Ok...so maybe the sky isn't really falling but there are some major issues going on with our country right now...politics, economy, and much much more.
I would like you to find a story about a current event that will impact us as Americans. After that...do three things:
1. State the title and source.
2: Summarize the story and don't forget to mention the problem/issue.
3. Discuss how you could facilitate a conversation about this topic with someone who has an opposite political view than yours.
Good luck searching! PS...this is due on Thursday, October 16th since I'm a bit behind on posting myself.
11 comments:
Title: Offshore Oil Drilling
Congressional Bill #H.R 6899
Source: United States Congress
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/bills/?bill=11937196&size=full
Summary:
To advance the national security interests of the United States by reducing its dependency on oil through renewable and clean, alternative fuel technologies while building a bridge to the future through expanded access to Federal oil and natural gas resources, revising the relationship between the oil and gas industry and the consumers who own those resources and deserve a fair return from the development of publicly owned oil and gas, ending tax subsidies for large oil and gas companies, and facilitating energy efficiencies in the building, housing, and transportation sectors, and for other purposes.
I am for offshore drilling as a source of energy while we try to become energy independent. I am for offshore drilling as a temporary tool to free the United States from foreign oil untill the U.S has better improved and gained alternate sources of energy. To facilitate a conversation with someone who has opposite political views than my own, I would first ask them to promote their view, as I would do the same. Then I would offer the pros and cons of my view and ask them for the pros and cons of their views. The rest of the conversation would involve differences in philosophy and giving wieght to the pros and cons of each argument.
Title: Pediatricians double vitamin D standard
Source: Pioneer Press
Date: Monday 10-13-2008
Summary:
Pediatricians have doubled the recommended intake amount of vitamin D for newborns to teens. Research indicates that it not only helps keep bones strong, it may reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight. This is because the body makes vitamin D when sunshine hits the skin.
The best way for children to get their daily amount of vitamin D is not to increase oral intake, it is for them to put away the video games, get outside and play. This would also help to deter a plethora of other health problems that America’s children face today.
That’s my opinion. To facilitate a conversation with someone who does not agree: I would simply ask them about what they think and why.
From the Wall Street Journal:
More Americans Vault Overseas to Search for Jobs
Asia, Europe attract financial pros as woes in the U.S. take a toll
By DANA MATTIOLI
With the recent news of the struggling US economy many employees are considering going overseas to find a job. They argue that developing economies have better opportunity and job security. I think that since this is the first time we have seen Americans want to go overseas it is a big deal and shows how far we have slipped since being a world power in the 60s. America has a very big problem in that it deals with crisis when they come, and not take precautionary measures to prevent them. Britain and other western european countries plan for crisis and deal with them much better than the US. I think a conservative would argue that Americans should be keeping themselves planted right here in the US and a liberal would be for letting the people choose where they wish to go. I am a moderate and can agree with each side to an extent. Offering pros and cons of the situation and discussing them in a polite way.
Presidential election:
Speech locations
Unity New Hampshire
Independence Missouri
American Traditions
Memorial Day (a day to honor fallen heros, that served and died in our nations military.)
Pledge of allegiance (an oath of loyalty to our flag and country.)
Historical Proof
Windfall tax (Jimmy Carter)
• What began as a compromise by the Carter administration to lift ceilings on oil prices grew into a bureaucratic nightmare that Congress in 1984 called the "largest and most complex tax ever levied on a U.S. industry." The law produced nowhere near the revenue it promised, made the country more reliant on foreign oil, and generated reams of red tape, according to a 2006 report by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.
How can a presidential candidate go to cities like these (see above), speak of unity and patriotism, and not even know the meaning of Memorial Day, or be patriotic enough to even say our pledge of allegiance. The simple answer is manipulation. Personally I do not think it is a good idea to have a president who is not familiar with our nations own holidays, has less patriotism than the WBC, and has a wife (our possible first lady), who “for the first time in her life is proud of her country.”
Anyone can read a speech off of a teleprompter. The only reason Obama gets away with this ridiculous campaign is because no one from the mainstream media calls him on his screw-ups. They look at his speech locations and say “oh, that’s perfect, oh that’s nice.’’ When really it was just a stunt to make it look like he has more patriotism than he really does. The man would not even cross his hand to his heart when the pledge of allegiance was playing. What kind of president does not support their own flag? Back to the teleprompter, Obama cannot even speak intelligently without one.
