This is an article about President Obama's speech regarding gun control and the new policy he just out in place. The new requirement is that all people in the business of selling guns or any other type of firearm, must be a licensed firearm dealer by the Government. I think that this new mandate is great and may stop the next shooter. However, I don't think that it is enough in the lines of gun control. We need more technology on our guns. Like in the newer 007 movie where his gun had a fingerprint scanner on it. So that way 007 was the only person allowed to shoot the gun. It's getting to the age of technology and I think that this would be a wise next step towards our protection from mass shooters. But the main thing that stood out to me is how emotional Obama got during the speech. He flashes back to horrible memories or the Columbine shootings or the Movie theater shooting during the showing of "The Dark Knight Rises."And he goes back to that terrible day in 2012 at Sandy Hook elementary. He is brought to tears when remembering that these children who were in the 1st grade will never get to experience things all people should experience. Like Graduating High School and for some College, or having kids and starting a family. Or even getting their driver's license and a new first car. This is a very touching moment when he is emotional because for once, he shifts the focus from politics to the common feelings of most Americans. Which causes us to really care and understand his feelings. This shows some people that even though he might have the biggest title in the nation being the President. He is still an American citizen just like us.
I like how you brought up the technology from the newer 007 movie. I definitely think that with this age of technology, we should be able to find a way to make guns safer for everyone.
I do think that everyone should registered by the U.S. Government and this is not a problem for most businesses. The thing is, this will cause many gun shows to fail and this is what many people do for a living. Also I do not think we have the technology remotely related to the stuff in the 007 movie. Most guns require very simple mechanisms to fire. It's basically a lever that slams into the primer on the bullet. There are no electronics at all in them. An electronic lock system doesn't sound too hard to implicate, but you would have to install some sort of recognition system like the fingerprint scanner. Since Apple has something like this in their phones, that doesn't sound too complicated. But then you realize you would have to have a battery in them to operate it. That would make most pistols twice as big and would defeat the purpose of concealed carry. Furthermore, you would either have to keep it charged or replace the batteries all the time. In able to keep it charged, you would have to buy a chord, pay a higher electricity bill, and leave the gun out all night so it can charge. Someone could easily go into your house and press your finger up to it, kill you, and then cut off your finger for future use. It just isn't practical. On the other hand, using replaceable batteries would mean having to buy batteries every week just to power it. The price for 22 bullets is already like $8 per box, then plus the cost of batteries would make it more like $12 every time you fire the thing. This doesn't even include the cost of the gun in the first place. Pistol prices are at least $500 for a good one, and shotguns and rifles already cost a least $1200 and that's cheap. Adding these scanners would double, maybe even triple, these prices. It simply isn't worth it. Maybe 15 years from now, but I can bet it won't be happening soon
Your point that guns should have something like finger print technology is a good idea in theory, but it just isn't realistic. Even if they were to be put in effect, there would be away to get around it, or some kind of modification. And if only a certain person could shoot the gun, what would happen to all the women and children who sometimes have to defend themselves with the only weapon in the house? There are too many flaws and loopholes.
It talks about how he wept when discussing the first graders and staff killed in the Newtown school massacre in 2012. He stated that the crying was not empathy but of anger. Anger that the Republicans refuse to pass stricter gun regulations even after the Newton incident. Obama has talked to lawyers to see what he can legally do without the permission of Congress in his last year of office. It turns out he can make background checks stricter as well as make the selling and distributing of guns safer for the United States. I sincerely feel bad when I see other people cry, but to see our President cry over this--that must mean it means a great deal to him. It is obviously important.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/opinion/president-barack-obama-guns-are-our-shared-responsibility.html?ref=opinion&_r=0 I agree immensely with President Obama's recent statement on gun control. He is not trying to abolish gun entirely, just put stricter restrictions on guns, this is completely reasonable. He made valid points, many people have died because of gun violence. Many other countries have strict gun control in general, or no guns at all. "If a child can’t open a bottle of aspirin, we should also make sure she can’t pull the trigger of a gun." Obama had used this statement along with saying that we make sure food is clean and safe, we need to make sure that everything else is as well. Many people disagree, saying we need guns, but we are currently in a comfortable state where there is no real need for them except for sport.
I agree it was finally time to do something on the gun control problem. It is sad though that it took this long and an executive order for this to be accomplished. That even though we saw countless mass shootings the people who were supposed to represent us, our representatives and senator, were unable to figure out a way to fix our situation. Obama's executive order might not fix the problem completely but it is a step in the right direction.
I strongly agree with that sentiment too Alexis. President Obama is very justified in his decision to issue executive action, seeing as nothing can be done in congress. This is significant progress when it comes to common sense gun control, let's just hope more steps to make real progressive change follow suit.
Reply to Brittney's: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0106-mcmanus-obama-gun-executive-orders-20160106-column.html I liked that you brought up that this is a big deal to President Obama. Most Presidents usually never cry in front of media. It is kind of crazy how President Obama and the Republicans are so stubborn and not willing to appease each other. I am hoping that Obama is successful in making gun control stricter.
Reply to Curtiss: I also think that Obama's new mandate on gun policy is a great idea. I think it is crazy that firearms dealers weren't required to licensed by the government in the first place. The fact that Obama got so emotional in front of the entire country shows just how big of a deal this really is. As he was listing off all of the tragedies caused by shootings the citizens can really start to realize how many people have died due to unsafe gun regulations.
This article is all about an amendment to the French constitution allowing for the French government to strip citizenship to those who are found guilty of acts of terrorism. I don't see anything wrong with taking away citizenship from those who deserve it. What I see as wrong is the fact that this new amendment only applies to French citizens of dual nationality. This amendment should apply to all French citizens, regardless of their nationality. It is extremely unfair to those who have a dual nationality that they can have their citizenship taken away, but those who are native born French don't have to worry about it.
