A President In The True Neutral Sense Of The Term

The President of the USA gets elected no doubt under a party symbol and vows to stand by that party’s manifesto and plan of action for the next 4 years. But in certain times of history, the President has to look beyond party affiliations and has to bull doze his way through in what he believes is good, even if it means taking on his own party men.

President Obama is at times seemingly doing it and there are many instances over the past two years which go to prove that Obama is an outsider when it came to pushing his personal agenda even if it comes to ruffling some feathers in the Democratic Party itself. A strong president is one who does not cave in to party pressures when it comes to pushing through vital and critical reforms which are for the benefit of larger sections of the society. When people will judge Obama as a President in history, they will surely respect and adore him for sticking on to plans which would be for the better of major portion of America’s population.

He made his intentions very clear by signing a number of landmark bills which gave woman equal rights in the place of work. Then there was the historic Healthcare Reform bill, which no other President of the past had the courage to push it through. Then last but not the least the Patient’s Right bill which was gathering dust for the past 75 years was signed. While all these are indeed great signs of a great leader who cuts across party lines, there are lot of fingers being pointed out at him, accusing him of moving too fast and wanting too much to be done within a short period of time. Whether he “weathers” the storm or trips and falls.

Filed Under: Politics, United States Tagged With: , ,

Bridging The Racial Divide In The USA

President Elect Obama’s speech on Sunday, May 17, 2008 still continues to be one the most inspiring and emotional speech to date given by any politician over the past many decades. Before the actual speech actually began there was a lot of acrimony and debate whether it was in the right taste to honor a prominent abortion rights activist and too in one the well known Catholic Institutions. The atmosphere was agog with rumors and gossips of large scale demonstrations and boycotts by those belonging to the more conservative strains of society.

But as the saying goes and as history has shown us time and again, the best people exhibit their best skills in times of great trials and tribulations and this was one such occasion. Though Obama had won a landslide election, the nation was still split down the middle and there was palpable evidence that USA has still to overcome the racial divide which has been its bane for the last so many centuries. However, President Obama took this opportunity to take the sail off his critics by acknowledging the fact that there did exist a problem of racial divide and he used this speech to defuse the situation and take the heat out of the whole atmosphere. He bridged the divide by actually acknowledging the fact that there existed one.

Much water has flown ever since that historic speech in the summer of 2008 and USA is now trying to find back its feet as an economic superpower. But this has been not without setback for Obama on the way and the latest results of opinion poll suggest that his ratings are at the lowest since he got elected in the historic 2008 elections. The health reform program which was so close to his heart is one such program which has pulled his ratings down.

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Immigration. . . .For or Against?

The word on immigration has become a major topic in society today. In anything there are pro and cons to any given situation. Regardless if you are for it or against it, immigration has been going on since the beginning of time.

What are some the pros that are associated with immigration:

1. Better standard of living. Immigrants are able to earn to more money then they are able to earn in there own country. This way, they have more options such as sending monies back to their country to help out with their families needs.

2. Immigrants are cheaper when it comes to labor. When migrating for one part of the world to the next, immigrants are almost more then willing to work just as hard for less money. Thus, it can help with the economy to build more on less revenue.

3. The growth of the economy is a big plus! When immigrants settle into a new land, it increases the amount of spending and purchasing of goods! This can bring bigger business to companies such as banks, housing, and insurances to name a few.

Some of the cons that come from immigration:

1. There may be fewer resources for people. With more people in any given environment, resources become scars. This can be anything form jobs, to land and water.

2. There can also be a lack when it comes to employment opportunities. Again with more people being in a general environment, it can bring more people to wanting to have jobs. If jobs are scars, this can even cause unemployment to rise!

3. Crime is another factor that can be a con for immigration. Many lash out at the idea at immigrants for having benefits that they are not entitled to. This is especially so if an immigrant is illegal. Crime can range from beatings, to violent protests!

Filed Under: Democratic Party, New Mexico, Society Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Rights of a Human Being

When talking about the celebration of Human Rights, just what are we celebrating? Do people even know that Human Rights are? Are many aware of what type of rights they have?

Human Rights are privileges that can be obtain by anyone regardless of race, creed, religion, or gender. This also means that we have rights to things that we should not be discriminated against. Human Rights can go all the way back to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That was the desires of the leaders in this county that all men be created equal.

This includes, but not limited to:

- A Right to Life
- Civil and Political Rights
- Being equal when it come to the Law
- Freedom to express ones self
- The right for employment
- Education
- Social Security

These rights came to pass in 1948. Since then, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have revised and established new privileges so that all can be equal. In 1993 treaties were established in many states, protecting individual’s rights for equal opportunities. In turn, these treaties establish liability for each state. A person or group can not be deprived of their Human Rights. The only time where an individuals rights are questioned or withheld, is unless they have been convicted of pass crimes. Their right to free liberty can be affected.

