Thesis Should woman who give birth to drug & alcohol babies get sterilized?

I am going to vote for the one that Farhan and myself wrote. Not to sound pretentious, I just think we wrote a pretty good argument against forced sterilization. Thanks to all who voted for us.

BEst thesis

My vote goes towards myself and Chad because I felt that we had a strong thesis that brougt. people more into the essay and firmly stood our ground on where we stand for the situation. This can become a big issue out there in the world and people would make idiotic decisions because a majority of humanity are selfish and only think for themselves. .

Best thesis imo

Personally my vote went to the thesis about senoirs graduates to complete some type essay. The thesis was strong and to the point and because it hit the nail right on the head, it clicked my my head and got me interested. And thinking of this makes me wonder i that would effect myself if my old high school would require me to complete such a task, it might of actually helped me in my career descion

Best Thesis

For the best thesis, I also chose the one we did regarding whether or not seniors should complete an extensive service learning project. The arguments made were well balanced. When the class was asked for feedback or questions regarding the topic and thesis, this was really the only that didn't need more clarification.

Best Thesis

My vote is for Deidra's and my own thesis on making seniors complete an extensive service learning project. I chose ours is because our argument had many balanced and logical reasons that backed up our thesis.

Best thesis

My vote for the best thesis goes to Chris and Farhan: Required Sterilization. Even though we could take the capital punishment way out and sterilize those who are producing drug addicted babies, that action wont solve the solution. It will prevent those parents from producing more addicted babies but what happens when they clean up thier lives and cant have a normal family. I do agree we should hold these people responsible for their actions but sterilization is not the answer.

My vote for the best thesis

My Vote for the best thesis is the one I was a part of, regarding should graduating seniors be required to complete an extensive program and essay... My group thought long and hard on this subject. As a senior (many moons ago) I was also required to complete a similar program. I feel that being in that "extra" program enriched me and gave me choices on what I may want to do in the future.

My vote, sterilization thesis

My vote for the best thesis goes to Chris and Fahran's thesis on required sterilization. They make an effective argument by reasoning with self choice. They argue that a woman makes the decision to give birth to a baby addicted to drugs and sterilization as a punishment should not be a required penalty for mothers. What makes this thesis particularly effective is the question they leave readers at the end, if sterilization is required, then what's next?, cutting off kids hands for spray painting a wall?

My vote for best thesis goes to: Tracy and Chad: Required Sterilization. I beleive they made a strong statement of their opionion. Making a strong thesis statement can make what we are about to read more interesting.

Thesis 1:Pregnancy is a long and complicated process, the mother must care for herself properly to care for the child. In such cases, a mother may neglect those cares for her own comfort, harming the child in the process; these mothers deserve to be sterilized in reciprocation.

Say Cheese!

Before you go through that intersection, you may want to smile for the camera. A few weeks ago I myself got my picture taken on the corner of murrieta hotsprings and whitewood rd. in murrieta for turning right on a red light. With the light turning red practically as I began my turn I was faced with trying to slam on my breaks or follow through with my turn, my instinct of trying to prevent a potential rear end crash told me to follow through with my turn. However, this lead to my citation being sent in the mail for $440 dollars without correction as it currently stands!

This incident inspired me to further study this controversial issue further by reading Christopher Solomon's discussion of the topic in his article "Are red-light cameras fair to drivers?". Although Solomon mentions that red-light running accounts for about 22% of accidents in the U.S.A, he also mentions that t-bone crashes have been reduced by 25%, rear end crashes have increased by 15%. Although this seems to be a fair trade by 10%, these cameras should prevent accidents and not increase others.

Perhaps a more important issue with these cameras is the need to change these cameras from simply taking a snapshot to filming the incident. Although the video footage cannot always be perfect, critics agree that a video clip is a much fairer representation. Solomon quotes Arthur Tait, an attorney who specializes in red-light tickets who said, "Overall video is a hundred times better".

This is a subject surrounded by much controversy to as; whether or not contractors should determine where cameras are placed, if contractors are making too much money off of these tickets, and just how reliable are these cameras?

So the question I ask you is, are these cameras going too far? Is this an infringement upon our civil rights to privacy?