A member of ISIS recently killed his own mother in front of an audience. She was accused of apostasy but she was turned in by her son. The mother was just trying to escape from ISIS but her son did not agree. I think this is horrible for anyone to do especially your mother. I believe if someone is trying to leave a group they should be allowed but in ISIS they have some very radical ideas like a gang so there was probably no stopping the mom from being killed.
I agree with you on this. Even though you are a member of ISIS, you should still be a human and have feelings for those you love. He killed his own mother because she didn't agree with the group and wanted to leave. Rather than killing her or getting her killed, I felt like he should've just turned the other way. I mean it was his on mother.
I read this and was really swayed towards one side the full read through, I agree one person, man or women saying they know whats best then making a law is taking away what I want so badly freedom, I have a right to vote on my representatives, and they reflect what I think, they are my voice, which makes it fine that they make laws, but for one person to say hey i know based its a law now is not fair and plain bull crap.
Austin McMastersJanuary 8, 2016 at 8:25 AM http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/07/middleeast/isis-fighter-executes-mother-reports/index.html
A member of ISIS recently killed his own mother in front of an audience. She was accused of apostasy but she was turned in by her son. The mother was just trying to escape from ISIS but her son did not agree. I think this is horrible for anyone to do especially your mother. I believe if someone is trying to leave a group they should be allowed but in ISIS they have some very radical ideas like a gang so there was probably no stopping the mom from being killed.
Reply: I agree people should be aloud to leave when they want but others have strong unchanged ideas, we agree and disagree with them but to stop them is hard when they are extreme ideas.
I completely agree with you Johnnie, that people have the right of how to live their life. Many people in this society are becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol. This is because they just tried one smoke or drink and the instant they put it in their mouth, they have become addicted. Mr. Brickell told me the other day that "High School is different than College." That there is more work and you have to be fully committed to the better of your future. I think this connects because people have the choice whether to go to college or not. However, they will either choose to study and stay focused and live a successful life. Or they will get distracted by the other things in life and not be able to achieve their true potential.
Reply to Alexis: I agree that Obama is doing the right things to have more gun safety. I respect the fact that he isn't trying to take away the second amendment because that would cause a major revolution and that's when guns would really be a problem.
The author argues that since Obama's reelection in 2012, Obama has done a lot in terms of economic policy. He got rid of the Bush and Reagan tax cuts for the very rich. Especially with how tax works in the US, I think it's fair that the wealthy pay more taxes. The poor and working class deserve tax cuts the most. I don't know why Republican presidential candidates scream that Obama is a failure of a president since under his term, the economy has significantly improved thanks to his stimulus package, and unemployment is only at 5%
I hear lots of people say bad things about Obama but I haven’t heard of anything he’s actually done wrong that’s really affected the country. The economy and unemployment rate have improved and gas prices are so much better, I’m not really sure why anyone would consider this to be failing.
This article is about the affect millennials will have on the upcoming election and the political ideological trends among them. Millennials tend to identify as Democratic and lean towards leftist ideology. Hillary Clinton is winning the polls but Bernie Sanders wins the majority of young voters. This article predicts that millennials won't have a large affect on the upcoming election because although they have their political beliefs, he doesn't believe they'll take the time to vote or that their beliefs are strong enough to make them feel compelled to vote. I disagree with the writer on this. Millennials might not be the make or break of the election but they will have a large impact. As a result of social media, it's become easier to become informed of current events and form our opinions on controversial topics. As a result of this millennials are more passionate about their opinions and more educated. Social media also helps young people become informed on the candidates and it makes it easier for them to choose someone to support. When you go to social media sites you see a profound amount of support for Bernie Sanders and more and more people are supporting him as a result of media.
I agree with you Raquel. Social media has had a positive impact on young people since it makes it so easy to be informed. Because of this, it is easier to form strong opinions since they are more educated. From personal experience, I can say that every time I use social media, there is at least one person talking about the election and how the candidates did something good or bad. As a result, I think millennials will have a large impact on the upcoming election since they are informed.
This article is about the deportation of recent refugees from Central America. Citizens of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador are coming to US borders to seek salvation from high levels of gang and drug violence, hunger, and poverty. The Department of Homeland Security has been deporting refugees that pose no threat whatsoever to make it clear that US borders are not open to illegal migration. In my opinion, I think the US should just focus on refugees that are criminals and look at the reason that the refugees came here in the first place.
I agree with you Katie. The system is definitely broken when it comes to deportations. Immigrants who are simply seeking refuge from a country filled with poverty and violence. There is a process to legally immigrate to the United States but when you're escaping circumstances such as these that process becomes far too long. People who support deportations usually support it thinking that ICE's priorities lie with the undocumented immigrants that pose a threat but in reality in ICE's world a person who has committed a misdemeanor is just as much a priority as a felon.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/opinion/stopping-north-koreas-nuclear-threat.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss I have always seen North Korea is a threat that needs to be dealt with not because of its what it can do but what it could inspire other countries to become. North Korea really does not pose a true threat to any major world powers without backing from other countries. The problem is that they inspire other country who are not in the greatest situations to become like this and have open hostility towards everyone. So they might have Nuclear weapon but those are not they major threat they have that can damage the United States.
I agree that the example North Korea is for other countries is the most threatening thing. However, I don't understand why politicians are just blowing it off. I believe the government when they say the explosion detected wasn't big enough to be a hydrogen bomb, but every threat should be taken seriously. If someone threatened to bomb Westland, that would be taken incredibly seriously, why isn't this just as serious? What scares me is that they are brushing this under the rug in order to keep the American people from being afraid but if there is a nuclear threat to our lives, we deserve to know all about it. Another thing is that I saw a Jimmy Fallon sketch where he went out on the street and said "North Korea finally made a Hydrogen bomb, something they've been striving for for a while, so everybody is really excited about it and congratulating them. Would you like to say anything to North Korea?" and people on the street actually said congratulations. Others were saying "if you dream it, you can do it." These people were clueless that there was a threat at all because the government is brushing it off like no big deal.
