The State Of Our Union

    President Obama, produced an eloquent, informative and utterly boring SOTU speech.  President Obama, is running toward the middle.  His recent legislative "success" and bump in approval ratings, after capitulating to demands by Republicans to extend tax cuts for the rich, have lead him to believe that the middle is what will get him re-elected.   In his speech Obama simply took easily agreeable ideas, and proposed that if adopted our country will be strengthened.   His proposals crossed both sides of the aisle. They make sense, most are good ideas, and yes they will strengthen our union.   However, not a single one of his proposals or ideas is one that the country desperately needs. Not a single one of his proposals is one that will revolutionize our country or dramatically change its course.  Together as a single package, his proposals are solid, reasonable and in the short-term may lead to him being re-elected.
  However, Barack Obama was not elected to be a mere administrator, or compromiser.  Barack Obama was elected to transform our country.  He was elected as the candidate of change, and hope.  I expected more.  I expected leadership.  I expected Obama to live up to his own reputation as a great speaker and equal that reputation with great accomplishments and great action.
   The President failed to speak on several issues in which his leadership is sorely needed.  Where was his call for increase in gun control?  If there was ever a time to call to renew the popular assault weapons ban, now is the time.  The President did not talk enough about unemployment.  It is still way too high and when the underemployment rate is included climbs to 19%.  Decreasing this number is the #1 way to improve the lives of everyday Americans.  Where was the talk about global climate change?  The problem is real, and has real consequences, and the President cannot ignore it.  The Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United, and its allowance of unlimited corporate spending along with the continued misinterpretation of the 14th amendment (corporate personhood) is perhaps the biggest threat to our democracy, and it was completely ignored.  And finally the increase in income inequality, and decrease in social mobility over the last 30 years is a direct result of the economic policies of the last three decades, and has only grown worse with the great recession and must be met head on and confronted and reversed.
   The President must do more than just compromise on these issues, he must lead.  The President must stand on his principles on these issues.  He must do what is best for the country and not what he thinks will get him re-elected.  He must take his stand and take his case directly to the American people.  Obama has claimed on several occasions that he would rather be a transformative one term president than a mediocre two term president.  Well, I don't believe winning a second term and being transformative must be mutually exclusive.  But Obama must remember what got him elected in the first place.
  Barack Obama was elected in 2008, because of a historically high turnout by young people.  These young voters, (23 million 18-29 yr olds)  elected a rather young, first term senator, with an amazing ability to speak clearly and inspire them to action.  Yet, it is these same young voters that are historically unreliable, and unengaged.  It is these same young voters that stayed home in 2010.  However, they still crave that hope, change and leadership that candidate Obama promised.  They may not pay attention, or notice that it takes two branches of government to pass laws, and they may not care.  Obama must engage and speak to these voters or they will stay home in 2012.  What they want is leadership, and Tuesdays speech was not one of a leader but rather one from a compromiser.  If President Obama wants any chance of re-election and if our country wants any hope to emerge from our recession and regain the prosperity of the middle class then let's hope that Obama decides to lead.

Guns and Arizona

   It has now been over ten days since the tragedy in Arizona where six people were killed and 13 were injured including Congresswoman Giffords. The reaction has ranged from those blaming harsh and violent rhetoric, to those using the incident to become martyrs themselves.  Much has been said and will continue to be said about gun control policy in the United States.  I myself have had multiple conversations about gun control in light of the tragedy.
   Throughout these conversations many different cliche's, analogies and arguments have been made back and forth, however throughout them all I have noticed that those on the status quo side of our gun control laws simply do not live in reality.  Among arguments for keeping the status quo I have heard, "guns do not kill people, people kill people." "Where will it stop, will knives soon be outlawed?"  "Cars are more dangerous than guns, so why don't we outlaw cars?"  "There is only one way to interpret the 2nd amendment." "Laws only effect those who follow them, criminals don't follow laws so what good would new laws do?" "If everyone carried a gun, we would all be much safer."  All these cliche's and others like them seem to be the bulk of the status quo argument.
   I have not heard one argument promoting the status quo that makes any sense to me.  If anyone has one or can link to one I would be most grateful if you could share.  The thing is no one wants guns completely outlawed.  Even finding someone who just wants handguns outlawed is very difficult.  Guns are part of our culture.  Americans love guns.  This is ok.

A semi-automatic Kalashnikov AKM rifle

   However, the arguments for just reasonable, common sense gun laws are overwhelming.  The assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004, was just common sense legislation that even 57 percent of gun owners supported at the time.  Yet, even now many people seem convinced that this common sense legislation is an outrageous infringement on their 2nd amendment rights.  Even George W. Bush supported renewing the ban. Enacting similar legislation after the Arizona tragedy has been discussed, but has very little chance to actually be passed in the republican controlled house.  It is really too bad, as some sort of increase in gun control laws is a mainstream popular view that a large majority of the country holds.  (When looking at this poll I become even more surprised at the number of people I speak to, who seemingly are for the status quo, perhaps they are just more outspoken that those in favor of tighter laws.)
 
   For those that support the status quo; are there no restrictions on guns of any kind that you will support?  After all, what lawful citizen needs a semi-automatic Kalashnikov rifle?  Does the 2nd amendment really allow any citizen to own any firearm in existence?  Surely no one would make such an argument?  Or would they: (skip to 3:58)

 These are the sorts of arguments I find myself listening to in the wake of the tragedy in Arizona.  Not allowing people to purchase assault rifles or clips that contain 15, 30 or 50 rounds and up, or making true background checks required, is not unreasonable.  In fact I would argue it is just common sense.  Gun laws are not a slippery slope ending with the banning of all firearms.  Instead it seems we are much closer to a slippery slope where there are little to no restrictions on gun use and ownership in the United States.  Yet, status quo advocates continue to play the persecuted martyrs who at any moment will have their 2nd amendment rights taken away from them by our "crazy liberal, gun banning President."  

  While I realize, I have not added much to the debate in what is my inaugural issues post.  I do hope, despite my skepticism, that someone may respond with a coherent rational for the status quo.  I also believe that much more important than the gun control debate is a debate on what really causes violent crime.  Whether it be our mental health system, economic justice, our education system, or just the state of our economy; these are the true causes of violent crime, and issues which can have much more lasting effect in our society.  These issues are ones that really effect people's lives, and ones I hope to touch on more in the future.

Introduction

Welcome to my blog.
For quite some time now I have needed an outlet to express my thoughts on a variety of topics. As an unemployed school teacher currently underemployed as a grocery cashier, I have plenty of time to read and think on many topics. I spend much of my time consuming various media and forming opinions on it. I hope this blog will be a more productive expression of my thoughts than the random Facebook debates I seem to become engaged in now. I plan to post on a variety of topics, from current events, and politics to entertainment and movies. I may even touch on sports, but plan to shy away from personal or family topics. While I do not pretend to expect many followers, I do hope that my posts will offer engaging, productive and civil dialogue between myself and my readers. Thank you in advance to any who may read.