Obama and the National Security Strategy

The Obama Administrations National Security Strategy-

The National Security Strategy, released May 27, 2010 by the Obama Administration, lays out a strategic approach for advancing American interests, including the security of the American people, a growing U.S. economy, support for our values, and an international order that can address 21st century challenges.

This strategy addresses foreign policy (our strategies for dealing with foreign nations with regards to security, economy and military forces) and national security issues that we as a country are facing in the world today, as well as addresses the need to control and fight transnational/global organized crime.

In effect, this strategy has been designed to implement and ultimately strengthen our nations ability to prevent global atrocities and human created tragedies by elevating key global concerns in a timely manner for our nations government to address and take action on. This also helps to implement an open door foreign affairs ideal by which we are willing and able to attend to those nations in need who show that they are our allies and not a national security threat. This type of foreign policy closely resembles that of the idealism strategy, which simply states that our national integrity and ideals helps promote us on a global level (while maintaining a military show of force to those that only force can be effective with).

The National Security Strategy has also been designed to implement a new arms reduction treaty with Russia, and prevent the spread of nuclear arms in ‘enemy’ nations. Also, this strategy is aiding in peace and cooperation talks with Muslims world-wide, to give them and the American people a more enlightened understanding of each others cultures and values. In a sense, this newly implemented strategy is strongly in the vein of solidifying diplomatic relations and promoting the virtues of our national ideals. However, let’s take in to consideration the fact that not all foreign countries and peoples of the world are interested in learning about or adopting the American values and ideals that we hold so dear. After all, many foreign nations are so vastly different compared to ours that there is no obvious way to have them incorporate the American way of life in to their day to day lifestyle, or enmesh our beliefs in to theirs.

With the Obama Administration potentially out the door by the end of next year, can we expect to see any of these strides in foreign policy and national defense come to fruition? Can this initiative begin to rival the glory days of President Clinton’s foreign diplomacy victories?

I feel that this diplomacy/foreign policy initiative is in many ways an overly ideal notion at this time, with our current global climate and heightened need for military show of force. However, we will never be able to make strides in developing more copacetic foreign relationships if we do not take some measures in opening our doors and our minds to understanding and accepting other cultures, and continuing to offer aid to countries and nations in need.

More detailed information regarding the newly constructed National Security Strategy can be found by visiting the links below.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy

http://www.cfr.org/defensehomeland-security/national-security-strategy-2010/p22232

Classmate Editorial Critique - Blog # 6

Greetings!!

Please follow the link below to view my comment/critique of my classmates editorial. Their blog is entitled GOVersity, and their editorial is entitled 'Student Relief Attempts'.

Enjoy!!

http://goversity.blogspot.com/2011/10/student-relief-attempts.html?showComment=1320368488454#c7167247699542000696

Where Have All Our Dollars Gone? America and the Poverty/Jobs Crisis

I cannot recall the last time I picked up a newspaper without immediately noting a glaring headline regarding the state of the national job market and the disappearance of the middle class, and what little money a middle class citizen had to begin with. Honestly, I am at a point that I no longer wish to read or watch the news (largely because I am one of those struggling middle-class souls).

So where have all of our personal wealth and jobs gone? Some would argue that the fate of the middle class in America was decided a long time ago and that this process has been slowly but surely in place for decades. And of course there is the issue of the job market, with the nations lack of infrastructure and production to keep our overly populated society employed.  At the extreme and unfortunate end of the economic spectrum lies the ugly truth regarding true poverty in our nation. Many workaday people in the US have been languishing in poverty due to job loss and extended unemployment. Even college educated individuals are having a hard time finding even the most meager of jobs, and are buried alive under thousands of dollars in student loan and credit card debt. No doubt they must all be wondering if their college degree was worth it in the long run, as there seems to be no light at the end of a long and bleak tunnel.

Ask and ye shall receive? Perhaps not entirely, however, President Obama speaks of his keen awareness of our economic crisis and has responded thus far with the American Jobs Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The American Jobs Act is a bill that has been introduced by the Obama Administration to give a shot in the arm, so to speak, for small businesses. This includes a host of tax cuts, aimed at helping small to mid-sized businesses ramp up their hiring of new employees (thus creating more jobs). The Act also focuses on the modernizing and building of greater infrastructures throughout the nation (this will also introduce more jobs), as well as various ways for workers to refinance their homes to more affordable payments, and alleviating layoffs in various sectors.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was also established to provide some relief for those struggling with poverty through this grueling economic period. This Act introduces more tax breaks for working families, as well as programs to fight hunger and to help make peoples homes more energy efficient (thus saving money on electric and heating costs, etc). Included in this measure is the renewed funding for the Neighborhood Stabilization Fund, which helps keep unemployed people in their homes or at the very least assists in rehoming them quickly in case of foreclosure.