This article is saying that gun violence has become a problem in our country. Obama said that we need to put our differences aside and need to come and unite as one for the purpose of finding a solution that we can all agree on. I agree with the fact that gun violence has become a huge problem and crisis in our country. I also agree with him when he says that if we came together and tried to make a solution that we can all agree on then it would work out for us. That being said gun control will still be a controversial decision maker.
I agree Jaylon that gun control will remain a controversial decision. Both sides of this issue can't find common ground and that needs to change. Like the president addressed everyone needs to set their differences aside and compromise for a solution on gun control. Some hug the second amendment yet hey have to realize that times have changed and the laws need to be altered to meet the needs of modern society.
Yes, I agree that gun violence is a major problem. It can't be solved so easily without upsetting someone. You can't allow it to stay and you can't get rid of it. Maybe the solution is something that people can't fully agree with. With what Obama said, it seems something unrealistic to happen. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like a copout in addressing the issue but leaving it in a way that nothing is really done, just encouraging something to be done about it.
This article discusses how North Korea has recently initiated a threat that they are developing and testing nuclear weapons and how we should stop them. The writer of the article said that the government should do something about it because it is the "american" thing to do. While I don't agree with this statement, I do think we need to be more concerned. I would rather this not turn into another WWII Germany where Britain and France basically did nothing while Hitler was taking over countries.
This editorial compares Obama's presidency to Thomas Jefferson's way back in 1801. Both are something close to pacifists but the world took a turn and they had to deal with the Middle East. Both tried bombing and neither were successful in this. The author concludes that Obama must follow Jefferson's example and use a ground war in his last year of presidency in order for him to get a check next to taking out ISIS. While I don't know that a ground war is the best idea, I definitely agree that bombings are not working and that history repeats itself. Either way, we shall see how President Obama handles it fairly soon.
Everyone in the nation has heard of it, everyone in the nation has seen it, some have even been greatly affected by it on a personal level, losing one's that they loved deeply to it, I'm of course, talking about gun violence. It is a very prevalent problem in this nation, with constant stories of people being killed in mass shootings that happen so often and so quickly that it's sickening. No one denies that this is a problem, the real debate is on what we should do to stop it. Democrats have been pushing for a solution in the form of gun control legislation for a long time, but even the most watered down compromises on the matter are shut down immediately in congress. They try and try and try and yet nothing seems to be able to be done about the issue. This continued struggle is most likely what spurned President Obama to issue an executive order to try to bring in more gun control. Can you blame him? He's constantly seem news on this issue, and constantly has had to issue statements on the matter with far more frequency than anyone should have to, and if nothing can seem to be done in congress, the time calls for desperate measures. Something needed to be done to try to curb gun violence, this order is Obama, in the last year of his presidency, trying to do something in a time where nothing has been done to deal with gun violence. Common sense gun reform is what he's pushing for, let's just hope that this order helps to deal with this national epidemic while it can, because executive orders can be easily overturned when a president leaves office, meaning the next president could revoke this order with little effort on their first day in office. It's divisive, it's controversial, but it's something, hopefully that something will last, and become the catalyst for everything when it comes to true common sense gun legislation.
I have to agree with Amal. Iran is more of a threat than Saudi arabia is for one specific reason. That reason is that Saudi Arabia doesn't support the Muslim Brotherhood. Iran does however and they have always been very free willed when it comes to attacking us.
There bad been a lot of reported brutality of inmates by correctional officers in new York prisons. There is obviously a problem and changes need to happen in the prisons. I feel strongly that everyone realizes that the problems are there but finding a way to resolve all these problems won't be easy. The system that is currently in placed is very inefficient in some aspects. I do realize that people in these prisons might have committed horrendous crimes but they deserve to be treated as humans and not abused by the power of authority of police officers and guards. Power of police officers and any force should be strongly defined so that the problems that we have today can terminate.
This article tells about the advantages of focusing efforts into climate saving technology(aka pollution reducing). Which I agree on, the only thing, based off my knowledge of pollution reducing efforts, whats keeping us from doing it is the costly amount to acquire/research this technology. However, the benefits do not really help short-term, they massively help long term. Possibly reducing deaths relating to pollution in the area, general climate change and maybe even helping advance new technology that we discover to solve energy problems. It's really up to the people in general to do this, or at least express enough to get attention of somebody with the resources to put it forward.
This article is about how the president has vetoed the Obamacare repeal bill. In the video on the page, Paul Ryan speaks about how it has been almost five years since a bill like this was last drafted. He then goes on to state "With this bill, we are standing for life." Now this is the first time he is speaking as a house speaker in 2016 and I have to say I agree with him. "Obamacare doesn't work." is one thing I also agree with that he states. He goes on to state that the outcomes of Obamacare are not proof that it is working but more proof of the fact that it is failing. On a republican side of things I have to agree with him that this bill most definitely does not work at all. and I do definitely agree that all citizens do deserve better.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/31/opinions/jones-ellison-energy-climate-health/index.html This article is about a new climate agreement made in Paris to prevent climate change by keeping global temperature increase to two degrees or less per year. This all started because of a little boy that developed asthma from the pollution being so bad where he lives, and his father fought to make sure something was done. I think this is a really lofty goal that can only be achieved if multiple countries are really committed to it. I hope more people start to care about our planet and work on better energy resources to save ourselves and our planet.