So just remember, smile for the camera

Copy of Argument Response Grading Rubric

Grading Rubric: Argument Response

Writer:

Provides a sufficient amount of article summary so the audience is able to connect the writer’s response (the paper) to the original text (the article): 10
Correctly identifies the author’s argument: 10
Provides a clear thesis statement encapsulating the response (your argument, whether you agree, disagree, etc. with the author): 15
Organizes the response effectively: 15
Provides sufficient evidence to support argument (even if you agree with the author, you will need to come up with your own examples and evidence to support the point rather than relying on those already made and used by the author; these can include: personal anecdote, testimony, references, definitions, statistics, appeal to authority ((commentary/criticism by appropriate sources)), and your own logic): 25
Uses MLA format correctly: 10
Writes clearly and cogently, avoiding grammatical, syntactical, formatting, and spelling errors: 15

Thesis Statements: 12:00 p.m. class

Chris and Farhan: Required Sterilization
Thesis 1:
Women absolutely should not be sterilized for giving birth to drug-addicted babies. This would be a violation of their civil rights. It’s their body, their choice. Who are we to decide. If anything, we should make them attend rehab and get clean, then maybe have them volunteer at hospitals to pay the state back. If we sterilize them when does it end, chopping off kids hands for spray painting walls?
Reasoning (cons): “Gateway” – such a practice would probably lead to other violations of the body by the state.
Reasoning (pros): the children produced by such mothers will not have an easy time fitting in to society and may require care as they might not be able to live independently. These children are a burden to the taxpayer.
Other contributions: It doesn’t take in individual circumstances, reasoning, etc but is an extreme “blanket” policy (to sterilize).
There’s so many babies born like this that something has to be done. To save taxpaper money; there’s kind of assumption that someone who does this once will continue to do so . . .
__________________________________________________________________________

Julianne and Cameron: Breastfeeding/Pumping at Work
Thesis: In order to provide a professional working environment and to keep an efficient working establishment employers should not be required to provide a clean, private space for nursing mothers to pump milk as well as to provide the time necessary to do it.
Cons: Cuts into working hours; not appropriate for a working establishment. Storing?
Pros: Convenient for nursing mothers; cost-effective versus formula
Other contributions: storing shouldn’t be an issue; most workers store food of some variety; positive for employers: employee retention/better productivity; what about places that do not have any such space and would have to contribute money/time to provide one? Breast-feeding should be supported nationally that breast-fed babies are healthier, less likely to require various healthcare or intervention, so cost-effective for everyone over the course of time. Appropriateness depends on type of business? Health of the breastfed mother (must pump/express regularly to avoid pain/infection)
_________________________________________________________________________

Deddrick, Rischelle, Angela: Service Learning Requirements

Thesis: Although I agree with the statement that graduating seniors should have to complete an extensive service learning project this is a matter of principle that should be optional and not mandatory, because many seniors may become discouraged due to the added pressure.
Reasoning: (pros): looks good on college apps; could help motivate students to pursue career goals; (cons) outside responsibilities (sports, work, etc.) may interfere with such a project; could increase drop-out rate due to this process; affects grades? Good for community-building; teaches you time-management skills/responsibility
Sex Work/Benefits: none for Class 2
Thesis 1: If the sex work industry was given healthcare benefits, there is a large potential for increase spending in an industry that deals with sexual health risk on a daily basis.
Thesis 2: The sex work industry is consider immoral by many, but is still a legal profession, and like all professions still deserve basic healthcare and benefits.
Any job should offer basic necessities (thus, you have to consider this kind of work a legitimate profession)
This industry rakes in billions but the money isn’t necessarily going to those who are making the money.
It’s a huge, expensive enterprise to start mandating benefits.
Has the potential to become more corrupt if mandated.
________________________________________________________________________

Erin and Daniel: Vaccinating Children

Thesis 1: Vaccination should not be a state requirement but a parental option because state funding would have to become necessary creating extra costs and not all individuals can take the same required vaccinations due to allergic reaction and medical conditions.
Thesis 2: Vaccination should be a state requirement not a parental option.
Reasoning (pro): Vaccinating everyone reduces/eliminates worry about disease; vaccines would be uniform, no need to figure out who has and doesn’t have them; if required, parents wouldn’t have to worry about vaccination because the state would take care of it.
Reasoning (con): State funding would have to become necessary so all would be uniform, extra costs. People would be forced to vaccinate even against their own will, beliefs, or even religion. Not all people can take the same vaccinations because of an allergy, condition, etc.
(If you’re on a social program, like welfare, or using food stamps your children must be vaccinated to get these benefits).
Community college grading systems: None for Class 2
Thesis 1: Changing the grading system in California community colleges to include plus and minus grades would encourage students to work harder and separate the hard workers from the slackers.
Reasoning:
It’s less work all the way around to leave things as they are; students less stressed about grade outcomes.
Plus/minus doesn’t necessarily mean that people are harder working or less so but that they struggled more or less with the material.
Plus/minus is less work because it eliminates confusion; less work for an instructor.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thesis Statements: 10:00 a.m. class

Tracy and Chad: Required Sterilization

Thesis 1:
Pregnancy is a long and complicated process, the mother must care for herself properly to care for the child. In such cases, a mother may neglect those cares for her own comfort, harming the child in the process; these mothers deserve to be sterilized in reciprocation.
Thesis 2:
A woman’s psyche is a fragile part of a possible mother, in such events that a woman is raped and becomes pregnant, she may retaliate against that man by way of the child in her womb. Sterilizing the woman after the birth of the child may force her into depression of guilt and no longer being able to fix her mistake.

