Do You Know What's Worth Fighting For?

by Amanda Nix

The recent health care bill has caused a lot of controversy. Yet another controversy it is causing is the opposition to the abortion language in the bill. It clearly went against The Hyde Amendment which bars federal funding for elective abortions. The language in the bill reflects a very delicate agreement that the pro-abortion and anti-abortionists have come up with. The bill almost was not passed because of this delicate subject.

Rep. Bart Stupak, a Democrat from Michigan, constructed a much stricter abortion law one year ago in hopes of it making it into the bill. Stupak was not going to go down without a fight. He knew the right-wing conservatives and even the liberals were not going to be happy with any bill that had abortion language in it.  The word itself has caused so much political chaos that even the most liberal politician would be scared of it.

Living Out A Lie But Having The Time Of His Life

by Amanda Nix

It began four years ago in Florida where a prison guard began his daily routine of checking for contraband in the inmates’ cell when he found a bunch of papers. Not drugs or a weapon, but papers with several birthdates and social security numbers. What he had found turned out to be tax forms and a “how to” pamphlet. The guard turned the papers into his supervisor, not knowing they had just stumbled across a $1 million dollar tax scam.

Inmates in Munroe County Jail had been filing tax returns with fake names and fake jobs, using a remedy of only $5,000 each return to keep them under the radar.  Those involved were all conspirators passing around cheat sheets with how to fill out the complicated forms.

I've Been Waiting A Long Time For This Moment To Come

by Amanda Nix

The debate over health care has been a vital one for decades. It has centered on questions like “Who has the fundamental right to receive health care?” “Who would be responsible for paying for this change? And “Will the federal government make such a change?” This past month, they did make that change when the health care reform was passed.

In the United States, 62% of all personal bankruptcies are cited from medical debt. This is overwhelmingly high in such a developed country. The U.S. is clearly divided among party lines on whom, if anyone, should receive free health care, and if they do, when?

Everything You Employ Is Meant For Me To Destroy

Just because the health care legislation has passed doesn't mean the anger surrounding it has dissipated. Multiple angry voice mails have been left for congresspeople involved in the passing of health care. Below is a link to a couple examples of the hate and anger this legislation has created. This time, the messages were for Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak. It is actually a frightening glimpse into the mind of people easily influenced by the likes of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. This example is also by no means the worst of the voice mails that are out there. Also, just as a warning, the audio does contain explicit language.

Listen to the audio here

Desperate, But Not Hopeless

This week, President Obama spoke about the tax breaks the stimulus made available for first-time home buyers, as well as college students. In his weekly internet address, Obama said the tax breaks (which could benefit more than 100 million Americans) can are still available to those who filed their tax returns prior to the Apr. 15 deadline if they amend their returns. Watch the full video below.

[Full article here]

I Think We've Got A Bleeder Right Now

Ashley Freund, 20, on break at 
Applebees
Originally uploaded by baileyw

Bailey Wilkins

December 10, 2009-Ashley Freund has the same common worries as many of her fellow young people: work, bills, friendships, boyfriends, the list continues. However, Freund has an additional worry that is becoming more and more common for people her age, that being health care.

Freund, 20, lives in Grand Blanc with her parents. They previously had health care from her dad’s job, but since being laid off in September, the entire family has gone without coverage. Without income, the have no money to provide basic needs, nonetheless health insurance.

“The biggest problem I have is the stress I know it causes my parents,” says Freund. “They hate that they can’t provide for me, but I don’t blame them. I just wish I could take care of myself.”

Taking care of herself provides yet another obstacle. Freund works as a hostess at Applebee’s. The company does not provide benefits, however they do try to help their employees get coverage.

“Applebee’s teamed with Aflac to try to provide ‘affordable’ coverage,” says Freund, “but I make like $500 a month. Just the $80 a month for benefits is too much.  I can’t afford any of it.”

This is an issue that causes a lot of additional stress for people of all ages.  Nationalized health care was one of the main issues that Obama was elected president on (for more on his plan, see the video below). The House of Representatives recently passed their own form of a health care bill and the Senate appears to be on track to do the same.  If they do, both legislative groups must conference to agree on one bill for a vote, and if passed, then the president must sign the bill into a law.  

According to a Gallup report, 16 percent of Americans do not have health insurance coverage of any kind.  Over 31 percent of Americans age 19-29 are currently living without health insurance. However, there are some programs out there trying to help.

The World Is Spinning Around Out Of Control Again

Click here to view the rest

In the most important political news of the past week, last Tuesday President Obama gave his West Point Address (part one of the speech can be viewed above).  While the topics varied to things like job creation and healthcare, most of the focus was on the War in Afghanistan.  The Huffington Post did a story covering the speech just hours after it ended.

"Declaring "our security is at stake," President Barack Obama ordered an additional 30,000 U.S. troops into the long war in Afghanistan Tuesday night, nearly tripling the force he inherited as commander in chief. He promised an impatient public he would begin bringing units home in 18 months.

The buildup to about 100,000 troops will begin almost immediately – the first Marines will be in place by Christmas – and will cost $30 billion for the first year alone.

In a prime-time speech at the U.S. Military Academy, the president told the nation his new policy was designed to "bring this war to a successful conclusion," though he made no mention of defeating Taliban insurgents or capturing al-Qaida terrorist leader Osama bin Laden."
[Read Full Article Here]

Obama went on to say that we must not give al-Qaida a "safe haven" and we must prepare the Afghani government to handle this issue on their own.  There has been slightly odd reaction to the speech.  In an unusual event for this nation's politics, there is not a clear partisan divide on the opinion of this speech.