This article is about the current situation of immigration among the Obama Administration and how a recent flow of immigrants have caused both trouble for Obama and Homeland security. To me it's simple, don't deport families who came and got there living in America the right way. What should be focused on is catching those who have come illegally. It's unfair those who try to escape the problems of crime, drugs and etc in their own country want to come to America and earn their living the right way, have to be deported back instead of those who come the wrong way. I think Homeland Security has to attack the problem at it's core. Single mothers are out there and need help. We need to do all we can and open our arms wide open to these mothers and children.
In this article Nate Silver outlines three of his theories on why Donald Trump has risen to the heights he is at. The first one is that the surge in popularity in polls for Trump is a populist revolution among Republicans. Like it is said in the article, I think this is the weakest theory of the three and doesn't actually hold any weight. I don't believe Trump's rise is due to a radical wave of conservative ideas taking center stage. The second theory is a power vacuum among Republicans, as the voters go against what the elites of the party would want. I think this is plausible, and we've seen it in the past with some of the examples given, of radical candidates party leaders don't want getting nomination getting out to big leads thanks to some surges, but then dying back down when the primaries come around. The final theory is one that I think is very true, that Trump's popularity is due to a vicious cycle of media exposure. Flipping to Fox News while channel surfing I've seen some segments of shows, and over a 20 minute period on one primetime show, nothing was discussed other than Donald Trump. Even if it's about how much they dislike Trump and don't think he can win, it's still media exposure. The more he gets the more he will go up in polls. Any press is good press for Trump, and even seething debates over his inappropriate remarks will cause him to surge in polls because he is the hottest topic in America right now. The best way to handle Trump would be just to ignore him.
This article is about how the Powerball drawing Saturday night will be extremely informative in predicting future jackpots and will provide much useful data. It's hard to estimate the chance the jackpot is won, because we've never had one this large, so to estimate you would have to extrapolate the previous results. It also details the recent decrease of chance that the Powerball changed and shows how it can obviously be seen to have had a positive affect because now we have a jackpot this high right now.
Someone showed this to me today earlier and I literally thought it was a joke. But apparently it is not. This article is basically about a Missouri lawmaker who proposed a bill Wednesday to require lobbyists to disclose sexual relations with lawmakers as 'gifts' just so that the bribing in a sense is documented. I think the whole idea is stupid and extremely weird and creepy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/opinion/donald-trump-drags-bill-clintons-baggage-out.html?ref=opinion&_r=0 Donald Trump tries desperately to take negative publicity off of himself by throwing others under the bus. The things that Bill Clinton has said or done in the past should in no way affect anything having to do with Hillary Clinton. Those beliefs are indirectly related to her and are most likely not HER beliefs whereas Donald Trump has blatantly made racist and sexist remarks. “ Hillary Clinton is accountable for her own public actions.” I agree with this. The beliefs of Bill Clinton are NOT in any way, shape, or form the beliefs of his wife, Hillary Clinton and trying to call them the same is ridiculous.
This editorial is about how obnoxiousness is the new form of charisma. The article talks about how the 2 contenders in the republican primaries, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, have made it this far basically because they are buttholes and people like it. Trump says that "if you aren't with him you're a loser" while Ted Cruz says that "If you're not with him then you're godless." I personally am not a supporter of the way that they act. It's way too extreme and in my opinion not vote worthy. Honestly, I don't see how people find this behavior okay. If either of this republicans become president then this will forever be changes. Trump is crazy and cynical. He vows to "carpet bomb" parts of the Middle East if he becomes president. How do you think that will turn out for us?
i agree with you Raquel because i still dont know how or why Trump is still in this race. It makes me sick that knowing people are either with him or think like him.If trump becomes president i believe that he would not only set back America 100 years back but humanity as well.
This is about Obama executive order on gun control. people are making sound bad when in fact its a good idea in my opinion because all its doing is reduce the risk killers or sick people of getting guns that can cause a major killing. As i was reading, it showed facts that can reduce all this killings. some people are acting as Obama is trying to take all guns away.
The discrimination of the person that is trying to be the future leader of our country disgusts me. Just because a Muslim is in the building does not mean that people should be paranoid. Our school has many students that are Muslim and our student body accepts that. We don't accuse them of having bombs and being terrorist just because of their religion and nationality. If only people would just look past things and be accepting of others.
This article is about Europe taking in refugees. Some countries don't want to take in refugees and believe their county would be safer that way. A quota system was proposed by the European Commission. The European Union would have to decide how to distribute refugees and how many to take in. The system would also allow unwilling countries to bribe other countries to keep refugees from coming in. I think this system would be a good idea but countries shouldn't be allowed to bribe other countries to keep refugees out.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/05/opinions/robbins-obama-cry/index.html
ReplyDeleteThis is an article about President Obama's speech regarding gun control and the new policy he just out in place. The new requirement is that all people in the business of selling guns or any other type of firearm, must be a licensed firearm dealer by the Government. I think that this new mandate is great and may stop the next shooter. However, I don't think that it is enough in the lines of gun control. We need more technology on our guns. Like in the newer 007 movie where his gun had a fingerprint scanner on it. So that way 007 was the only person allowed to shoot the gun. It's getting to the age of technology and I think that this would be a wise next step towards our protection from mass shooters. But the main thing that stood out to me is how emotional Obama got during the speech. He flashes back to horrible memories or the Columbine shootings or the Movie theater shooting during the showing of "The Dark Knight Rises."And he goes back to that terrible day in 2012 at Sandy Hook elementary. He is brought to tears when remembering that these children who were in the 1st grade will never get to experience things all people should experience. Like Graduating High School and for some College, or having kids and starting a family. Or even getting their driver's license and a new first car. This is a very touching moment when he is emotional because for once, he shifts the focus from politics to the common feelings of most Americans. Which causes us to really care and understand his feelings. This shows some people that even though he might have the biggest title in the nation being the President. He is still an American citizen just like us.