OBAMA: What they'll say is, "Well it costs too much money," but you know what? It would cost, about... It -- it -- it would cost about the same as what we would spend... It... Over the course of 10 years it would cost what it would costs us... (nervous laugh) All right. Okay. We're going to... It... It would cost us about the same as it would cost for about -- hold on one second. I can't hear myself. But I'm glad you're fired up, though. I'm glad.
OBAMA: Everybody knows that it makes no sense that you send a kid to the emergency room for a treatable illness like asthma, they end up taking up a hospital bed, it costs, when, if you, they just gave, you gave them treatment early and they got some treatment, and a, a breathalyzer, or inhalator, not a breathalyzer. (crowd laughing) I haven't had much sleep in the last 48 hours.
Did that make any sense? No.
Another point is history is studied for a reason, to document mistakes from the past, to prevent them in the future. By electing Sen. Obama, not only would we be electing the #1 most liberal voting senator in the history of the United States Senate, but we would be electing another Jimmy Carter. Yes, Jimmy Carter did receive the Nobel Peace Prize, but did that make him a good president? Did it make his policies any better? Absolutely not. Jimmy Carter is one of the main reasons we depend so much on foreign oil. Due to his Windfall taxes, our economy had one of its worst fuel crisis’s of all times. For those of you who don’t know about this:
A windfall tax is one that targets profits. If the government thinks your company is taking too much profit on your product, they swoop in and tax the hell out of you, to “redistribute wealth.” The problem with this is, by taxing large companies, what is going to happen? They are going to raise their prices to account for the difference in the profit. Any business savvy person would know that. Another huge problem with this tax is, Obama is targeting oil companies to lower gas prices. If you tax them, they WILL raise their prices. On top of this, oil companies such as Exxon Mobile do not even have the largest profit margins in industry. Here is a lovely breakdown:
Why tax big oil? Microsoft makes more, and is taxed less? Windfall profits tax my ass.
Before I am done with my rant, I would like to say one more thing.
Everyone complains and bitches about Bush and how he is a shitty president. One day, people will look back on him and realize he was a good president. Yes, his approval rating is currently 31%, however our congress’s approval rating is sitting at a 10%, well below Bush’s. The kicker is our current congress has a liberal majority. So now matter what Bush comes up with, it gets filtered through our watered down liberal congress. Uneducated people just blame the president, because they are too lazy or apathetic to look up the truthful information themselves. At least Bush does not judge a countries threat to the US by the geographical size of the country…
"Strong countries and strong Presidents talk to their adversaries. That's what Kennedy did with Khrushchev. That's what Reagan did with Gorbachev. That's what Nixon did with Mao. I mean think about it. Iran, Cuba, Venezuela – these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union.”
There is plenty more.
Sources
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/01/georgebush.congress
www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/19/bush.poll
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_060908/content/01125107.guest.html
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/02/18/michelle-obama-hasnt-been-proud-of-america-in-at-least-26-years/
http://odeo.com/episodes/23045675-Barack-Obama-Speech-on-Patriotism
http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/top-5/2008/04/30/The-Case-Against-Windfall-Tax
http://74.125.45.104/search?q=cache:DmLheqMH58cJ:www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/05/020607.php+obama+memorial+day+see+many&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZTRiYmY1ZWMxODZkZjFlYTk3NDRiMDZmN2MzY2YxMjc=
1. "Efforts on global warming chilled by economic woes"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081012/ap_on_bi_ge/meltdown_global_warming;
_ylt=AgET8lYIc6ltVgYqrmpjJY.s0NUE
2. This article is based on the issue that due to the economic crisis in the last few years, the global warming issues are being put to the back burner. The government is more worried about the economic crisis so instead of trying to deal with both issues at the same time, the government is choosing the economy over funding for global warming prevention ideas.
The article also goes into how due to the Bush Administration's resisting of federal controls over the opportunity for legislation to be passed in favor of global warming prevention in the past, the Democrats are ready to act on the problem now.
3. I could facilitate a conversation about this topic by letting both sides point out their opinions. After each side gets a chance to talk, then they could discuss the points they disagree on but before all of this, there would be an agreement that if it gets too heated everyone discussing will agree to disagree and make a point of not using low "blows" to try and get a rise out of the other person. Once the discussion seems to be getting more negative then a discussion, I would stop the discussion and say take a break or just have a "to be continued" moment.