One would think that with these remarkable initiatives in place to help our economy and get people working that we would enjoy a notable uptick in employment and personal wealth, however, these measures take time and funding that may not be readily available. Unfortunately, while these acts are very workable in general and look good on paper, our overpopulated society keeps them from being largely effective. We simply do not have enough federal funding or resources to maintain the current population as is in a manner that society deems as an acceptable and comfortable lifestyle for each person. The nations resources for jobs and even food is currently stretched very thin, and will continue to worsen as the population is forecasted to drastically increase in the next few decades.

As I see it, we have a few more miles down that long, dark tunnel before we find a truly workable solution to our economic and jobs crisis, however these Acts are very much a sign that we as a nation and our government are moving in the right direction to provide assistance for it's citizens in need.

Please visit the below links for detailed information on the American Jobs Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:

http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/poverty
http://www.whitehouse.gov/jobsact#overview

The Death of Democracy

Occupy Wall Street and the Ghost of Democracy

Political Blog by Eli found on FireDogLake blog site, posted on October 14^th 2011

In this politically fueled blog by Eli off of FireDogLake, he is essentially making the statement that Democracy is dead and has been for quite some time. Basically, as most of us head to the polls every few years, we tend to make the same mistakes in candidates as we had the previous election, and we end up re-electing the same problems for ourselves.

Eli posits that the formation of the Occupy Wall Street movement/protests is occurring organically, fueled by the anger and frustration of so many citizens who have grown weary of our corrupt political system, and how the ‘little’ man can not compete against big money interests (which tend to be the interests of the elite few, not the average working person). Eli’s opinion states that even the great hope that was Obama and his administration have not been immune to this current reality.

I personally think that the majority of the readers of the blogs on this site are probably of a Democratic leaning, however, it isn’t difficult to feel that this person’s opinion isn’t too far off the mark, considering the truth about our current state of affairs politically.

One basic critique regarding Eli’s blog is that it is of course completely one sided. The statements made in the blog do not take in to account the views and ideas of the Republican party or it’s supporters, but instead does nothing but point fingers and place complete blame on not only the average voter, but the election and political system in and of itself.

However, the blog does illicit the general feelings of the majority of the Democratic supporters.

So, is Democracy really dead? It’s difficult to not feel that Eli’s statements in his blog ring true, considering the fact that the nations keeps losing valuable jobs and the gap between the wealthy and the poor is growing at an unsettling rate, with no hope in sight for a reversal. Therefore, along with our middle class, I have to agree in some aspects that Democracy is indeed dead.

Here is the hot link to Eli’s blog:

http://firedoglake.com/2011/10/14/occupy-wall-street-and-the-ghost-of-democracy/

The American Voter Crisis

The Myth of Voter Fraud

Published 10/09/11-The New York Times Editorials

The author of this particular editorial makes a compelling personal argument against the new voting laws put in place by these states run by the Republican party. The author, in trying to reach a mainstream Democratic audience with this post, notes the fact that there is indeed very little, if completely negligible, amounts of voter fraud in the US. Voter fraud is the main reason that Republicans in these new law states are claiming as the reason for the new laws (which are ultimately making it difficult for minorities, the elderly and college students to get to the polls). The author sites a new study recently completed by the Brennan Center for Justice that shed light on the new voting laws, thus instigating the editorial.

The author argues here in agreement that these new voting laws are a way for Republicans to keep Democratic voters out of the polls, using various methods surrounding having a valid identification card (in some cases, student ID’s). Nearly 11% of US citizens do not have a current, valid ID.  In all honesty, the author makes a logical argument in that the information he has researched and discovered makes it very clear that Republican states are taking great measures to restrict certain members of society (the working poor, minorities and students..whom are all likely to vote Democrat) from being able to vote even if they can get to the place of voting on election day. Republicans are enacting these tougher voting laws by cutting back on early voting programs, not allowing student ID’s to be used in place of a drivers licence or state ID, and placing new restrictions on absentee ballots. In all, 19 new voting laws including 2 executive actions in a total of 14 US states has passed, per the directive of the Republican party in those states.

