Private Or No Privacy

Many worry about the extent of their privacy and the limits of their personal autonomy. Both the government and large corporations show signs about wanting to restrict both – either for our own good or for their good. These are political as well as ethical issues because they involve serious social consequences, raise questions about the nature of our duty to one another, and impact social relationships generally.

Most people are afraid of having very personal information being released to the government – they want private data about things like what they buy and read to remain private. Instead of stricter privacy standards, though, should we perhaps have looser ones? Should people just be more open and honest about what they do rather than secretive?

Now-a-days people are so eager to have every aspect of their life privatized.  Whether it may be with identity or personal features, like ones financial obligations and family/family posessions.  Just like with political figures, maintaining  privacy is a key to keep ones position. So what about Clinton, Reagan, and recently a differenet figure an athlete, Tiger Woods.

Many media agency’s have attacked him, because of the incident that took place, yet many are digging deeper than they should. If they wanted to be in the limelight like other celebrities, like Tom Cruise or Angelina Jolie, they would go out and get it, but they like their private life, and consider themselves happy that way; like many other families do as well.

The media takes a place in privacy  because it makes it seem fine, because they say, that if people didn’t want to know the media wouldn’t report it, but the people want to read and know what’s happening so they dig deeper to satisfy the audience. The bigger question is where do we stop it? Where do we draw the line between news and privacy?

The deeper we dig the more problems arise, like they say, ” what you don’t know won’t hurt you.” Knowing less is then considered better for you, would you say not?

CLEAN YOUR EARS

“We believe that the best of America is not all in Washington, D.C. … We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation.” –Sarah Palin, speaking at a fundraiser in Greensoboro, N.C., Oct. 16, 2008

Even before her campaigning with Senator John McCain, Palin had to campaign through much of the media blitz that had been going on,  long before everyone officially knew who she was and what she was going to be overtaking.

“When I got the call, it was not such a shocking call to me,” Palin told talk-show host Oprah Winfrey in a highly anticipated interview that aired Monday. “I felt quite confident in my abilities and my executive experience and I knew that this is an executive administrative job. I was happy to get in there and contribute.”

In the wide-ranging interview, few subject were left untouched, including Palin’s early and frequent clashes with the senior ranks of the McCain campaign.

But what did shock Palin was just how much the campaign knew about her and her family before she even formally met with Sen. John McCain to discuss the job. Contrary to what was reported in the media, Palin said, she was extensively vetted, and the campaign knew exactly “who they were getting.”

In what was her initial introduction to the high stakes of presidential campaigning, Palin was blindsided by the fact that McCain aides knew that her then-17-year-old daughter Bristol was pregnant, a fact that Palin had yet to disclose back in Alaska.

“I was surprised that they knew. I was surprised, too, that we didn’t handle that issue, that challenge better,” she said. “If we were given the allowance to deal with the issue in a more productive way, we could have perhaps sent a better message: This is not to be emulated.”

She added, “I did not want that message sent out that we were giddy happy to become grandparents, and that’s what that message said.”For the newly minted vice presidential candidate, that was the first sign that she was in for a rocky road with McCain’s campaign advisers.

The handling of her daughter’s pregnancy was only the first of a string of frustrations for Palin over the course of the campaign, during which, she said, she and her family felt like they couldn’t be themselves.

From the mockery of her family and her private life, Palin addressed the fact that she was happy to be out of the political eye for a while. She believes the next time she pursues politics it will be in her own fashion and standard.

She also came out with her own book detailing her experience and her life. In addition to how it all affected her life.

This interview and book is set to give people a better perspective of  Palin and what she is all about, especially after she personally  addressed major issues, that were obviously political propaganda.

 

CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

With all the violence in the world, majority of the world simply wonders, “Why can’t we all get along?” If it only was as easy as it sounds, yet as we all know it’s not that easy.

Thirteen people — a dozen soldiers and a civilian — died Thursday in the shooting at the Fort Hood Army Post. Some 42 people were wounded, according to the post’s public information office. It was unclear how many of those suffered gunshot wounds.

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a U.S.-born citizen of Palestinian descent, is accused of killing 13 people. People who knew and studied Maj. Nidal Hasan say he was a loner who had no luck finding a wife, and a criminal profiler said the Fort Hood shooting suspect fits the profile of a mass murderer better than that of a terrorist.

No charges have been filed, and authorities have not identified a motive in Thursday’s attack. But in a statement issued Monday night, the FBI said its investigation “indicates that the alleged gunman acted alone and was not part of a broader terrorist plot.”

With all the soldiers serving overseas and throughout the world, heartfelt appreciation goes out to all the families who have lost someone close to them or who have someone currently serving.  As President Obama announced this act doesn’t defy any justice, and proper punishment shall be administered.

