Critic I am!

    Taxes are definitely a hot topic no one likes to talk about. In the commentary Tax Cut Extensions or not? by Anthony Esparza its exactly about that scary topic of taxes. He did a good job with explaining how taxes being raised or cut would help or hurt someone. The author definitely showed his point of view went it comes to those who make over 250,000. I would say the author's intended audience is that of the working and middle class like most college students are. I think it is great he went into great detail about how taxes effect each class of citizens with examples. Although all of this was in the commentary I didn't understand where he was getting his information from. I'm happy he stated his opinion but there was not enough fluidity throughout the piece. It was almost like a bunch of random thoughts thrown together to make a point. I also would like to know what exactly a tax cut extension is and what is the one in question? Why is a tax extension the best solution? Overall, I believe the logic is there the commentary just needs an extra push!

Freeze!

                President Obama has signed off on a pay freeze for all Federal civilian employees. This includes everyone from the non-military employee’s that work at the Department of Defense, Border Con;trol, and the Veteran Affairrs Personnel. If your not exactly sure what a pay freeze is, President Obama has froze all incentives, bonuses, and raises for the next two years. This freeze is estimated at saving 2 billion dollars in 2011-2012, 28 billion the next 5 years after that, and 60 billion over 10 years. I did not know this but Obama has already frozen the pay of all of his senior officials and has done many more things to try and level out the burden between the government and its citizens. Most of us know now that our nation has a huge deficit topping out just over 1 trillion dollars. The deficit is huge and I’m glad to know that our president is trying to do something to help that affects our government too not just leaving people like me to fit the bill by tax increases. I am aware that something has to be done or we will go into an economic crisis. Do you think Obama is doing the right thing? I do! I support our president in trying to find creative ways to help with the debt crisis. I do hate the fact that these employees may not make much as it is and this pay freeze definitely does not help them out. The debt our nation has effects all of our lives in the ways it has not yet affected Federal civilian employees such as thousands of jobs being cut, and our pay being cut. I like the idea of government also participating instead of turning a cold shoulder. It helps people believe in their government again and makes officials seem more accessible, almost like a humbling quality. We must do more or our wallets and lives will suffer!

Link:

Obama Proposes Federal Worker Pay Freeze

Critics!

    Let me have a "Happy Meal"  is a wonderful idea for a commentary. The author did a perfect job in presenting the facts about the case at hand which is a McDonald's in Canton, Ohio was trying to force people or strongly suggest into voting for Republicans. The author included the actually letter and opinions on the matter from other sources. The Ohio Revised Code was also included showing the illegal practices of the McDonald's and its owner by attempting to influence its employees. I think the writer new the material well and was cleverly sarcastic about the tittle and the free happy meals. Although instead of expressing his or her opinion and thought, the commentary was full of other people's thoughts and opinions about the matter. The target audience was spot on but there was no clear point of view except for the author using the word sad in the first paragraph. What is sad? I would of loved to hear his or her thoughts about the matter and how we can fix this, make it illegal, or even more examples of corrupt corporations also doing this. Should there be more screening in order to own a franchise or should this one be fined or shut down even. I wanted to know more and see the results of the elections in Canton, Ohio to check and see if the plots of the employer payed off? The logic is there and a great starting point for an article.

College and The Rising Fees

            College tuition and the financial aide available for it is very important to me. It completely affects me and everyone else reading this blog. Over the recent years as more baby boomers retire more and more money is needed to meet their needs taking away from everyone else. For example, taking the governmental financial aide available for students trying to make it through college. College is extremely expensive and only continues to get more expensive each year! In the last five years average tuition for public four-year universities increased by 24 percent, and tuition for private non-profitable universities by 17 percent. These numbers seem astounding but I found out that the rise in tuition in each sector, with the net inflation-adjusted site, and the total amount in Federal grants and tax benefits tuition has actually decreased over the last five years. The government is giving more and more money to those who are in school to meet the demand for cost by the universities both public, private, and community. I was extremely surprised to read that the Federal Governments grants this year actually surpassed those of institutional.

           Even though there is good news in the amount of money being given surpassing rising tuition, tuition is going to continue to rise whereas, say the Pell Grant will stay the same. Scholar’s are hoping that institutional grants will even out the gap, with the costs since states are cutting educational money being spent for students. I’m not so sure that will work. I think college is a must and a good tool to become educated but for what price?I guess it depends on the person. One way to help the problem is for younger generations who are affected by this to get out into the public eye and start voting or even start lobbying for more financial aide on the capitol steps!Some could go as far to think that maybe a law should be placed putting a cap on tuition even for private colleges so no one is left behind. Most people say our children are our future so we better start providing a less expensive way to become educated or we will be our own future!!

NY Times

Not all Muslims are terrorists but all terrorists are Muslims???!!!!

