Americanpolitics

Being published recently is the government snap shot of first-time claims for unemployment benefits last week. Some forecast these totals may be as high as 575,000 initial claims signifying an unemployment rate at a 26 year high.

At this point, even large corporations from virtually all sectors of the economy are announcing massive, future layoffs. After proposing to close 600 stores recently, Starbucks is expected to cut an additional 6,700 jobs and close an additional 300 stores.

The Federal Reserve, Wednesday, stated that the economy is continuing to deteriorate and that it would use unconventional tools like buying longer-term Treasury securities to cushion the fallout but with companies like Time Warner’s AOL, IBM, Boeing, Pfizer, Home Depot and other corporations announcing massive lay-offs, is this enough?

And yet, Congress is knitpicking over maybe ten choices and one of them is a $150 billion designation to education. Already public school districts are running short on money, schools need remodeling, books are needed, extracurriculm classes are being cut and Congress is questioning the amount of money Obama has designated for education. Out of a 640 page proposal, they have only found approximately 10 things that they are really questioning and while some of the things I can see taking out, the majority of the issues are pure knitpicking.

Meanwhile, in a report issued by Ford Motor, it lost $5.9 billion in the 4th quarter as auto sales continue on the downward slump. What ultimate good will come from this economic crisis? Will families become closer based on the need to survive? Will we recognize the importance of conserving, not only money but natural resources?

There are some valuable lessons to be learned in the crisis we are in, how we all learn or ignore these lesson, will be interesting to watch however, as I look around, I see that basically things are remaining the same. How long have ‘we the people’ known about gas shortages? How long have ‘we the people’ known about the destruction of the ozone layer?

Does everything have to be on crisis mode for us to recognize the importance of thinking to the future and preserving? In everything we do, we do to excess, partying, killing animals, consuming fuel, buying bigger, newer products, eating, whatever it is we want regardless of consequences, we jump in and greed takes over and we are always left worse off for the greed, on some levels.

Now is the time to rethink what our behaviors have led to. CEO’s/Wall Street Banks and the likes asking ‘we the people’, through government to bail them out, yet not even recognizing that they need to cut back on the luxuries and bonuses that they have grown accustom to. They act like they don’t have a clue, respect or common sense. All they are concerned with is more money.

In fact, it is as a result of these methods of disposing of cash that has led to the situations those very businesses are in and it appears that the only reason they want our taxes is to keep them in the lifestyle they have grown accustom to while they are laying off ‘we the people’ to fend for ourselves – what’s even more pathetic is that this is being allowed.

It’s a new day, this economic crisis we are in the middle of could be devastating if it keeps going the way it has been and if we keep going down the same old roads out of force of habit or just plain ego, we are never going to make it to the other side of this intact.

Politics Yours and Mine??

Obama’s stimulus package passed the House, even though not as Obama had hoped, and is now headed for the Senate. While the House passed the bill, by purely Democratic votes, Republicans questioned the feasibility of the bill to succeed in immediately stimulating the economy.

However according to three top economist, on one panel, they gave the bill an overall rating of about a B+ citing the tax breaks, the older American’s Social Security increase and the Food Stamp and Unemployment increases and extensions, to be a great way to immediately stimulate the economy. This makes sense because people will feel a little more secure in their futures if unemployment is extended and older American’s will have more money to spend in the economy.

What this effectively does is prolong the destitute that people can begin to reach at having no money coming in and no job. It also holds these people steady for a few months so that, maybe, by the time their money ends the economy will be on an upward swing with the creation of new jobs.

Overall there are as many for the proposal as against it and the debates, which could go on forever, will never be based on any thing real until we put what we have into motion to see where it leads us. A plan is only good if it brings about the desired results, you will not get results one way or the other if you do not put the plan in motion.

Not one Republican voted for this bill in the House, not one, and 11 Democrats crossed party lines to vote against it as well. Their issues are that this proposal does not stimulate the economy enough or for long enough since the tax breaks are temporary, that there is some wasteful spending, such as the capital mall renovations, and that not enough money is being spent on the creation of jobs, on a whole. Some cite that, as a country, “we can not borrow and spend our way back to prosperity”.

According to House Majority Leader John Boehner, relating to the strictly Democratic passing of the bill, “This was a “bipartisan rejection” of a partisan bill.” These words tell some of the story of who he is. I knew when I looked in his eyes on TV that I had seen those eyes, with that attitude plastered in them so many times before, I just could not put my finger on how and where I had looked into eyes like his.