As traggic as this event has been, there have been worse events that have happened and now is the time to actually stop and take a moment of silence for all that have died. More importantly to ask ourselves no matter who we are, rich, poor, government official, celebrity, etc; why do we let this violence continue in our society. Why can we not find some common ground, why must we give blood for peace, why can’t we give words for peace?

Bing Bang Boom

 

“Where did you hear that garbage from?” or “That’s nonsense I get all my news from MTV!” Majority of the time people don’t know where or what news is. They hear it from other people, (which is why majority of the time the facts are only 50% correct) and don’t get the information.

They key idea when watching any political uproar is to get the facts and many viewers are unable to clarify the  facts just by watching their local television station. Majority of the time they need to look at a wide variety of stations, from CNN, to BBC, to Fox News and even local channels like ABC7 Chicago. As well as print, such as, ChicagoTribune,  and NewYork Times.

When it comes to actally knowing what’s going on majority get the tidbits of information and do not continue to further their knowledge of the situation. For example, South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson and his outburtst towards President Obama, many heard and saw what happened, yet many took their own stance on the situation without listening to the facts.

Other instances of political outburst would include:

• Seoul: Out of Control
• James Traficant: I’ll Kick You in the Crotch
• President Bush Tears NYT Reporter a New One
• The Iron Lady Stands Her Ground

In the future do not just listen to others, make sure you understand what other sources are saying. Listen to their perspective first. Political outburst happens throughout our world, make sure your well informed and not misinformed.

Key things to do when fact checking….

1. Visit credible sources
2. Visit more than 3 sources (Local, National, and International)
3. Watch videos
4. Listen to commentary
5. Read multiple newspapers.
6. Put your personal opinion together based on these.

Let Me Live

According to the FBI in 2007 there were over 7,624 anti-Latino attacks and 595 anti-hispanic attacks that were brought forth upon these two groups. Anti-Latino groups have targeted these groups, because they feel that the Latinos have invaded, “white-man territory” and have to leave or  or will be made to leave whether it is to their liking or not. Here the conflict begins, because the many illegal immigrants look for protection from the police and in extreme cases the government, especailly if a certian story makes it to the headlines.

Politicians have debated over the issue of illegal immigrants and the rights pertaining to Latinos.  Conservative White Collar Americans disagree and ask that many be deported back to Mexico or the country they reside from,  if they do not have accurate documentation that would allow them to stay. Politicians argue for and against; depending on the represenative and the political party, they either vote for immigrants that already have documentation to be allowed to stay, while those that do not are to be deported and given the chance to attain proper documentation.

These political issues lead to social issues as well, one out of every seven Latina teens, or 14 percent, attempts suicide according to a 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of high school students. And Latina high school students have higher attempted suicide rates than white non-Hispanic (7.7 percent) or black non-Hispanic (9.9 percent) girls their age, the CDC reports.

Factors of cultural clash have alot to play in the CDC’s statistics, because parents of many Latinas are very strict when it comes to value, especailly mothers. A disconnect between mothers and daughters is what Dr. Luis Zayas, a psychologist at Washington University, suspects is leading an alarming number of Latina teenagers to want to end their lives. Many young girls are exposed to the freedoms everyday caucasian girls have to the point where parents of Latinas and Latinos find alarming, because they believe that the condition and properity of a family is more important than that of the individual.

Throughout the United States Latinos and Latinas are suffering from political, cultural, and social issues that do not allow them to further continue living their lives. Everybody in America deserves to live the, “American Dream” so why should it be limited when it is not.

“And They’re Off For The Finish…”

The health care reform debate reached a new milestone Tuesday as a key congressional committee passed an $829 billion plan projected to extend coverage to an additional 29 million Americans. The committee passed its long-awaited plan Tuesday with a 14-9 vote. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, was the lone committee member to cross party lines, breaking with other Republicans to vote for the measure. All the committee’s Democrats supported the bill.(cnn)

Since President Obama started campaigning one of his biggest issues was Health care; the cost, the lack of coverage, pre-exisitng conditions, and the millions of Americans without health care benefits. President Obama’s goal to achieve a health care system to function for the many Americans with or without benefits, has been criticized through out the past few months, mainly from Republicans.

Yet many Americans stood up to this political harrassment when Obama had the politicians hold them hold town hall meetings. The people proved the number of politicians wrong, because many were clueless on the facts and weren’t listening to the American people. Which shows that the President wanted other government officials to see and hear what the people had to say, not what the politicians had to say. It allowed many things to be said and heard by both sides,  later allowing for heated debates in the Senate and the House.

