President Barack Obama's Speech to Congress

I put this blog off until now so that I could write about Barack Obama's speech to congress. Our President showed us one of the most important reasons he was elected; his brilliant ability to connect to his audience. He followed up his delivery with context that tackled the largest issue currently facing our nation; the weak economy.

He began by defending the financial stability plan saying that he would hold "the banks accountable for the assistance they receive". He also reassured that this is something that he would not like to do but if nothing was done the problem would have become worse and continued over a longer period of time. To address the problem the President called for massive reforms on our regulatory systems of the banking industry, reforms that "rewards drive and innovation and punish shortcuts and abuse”. But he conceded that the recovery plan financial stability plan were only short term solutions to our problems.

The president’s speech also looked at securing our nations long-term future, focusing on four main idea's; improving education, eliminating our current debt, reducing health care cost and producing our own renewable energy.

Our president asked that "every American commit to at least one year or more of higher education". The basic idea is that we need to better our education and its structure because other country's that out-teach our country today, will out-perform us tomorrow. This struck me as a breath of fresh air. It feels good to see our President focusing on issues that WILL help our country's future. He acknowledged the high price of tuition and announced that if you were willing to volunteer in your community or for your country that education will be available for you.

The President also said that he planned on reducing our nation’s debt by ending no bid contracts in Iraq, reforming tax codes to remove "breaks that reward corporations that ship our jobs overseas" all while giving tax breaks to 95% of 'working America'. He said that he has already found ways to reduce spending by 2 trillion dollars over the next decade by going through the nation’s budget “line by line”. He also announced that he is going to announce a plan to "leave Iraq to its people and responsibly end the war " and that under his administration he will not hide the cost of the war.

Health care was clearly an important issue in his speech. He made it clear that our current system is bogging down our business and hurting our economy. He announced he wanted to reform health care, to make moving jobs and industry out of our country less appealing.

He announced that within his stimulus plan there was a focus on developing renewable energy, which would end our dependence on foreign oil and create American jobs. This is an issue which I feel is very important. I believe that if Americans could find an alternative renewable energy source, it would not only cut our energy costs but we could even create a technology in which we could make money off of. (Exporting the energy and teaching others how to use/create it) We could save along with make money off of finding new energy source.

I believe the president’s speech was straight to the point and reassuring. He expressed his ideas clearly and effectively. One strong message he made is that our current problems are not democratic or republican issues but American issues. I believe that this is where his speech can connect to our own class but maybe not in the traditional way of differences. I believe that it his speech showed the parties similarities. Even though the two parties may disagree on specific issues, both parties are still looking to create a better America. Members of both parties may have slightly different methods but both are trying to protect and shape the country they love. I believe he did a great of uniting the parties while trying to create a larger vision of a stronger and more dynamic America.

Check out the speech if you missed it! - YouTube link

75 billion dollar housing plan

"While still voluntary, the program contains a mix of carrots and sticks for mortgage servicers and investors, both of whom have been seen as resistant to modifying loans. The program would not only give servicers $1,000 for each modification, but would give them another $1,000 a year for three years if the borrower stays current. It will also give $500 to servicers and $1,500 to mortgage holders if they modify at-risk loans before the borrower falls behind." ( "Obama: Aid 9 million homeowners", Tami Luhby, CNNMoney.com senior writer)

An interesting cash incentive to loan providers to help out the average hard working American home-owner. I found this artical to be an easy to understand lay out of a very intriguing plan. It also laid out a part of the plan that included changing the bankruptcy law to include allowing judges to change and adjust mortgage loans. I think Obama is providing step by step, however small they may be, beneficial changes to the country to allow the government to help save us in our weak economic state, rather than smother us into personal financial failure.

Blog Schedule

Your post should be up by Thursday of the week you are scheduled for.
2/16-------------------3/30
Malachy--------------Kaitlyn
Chuck----------------Chuck
Tracie---------------Kerry
2/23 –-----------------4/6
Jackie----------------Ben O
Daniel C--------------Chris B
Ben O-----------------Tracie
3/2 -------------------4/13
Whitney---------------Kaitlyn
Ben D-----------------Ben D
Dan M-----------------Chris B
3/9 -------------------4/20
Jackie-----------------Dan M
Jane-------------------Jane
Chris S----------------Chris S
3/23 -------------------4/27
Whitney ----------------Kerry
Daniel C----------------Tracie
Malachy

Links for Tracie's post

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Third Link

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Political Parties and their role in government regarding specifically the E.U. in comparison with the U.S.

The greatest part of political parties is their role in government.  Every political party has many strengths and weaknesses that make them strong or weak; recognized or ignored.  The United States shows that political parties all have their place in government.  Whether in the majority party where there is a shared power between the Republicans and the Democrats where power is cycled through both or part of the minority parties including the Green Party or the Libertarian Party every seems to have their own role.  

The same can be said about European politics.  Although there's some stigma with European politics in regards to the European Union as there is with every new rising power, but there are also great attributes that make the E.U. strong.  For example, although the E.U. is undergoing some kinks in the machine there are those who are trying to make an effort to help new States easily transition into the Union.  Interest groups and political parties across borders are trying to help each other economically, environmentally, and socially.  With a wide variety of Interest groups and political party, the E.U. is able to cover a lot of ground.  The great part is there are a lot of issues to be discussed and a lot of variety of techniques from cross cultural borders to help deal with these issues.  The downside is that with so many issues being bombarded at the same time, there might be an overload of information and most of the issues might not get accomplished or even discussed.  For more information about the different interest groups in the European Union visit the link below.

Comparatively speaking there are several different groups in the U.S. who are also making an effort to help groups and States transition successfully into the Union.  There was a great piece out together in 2001 put together by the American Institute that discusses this precise transition.  By explaining the development of the E.U., as well as the policies, and the technological aspects behind the E.U.  One the most important parts for new political experiments to be a success, is by receiving criticism and comments from other democracies to help.  Also, they devolve into how political parties within these democracies can help by publishing work that can be used as a guide, as well as creating relationships based on diplomacy.  For more information, visit the link below. 

 

Finally, when discussing the E.U. on top of relying on diplomacy of other interest groups, political parties internationally; understanding the mechanics behind the roles of interest groups, political parties; as well as understanding that the interest groups, political parties are trying to make a real difference this detaches some of the original stigma behind the E.U.  From 2000-2003 interest groups among the E.U. set several goals involving security, economic resolutions, and rural development.  It's in these way that political parties and interest groups are able to make their mark in policy.  People want change; Interest groups push for change and through their implementations legislature can be passed and that is how stigma turns from passive to positive in development.