I am inclined to agree with the author in general that it is quite apparent that these Republican states are taking specific, calculated measures to keep certain demographics out of the voting booths during elections.  However, I can also see and understand the viewpoint of the Republicans in that all legal and voter eligible citizens should have a legitimate way to identify themselves at the polls, as any registered voter, student, vehicle driver or adult aged person is normally required to have and carry on them. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/10/opinion/the-myth-of-voter-fraud.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1318289029-KWqkki1JYLfjK1+4dFDo2w

http://www.brennancenter.org/content/section/category/voter_id            

H.J. RES 17-Repealing the 22nd Article of Amendment

H.J. RES.17-Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the twenty-second article of amendment; thereby removing the limitation on the number of terms an individual may serve as President.

This amendment proposal was introduced by Rep Jose E. Serrano (NY-16), and was introduced to the House Judiciary committee on January 7th, 2011. The last action item on this amendment proposal was dated January 24th, 2011 and was at that time referred to the House sub-committee.

This particular amendment was designed to eliminate presidential terms, thus allowing an elected President to be re-elected an indefinite number of times at every four year election period. 

This particular amendment proposal has various positive and negative attributes, and would carry a fair share of both if enacted.

Prior to viewing the below information, let us be mindful of the individual that has proposed this amendment. Rep. Jose E. Serrano is a Democrat from the New York area.

Now, with regards to arguments in favor of this amendment:

If this were enacted, it would help/allow an elected President to see his plans and work come to fruition in Congress and for the nation. Also, a President who is continually elected is gaining a great deal of experience within this specific position, as well as established rapport with foreign leaders. 

In so far as arguments opposing this amendment, a President that is continually elected in to office for an unspecified amount of terms might have an unfair advantage in so far as eventually controlling the means by which an official can get elected.  Also, our founding fathers had the intention of instilling a democracy in our nation. If a President was allowed to be elected to an unlimited number of terms, that would in essence create a form of monarchy. 

Please note important links below associated with this proposed amendment:

 http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-hj17/show

 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d112:12:./temp/~bdFNy5::|/home/LegislativeData.php|

 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/112_HJ_17.html

http://dogwalksman.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/h-j-res-17/

Income and Federal Tax Debate in D.C.

As many Americans are aware, we have been facing a stand-off and massive challenge with regards to how we are taxed on our income, investments, capital gains, etc. The below blog has been established from information from the Newsweek article entitled 'The Problem with Obama's Tax Math', written by Daniel Stone.

I feel that this article in Newsweek (more specifically on www.thedailybeast.com) is an important read at this moment in time, as each one of us will be facing higher taxes next year after the Bush tax plan expires.

The article talks about Obama's desire, and general plans, to overhaul the tax system. Basically, Obama would like to see the top earners and those that are independently wealthy contribute and pay more in both income, capital gains and investment taxes. This method, in effect, would help to balance out the nations budget and help the middle class gain some financial strength and upward mobility. This in turn, Obama believes, will help bolster the entire US economy and put us on the road to recover.

This plan, however, is flawed, in that the top income earners already do pay the highest taxes of any Americans. Obama neglects to differentiate between earned income and investment income. Currently, investment and capital gains incomes are taxed at a significantly lower rate than other types of income. This in turn is why the wealthy in the US seem to be paying much lower taxes. Most truly wealth Americans have capital gains and investment income, thusly it appears that the wealthy don't pay high taxes. It is, in fact, the low income earners who are taxed the lowest for their income (at a level of approximately 5.7%).

It would appear to the casual observer that our tax system/tax code is due for a complete and major overhaul in order to tax income and investments at appropriate levels. Obama feels that this may be the key to solving the problem, and that part of our current tax code and laws need to be done away with alltogether.

Personally, I chose to blog about this particular article and issue, as a middle class American citizen, because more than likely we will be the ones most greatly affected by the outcome of our current tax war.

Here is the link to the actual article: (I am having a very hard time figuring out how to make a link 'live' or 'embedded' on here. Please bear with me as I slowly come out of the dark ages of computer illiteracy.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/20/obama-s-deficit-reduction-tax-math-more-complicated-than-he-s-implied.html