I want to thank Grant, Heather, Mike, Jason, and Mikaela for taking the time to complete this post by the deadline.
I think that Grant, Heather, Mike and Mikaela did a great job of choosing an article, writing a summary on it and outlining how they would talk to someone with the opposite position. Thank you.
That leaves Jason...what a rant...did you write this after a debate? I am willing to overlook the fact that you didn't follow instructions BUT I need for you to talk about how you would discuss this matter with someone with a different opinion then you. It might seem like a pointless post but as the election gets closer our residents will talk and I need to know that each of you posses the skills needed to have approperiate discussions on these matters. Make sense?
K, so in summary of my article, I can have a conversation with anyone about politics. I have already had multiple with my residents. They seem to have fun doing it. ANyways that leads me to part 2.
I could facilitate a discussion about politics, and hear out both sides of the debate. It really doesnt matter to me what my residents think, however I think that it will matter to us all depending on who gets elected.
Title: Blackwater and Blood
Source: Counter Punch
http://counterpunch.org/mokhiber04232004.html
Summary: This article is one that attacks Blackwater Worldwide. Blackwater Worldwide is a private security firm that has been contracted by the US Army many times since 2001. The Securities firm has been contracted to support the Army in its efforts in iraq.
Instead of writing what the article is about. I encourage the reader to take time to soak in the article and then read my argument to someone of opposing political views than myself.
In this article I feel that the author was overly critical of Blackwater while reporting on a philanthropic effort it was making. The Author was correct when saying that Blackwater was responsible for a number of friendly fire and civilian casualties in the past year. However I feel the author was wrong to not include the number of civilian casualties caused by US Army Forces in Iraq as well... Mistakes are made; no one is the good guy in the conflict at hand.
In other articles from the same author he continues to speak about the companies tactics especially in Iraq when fulfilling its contracts. Some would say that they are brutal and immoral. To them I say that it is the duty of the contracted to write a contract when they appoint Blackwater. Blackwater personnel will do what they are ordered to do in their contract. If you have a way that you want something done it must be present in your contract. Otherwise, those people assigned to the contract will carry it out their way. Since 2001 the Primary client of Blackwater Worldwide has been the US Army.
I understand that some people may have different views on this matter. I do not however like it when people brand Blackwater worldwide as a gun for hire organization. The company is so much more than that. For example, Police departments have contracted Blackwater in order to use their training facility because the company is well equipped to train these officers, many times better equipped that the state or federal government. They have also become the largest private intelligence firm using satellites and high altitude recon planes to survey “hotspots” to fulfill contracts. Blackwater has also been present in the two major natural disasters in the last several years. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina Blackwater deployed 150 of their personnel to New Orleans to increase security in the city and prevent looting. In the California forest fires Blackwater was not contracted to any government organization but coordinated the evacuation of an entire rural town and re-located the people to a “tent town” that the company had set up for them out of harm’s way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RFSKsbXYEc Some call it war profiteering, I call it progress.
I’m now done rambling about this topic, if anyone is interested in hearing more about Blackwater feel free to ask. The most important thing to remember when debating a topic is to debate smart. Attacking 1 or two issues you don’t like about an opponent is caddy and unnecessary. Be smart about your opponents issues so that you can effectively argue your point. Political debates are educated discussions. Never are they meant to be arguments. Unfortunately however, that’s what some become work hard to stay out of political arguments.
-Apollo
Thanks Jason for clarifing and answering my question. Jack...I appreciate you taking the time to post and I laugh a bit at your answer for my last question...stay out of political debates. Do you think that that is truely possible with the election only a few weeks away? Or are our residents just not interested in politics and our ecomnomics? I'd be interested in knowing anyone's take on this, since I haven't heard much talk from residents on anything. Thanks!
Title: The American economy lost 159000 jobs in September
Source: Beta Current
http://current.com/items/89369302_the_american_economy_lost_159_000_jobs_in_september
This article talks about the bad the American economy in present time. This was just a month ago, that for example a string of Wall street institutions collapsed. The problem is now wheather or not we will be able to recover within this year or even next year.
I think it depends wheather we have someone that is understanding the crisis and doing something against it or if we dont.
To hear the others side I always ask why people think the way they think and then have a discussion about single points to see why one would be right or wrong.
Thanks Sara.
KELLY
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