After much awaited time health care is finally going to be established for the American people. According to CNN, this new bill will include subsidized insurance for poorer Americans, establish nonprofit health care cooperatives, and create health insurance exchanges to make it easier for small groups and individuals to purchase coverage.

Americans have dealt with skepticism with many Politicians about President Obama’s health care plan, but now they are tired of the bickering, the talk-back, and the rumors of how it will never work. Yet it’s always been said, “never say never”; this proves that health care has surpassed much drama and debate. It’s happening right before our own eyes, it’s making history and it’s providing much reassurance for the health care community, because many have waited for it and are seeing the result now.

Obama himself says, “We’re not there yet,” showing that he still has alot to do to make this work. Yet with what he has done so far it’s put faith and trust into the many Americans who want this to be accomplished. Many are finally seeing the words Obama spoke months ago, becoming true day in and day out. The finish line for health care has almost been reached, so why stop now.

Race For Fiscal Mess

Race for Governor or Race for the Fiscal Mess that Illinois has been dealing with for the past year? It’s both actually, according to abc7Chicago, Illinois is $3 billion dollars in debt already. These costs are affecting alot of Illinois residents, especially those living in Cook county. Cook counties tax rate is 10.25% higher than any other county in the state. Other counties have had surges in their taxes as well to support the declining financial health of the states infrastructure.

Like any other political campaigning, there is the usual bickering between candidates, the race for who can get the most endorsements and so on. What many people find confusing is the fact that Illinois  legislature has been talking about how they are going to make changes so that the problems are resolved and that the people do not  have to be affected. Alright, but what is actually being done is nothing, because majority of them are just pointing fingers and playing the blame game.

Republican Senator Kirk Dillard, who is running for his party’s nomination for governor, opposes higher taxes and criticized Quinn for not moving quickly enough to spend monies approved in the capital bill signed in July. In addition Illinois comptroller and Democratic candidate for governor Dan Hynes said, “The leadership has to come from the governor’s office and we’re not getting that leadership.” Stating that he doesn’t agree with the current governor’s roles in what he is doing. “All I know is the problem is getting worse and we seem to be drifting from one day to the next,” said Hynes.

The problem as always is that we have officials that are already serving in our Illinois Legislature who have had their terms, yet have had little to show  for them. Or that it’s that we are getting new opponents, yet the talk they talk is quite simillar to those of the people we alredy have in office. It is time to carefully look at these officials and listen to what they really have to offer, because majority of what we hear is them critcizing others, yet not giving up their ideals as to how they are going to solve them. Does Illinois need another $3billion dollars of debt, or does it need someone who is going to fight for what is right and take control of an issue that should’ve been handled a long time ago. The people are being played like a game, well it’s time to take initiative and play the politicians in their own game; they want to take office then they need to prove their ideas and expalin them, not just say them!

The people of Illinois need to look at a different perspetives as this Race For Governor continues on;  not as political enfringement upon the people, but as a race to see who can stand by their word of how they’re going to clean up the Fiscal Mess at hand. There needs to be more pressure from the people, so that when we do place the next politician as governor we will know that there will be a massive clean-up underway.

“Stop the Violence!”

Let’s say you live on the south side of Chicago, do you want to always be worrying about how your going to get to and from school? Well for most students that is becoming a reality, most of these students live in a certain radius that doesn’t allow them bus transportation. If they do need to commute, they use the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority), whether it may be by bus or train. Yet even that has poven to be unsafe with the brutal murder in 2007 of Chicago Public School student Blair Holt, who was shot and murdered on a CTA bus last year, on his way home from school.

After the Holts shooting took place Chicago Public School’s CEO Arne Duncan  said, “I’m furious and it’s heartbreaking. What happened here yesterday is just absolutely staggering!” What I personally find interesting is the fact that after an incidentlike the many shooting that have happened within the CPS system, Chicago police swarm the schools and neighboorhoods, ‘keeping an eye on things’ when only after a few weeks after everything calms down everything slowly goes back to normal including police control/protection.

Last week student Derrion Albert 16, was beaten to death when he was on his way home from school, when he got caught up in a fight. They currently have four suspects in jail. These suspects were caught because of the fact that someone videotaped the brutal beating of the 16 year old. Chicago’s superintedant Jody Weis is asking anybody who saw what happened that day to come forward. According to CNN.com Weis stated,  ”The culture of “no-snitch” is unacceptable.” I agree with Superintendant Weis, yet many parents are looking at him for answers, because the rise in CPS students being killed is continuing to soar! Many parents cannot afford to take their kids to school everyday, because they have to work in order for their kids to have a roof over their head, food on the table, and clothes to wear. Parents want to feel assured that their children are going to a safe haven and that they are able to return home safely.