To this day, Human Rights are still an issue due to many cultures not felling they have the same rights as others. Discrimination and segregation are still in many vocabularies, especially in the African American community. Human Rights still need to be discussed and taught to all. If you don’t know what your rights are, how can you be aware when wronged in any way? Rights of a human are not limited and neither should a person limit themselves of who they are to obtain them.

Filed Under: Democratic Party, New Mexico, Society Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Democratic Politics and American Economic Re-Growth

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The Democratic Party in America has a proud heritage of a strong national vision and political organization that includes politically active and socially diverse Americans.  For over 200 years the Party’s leaders have longed believed that a government built on a vast popular base as opposed to entitlements, should encompass a stable government.

How the Democrats brought Healing to America

With the election and win of Jimmy Carter as president in 1976, the nation’s trust in government began its healing process following the Watergate scandal.  Carter did many positive things during his tenure as president, one of which was negotiating the Camp David historic peace accords between Israel and Egypt.

Governor Bill Clinton from Arkansas was elected President of the United states in 1992.  President Clinton took the stand on a New Covenant for the hard working American families that were forgotten in this country.  America was in a huge state of high unemployment, increasing crime, and record budget deficits, following 12 years of Republican presidents.  President Clinton’s policies were aimed at putting people first and produced the longest period of economic growth in America’s peacetime history.  Both the Senate and House passed what was known as the Deficit Reduction Act of 1993, without even one Republican vote.  The Deficit Reduction Act ended up leading to a cease in perennial budget deficits and also put America on a road to fiscal recovery and responsibility.  President Clinton’s final budget resulted in over a $ 200 billion surplus, which had followed an inherited $ 290 billion deficit in 1992. The Clinton and Gore Administration was also responsible for reducing crime to its lowest levels in a generation and reducing unemployment levels to it lowest levels in decades. With the win in the election of 1996, Clinton had become the first Democratic President since Roosevelt to be reelected.

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Filed Under: Democracy, Politics, Society Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Quick Judgment on Obama

Only two years after the historic night in Chicago’s Grant Park, President Barrack Obama now faces a political storm that challenged everything he hoped to accomplish during his administration.

Despite pushing through significant legislation aimed to stimulate the economy and provide health insurance for everyone in American society, President Obama seems to have fallen out of favor in the court of public opinion. Part of the problem is the perception that the economy has not improved significantly under his watch.

Presidents often fall on their swords due to the state of the economy. Herbert Hoover was a great humanitarian and by all accounts a decent human being, but due to his misfortune of sitting in the White House during the dawn of the Great Depression his reputation has fallen into disrepair.

Blaming economic misfortune on the President is putting a face on a complex network that few people, if any, fully understand. The President can guide fiscal policy or push for new laws, but his power is limited by the natural checks and balances of a democracy and the whims of the market. The job market has picked up during the Obama Administration, but the promises of the Grant Park rally seem to be forgotten during the first difficult two years of his leadership.

Policy takes months to enact and then take effect. So while opponents might have written off Obama as a failure, historians will probably provide a much softer view. The economy was not insured by 21st car insurance. There was not a check in the mail by the end of the week to get it rolling again.

Franklin Roosevelt is regarded by historians as a successful leader, but even his administration had not solved all of the ills of the Great Depression during the first half of his first term in the White House. It is too early to write off Obama or his policies.

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Filed Under: Politics, Society Tagged With: , ,

Social Media in Politics – a Changing Landscape

STS-119 Crew Meets With President Barack Obama...
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Social media has become huge and important in nearly every area of our lives. People blog, connect on social networking sites, photo share and more. Is it any wonder that politicians, political parties, political action groups and nearly everyone else involved in the process have hopped on the social media bandwagon?

During Barack Obama’s bid for the White House in 2008, his campaign took to social media, conquering these channels and harnessing their power in ways no one had ever seen. But true to the fast-paced nature of social media, politicians at all levels are now adept at using this new medium.

Some experts speculate that use of social media in politics has placed our society at the edge of a monumental power shift. Traditionally, people with higher education levels and higher incomes have been the most involved in politics and have had the most influence. But social media is altering the landscape, giving people who haven’t traditionally had much of a voice in the political discussion greater influence. Nearly everyone seems to have access to a computer and the most widely used social media sites are free.

Young adults – those 18 to 29 – are becoming more interested in politics, thanks to social media. They are commenting on blogs and news stories, “liking” political candidates and more. And those that take these steps online have been proven to be more likely to participate in the political process offline, too. Gaining the interest of these young voters has become crucial to almost every political candidate’s success.

You can be sure that candidates, pundits, political activists and nearly everyone else involved in the political process is watching these trends closely. Those involved work tirelessly to develop social media plans and strategies aimed at capturing your online interest – and converting that online interest into a “yes” vote.