I like how you brought up the technology from the newer 007 movie. I definitely think that with this age of technology, we should be able to find a way to make guns safer for everyone.
DeleteI do think that everyone should registered by the U.S. Government and this is not a problem for most businesses. The thing is, this will cause many gun shows to fail and this is what many people do for a living. Also I do not think we have the technology remotely related to the stuff in the 007 movie. Most guns require very simple mechanisms to fire. It's basically a lever that slams into the primer on the bullet. There are no electronics at all in them. An electronic lock system doesn't sound too hard to implicate, but you would have to install some sort of recognition system like the fingerprint scanner. Since Apple has something like this in their phones, that doesn't sound too complicated. But then you realize you would have to have a battery in them to operate it. That would make most pistols twice as big and would defeat the purpose of concealed carry. Furthermore, you would either have to keep it charged or replace the batteries all the time. In able to keep it charged, you would have to buy a chord, pay a higher electricity bill, and leave the gun out all night so it can charge. Someone could easily go into your house and press your finger up to it, kill you, and then cut off your finger for future use. It just isn't practical. On the other hand, using replaceable batteries would mean having to buy batteries every week just to power it. The price for 22 bullets is already like $8 per box, then plus the cost of batteries would make it more like $12 every time you fire the thing. This doesn't even include the cost of the gun in the first place. Pistol prices are at least $500 for a good one, and shotguns and rifles already cost a least $1200 and that's cheap. Adding these scanners would double, maybe even triple, these prices. It simply isn't worth it. Maybe 15 years from now, but I can bet it won't be happening soon
DeleteYour point that guns should have something like finger print technology is a good idea in theory, but it just isn't realistic. Even if they were to be put in effect, there would be away to get around it, or some kind of modification. And if only a certain person could shoot the gun, what would happen to all the women and children who sometimes have to defend themselves with the only weapon in the house? There are too many flaws and loopholes.
DeleteIt talks about how he wept when discussing the first graders and staff killed in the Newtown school massacre in 2012. He stated that the crying was not empathy but of anger. Anger that the Republicans refuse to pass stricter gun regulations even after the Newton incident. Obama has talked to lawyers to see what he can legally do without the permission of Congress in his last year of office. It turns out he can make background checks stricter as well as make the selling and distributing of guns safer for the United States. I sincerely feel bad when I see other people cry, but to see our President cry over this--that must mean it means a great deal to him. It is obviously important.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0106-mcmanus-obama-gun-executive-orders-20160106-column.html
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/opinion/president-barack-obama-guns-are-our-shared-responsibility.html?ref=opinion&_r=0
ReplyDeleteI agree immensely with President Obama's recent statement on gun control. He is not trying to abolish gun entirely, just put stricter restrictions on guns, this is completely reasonable. He made valid points, many people have died because of gun violence. Many other countries have strict gun control in general, or no guns at all. "If a child can’t open a bottle of aspirin, we should also make sure she can’t pull the trigger of a gun." Obama had used this statement along with saying that we make sure food is clean and safe, we need to make sure that everything else is as well. Many people disagree, saying we need guns, but we are currently in a comfortable state where there is no real need for them except for sport.
I agree it was finally time to do something on the gun control problem. It is sad though that it took this long and an executive order for this to be accomplished. That even though we saw countless mass shootings the people who were supposed to represent us, our representatives and senator, were unable to figure out a way to fix our situation. Obama's executive order might not fix the problem completely but it is a step in the right direction.
DeleteI strongly agree with that sentiment too Alexis. President Obama is very justified in his decision to issue executive action, seeing as nothing can be done in congress. This is significant progress when it comes to common sense gun control, let's just hope more steps to make real progressive change follow suit.
DeleteReply to Brittney's: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0106-mcmanus-obama-gun-executive-orders-20160106-column.html
ReplyDeleteI liked that you brought up that this is a big deal to President Obama. Most Presidents usually never cry in front of media. It is kind of crazy how President Obama and the Republicans are so stubborn and not willing to appease each other. I am hoping that Obama is successful in making gun control stricter.
Reply to Curtiss: I also think that Obama's new mandate on gun policy is a great idea. I think it is crazy that firearms dealers weren't required to licensed by the government in the first place. The fact that Obama got so emotional in front of the entire country shows just how big of a deal this really is. As he was listing off all of the tragedies caused by shootings the citizens can really start to realize how many people have died due to unsafe gun regulations.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/07/opinion/france-forfeits-its-own-values.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=0
ReplyDeleteThis article is all about an amendment to the French constitution allowing for the French government to strip citizenship to those who are found guilty of acts of terrorism. I don't see anything wrong with taking away citizenship from those who deserve it. What I see as wrong is the fact that this new amendment only applies to French citizens of dual nationality. This amendment should apply to all French citizens, regardless of their nationality. It is extremely unfair to those who have a dual nationality that they can have their citizenship taken away, but those who are native born French don't have to worry about it.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/07/middleeast/isis-fighter-executes-mother-reports/index.html
ReplyDeleteA member of ISIS recently killed his own mother in front of an audience. She was accused of apostasy but she was turned in by her son. The mother was just trying to escape from ISIS but her son did not agree. I think this is horrible for anyone to do especially your mother. I believe if someone is trying to leave a group they should be allowed but in ISIS they have some very radical ideas like a gang so there was probably no stopping the mom from being killed.
I agree with you on this. Even though you are a member of ISIS, you should still be a human and have feelings for those you love. He killed his own mother because she didn't agree with the group and wanted to leave. Rather than killing her or getting her killed, I felt like he should've just turned the other way. I mean it was his on mother.