It has been repeated numerous times that there are multiple programs being put into action to get kids off the streets, I believe that in order for parents of these CPS students to believe that, they have to see it actually being set forth! As one mother had stated, “I’ve grown up in this neighboorhood and never had Ionce had to worry about my safety, so why should my child have to, why should any of our children have to?” Chicago Police have commented saying that there will be more patrolling of school perimeters and tougher crack down on gangs in the neighboorhood. They also noted that they will be working with the CPS system to get records of “bad” students and to see where they are in the area and what they have been affiliated with, to prevent future outbreak.

In order to continue to, “stop the violence”, many parents agree, that not only do the police have to keep order and safety as a priority, but also their  fellow politicians need to as well. Words and talk are one thing, but actions and enforcement are another.

Cost-cutting Public Safety

As many Illinois residents living in Chicago or anywhere within the proximity of Chicago have noticed the prices of living have changed dramatically.

Throughout Illinois taxes have gone up, jobs have been cut, food prices have soared, and on top of it the state is cutting funding to many organizations and community-based programs; that are meant to help the public get involved and stear away violence.

Yet the organizations and programs that are still going strong will need to becarefulto not get their costs cut and more weary of their safety. If it wasn’t bad enough that certain law enforcement departments recieved cutbacks in funding, then Govorner Quinn’s decision on September 18, 2009, to release 1,000 inmates within the next 7 months proves worse.

The article in the Chicagotribune reports that this decison by Gov. Quinn came because of the state’s budget problems. Even though they report that the prisoners that will be getting released are, “low-level, non-violent” still doesn’t convince Illinois residents that their safety is a priority issue. Many don’t see this move as a smart one, “The timing of this release tells the whole story. Governor Quinn realizes he has no coherent explanation for his piecemeal approach to fixing the budget, so he’s trying to sneak one through as people across Illinois take off for the weekend,” Hynes campaign spokesman Matt McGrath said in a statement. “He can try to hide this news, but he can’t hide the fact that he has no plan and no vision to lead our state forward.”

What is really hard to grasp, is out of all possible outcomes to fix the states budget problems, why is putting public safety have to be risked in order to do it? Gov. Quinn plans on giving 2 million dollars to monitor the inmates and an additional 2 million to divert small offenders of getting into state prisons. Yet they estimate that it will save them 5 million dollars a year. I don’t see it because he just gave them 4 million to start the process; even though costs will be cut with laying off 1,000 workers, 419 which will take effect as of this month.

All this has done is create more worry for residents and more problems for law enforcement officials, even though they mentioned that each prisoner released will attend rehabilitation and have their own parole officer, the costs for this will also have to be figured in. This idea wasn’t a bright one from our Governor, because while he’s supposedly cutting cost, he’s decreasing public safety and more importantly people’strust in him.

Kindergarten Reconciliation!

HEALTHCARE! One of the largest debates and controversies in U.S history, since Roosevelt’s term.  President Obama’s mission is to get healthcare to everyone that doesn’t have it, which is good because alot of people don’t have it. In addition what he’s trying to do is get affordable coverage for those who already do have it. Healthcare costs have shot through the roof, what was once affordable is now unimagineable! Before a simple gallbladder removal cost around $8,000, now-a-days it costs you at the end of it all $30,000; lets hope to see if your paycheck will cover that this week! Many have taken this healthcare debate out of proportion, from name calling, to slanderous phrases/quotes, and inaccurate publicity. Which comes to show that this bickering and quarelling can be compared to kindergarten behavior, I mean seriously I though that we have educated and responsible politicians, not ones that can’t come together and have an adult discussion about an issue that affects millions of their own citizens. It’s a priority on President Obama’s schedule and these politicians are acting as if it’s not, they obviously don’t see it as a priority, because they’re not worried about getting sick or a life threatening medical condition affecting them, since they have the best coverage available to them and their needs at any given time. Yes its been proven that there are many sides to this healthcare issue, yet the more it continues, people are still sick and getting sicker with funds unavailable to them and also ending up in horrible financial chaos because they can’t pay their medical bills. An independant poll that was taken showed that majority of people’s concern on the healthcare reform was whether they would be able to reconcile their points of view and actually put the people’s need first instead of theirs. The current issue that they are arguing over is whether to allow certain options to people who already hold insurance or whether they would be able to reconstruct what they already have. Meaning that republicans would allow the institution of smaller groups to add competition in the marketplace of insurance. Allowing other groups, would mean variety for the people to pick and choose what they want and how they want. Democrats see it as a good means, yet ask what about the people who don’t have coverage? The debate continues, yet its going to have to come to an end and a decision will be made to put the final new plan in action. Then both sides can have their cookies and chocolate milk and reconciliation will conclude.