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Filed Under: Democracy, Politics, Society Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Hillary Clinton — The First Lady Who Became Secretary of State

Hillary Rodham Clinton, January 2007
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Hillary Clinton first appeared on the political radar screen in 1992, as the wife of then presidential candidate Bill Clinton. A drama unfolded early on in the campaign. Just as Bill Clinton was moving to the head of the pack of democratic hopefuls, rumors of an affair between Clinton and a blonde nightclub singer were revealed. The embarrassing news threatened to end Clinton’s run for office, as this and talk of other extra-marital affairs were broadcast on media outlets coast-to-coast. To defend Clinton and save his candidacy, Bill and Hillary went on the CBS news show, “60 Minutes” to discuss the scandal, and their marriage. Hillary’s impressive appearance and her devotion to her marriage did much to save Clinton’s ultimately successful presidential bid.

Hillary was a popular but also polarizing figure in the world of politics and culture. She had been a practicing lawyer in Arkansas and made it known that she would be more than just a figurehead as First Lady. She became involved in White House policy by heading up the task force that developed Clinton’s proposed national healthcare policy. Though the healthcare policy was ultimately voted down, her performance as the head of the task force was an impressive one, though some detractors felt she had overstepped the limits of the First Lady’s role by becoming involved in policy.

It was all just a warm up for Hillary, however. She endured more ups and downs as the wife of President Bill Clinton, as in his second term he became ensnared in an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. At the same time, a rumored affair with Paula Jones lead to an investigation, and impeachment proceedings (ultimately dismissed) against the President. Throughout, Hillary’s confidence, poise, and loyalty to her husband saw her through.

After Clinton’s term ended, Hillary was elected to the U.S. Senate. After her successful term as senator from New York, she ran for President. Though she lost out to Barack Obama, she landed on her feet when Obama appointed her Secretary of State. Hillary Clinton. She’s quite a First Lady indeed.

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Filed Under: Democracy, Politics, Society Tagged With: , , ,

Women in Politics-The Impact of Great Looks On Politics and Society

PHILADELPHIA - DECEMBER 2: Alaska Governor Sa...
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Image is a big part of the political process. It always has been, but with the advent of television and the proliferation of media outlets and the Internet, personal style makes up a major part of the process today – like it or not. The issue is a huge one for women entering the political arena. As for men, of course, we expect a modicum of professional style from the men taking part in the political process (Barack Obama was featured on the cover of the magazine, “Men’s Vogue” during his candidacy) but for women, the stakes are even higher.

The most recent presidential election brought the issue into bold relief. Hillary Clinton became a model of high style during her presidential candidacy, always looking razor sharp, with professionally styled hair and makeup, and wearing an array of designer pant suits as she hit the road to shake hands during her wearying run for president. Even her First Lady style couldn’t match the looks she had professionally put together for her time on the campaign trail.

Sarah Palin came seemingly out of nowhere as John McCain’s running mate for Vice President in the same election in 2008. Palin was tapped to run as McCain’s second in command while still serving as Governor of Alaska. Palin’s outdoorsy-casual Alaskan running gear look was quickly transformed by stylists into a sleek and chic modern career woman style.
Yet when news was leaked regarding the cost of turning the Governor into a more carefully coiffed and polished version of herself, a scandal briefly erupted over the costs of her high-end suits and accessories. The criticism was tempered, however, with an acknowledgement of the pressures faced by female candidates who run in the media glare.

There’s no question that women face a double standard regarding their physical appearance. For ladies working in the political arena, the stakes are even higher. It seems to be a hard reality women have to face. We expect women to look fabulous, even if they’re running for executive office. Fair or not, these days, that’s just how it is.

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America’s Public Healthcare Option — What’s the Answer?

Official presidential portrait of Barack Obama...
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With so much recent debate from both sides surrounding President Obama’s healthcare bill featuring the polarizing public option, it’s easy to get confused – or lost in jargon. Among the mess, one thing’s certain — liberals and conservatives can agree that our country’s current healthcare policies need reform – and quickly. Health insurance is becoming unreasonably costly – even for America’s super rich –- and more employers are opting out of providing healthcare packages for workers. Something needs to change, for sure, but is President Obama’s current plan the right answer?

The pros to “Obamacare” – as it’s been dubbed – are clear. Every American would be required to have health insurance by a government-granted date. On the surface this seems to be a huge step in the right direction. If every American was somehow insured, strain on charity care and Medicaid greatly decrease. No longer would uninsured patients get slapped with astronomical hospital and prescription drug bills, which then ultimately are passed to taxpayers. Great.

That is, until you take a closer look and realize what Obamacare has plenty of holes. How exactly would every citizen get covered? What about preexisting conditions? Would disgruntled insurance companies provide sub par coverage – or worse – would healthcare providers provide sub par patient care? As a country, we hope not – but our new healthcare reform plan is so freshly minted, no one has a concrete idea of how it will ultimately unfold and work for Americans. A public healthcare option has been successful in other countries – and here’s hoping it will take hold and be successful here. Something needs to change for the better.

The bottom line is that this new public healthcare option poses so many varied positive and negative arguments, it’s impossible to tell what’s right. Unfortunately for the American public, only time, implementation and evaluation will give us the facts we all wish we had right now.

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