Deletehttp://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/01/08/taya-kyle-confronts-obama-on-gun-actions-says-new-rules-give-false-hope.html?intcmp=hpbt2
ReplyDeleteI read this and was really swayed towards one side the full read through, I agree one person, man or women saying they know whats best then making a law is taking away what I want so badly freedom, I have a right to vote on my representatives, and they reflect what I think, they are my voice, which makes it fine that they make laws, but for one person to say hey i know based its a law now is not fair and plain bull crap.
Austin McMastersJanuary 8, 2016 at 8:25 AM
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2016/01/07/middleeast/isis-fighter-executes-mother-reports/index.html
A member of ISIS recently killed his own mother in front of an audience. She was accused of apostasy but she was turned in by her son. The mother was just trying to escape from ISIS but her son did not agree. I think this is horrible for anyone to do especially your mother. I believe if someone is trying to leave a group they should be allowed but in ISIS they have some very radical ideas like a gang so there was probably no stopping the mom from being killed.
Reply: I agree people should be aloud to leave when they want but others have strong unchanged ideas, we agree and disagree with them but to stop them is hard when they are extreme ideas.
I completely agree with you Johnnie, that people have the right of how to live their life. Many people in this society are becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol. This is because they just tried one smoke or drink and the instant they put it in their mouth, they have become addicted. Mr. Brickell told me the other day that "High School is different than College." That there is more work and you have to be fully committed to the better of your future. I think this connects because people have the choice whether to go to college or not. However, they will either choose to study and stay focused and live a successful life. Or they will get distracted by the other things in life and not be able to achieve their true potential.
DeleteReply to Alexis: I agree that Obama is doing the right things to have more gun safety. I respect the fact that he isn't trying to take away the second amendment because that would cause a major revolution and that's when guns would really be a problem.
ReplyDeletehttp://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/01/04/opinion/elections-have-consequences.html?_r=0
ReplyDeleteThe author argues that since Obama's reelection in 2012, Obama has done a lot in terms of economic policy. He got rid of the Bush and Reagan tax cuts for the very rich. Especially with how tax works in the US, I think it's fair that the wealthy pay more taxes. The poor and working class deserve tax cuts the most. I don't know why Republican presidential candidates scream that Obama is a failure of a president since under his term, the economy has significantly improved thanks to his stimulus package, and unemployment is only at 5%
I hear lots of people say bad things about Obama but I haven’t heard of anything he’s actually done wrong that’s really affected the country. The economy and unemployment rate have improved and gas prices are so much better, I’m not really sure why anyone would consider this to be failing.
Deletehttp://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/opinion/the-self-reliant-generation.html
ReplyDeleteThis article is about the affect millennials will have on the upcoming election and the political ideological trends among them. Millennials tend to identify as Democratic and lean towards leftist ideology. Hillary Clinton is winning the polls but Bernie Sanders wins the majority of young voters. This article predicts that millennials won't have a large affect on the upcoming election because although they have their political beliefs, he doesn't believe they'll take the time to vote or that their beliefs are strong enough to make them feel compelled to vote. I disagree with the writer on this. Millennials might not be the make or break of the election but they will have a large impact. As a result of social media, it's become easier to become informed of current events and form our opinions on controversial topics. As a result of this millennials are more passionate about their opinions and more educated. Social media also helps young people become informed on the candidates and it makes it easier for them to choose someone to support. When you go to social media sites you see a profound amount of support for Bernie Sanders and more and more people are supporting him as a result of media.
I agree with you Raquel. Social media has had a positive impact on young people since it makes it so easy to be informed. Because of this, it is easier to form strong opinions since they are more educated. From personal experience, I can say that every time I use social media, there is at least one person talking about the election and how the candidates did something good or bad. As a result, I think millennials will have a large impact on the upcoming election since they are informed.
Deletehttp://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/opinion/a-shameful-round-up-of-refugees.html
ReplyDeleteThis article is about the deportation of recent refugees from Central America. Citizens of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador are coming to US borders to seek salvation from high levels of gang and drug violence, hunger, and poverty. The Department of Homeland Security has been deporting refugees that pose no threat whatsoever to make it clear that US borders are not open to illegal migration. In my opinion, I think the US should just focus on refugees that are criminals and look at the reason that the refugees came here in the first place.
I agree with you Katie. The system is definitely broken when it comes to deportations. Immigrants who are simply seeking refuge from a country filled with poverty and violence. There is a process to legally immigrate to the United States but when you're escaping circumstances such as these that process becomes far too long. People who support deportations usually support it thinking that ICE's priorities lie with the undocumented immigrants that pose a threat but in reality in ICE's world a person who has committed a misdemeanor is just as much a priority as a felon.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/opinion/stopping-north-koreas-nuclear-threat.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
ReplyDeleteI have always seen North Korea is a threat that needs to be dealt with not because of its what it can do but what it could inspire other countries to become. North Korea really does not pose a true threat to any major world powers without backing from other countries. The problem is that they inspire other country who are not in the greatest situations to become like this and have open hostility towards everyone. So they might have Nuclear weapon but those are not they major threat they have that can damage the United States.
I agree that the example North Korea is for other countries is the most threatening thing. However, I don't understand why politicians are just blowing it off. I believe the government when they say the explosion detected wasn't big enough to be a hydrogen bomb, but every threat should be taken seriously. If someone threatened to bomb Westland, that would be taken incredibly seriously, why isn't this just as serious? What scares me is that they are brushing this under the rug in order to keep the American people from being afraid but if there is a nuclear threat to our lives, we deserve to know all about it. Another thing is that I saw a Jimmy Fallon sketch where he went out on the street and said "North Korea finally made a Hydrogen bomb, something they've been striving for for a while, so everybody is really excited about it and congratulating them. Would you like to say anything to North Korea?" and people on the street actually said congratulations. Others were saying "if you dream it, you can do it." These people were clueless that there was a threat at all because the government is brushing it off like no big deal.
