Health Care Bill

The Health Care Bill has now been passed in the House. The bill contains a type of the public option and is said to not affect or add to the debt of the country. Speaker Nancy Pelosi was marvelous with how she handled the execution of the bill on the floor. She mad some sacrifices but the Bill was passed. But now, the real party begins. The bill must go before the Senate. The Senate is where the bill will have the most challenges. I believe that the Health care bill is a goodthing. I really belive that it will help many Americans and will be beneficial to the country as a whole. We are the only country that spends a fortune on our Health care. It really doesnt make sense. How can we be the wealthiest country, yet our own citizens our suffering because our society is so independent and so free that we only take care of our indivdual selves. Which means that we neglect society as a whole. There is something completely wrong with this picture.

Obama's first state Dinner

On Novemeber 24th, 2009 The Obama's hosted their first state dinner. The guest of honor was India's prime minister Singh. However, this statement is the only political news that was reported on the event. All the other news reported was about fashion and celebrities attending like Steven Spilberg. Other news surrounded the menu and the entertainment of Jennifer Hudson. Is that what Our news is reduced to? Is this all that our society cares about and values? Really? Its very interesting to me that when it comes to things like this the truth in JOURNALISM is top notch. But when it comes to things that really matter like, the war or health care, the truth is far from view.

Kimberly Munley- A True Hero

The most tragic massacre in U.S. history at a military base occured yesterday at Fort Hood. 13 people were killed and 30 were wounded. Major Nidal Malik Hassan AN ARMY Psychiatrist opened fire on the many soilders and civilians at Fort Hood. Sources say that he did it because he was told that he was going to be sent to Iraq. Civilian Officer Kimberly Munley brought the shooter down. She approached him and shoot him four times, bringing this horrible massacre to an end. Officer Munley was wounded in the incident but she will be just fine. All over facebook and Twitter there are tributes to her heroic efforts. Prior to yesterdays incident here is a comment that Munley made about herself, "I live a good life....a hard one, but I go to sleep peacefully @ night knowing that I may have made a difference in someone's life." This statement seems extremely poignant now in the aftermath of this tragedy. Women like these make me proud everyday. And she represents the embodiment of every woman striving to protect those she loves and the world around us. But, I think that the thing I like best about stories like this is that when there is a story like this it doesnt matter what channel you turn to, it doesnt matter what media outlet that you hate, love, or trust. You get the truth, and their is no bickering or fighting, no bias. Just the plan truth and the good that is in all of us. Officer Munley we love you and we thank you.
Here is what some soliders said about Officer Munley:

Obama signs Hate Crime Bill

So, Yesterday President Obama signed a new hate crime bill into law. The bill states that it is now a federal offense to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill was added to a defense authorization bill package. Some say this was an underhanded way to get this legislation signed into law. And I say really people??? Really??? However and whatever it took to get this legislation out there is fine by me. Because this is an important law, no one should be hurt or killed for any reason especially not because of personal choices they are making in their private lives. President Obama said, "Obama hailed the hate crimes measure in the bill as a step toward change to "help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray." This Bill is so important and I am grateful for it. And the media needs to leave their personal opinions out of it. Just report the news PLEASE AND THANK YOU!!!

Here is a video of the signing if you are interested:

New Health Care Bill- Democrats

Today, the House Democrats have unveiled a $894 billion new health care bill. The bill is 2,000 pages, containing three different versions of the bill that has been passed by three House committees. The bill can be paid for over a course of 10 years and would not increase the federal deficit according to Speaker Pelosi. This bill will extend health care coverage to over 36 million people, giving 96% of Americans health care coverage. The bill does contain the health insurance option. According to CNN, "Republicans tore into the bill, characterizing it as a series of tax increases and new regulations that would destroy jobs while doing little to stop spiraling health care costs." One House member said the following about the bill,"This really is a government takeover of health care in America," Rep. Mike Pence, D-Indiana, said. "It appears for all of the world like a massive government-run insurance plan paid for with a freight train of mandates and taxes and bureaucracy." At the same time the Senate is looking at legislation that is completely different from this bill. But any bill that passes in the House will somehow have to br merged with the Sentate legislation ideas. So, that it can be sent to President Obama for his signature making it into law. So, it seems that there is some light emerging at the end of the tunnel of the Health care plan. If only the democrats and republicans can just find a way to agree. So with this announcement lets look at how the media is spinning this. CNN Gave the facts of the story and clearly stated that it is a democratic bill and will need to be approved by republicans. But, I just looked at the same story on Fox news. They also state the facts, but also they discusss how this bill will not pass by any republicans because it was done"behind closed doors" as they say. Why does Fox News slant to make it seem like the democrats are the bad guys??? And why does CNN slant to make it look like the democrats are the only ones with good ideas and the only ones trying to make things work??? Why can't we just get the objective story about the bill, what it contains and how much it costs instead of all this bias. Its a shame to have all this bias. Really, what are you supposed to believe, juat whatever you want to??? Are we all that selfish nowadays? Have we always been??? WHATS THE DEAL???