I did not know who he was just that he was sitting at that table with the look that was too familiar to me. Today, I found that picture; got his name and I looked him up on the computer. Did I ever get a good laugh at the realization that he was a Republican from Ohio, the place where I was born, raised and ran from. I now know what that look is about, I was brought up on that look, I know what is behind that look and that is the reason I no longer live in Ohio. I know who Boehner is and I know what makes him tick. I will be watching him from now on, very closely.

When I look into the eyes of House Majority Leader John Boehner and those of the people that support him, I see Republicans for who they really are and know they are the main ones who are afraid of change - on any level - that does not benefit them.

Meanwhile, when the bill goes to the Senate, where the vote for passage my be in a more non-partisan fashion, but not without a cost to the proposal, Republicans here may add massive tax cuts and more spending before the bill is given the green light and it may be days before that consensus is arrived at.

Based on who is getting the money to stimulate the economy with the original proposal, older Americans, the unemployed, the food stamp system, Republicans will no doubt want to include big businesses and upper class citizens in these tax breaks when they are the ones who can afford to pay the taxes rather than giving outrageous bonuses to their employees and holding retreats in expensive resorts for their top people, perks that should be eliminated in times like these.

Republicans are no doubt against this package simply because of who the package targets for most of the immediate benefits, but they are saying they disagree with it for other reasons. Republicans and their votes have taken us to where we are today yet they sit in criticism of new policy that may correct what they have allowed thus far. Are they the best judge of what will work?

For now, it is time to get this economy rolling in a direction that may or may not stimulate it. At this point, with many “blue chip” companies threatening layoffs, as well as, the businesses that have closed and businesses that have, already, laid off thousands of people, it is a time for action and not debate. Changes can be made as we move forward discovering what works and what does not work and by monitoring and eliminating programs that are draining unnecessary money.

And that’s the way I see it!!

With the violence that has become a part of life in the Oakland area, change may be coming there as Oakland’s police chief, who has been facing criticism over chronic violent crimes in the city and turmoil in the department, resigned with an effective date of February 28, 2009.

Police Chief Wayne Tucker says he is making the decision to step down “in the best interest for this city.” While he also cites that he has “lost faith” in the City Council for failing to provide enough funding to help fight crime for the 803 officers in the force, Council President Jane Brunner disputes this claim and cites instead, the fact that “Tucker lacked a clear vision for solving crime in Oakland.”

Statistically speaking, violent crimes in Oakland such as aggravated assault, attempted robbery and attempted rape have increase while homicides dropped by two between 2007 and 2008.

The department is presently under scrutiny by the FBI who is looking into specific allegation. Presently, a commander is on paid leave in connection with this FBI investigation into an incident in 2000 and the city said it planned to fire 11 officers for allegedly lying to obtain search warrants in drug cases.

The case of Oscar Grant and the violence that erupted after he was assaulted and killed by transit police officers, seems to be the proverbial, “straw that broke the camel’s back” when it came to a demonstration, by the people, in a show of “no more” will we accept this treatment.

What a shame that it had to take violence to, hopefully, stop the violence or at least to call attention to the madness that had been getting out of hand.

So it is with Hamas and Israel, as Israeli warplanes once again pounded Gaza’s smuggling tunnels in retaliation for a Palestinian bombing that killed an Israeli soldier, as Obama’s Middle East envoy sought, Wednesday, to boost the 10-day ceasefire that was breached as a result of this new violence.

While the United States is committed to vigorously pursuing lasting peace and stability in the region, they have their hands full with the intense hatred the two nations feel towards each other and this new violence cast a dark shadow over the envoy’s mission.

Justice delayed, Justice denied, No justice, No peace, both of these situations scream these sentiments, all who have ears hear, all who have eyes witness the ugliness, lack of justice brings into the behaviors of people, regardless of what lands they live in.

And that’s the way I see it!!

New pressure is being put on Obama, from the lands across the water and I wonder if this taunt will culminate in an act of violence against the innocents in this battle of beliefs. On January 6, 2009, al-Qaeda’s No. 2 leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, called for a global jihad to counter the Israeli assault on Gaza, as did Osama bin Laden, by way of a recorded message with, what appears to be, his voice calling for jihad as well.

