The Withdrawl of Troops from Iraq

By October, the military will be sending 4,000 more troops home. And this man, Army General Ray Odierno called for "strategic patience" while they are withdrawing more and more troops out of Iraq because, "Iraq is making steady progress, but has a long way to go." In my opinion, I think it's a good thing that more and more troops are being brought home, because personally I don't like the war and don't like the fact that it's even going on. The 4,000 men that are coming home, I'm pretty sure more than half of them are going to have post-traumatic stress, and this is why I hate the war. A lot of people that come home from the war are no longer going to be able to live normal lives, because they just don't know how. And sadly, they just become too depressed or just don't know what to do, and some commit suicide. Is the war that worth it? To ruin their health? I'm not saying this happens to all, but for a lot. So in my opinion, I think they should call off the war and bring all our men home. They have worked at this long enough.

Invading the Privacy of Spanish Prime Minister's Daughters?

It became a big issue when the Barack Obama and his wife took pictures with the Spanish Prime Minister, his wife, and his daughters, especially his daughters. That is because they have never had any photos of them published, so the Spanish government freaked out and had the pictures removed, but of course some were leaked, and are out there, at this one for example. The Spanish government actually has a law that prohibits photos of them being published because they have "concerns on the issue of the privacy of world leaders' children in the digital age." What is there to be afraid of? Nothing bad can happen to a person through a picture. Even Senator John McCain's daughter Meghan thought that the Spanish governments reaction was a little too much, and she felt bad for the daughters because, of the way they were dressed, they were being called "goth." I think the government overreacted and shouldn't have a LAW saying photos of them can't be out there. The kids are safe and seeing how they look won't cause an attack on them. Yeah I get they are just worried about them and their safety, but really, what's the worst that could happen?

Can the United Nations Move On?

President Barack Obama is leaning towards a new era in global relations by "urging the United Nations to move past old divisions and disputes to reassert itself as a leading force in confronting the most pressing issues of today." In my opinion, trying to get past the old issues and disputes and starting over is a good idea. Why hold on to the past? What happened has happened and you can't change it, so why keep a grudge? If the United Nations is able to let go of the old issues, i then think they would have a chance to be main leaders again and in charge. But as long as they keep grudges, they won't get anywhere, nor will America and other countries. America, and other countries, won't prosper or grow as a nation.

Expecting Too Much Out of the Health Reform?

This is a chart of the inflation and the premium increase we will be expecting if the new health reform is accepted and passed. If the new health reform passes, a lot is going to be expected coming out of it. The 3 differences that we will notice are: insurers are likely to face new rules about who they have to cover and limits on how much they can charge. Consumers will be able to buy coverage on a new "insurance supermarket." And coverage will be expanded and made more affordable for many. Now I don't know if I like the idea of the new rules on who they cover, I mean people are people, and all deserve the same rights, but they might be pointing it at illegal immigrants? Either way, if someone needs help, they should receive it, there's no limit on a life. But being able to buy new coverage isn't a bad thing. It gives people more options to chose from, and possible not making one too crowded or overpopulated with too many people. And the last idea, making it more affordable, now I think that's a great thing. There are people out there that may need help, but aren't able to seek it because they don't have enough money to afford paying for the bill. Making it more affordable will bring people in, which will increase the number of people joining, and increase how much money governments will receive from the people out of this.

Senate Votes to Triple Aid to Pakistan?

The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009, introduced by Senators John Kerry of Massachusetts, and Dick Lugar of Indiana, authorized $7.5 billion in non-military aid to Pakistan over the next five years to foster economic growth and development, and another $7.5 billion for the following five years. But now the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have decided to triple that amount by adding $1.5 billion per year. What are they thinking? President Barack Obama just said in a speech that the US can't fix the world yet they turn around and do this, give money to another country, who already has enough going to them. The US is sending out more foreign aid instead of using it to help America, our own country. And where is all this money going to come from anyways? Oh yeah, our pockets. The U, and Obama, shouldn't be saying that the US can't fix the world if they are trying to. And the money should be put towards us trying to get out of our debt.

The Imperial Sugar Co. Just Doesn't Care

The Imperial Sugar Co. in Savannah, Georgia knew about the explosive dust they had on their site. But last year in Feb. 7, 2008, the refinery experienced a disaster, in which those explosive dusts ignited into dust-fueled fireballs, and ended up killing 14 workers and injured 36, several with horrific second- and third-degree burns. The problem with this is, in a report Thursday 9/24/09, they found "warning" labels at the site informing them of these explosive dust hazards, and memos from the 1960's, and the managers and workers of this refinery ignored them! They even experienced small fires and didn't even bother to check that out. One would think maybe the managers by then would have taken at least a glance at what could be causing those little fires to be started, but no. What really ticks me off is that all those innocent people could have never had this happen to them if they had payed more attention and had weekly, or just even monthly check ups of their supplies and resources to see if they are safe, even their equipments. People can be so careless to what is going on around them, and overlook things thinking "oh nothing bad will ever happen" but when something does, they will feel guilty for never doing anything about it, and possibly could have prevented the worse from happening, especially to the victims who died or were seriously injured.