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/opinion/president-barack-obama-guns-are-our-shared-responsibility.html?ref=opinion
ReplyDeleteThis article is saying that gun violence has become a problem in our country. Obama said that we need to put our differences aside and need to come and unite as one for the purpose of finding a solution that we can all agree on. I agree with the fact that gun violence has become a huge problem and crisis in our country. I also agree with him when he says that if we came together and tried to make a solution that we can all agree on then it would work out for us. That being said gun control will still be a controversial decision maker.
I agree Jaylon that gun control will remain a controversial decision. Both sides of this issue can't find common ground and that needs to change. Like the president addressed everyone needs to set their differences aside and compromise for a solution on gun control. Some hug the second amendment yet hey have to realize that times have changed and the laws need to be altered to meet the needs of modern society.
DeleteYes, I agree that gun violence is a major problem. It can't be solved so easily without upsetting someone. You can't allow it to stay and you can't get rid of it. Maybe the solution is something that people can't fully agree with. With what Obama said, it seems something unrealistic to happen. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like a copout in addressing the issue but leaving it in a way that nothing is really done, just encouraging something to be done about it.
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/opinion/stopping-north-koreas-nuclear-threat.html?ref=opinion
ReplyDeleteThis article discusses how North Korea has recently initiated a threat that they are developing and testing nuclear weapons and how we should stop them. The writer of the article said that the government should do something about it because it is the "american" thing to do. While I don't agree with this statement, I do think we need to be more concerned. I would rather this not turn into another WWII Germany where Britain and France basically did nothing while Hitler was taking over countries.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016/01/08/kilmeade-history-going-back-to-jefferson-proves-cant-defeat-extremists-long-distance.html
DeleteThis editorial compares Obama's presidency to Thomas Jefferson's way back in 1801. Both are something close to pacifists but the world took a turn and they had to deal with the Middle East. Both tried bombing and neither were successful in this. The author concludes that Obama must follow Jefferson's example and use a ground war in his last year of presidency in order for him to get a check next to taking out ISIS. While I don't know that a ground war is the best idea, I definitely agree that bombings are not working and that history repeats itself. Either way, we shall see how President Obama handles it fairly soon.
Oops. That's not a reply. Sorry.
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/opinion/president-barack-obama-guns-are-our-shared-responsibility.html?ref=opinion&_r=0
ReplyDeleteEveryone in the nation has heard of it, everyone in the nation has seen it, some have even been greatly affected by it on a personal level, losing one's that they loved deeply to it, I'm of course, talking about gun violence. It is a very prevalent problem in this nation, with constant stories of people being killed in mass shootings that happen so often and so quickly that it's sickening. No one denies that this is a problem, the real debate is on what we should do to stop it. Democrats have been pushing for a solution in the form of gun control legislation for a long time, but even the most watered down compromises on the matter are shut down immediately in congress. They try and try and try and yet nothing seems to be able to be done about the issue. This continued struggle is most likely what spurned President Obama to issue an executive order to try to bring in more gun control. Can you blame him? He's constantly seem news on this issue, and constantly has had to issue statements on the matter with far more frequency than anyone should have to, and if nothing can seem to be done in congress, the time calls for desperate measures. Something needed to be done to try to curb gun violence, this order is Obama, in the last year of his presidency, trying to do something in a time where nothing has been done to deal with gun violence. Common sense gun reform is what he's pushing for, let's just hope that this order helps to deal with this national epidemic while it can, because executive orders can be easily overturned when a president leaves office, meaning the next president could revoke this order with little effort on their first day in office. It's divisive, it's controversial, but it's something, hopefully that something will last, and become the catalyst for everything when it comes to true common sense gun legislation.
I have to agree with Amal. Iran is more of a threat than Saudi arabia is for one specific reason. That reason is that Saudi Arabia doesn't support the Muslim Brotherhood. Iran does however and they have always been very free willed when it comes to attacking us.
ReplyDeletehttp://nyti.ms/22Gw8ZZ
ReplyDeleteThere bad been a lot of reported brutality of inmates by correctional officers in new York prisons. There is obviously a problem and changes need to happen in the prisons. I feel strongly that everyone realizes that the problems are there but finding a way to resolve all these problems won't be easy. The system that is currently in placed is very inefficient in some aspects. I do realize that people in these prisons might have committed horrendous crimes but they deserve to be treated as humans and not abused by the power of authority of police officers and guards. Power of police officers and any force should be strongly defined so that the problems that we have today can terminate.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/31/opinions/jones-ellison-energy-climate-health/index.html
ReplyDeleteThis article tells about the advantages of focusing efforts into climate saving technology(aka pollution reducing). Which I agree on, the only thing, based off my knowledge of pollution reducing efforts, whats keeping us from doing it is the costly amount to acquire/research this technology. However, the benefits do not really help short-term, they massively help long term. Possibly reducing deaths relating to pollution in the area, general climate change and maybe even helping advance new technology that we discover to solve energy problems. It's really up to the people in general to do this, or at least express enough to get attention of somebody with the resources to put it forward.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/08/politics/obama-vetoes-obamacare-repeal-bill/index.html
ReplyDeleteThis article is about how the president has vetoed the Obamacare repeal bill. In the video on the page, Paul Ryan speaks about how it has been almost five years since a bill like this was last drafted. He then goes on to state "With this bill, we are standing for life." Now this is the first time he is speaking as a house speaker in 2016 and I have to say I agree with him. "Obamacare doesn't work." is one thing I also agree with that he states. He goes on to state that the outcomes of Obamacare are not proof that it is working but more proof of the fact that it is failing. On a republican side of things I have to agree with him that this bill most definitely does not work at all. and I do definitely agree that all citizens do deserve better.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/31/opinions/jones-ellison-energy-climate-health/index.html