The leaders of al-Qaida in Yemen, had some ugly words for Obama. Abu Sufyan al-Azdi al-Shahri, a deputy commander for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner, who was freed for whatever reason, is among the people present on the video posted on the internet on Friday. This slap in the face coming just days after Obama signed paperwork to close Guantanamo Bay within a year.

al-Zawahiri attacked Obama on the weakness he felt Obama had in being a black American (African American) and openly stated that Obama was nothing more than “a house negro”. This was reported by MSNBC, who also reported on other insults thrown in Obama’s direction.

This terror group has called Obama a “hypocrite”, a “killer” of innocents an enemy of Muslims and in this irrational state; they have even blamed Obama for Israel’s assault on Gaza. The workings of the human mind amaze me to no end.

But what amazes me more is that, others who listen will believe and feel justified in any action they choose to impose on innocent people. While terrorism experts believe these words to be a deliberate, even desperate, propaganda campaign against the President, my main concern is who these terrorist are influencing with these malicious untruths.

Zawahiri accused Obama of being “the direct opposite of honorable black Americans such as Malcolm X. Zawahiri is trying hard to push a button to make Obama react, a button based on a past we, as Americans, are working to get past. America’s past. In this world you can never run from who you are because there is always someone there telling you were you have been.

Yet it is because of where we have been as American’s that the “enemy” feels is still our weakness and is attempting to use that knowledge against us to provoke.

Meanwhile there has been a call for a charge to be brought against Bush and his administration for war crimes. Will this happen? Each day Obama is reversing something Bush had begun.

Today Obama moved to give each individual state a freer hand in curbing greenhouse gas emission from cars, something Bush was against. Obama also include a proposal to enact tighter fuel-efficiency standards that could remake the auto industry.

The stimulus package is still on the table and although I hear comments as to why this will not work, I have not heard anything concrete coming from the Senate saying what will work.

I say make those decreases in taxes permanent, giving “we the people” extra cash we can depend on, for a while, to stimulate the economy, give businesses, tax credits, for hiring or holding employees and instead of bailing out banks, bail out those who are about to lose their homes (in certain circumstances) and/or give “we the people” enough money to stimulate the economy because it appears the banks are either splurging with this money or hording this money, but whatever they are doing “we the people” are being short changed by their stringent rules for borrowing.

If our economy is really, as described by those in the know, in a dire situation that will get worse before it gets better, it would seem “a” plan is better than no plan at all. Therefore, I am having a hard time understanding why the discussions are still “on the table” while people are getting laid off, losing their homes and businesses are closing.

And that’s the way I see it!!!

Abortion is such a personal thing. There are many reasons a women gets an abortion and those reasons should be between the woman, her God, her doctor and possibly, the father of the would be child. No one else matters in this decision of abortion and definitely not the general public, by way of a vote.

This conversation on abortion has been going on for so long. The emotions involved are extreme and, in some cases, violent with the bombing of abortion clinics. How a person, in protesting the death of a fetus feels justified in killing others, I will never understand, but it happens.

I have heard every excuse under the sun, as to why abortions should be illegal including the excuse that there is the possibility of killing Jesus on his second coming, which is ludicrous. If the truth is told, there are many illegal and dangerous abortions happening all the time.

When I was growing up, people used to use coat hangers, among other dangerous methods, to stimulate an abortion. I have also known young girls who have had unsanitary abortions and in the process where unable to have children later in life. The bottom line is that if a woman really wants an abortion, she will find the means to do so.

While I do not believe abortion should be used as a form of birth control, I do understand that accidents happen or you believe the lie of a man, end up pregnant and that “man” walks away – life happens and kids should not be made to suffer because of the irresponsibility’s of the parents.

Today, President Obama struck down the Bush administration’s ban on giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide abortion information. Obama has spent an aggressive first week reversing contentious Bush policies however this particular one was warmly welcomed by liberal groups and denounced by abortion rights foes.

Obama claims the ban was unnecessarily broad and undermined family planning in developing countries. Obama also stated, “In the coming weeks, my administration will initiate a fresh conversation on family planning, working to find areas of common ground to best meet, the needs of women and families at home and around the world.”

His action came one day after the 36th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Roe versus Wade that legalized abortions. Supporters of the ban say that the United States still provides millions of dollars in family planning assistance around the world and that the rule prevents anti-abortion taxpayers from backing something they believe is morally wrong.