Nuclear Free World

At the the U.N. Security Council meeting on Thursday 9/24/09, the council committed for all nations to work for a nuclear weapons-free world, getting where there are or want without having the need to bomb one another up. Developing nations Russia and China supported this. This resolution calls for stepped up efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote disarmament and "reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism." Hopefully this will work, but all nations and developing countries must commit to this in order for this to work. It is in the making, but more steps on this issue need to be made if we want the idea of a "nuclear weapons-free world" to be successful. Nuclear weapons in my opinion are pointless because it doesn't just get rid of the certain target governments or countries are aiming for, but kills thousands of innocent people. And on top of that, killing those thousands of people, they sometimes don't even kill who they wanted to "eliminate" in the first place. Hoenstly if they think using nuclear weapons and bombing innocent people will make the other country give in and surrender to "stop the madness," your wrong. It'll just make them want to fight back, in revenge. And then it just never ends.

Barack Obama speaking on behalf of this. A clip of what he said at the council meeting and what the reporters think of it:

Friedman: Increase in Population?

In the words of Thomas L. Friedman, writer of "Hot, Flat, and Crowded," said "the world population will likely increase by 2.5 billion over the next 43 years, passing from the current 6.7 billion to 9.2 billion in 2050." This is bizarre because the more increase in population, the harder it is going to be to support the people who are going receive social security. The people of the baby boom that are now old enough, over the age of 65, that are going to receive social security, Generation X, the generation after the Baby Boom, have not yet contributed enough money to support them. And it is obvious that each generation from here on is going to increase by what Friedman has said, and that it is just going to make the gap of supporting people who are going to receive social security bigger.

Barack Obama's Speech on Schools: Receives Major Criticism!

Barack Obama has been getting a lot of hate for wanting to give a speech towards schools and kids about staying in school and being a better person, working hard and focusing in school, doing the best you can. It is ridiculous how much criticism he is getting for doing even what other Presidents in the past have done, like Ronald Regan in 1988. I think there is an issue with racism here, that is why there are so many people against him and bashing him at everything he does, especially when he tries to appeal to the public and talk about an important thing: children and their education in schools, is there anything wrong with that? I shouldn't just say racism..but also it is because the fact he is "taking to the kids like if they were his own." Doesn't it just show that he cares about the people as much as he cares for his own kids? I mean when you think about it, it is true that kids need to be educated because by the way the economy is, in the future one might not get anywhere without an education. It is only just going to get harder.

See here, a video of political analysts talking about this issue, how there was no uprising at past presidents doing the same exact thing and the RIDICULOUS amount of hate and criticism he is receiving for no reason, for something he is only trying to make schools and children better, for their future:

Problems With The Bay Bridge: Cracks & Curves?

San Franciso is a beautiful place, a lot going on, a lot to enjoy and see, and it is the home of the Bay Bridge. But the bridge is having a lot of complications! Saturday they announced that they found cracks in the bridge, and now this article is saying that there is a new problem they found that was never there before, a curve. Well a curve is not very safe, because if going to fast, accidents may occur. They should not be opening the bridge if there are still isses and problems with it.

Worst Month For Stocks: September

It is pretty scary when stocks are going down a lot more than normal. It is the "month of meltdowns" for businesses and groups in the stock market, like Nasdaq for example. Saying that September is going to be the worst month is not something you want to hear, because it can worry the people, but the businesses and groups of the stock market are saying this because of how much they are losing in the first week of September already. I am worried how this economy is going to turn out.

Unemployment Is Going Up!

The increase in unemployment is scary. People becoming homeless and living on the streets always makes me feel bad for them, wishing there was something to do to help them. But the unemployment rate has been increasing heavily but there is not much we can do, the economy is down. It worries me about what will be available in the future, and how much worse is it going to get.

Man Quits His High Paying Job & Puts Hope Into Prison Job: Safe From Unemployment?

This man, Michael Hester, gave up his job because he thought taking one up in a governmental corrections officer at a prison would keep him safe from unemployment, well he was wrong. People shouldn't give up a job for a government job because prisons tend to close, and spaces become tighter. If you have a high paying job, and even though you think changing jobs for a different one because you think it'll be more stable, rethink that choice. Stay where you are because you'd have a higher chance of being safe.

2 out of the 4 prisons in michigan closed, and Michael was working in one that closed. This is a photo of one of the now abandoned prisons.

Stimulus Money Being Put To Waste

The places where stimulus money is being put and spent is really for unnecessary things. The money should be towards things that would help the economy or the government, or even the environment, not on a reach in freezer.

Here's another one, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spent about $51,500 on 9 new "mascots" to promote safety and such. Well yeah i mean promoting safety to the young with ideas, such as animals, will appeal to the young yes but, as said before, the money should be put to things in much more of a need than silly animals.