Obama’s Plan for Health Care
President Obama has announced three bedrock requirements for real health care reform:
* Reduce Costs — Rising health care costs are crushing the budgets of governments, businesses, individuals and families and they must be brought under control
* Guarantee Choice — Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor – including the choice of a public insurance option
* Ensure Quality Care for All — All Americans must have quality and affordable health care
Republicans are trying very hard to stop this from passing. Their big motivation for doing so is summed up by Republican Senator Jim DeMint: “If we’re able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.”
So it’s not even about money or health concerns, it’s about “breaking” the President? Here’s how Obama responded:
Think about that. This isn’t about me. This isn’t about politics. This is about a health care system that is breaking America’s families, breaking America’s businesses and breaking America’s economy. And we can’t afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care. Not this time, not now. There are too many lives and livelihoods at stake.
Support our President in his quest to make health care available for all Americans, as we deserve.
Iran Protests
Iran has been involved in violent protests latelly, the worst since the 1979 revolution.
I am surprised and appalled that some Republicans believe the best solution is to get involved over there and “give them democracy.” Do we really want another Iraq War? It’s just now ending, after 6 years of involvement. Don’t forget we are still stalemated in Afghanistan (pending further troop deployments), a war we have been involved in for 8 years. Do we really want to stretch our military any thinner than it already is and attack a country many times more powerful than Afghanistan and Iraq combined? Just to fulfill our supposed place as the world’s “beacon of democracy?”
President Obama has been completely right in his actions. He has condemned Iranian violence against its own people, but has stayed otherwise uninvolved in Iranian affairs. Iran’s assertions that Obama or the CIA is inciting rebellion are pure rubbish. They may be right about Britain inciting rebellion, but that is another matter entirely. What Britain does with its intelligence is the business of Britain.
Dandrea on Gay Marriage
I oppose constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional, as it violates the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution, not to mention it is a civil rights violation. Once the DOMA is repealed, the decision on whether to allow same-sex couples to marry should be left to the individual states, with no federal interference. Marriage is a legal agreement, and not just a religious one, therefore people must put their religious beliefs to the side and allow either marriage or a civil union with equal legal rights as same-sex married couples. They must get the same tax breaks as same-sex couples as well. In addition, I support a federal law that would require all states to recognize marriages and unions performed in other states, even if they do not permit marriage in their state. This is in accordance with the Full Faith and Credit Clause.
South Ossetia is having its first post-independence election. I think it’s great news. They won their war for independence last summer, and now they are proving themselves to be a parliamentary democracy.
Unfortunately, the European Union is sticking behind Georgia, who is not viewing the election as valid. Most countries, except Russia and Nicaragua, recognize South Ossetia to be a part of Georgia.
This is silly. They are de facto independent already. They fought a war for independence, and won. They deserve their freedom. They are a Russian enclave in a Georgian country. They have the right to govern themselves if they feel they are being slighted by the Georgian government.
Results
Unity Party – 46.38% for 17 seats
People’s Party – 22.58% for 9 seats
Communist Party – 22.25% for 8 seats
Fatherland Socialist Party – 6.37% for no seats
I certainly recognize the validity of this democratic and fair election.
Dandrea on Anti-Discrimination Laws
I believe that all Americans are entitled to equal rights. Therefore, anti-discrimination laws must be extended to cover sexual orientation and gender identity. I oppose an amendment banning same-sex marriage, so obviously I would oppose any amendment attempting to define marriage as anything less than two legal consenting partners, regardless of gender. I also support repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which will allow talented gay officers to be recognized and perform services for their country. Also, I support a federal law banning discrimination when it comes to adoption. Any couple, regardless of sexual orientation, should be able to adopt a child if they are able to give it a loving home.
