluded that Iran does not pose as big a threat as Bush assumed. I think Obama is not necessarily wrong in deciding Iran does not have long-range missiles but I think it is better safe than sorry and just because Iran will not use force against our allies does not mean Russia or other Middle-Eastern nations will not either.

Mandatory Flu Vaccine

"Where Will Mandates End?"

Overall Summary:

The New York Health Department, according the the Times Union, has taken the "individual rights of health care workers" by mandating all health care employees receive this year's flu vaccination. This official requirement made by the State may or may not extend to the upcoming H1N1 vaccine. Making employees in hospitals and medical buildings receive the vaccination will insure a safer flu season for the residents and patients in these facilities.

My Opinion:

I believe that mandating vaccinations, whether it be in health care employees or others, is a violation of citizens' rights. My mother, who runs the kitchen of a hospital, is also required to get this year's flu vaccination. I think that someone who is not even dealing with patients or medical procedures should definitely not have to receive the flu shot because they pose no threat to the patients and residents. The majority of employees have not bothered to get the vaccination in past years for a multitude of reasons. First of all, the flu vaccine, from personal experience, is a potential threat to health. Many people have witnessed first hand that the flu vaccination leads to the illness and is therefore dangerous to certain immune systems and age groups. Lastly, I think that the H1N1 vaccination, if the state makes it mandatory to certain people, could pose just as big a threat as the virus itself. The vaccination is still being tested and is being pushed onto the public out of fear of the disease.

Bailout

Above President Obama speaks at a GM plant.
"Obama defends auto bailouts, touts new fuel rules"

Overall Summary:

Following controversy dealing with the governments bailout of the auto industry President Obama pays a visit to a General Motors plant. President Obama also announced a necessity in developing more fuel efficient automobiles in order to be a more self-sufficient nation. Obama insists that the intervention into the industry was completely necessary to the country's economy seeing as the automotive industry supports a major amount of important finances. The bail out was supported by funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program. The White House reports that the cost of automobiles will reasonably increase to reach the fuel-efficient standards of the 21st century.

My Opinion:

I think that the automotive bailout was a waste of the country's money yet an appropriate way to secure jobs for millions of Americans. On one side, it saved a large amount of jobs from being lost by keeping the factories and dealerships going. Yet, on the other side, after more than 20 billion dollars was already spent trying to assist the dying industry, GM and Chrysler both went bankrupt. I think it was a waste to keep handing the businesses money after they had already proved they couldn't continue further in the industry. My thought is that if they already went bankrupt it is a waste to continue spending money on them when other companies, who manage by lesser means, could also use help.