According to Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, “President Obama not long ago told the American people that he would support policies to reduce abortions, but today he is effectively guaranteeing more abortions by funding groups that promote abortion as a method of population control.

Rep. Mike Pence, R-Indiana called it “morally wrong to take the taxpayer dollars of millions of pro-life Americans to promote abortion around the world.”

And I say abortion is a woman’s choice.

And that’s the way I see it!!

People looking to make a living, growing marijuana, has increased in northern California’s Mendocino, Humboldt and Trinity counties. They are growing it in homes, backyards, even in national parks. It’s becoming a profitable and increasingly violent enterprise.

The authorities are overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of growers in these areas. Not only that, the conflicting state, federal, and county laws governing marijuana are essentially having an effect on prosecutions. As a result, marijuana is the major cash crop being grown and accounts for up to two-thirds of the local economy, according to a county-commissioned study.

State law allows anyone to grow a limited amount of marijuana for medicinal purposes, increase border security since 9/11 has cut supplies from foreign sources which has increased the profitability of Mendocino’s production. While California’s law permits residents to grow a small number of plants, federal law bans pot growing yet, some have said that marijuana has become more like any legitimate agricultural commodity like grapes, wheat, even coffee.

Though it is difficult to come up with true numbers, marijuana growers are generating an estimated $1 billion a year; amounts that could aid in the national deficit if marijuana were to be legalized. If marijuana were to be legalized, not only would the government make money, but it would eliminate a great deal of the violence associated with the product. Just who are the customers, if the sale of marijuana can bring in that much cash?

Basically, it takes approximately $400 to grow a pound of pot and one pound sells for $2,500 to a middle man. It then yields $6,000 on the street. Not bad for profit and with economic times the way they are, you may see an increase in this trade of growing marijuana.

And that’s the way I see it!!

Obama placed phone calls to four Middle Eastern leaders President Mubarak of Egypt, President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, Prime Minister Olmert of Israel, King Abdullah of Jordan, conveying to them “his determination to work to help consolidate the ceasefire”, towards that end “he wants to establish an effective anti-smuggling regime to prevent Hamas from rearming, and facilitating, in partnership with the Palestinian Authority, a major reconstruction effort for Palestinians in Gaza.” This according to White House press Secretary Robert Gibbs, in a statement released today.

Meanwhile Obama’s administration circulated a draft order Wednesday that calls for closing the controversial detention center at Guantanamo Bay, within a year, and halting any war crimes trials in the meantime. According to the paperwork, of the 245 detainees currently held in the prison, some would be released, while others would be transferred elsewhere and later put on trial under terms to be determined. The judge in one war crime case has agreed to Obama’s request to suspend proceedings pending a 120-day review.

His work was not yet done. President Obama issued terms for how his Administration will work, calling for an unprecedented level of transparency. He cites the fact that, the government was “for the people” and except in national defense matters or short of needing a third party decision on disclosure, the people where on a need to know basis. He feels this is one way to restore the faith of the public in the government that is supposed to be working for them as “public servants”.

Obama freezes salary increases of White House employees who make more than $100,000. He also set rigorous guidelines on Lobbyist, as it relates to conflict of interest or previous interest and restrictions on lobbying on specific issues for up to two years after one leaves employment with the government.

Finally, the proposed bailout package hits discussions and the question is arising as to whether the bill for the bailout will serve a bigger purpose or add a bigger burden, with no definitive change to the economy.

It just keeps coming executive orders, drafts; conversations with all parties in the Israel Gaza conflicts, all towards making a change in the way business has been done by the government which has negatively affected “we the people”.

And that’s the way I see it!!!

If Obama can execute business the way he inspires with words, we will be all right as a nation. These next few months are going to be crucial to the total outlook of his next four years.

As I watched Obama giving his inaugural speech, I was touched by his words, as I felt the gentle sway from what is, to what could be. From the state of the economy to the crisis in the world, there was the constant sway of possibility.

Though we may be in the midst of “gathering clouds and a raging storm”, it is still in our power to come out on the other side, stronger than before, a possibility too strong to ignore.

Obama’s speech was inclusive of all people in the United States, referring to us as a “Patchwork Heritage” nation, a term that endeared me to his understanding of the uniqueness of our land. Obama sited the fact that, as a result of our patchwork heritage, we were made strong and that this was proof that the ways of old were no longer relevant, in the world.