ReplyDeleteThis article is about a new climate agreement made in Paris to prevent climate change by keeping global temperature increase to two degrees or less per year. This all started because of a little boy that developed asthma from the pollution being so bad where he lives, and his father fought to make sure something was done. I think this is a really lofty goal that can only be achieved if multiple countries are really committed to it. I hope more people start to care about our planet and work on better energy resources to save ourselves and our planet.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/09/us/a-rush-of-central-americans-compounds-obamas-immigration-task.html?_r=0
ReplyDeleteThis article is about the current situation of immigration among the Obama Administration and how a recent flow of immigrants have caused both trouble for Obama and Homeland security. To me it's simple, don't deport families who came and got there living in America the right way. What should be focused on is catching those who have come illegally. It's unfair those who try to escape the problems of crime, drugs and etc in their own country want to come to America and earn their living the right way, have to be deported back instead of those who come the wrong way. I think Homeland Security has to attack the problem at it's core. Single mothers are out there and need help. We need to do all we can and open our arms wide open to these mothers and children.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/three-theories-of-donald-trumps-rise/
ReplyDeleteIn this article Nate Silver outlines three of his theories on why Donald Trump has risen to the heights he is at. The first one is that the surge in popularity in polls for Trump is a populist revolution among Republicans. Like it is said in the article, I think this is the weakest theory of the three and doesn't actually hold any weight. I don't believe Trump's rise is due to a radical wave of conservative ideas taking center stage. The second theory is a power vacuum among Republicans, as the voters go against what the elites of the party would want. I think this is plausible, and we've seen it in the past with some of the examples given, of radical candidates party leaders don't want getting nomination getting out to big leads thanks to some surges, but then dying back down when the primaries come around. The final theory is one that I think is very true, that Trump's popularity is due to a vicious cycle of media exposure. Flipping to Fox News while channel surfing I've seen some segments of shows, and over a 20 minute period on one primetime show, nothing was discussed other than Donald Trump. Even if it's about how much they dislike Trump and don't think he can win, it's still media exposure. The more he gets the more he will go up in polls. Any press is good press for Trump, and even seething debates over his inappropriate remarks will cause him to surge in polls because he is the hottest topic in America right now. The best way to handle Trump would be just to ignore him.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/powerball-jackpot-800-million-odds/
ReplyDeleteThis article is about how the Powerball drawing Saturday night will be extremely informative in predicting future jackpots and will provide much useful data. It's hard to estimate the chance the jackpot is won, because we've never had one this large, so to estimate you would have to extrapolate the previous results. It also details the recent decrease of chance that the Powerball changed and shows how it can obviously be seen to have had a positive affect because now we have a jackpot this high right now.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/07/politics/missouri-lobbyist-sex-gift-bill/index.html
ReplyDeleteSomeone showed this to me today earlier and I literally thought it was a joke. But apparently it is not. This article is basically about a Missouri lawmaker who proposed a bill Wednesday to require lobbyists to disclose sexual relations with lawmakers as 'gifts' just so that the bribing in a sense is documented. I think the whole idea is stupid and extremely weird and creepy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/08/opinion/donald-trump-drags-bill-clintons-baggage-out.html?ref=opinion&_r=0
ReplyDeleteDonald Trump tries desperately to take negative publicity off of himself by throwing others under the bus. The things that Bill Clinton has said or done in the past should in no way affect anything having to do with Hillary Clinton. Those beliefs are indirectly related to her and are most likely not HER beliefs whereas Donald Trump has blatantly made racist and sexist remarks. “ Hillary Clinton is accountable for her own public actions.” I agree with this. The beliefs of Bill Clinton are NOT in any way, shape, or form the beliefs of his wife, Hillary Clinton and trying to call them the same is ridiculous.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/opinion/sunday/obnoxiousness-is-the-new-charisma.html?ref=opinion&_r=0
ReplyDeleteThis editorial is about how obnoxiousness is the new form of charisma. The article talks about how the 2 contenders in the republican primaries, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, have made it this far basically because they are buttholes and people like it. Trump says that "if you aren't with him you're a loser" while Ted Cruz says that "If you're not with him then you're godless." I personally am not a supporter of the way that they act. It's way too extreme and in my opinion not vote worthy. Honestly, I don't see how people find this behavior okay. If either of this republicans become president then this will forever be changes. Trump is crazy and cynical. He vows to "carpet bomb" parts of the Middle East if he becomes president. How do you think that will turn out for us?
i agree with you Raquel because i still dont know how or why Trump is still in this race. It makes me sick that knowing people are either with him or think like him.If trump becomes president i believe that he would not only set back America 100 years back but humanity as well.
Deletehttps://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/01/04/fact-sheet-new-executive-actions-reduce-gun-violence-and-make-our
ReplyDeleteThis is about Obama executive order on gun control. people are making sound bad when in fact its a good idea in my opinion because all its doing is reduce the risk killers or sick people of getting guns that can cause a major killing. As i was reading, it showed facts that can reduce all this killings. some people are acting as Obama is trying to take all guns away.
The discrimination of the person that is trying to be the future leader of our country disgusts me. Just because a Muslim is in the building does not mean that people should be paranoid. Our school has many students that are Muslim and our student body accepts that. We don't accuse them of having bombs and being terrorist just because of their religion and nationality. If only people would just look past things and be accepting of others.
ReplyDeletehttp://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/01/30/opinion/ending-the-refugee-deadlock.html
ReplyDeleteThis article is about Europe taking in refugees. Some countries don't want to take in refugees and believe their county would be safer that way. A quota system was proposed by the European Commission. The European Union would have to decide how to distribute refugees and how many to take in. The system would also allow unwilling countries to bribe other countries to keep refugees from coming in. I think this system would be a good idea but countries shouldn't be allowed to bribe other countries to keep refugees out.