Here are two clips about the bill:

Civil Union vs. Civil Marriage??? - The Battle in Maine

Next week Voters in Maine will decide whether or not they want to over turn a certain piece of legislation. The legislation was signed six months ago by the Governor and allows same-sex couples to wed. The current Governor said that he supported the legislation because he got an understanding of equal protection and constitutional responsiblity. He also states that a civil union is not the same as a a civil marriage. I am very interested in this myself and so I looked up definitions of both.
The Encyclopedia describes a civil union like this:
the legal recognition of the committed, marriagelike partnership of two individuals. Typically, the civil registration of their commitment provides the couple with legal benefits that approach or are equivalent to those of marriage, such as rights of inheritance, hospital visitation, medical decision making, differential taxation, adoption and artificial insemination, and employee benefits for partners and dependents.

The dictionary describes marriage like this:
the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc. And what makes it civil is that it is legal.

So,my understanding is that a civil marriage is a legal joining of a man and a women as husband and wife. Meaning that they have full legal rights to each other. And my understanding of a civil union is that it is not a marriage but a commited relationship or partnership between two people. And because of the commitment that these two people have made to each other, they gain specific rights like inheritance, visitation, medical, taxation, insemenation, and employee benefits.

Some would say that thses are much of the same rights granted to a husband and wife union, and they are right. However, this is how I see it, if you whoever you are want to commit yourself and your life to another person shoould both you have specific rights? I do not agree that same sex couples should call their union marriage because I believe that the word marriage is specific for a man and a women, but I do believe that anyone who wants to be committed to another person does deserve some equal rights. So it is an issue about understanding equal protection and constitutional responsiblity.

I do aggree that this issue remain an state by state issue and not a federal issue. But rights are rights.

I call this a battle in Maine because after the legilation was passed on May 6th of this year, by September there were 55,000 signatures to get it on the ballot for a vote on November 3rd. This same occurance happened in California. The legiation was passed then there was a vote to rewrite the Califonia constitution to ban gay marriage, even after 18,ooo gay couples were wed. If the legislation holds,Maine will join Massachusetts, Vermont, Iowa, Connecticut, and New Hampshire as the states that allow same-sex marriage. Both groups for and agaainst this legislation have been battling in Maine with televison ads, pamphlets, door to door, phone banks, you name it anything to be the victor on November 3rd. The Governor says that whatever the outcome at least both sides will be educated on the issue. Please tell me what you think!!!

H1N1 Emergency!!!!

On late Friday night, President Obama issued an national H1N1 Emergency. The pandemic cases are rising in a number of communities across the U.S. It is really becoming taxing for many health care professionals in certain communities. So what does this emergency mean??? It means that the government will have more control in helping treat paitents and aid in the process of controlling this pandemic. So, here are some stats to make this a little more real. According to a CNN News report, 20,000 people in the U.S. have been infected and 1000 have died since the pandemic hit the U.S. in April. In recent weeks the rise in the illness has increased. Officals from the CDC say, that flu season this time of year is very unusual. I have to admit that I have greatly underestimated the effects and the importance of this health issue. I always thought that the media was exaggerating with their pictures and there so called scare tactics that they all use so well. And maybe there were exaggerating at the time. But their exaggeration is now becoming a reality. And thats pretty scare that in a sense the media has foeshadowed an rise and emergency of this outbreak. Maybe this was a time for once that the media was telling the truth. Wow!!! Go figure. For any of you who want a clearer understanding of what this declaration of an emrgency means here you go: