CONGRESS MUST BE REFORMED

The 3 departments of Government are the Executive, Legislature, and the Judiciary. The Executive implement the laws, the Legislative make the laws and the Judiciary interprets the laws of the Constitution. The 3 branches of government were made to check each other to bring balance, so that none usurps it's authority on the other, as far as US system of government is concerned. Of the 3, Congress was to be the most powerful, looking at all the Articles of the Constitution. In particular, Article 1 section 8, the last portion, where the Elastic Clause is, which states, "Congress is to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper ....." When it comes to small laws, Congress is found to be effective, but on big issues such as Health care, Tax, and Immigration reforms Congress is found wanting. Health care needs to be reformed. If one looks around the globe, US is the most advanced country with the poorest health care system. A friend of mine went for surgery, where he had a piece of glass removed from his forehead, he had just five stitches and he was made to pay something like $5,000. He earns about $27000 a year. Whether he has insurance or not there is something wrong. It does not happen in Britain, Germany, France, Japan. Why here? The greatest Economy of the world? Is America lacking in intellectuals who can enact laws that will play it safe for those of low incomes? Answer is no. Or is it because low income earners are lazy and therefore they must be punished? The truth is that, everybody in this country knows that there is something wrong with the Health care system. The Executive branch has taken the initiative to do something about it, and we all know the reaction of Congress. Instead of helping the President, they want to rip him apart. They have vowed to do everything in their power to destroy the so called AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE aka "OBAMACARE". Do they have any alternative? Answer no. This is happening because of the way Congress has been structured. To begin with, about half of the composition of Congress are some of the richest individuals in the nation. They own some of the Corporations or are share holders. The Insurance companies are theirs. Those who are not among this group, are those who were able to use their ideas and strength to solicit help from rich individuals or Corporations. The effect is that they too become their puppets and collectively, they make laws that please only the rich and not the ordinary voter. The reason for this is that, to go to Congress involves time and money. The blue-collard employee will find it extremely difficult to combine his work schedule and campaign around the clock. Campaigning too involves money and the would be candidate should either be rich or fall on the rich for help. This put the rich at an advantage position. Incumbency too is another problem, they have advantage over the challenger, in that they have name recognition, staff, and the rich prefers to invest in them. Gerrymandering, which is redistricting of constituency, is done by state legislators, who are polarized to the main parties and therefore, there is no fair playing ground. The challenger is at a disadvantage position. All these play a part in voting apathy and also the lack of good representation at Congress. Those there are taking good care of themselves and awarding contracts to their cronies to the disadvantage of the ordinary citizens. Until something is done to reform Congress the ordinary citizen will have no peace but the rich few will grow richer and richer. Reformation is needed.

NSA THE GOVERNMENT GOES AGAINST OUR FOUNDING BELIEFS.

I am replying to my colleague who wrote NSA GOVERNMENT GOES AGAINST OUR FOUNDING BELIEFS. I would like to comment on the article written by a colleague by name Skye Garcia on the above topic. To some extent, I do agree with him- when it comes to people's privacy being invaded by no small a body than our government. Skye went on to talk about the fact that the founding fathers divorced from Britain because there were situations where the KING of England allowed his governors search people's houses when the need arose in those days, which incurred the wrath of the colonists. These are some of the undesirable situations that we meet sometimes. In fact things like these are not acceptable. Skye also said that the do these spying yet crime has not gone down and talked about the incidence at Virginia Tech. where someone went on a shooting spree, killing children and adults, and that he would wish the government use the money to increase security at places of events where security may otherwise be compromised. He said a bill covering this should be amended. I do agree with Skye, however, I would like to view this from a different perspective. In the first place, when the founding fathers made the constitution, they had no idea how far the young United States would evolve to. They expected prosperity but never dreamt it was going to be the most advanced, powerful, with the largest economy and the country which the whole world would look up to for solutions. The position of US on the world scene is now different, therefore the security apparatus should act to reflect the position of America. Intelligent gathering involves a lot in our modern society, not forgetting the 9/11 incidence where over 3,000 Americans were killed in their own soil. This changed the world the focus of the world. Remember also that America had stepped on a lot of toes in this world. Sometimes this happened justifiably, other times not. Whatever it is, in trying to solve international problems it is likely to offend somebody. Think of how America destroyed Iraq because of Saddam Hussein. The number of those who died and those who were maimed. Think of Iraq- the way they see America. Note that there are people over there who see America's action different from the way you see it. What about Libya? Remember the recent attack on the embassy. The killing of the ambassador and the 3 others. It is just the tip of the iceberg the enemies America has. What about Afghanistan, the Talibans? Iran, North Korea? I tell you there people out there who will annihilate the people of America should they get the chance. US is the greatest target of terrorist. Now, you should know that someone is planning to do evil. The authorities know this very well. They are doing everything they can to secure this nation. What they are looking from you is your privacy so that they can do the work better. I am not in support of the authorities getting one's information and abusing it. On a serious note, if compromising my information to the government will ensure my safety, why not? The Boston bombing is still fresh in our minds. Somebody died, someone got her leg amputated. Let us think about these and see what the government is doing.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THE CARETAKER.

In any society or place where people congregate and chart or work or do commerce, there must be order. That is there is the need to have a leader to provide that order. Sometimes, society get it wrong in their quest for a leader, and they one who is more evil than they anticipate.
The human race is spread over five continents, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and North America with a total population of about 7 billion. The world had also gone through a lot, kingdom after kingdoms, empire after empires, leaving behind a lot of history. We have heard a lot about the Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman and the British empires, and their monarchies - some of the stories left for the generations following left much to be desired, others were very good to follow.
    Democracy, which emerged during the Greek times had been found to be the best way to govern a people. The Western European Societies championed it whiles the Eastern Block followed Russia's Communism and the rest of the world followed them. Now, communism had crumbled. United States compared to the rest of the world is a new nation but has risen to become a Super power. It has the largest economy in the world and is leading in both technology and industrialization. Almost the whole world looks up to America for solutions. United States practices democracy's best, and has also assumed the position of world leadership. Whether by design or by the ordinance of God, it is controlling the affairs of the world diligently and spreading democracy as well.
     As Abraham Lincoln said during Gettysburg address on Nov.19, 1863, "Government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Another one came from Theodore Roosevelt in 1910, "Our country means nothing unless it means the triumph of a real democracy."
A 3rd from Franklin D Roosevelt, "We must be the great arsenal of democracy." Dec.29,1940.
     America has been the solution to many political problems and now bad leaders are scared to carry on their nefarious activities against humanity. Looking back from the 2nd World war, had it not been America, what would have been the outcome of the war? When Japan attacked the Chinese, Korea, and the US? When Adolf Hitler decided to destroy Europe killing 6million Jews? Let us not forget Bosnia and Kosovo where unarmed men, women and children were massacred and buried in mass graves. What about Iraq, when Saddam Hussein annihilated a whole township of the Kurdish people, and also set Kuwaiti's oil fields on fire? Let us talk about terrorist, how come a group of people hijack planes and end up killing everyone in the plane who had done nothing to the hijackers? Look at what is happening in Syria, where human beings are slaughtered as chicken?
     I remember Africa, in the late 1970s, in Uganda where their own President, Idi Amin killed people like rats. Atrocities of these kind have reduced a bit because of America. Unscrupulous individuals or group will not kill innocent people and go unpunished.
     Some disagree with the stand of the US, but I think it is for the good of the world to have a strong and powerful leadership like that of the US. This leadership comes with a cost. Thank you America. 

GETTING A "RESET" ON SYRIA.

On 02/17/2014, during CNN CROSS FIRE discussion, the group chose to talk about Syria and the role the US government should play or should have played in their horrific situation. The heading was GETTING A "RESET" ON SYRIA. The group had two persons representing Democrats and two Republicans.
   In particular, Van Jones and former spokesman on foreign policy for President Obama, Tommy Vietor stood for Democrats. S.E. Cupp and  Danielle Pletka spoke on behalf of Republicans.
The message was for the public to digest. I think the public is aware of  the Syrian crisis. How the Syrian leader Bashar -Al- Asad  has caused mayhem in his country. How - because of him about 120,000 lives had been lost including women and children. Many citizens are displaced and had sought refuge in other nations sharing border with Syria like Jordan and Turkey. Many cities are completely destroyed. Bashar -Al- Asad  went to the extent of using deadly chemicals on some of the citizens including women and children.
     Now during the discussion, those representing the Republicans found it easy to lay blame on the President, Obama and those of Democrats tried to defend the President. They said Obama had done little to stop Bashar- Al- Asad  from massacring his own people. Personally, I find it difficult to understand these politicians, the President decided to bomb Syria but did not congressional support of which Republicans are the majority, and still they find him blamable for the atrocities going on there. Public opinion also shows that Americans are fed up with wars. The public does not want to get the military engaged in battles anymore. They wish America does not pose its nose in other nations affairs especially when it involves war where thousands of citizens lose their lives and also when billions of dollars have to be spent.
     What I expected them to reach was a situation where the blame game would be minimal, but for the sake of political expediency, the opposing party found a way to blame the government. I disagree with the opposition in this case and wish they play a fair game.

Towns Say 'No Tanks' To Militarized Police.

The Wall Street Journal of Friday, February 7, 2014, page A3, carries a story written by Jennifer Levitz with the heading

Towns Say 'No Tanks' To Militarized Police.

The story goes on to say that Federal Government has bought some sophisticated armored vehicles for the Police Department and that there are some members of the public who are antipathy to it. The argument being made are multiple fold. There are those who maintain that the vehicles are too expensive (one cost between $400,000 -$700,000), and that the Federal Government is being wasteful. The other comments came from Salinas, California and somebody exclaimed, 'when did Salinas turned into a battlefield?' Probably Salinas may be one of those towns or cities which are socially correct and that the community members never think of the violence that we hear of daily at other places. There are also those who see these vehicles as monstrous, intimidating, and threatening. (44,000 pounds, 14- foot high). The sheer sight of it induces violence they argue and they do not want the community to be in that situation.

My opinion is that, I do not condemn what they are saying but I beg to differ. It is true that billions are being spent to equip the large Police force in the country with this type of military vehicles. It is also true that it will take billions to maintain them, and they look very intimidating etc., but let us not lose sight of the fact that America is the most advanced and powerful nation on earth, and that every nation looks up to America in terms of advancement, technology, standard of life, government, security, etc. Do not forget, America too poses its nose into other nations affairs more than any other nation. Let us look at this scenario, somebody seizes a place, with guns and bombs, and grenades, and demands some big ransom say 10million dollars, and the Police come near and for three days this man is all over the news. The news then get to the whole world that one man has seized a place in America and with all Americas power and sophistication they are unable to do anything. That will be a shame to the nation.

I think it is a good thing to have. A vehicle that can move through land mines, bombs, grenades, withstand 50 caliber rounds. No wander, one Policeman said it will save lives. Imagine our soldiers had it when they went to Iraq and Afghanistan, those soldiers who were maimed and those who died, to say the least, most would have been alive by now. It is a good technological advancement. Very soon many US allies are going to make request for it and that alone is going to bring home a lot of revenue. My only fear is that sometimes the Police overdo and bring excesses but that can be taken care of by the law.

Embedding A Link In Blogger

The Wall Street Journal of February 7, 2014 has a front page publication entitled "Immigration Overhaul Stalls". In this publication, it looks like a lot of people's hopes have been dashed by the House Speaker John Boehner. It has been many peoples expectation that at the beginning of the year, Congress will rewrite Immigration Laws which many have complained about. Many are expecting the overhaul of the immigration laws of the country.


The argument is that, about 11.5million people live in the US illegally and it is about time they grant them legal status.
One school of thought has it that, their continuous stay as illegal immigrants affect the country economically. They are working but may not be paying tax. Then also, many talents may be fished and harnessed for the benefit of the country. Congress knows this. There is the feet dragging because, Republicans fear that, it will be to the advantage of Democrats. What they have forgotten is that somebody needs it badly to realize his dreams.
I commend that this article be read by all my mates.