Well, apparently Bill O’Reily sparked some big controversy on a morning talk show called The View this morning when he announced that all Muslims are terrorists. Coming to his defense Brain Kilmeade of Fox news claimed that not all Muslims are terrorists but all terrorists are Muslims!!A blog I read in Crooks and Liars by David Neiwert(Daivd Neiwert,Brian Kileade sez:"Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims." Oh really?,Crooks and Liars, Oct. 15, 2010,11:00am) really hands it to Kilmeade in his ignorant defending of Bill O’Reily. The blog first shows a clip of Brain Kilmeade making his claims then turns to writing his statement out in text so we can better view it. The main part of this blog is to educate Mr. Kilmeade of his ill-spoken opinion. David goes on and on about all sorts of terrorists that have no ties to Muslims what so ever. For example he names The Phineas Preisthood, Timothy McVeigh, Budford Furrow, and Eric Rudolph while giving extensive background on what they did. He also proves his opponent wrong by going into a timeline of 2008-2010 terrorists’ plots in America. He proves that since President Obama has been in office that in fact white-supremacist and radical “Patriot” groups are overwhelmingly increasing instead of Muslims attacks.

                It is pretty obvious that David Neiwert knows what he is talking about his logic is right on target. He not only backs up his claims with background information but gives specific timelines and events. You can tell the author is trying to draw in a more liberalistic crowd. Liberals tend to be more empathic to claims like this whereas this article in a conservative blog would probably be ignored. He seems to also be targeting a younger audience since it is our generation that is plagued with terrorist’s attacks like 9/11.His point of view is defiantly far from his right-wing opponents like Bill O’Reily. Mr. Neiwert almost seems to despise people who claim things like this and enjoys schooling them. I mean I agree with Mr. Neiwert Muslim’s are not the main terrorists we are facing now days, not saying in a year that could change. Anyone could prove Brian Kilmeade’s claim wrong by looking it up on the internet!!I like this blog and its arguments against Bill O’Reilly and Brian Kilmeade claims that terrorists are Muslim, how crazy!   

Link:

Crooks and Liars

Is Obama ready for a stare-down with China??

         Is Obama ready for a stare-down with China? is the question at hand according to The Christian Science Monitor(monitor electoral board,Is Obama ready for a stare-down with china, The Christian Science Monitor,10/1/2010). Apparently China and Japan are not getting along at the present moment over a Chinese fishing vessel ramming two Japanese coast guard vessels. Japan took the captain into custody and China retaliated by stopping mineral exports to Japan and arresting four Japanese visitors. Japan did give the captain back to China meanwhile China still wants an apology as well as Japan. The article talks about tensions mounting in Asian countries because China thinks it’s the head honcho and how America will react to this. 
        By reading this article I was able to tell who the Christian Science Monitor was trying to target, Conservatives. I mean the magazine is called The Christian Science Monitor that should be a dead giveaway. Conservatives tend to lean toward more military forces in control and respect the military more often than not. As for the author’s credibility, I do think it’s credible. The article was written by The Monitor Electoral Board. Now for the argument is Obama going to man up and back Japan if needed I did find some questionable tactics. For example, the author claims that China sees the U.S. as weak because we are pulling our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. I do not see this as a weak point but more as a point of trying to let them do their own thing. Pulling troops out of a country, that in my opinion, we did not belong there in the first place is not weak but diplomatic. Is our advice really that important to Japan that they can’t make any decisions on their own? I think that point is a bunch of crap. Japan is its own country I’m sure they can make decisions. 
        Besides a couple points the evidence seems pretty well written and thought out. Although you can definitely tell the writer does not like China which I found a little ignorant. The logic seems to be lacking reality somewhat. People cannot expect the U.S. to declare war and spend all that money for military dominance like the last administration. This administration seems to want to take a more diplomatic route and still hold their ground which I think is a much better idea instead of conquering all!! Overall, the article made some good points but I do not agree that we should get involved with other countries problems while we are getting away from the last one.

 Link:

The Christian Science Monitor

Muslims and Government

   When most Americans hear the word Muslim their brain automatically fire’s off the word terrorist. The stigma surrounding the Muslim community is terrifying. Your view and my view may be quite different since I’m from a small southern town that only became wet last year! Unfortunately a lot of American’s do live in small rural communities and do think this way in one way or another. People need to become more educated in this subject, like our government is trying, so that’s what I’m here to do!I watched a three minute long video off of CNN explaining some Muslim views and what our government is doing to help them. Farah Pondith, U.S. State Department Representative to the Muslim communities, and Dalia Mogahed, senior analyst and executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim studies, explained the Muslim community and effort a little better for us. First, it is Muslims freedom under the U.S. Constitution to practice their faith in the United States as they choose.  Muslim American’s are actually the most educated I the world, especially Muslim women. Muslim American’s are proven to be the most likely to be employed, most likely to be entrepreneurial, and most likely to be engaged in political systems. What does that mean for American Government? I’ll tell you what it mean’s, it means more involvement in government and maybe even a better one! Dalia Magahed also talks about Muslims outside of the United States and their view on westerner’s. They want help most of all but not wanting it to be charity. Muslim’s want respect from western civilization, respect being the key word. As long as we provide help they will do whatever they can to help themselves. Farah Pondith actually works with U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton in reaching out to Muslim youth around the world. There are 1.6 billion Muslims, which turns out to be one fourth of all humanity living today and most are under the age of thirty. I think this article is important because the ignorance surrounding the Muslim community in middle class America is outstanding. People need to know that the government is trying to reach out the Muslim community. We better learn to get over it because they are not going anywhere anytime soon. Our government is trying to reach out and help so should we!  

Viedo Link:

CNN Video