The old ways of hate and prejudice, inequities and injustice, caused by differences and narrow-mindedness; to that end, all in the world need to set aside “petty differences” and things that get in the way of positive growth, using hope over fear to conquer what lies ahead, together.

Obama then turned to the world and to all of those countries that were watching and called for the same alliances and convictions that joined us, in peace, with other countries; to use those same alliances and convictions to interlace other countries in the pattern of peace, to lessen the nuclear threats. Then Obama spoke of our greedy choices that allowed us to “strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet”.

Obama spoke on the responsibilities of government and “we the people”, as far as recognizing that we need to do our individual part to achieve what some critics say, is unachievable and that we owed it to the sacrifices of our ancestors to preserve and make stronger, that which they left for us, to be passed on to generations to come.

In the end, he warned those who hate us that our spirit was still strong and that we would defeat them if need be yet, he extended his hand in friendship to those same nations and said that it was their choice whether or not they wanted to unclench their fists long enough to accept the hand reaching out to them.

These are just some of the messages I got from his speech. Forceful, yet gentle with highs and lows, a gentle sway filled with the negativity of our existence yet hope and possibilities. Now the real work begins.

And that’s the way I see it!!!

Place the expectations high, the challenges even higher and revel in the failure. Will failure be Obama’s legacy? With the monumental challenges facing Obama and the initial, global, idealistic view that occurred with his election, an impatient world has begun to ask how much change Obama can really deliver.

The Middle East crisis Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Gaza, North Korea, the Guantanamo Bay prison and a deepening global recession has the world losing faith in the idealism felt earlier with the election of Obama.

Too many people, expecting too many things, with the view on America as though we, as a nation, can solve all the world’s problems, is bound to leave a few, somewhat, disappointed. According to Reginald Dale, a senior at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, “The United States can’t solve all the world’s problems.”

“It doesn’t have enough money or military power and the president is constrained by Congress and the constitution.” He points out that the constitution was designed by the founding fathers “who wanted to stop someone from being like a monarch.”

While around the world and on the street most people still view Obama as a man of honor, emotion, understanding and hope, a person who will spread justice around the world, just last week posters of Obama were set on fire in Tehran, in protest over the Israeli invasion of Gaza, to shouts of “Death to Obama!”; taking a stance against Obama before he has even been sworn into office.

Obama has expressed concern over the Palestinians in the Gaza area but says he feels, in terms of international policy, only one voice should be heard coming from America and that is the voice of the current president of the United States, President Bush. Things may change on that level after his inauguration on Tuesday.

There are many developing countries who rely on U.S. aide, which in the past has been generous however, with so many American’s losing their homes and their jobs, will the need arise to cut back on foreign assistance until our economy begins to show signs of recovery. Even the closure of Guantanamo is turning out to be more difficult than once envisioned. Some experts say it could take as much as a year to accomplish.

There is a rough road ahead and only the strong survive. I only hope Obama’s mindset is that failure is not an option.

And that’s the way I see it!!!

Linen’s & Things, Sharper Image, Mervyn’s and Circuit City, all liquidating assets and closing doors on stores over the last few months, this is an unprecedented time in terms of how bad things have gotten.

How many other businesses will simply fade out of existence before it’s over? The number of business bankruptcy filings rose sharply in 2008, with 31 percent more companies looking to liquidate – instead of just restructure their debt.

Many companies loaded down with debt amassed in the days of easy money, lenders facing their own troubles are not as eager to refinance, and buyers that can’t afford to buy right now are driving the economy into a frenzy of store closures and the picture has been predicted to get even worse.

While the focus is primarily on a black man reaching the office of presidency, from past experience in the world we will always have racism, tribalism and levels of dissention between religions groups and mankind in general.

We have not reached the Promised Land where race and ethnicity exists no more, therefore in the next few days, while we revel in the knowledge that we have possibly taken a step forward, recognized that in the closing of these businesses we have also taken a step back.

As Obama moves towards inauguration, this is his opportunity to set what he hopes will be an enduring narrative for his administration by turning the financial crisis around and improving unemployment with the creation of more jobs for the American people.

“While our problems may be new, what is required to overcome them is not” is the sentiment expressed by Obama as he prepares to tackle the unprecedented problems facing America. Can he affect a long needed change?

In a time of extraordinary challenges, Obama’s promises of a fresh approach to leadership give Americans a reason to hope. If you have forgotten how to hope, visit: The Power Of Hope

And that’s the way I see it!!