Reasoning: Mothers may change their lives/behavior later on (in cases of rape) and will have been permanently forbidden to have more children (con)
The practice would be an example to others that are using – they might change their behavior – punishment by example (pro)
Sterilization would prevent the birth of more disabled or sick babies that may/will become the state’s problem.
Giving the state or any government entity control over a woman’s body and her reproduction is a dangerous gateway for similar practices in other situations.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Karlina, Michael, Megan: Breastfeeding/Pumping at Work

Thesis 1: Nursing mothers should be able to pump milk at work without having to hide in the bathroom. Employers should provide a space for them to feel comfortable, and the time to do so, without the worry of being penalized.

Reasoning:
Women wouldn’t have to stress about nursing, which will make way for more milk and faster pumping
It takes up time from the work schedule; mothers would get more breaks, longer ones, than other employees get.
Probably contribute to employee loyalty and more long-term employment.
Can make other employees uncomfortable. Possible sexual harassment cases?


Deidra, Kristina: Service Learning Requirements

Thesis: Graduating seniors should have to complete an extensive service learning project to become altruistic and competent members of society by providing evidence that they didn’t cheat the system and are prepared for college-level service learning.

Reasoning: Accountability/evidence (pro)
(Con):Most seniors don’t have extra time/energy to devote to this
Enough proof is already “there” in current requirements for graduation; high school career already proves they’re competent in society via GPA, etc. This should carry enough weight.


Faustino, Luke, Richard: Sex Work/Benefits

Thesis 1: If the sex work industry was given healthcare benefits, there is a large potential for increase spending in an industry that deals with sexual health risk on a daily basis.
Thesis 2: The sex work industry is consider immoral by many, but is still a legal profession, and like all professions still deserve basic healthcare and benefits.

Reasoning: Any job should offer basic necessities (thus, you have to consider this kind of work a legitimate profession)
This industry rakes in billions but the money isn’t necessarily going to those who are making the money.
It’s a huge, expensive enterprise to start mandating benefits.
Has the potential to become more corrupt if mandated.
_____________________________________________________________________

Thao and Nicole: Vaccinating Children

Thesis 1: Although some may argue that it is a parent’s right for their child to be vaccinated, many will argue that a vaccination is a state requirement, then it can eliminate worry, potential risk, and would create a healthier environment for the future.
Thesis 2: If vaccination were to be a state requirement in the attempt to promote a healthier stress-free environment, then it will take away parents’ freedom of choice and right to students education. Also, the cost would fall to taxpayers and risk unnecessary drug injection.

Reasoning:
Required vaccination gets in the way of the students’ right to education.
An unvaccinated child in a public school poses a threat to everyone else, and these children should not be forced into exposure.

Vivian and Chad: Community college grading systems

Thesis 1: Changing the grading system in California community colleges to include plus and minus grades would encourage students to work harder and separate the hard workers from the slackers.

Reasoning:
It’s less work all the way around to leave things as they are; students less stressed about grade outcomes.
Plus/minus doesn’t necessarily mean that people are harder working or less so but that they struggled more or less with the material.
Plus/minus is less work because it eliminates confusion; less work for an instructor.

We do it anyway!

I just read Daniels blog on taxing weed. He stated that he agreed with the legalizing of marijuana with taxation on the profits, in hopes to get our state out of the financial slump it’s in. I absolutely agree. Legalizing marijuana could provide considerable amounts of revenue for California. There would have to be great efforts in order sustain a balanced regulation, which everyone could adhere to. This brings the Netherlands to attention. Marijuana in Holland is not legal; it's decriminalized, and comes with rigid guidelines and regulations. Here are some examples: You are allowed to grow a certain amount of plants in your home for personal use or for profit. The process to grow them is regulated and you are only allowed to harvest a certain amount for personal use. You have to grow them in a shed outside, or in your attic or basement. All profits must be reported and are taxed. Shops sell pot and hash and store owners pay their pot taxes. Holland is one of the richest countries in the world. They tax marijuana and prostitution which is also regulated under very strict guidelines. Throughout history our society has deemed pot use, an anti-social activity and has always had a more lenient outlook on its capacity in our lives. Daniel said it so simply, "It has been illegal for 71 years and people continue to smoke, deal and profit off marijuana...so why shouldn't the state collect taxes off of a recreational substance?"

Taxing Weed

The other day I was half listening to the news while legalizing marijuana caught my ear. They stated that the state of California is considering legalizing marijuana and taxing its sales by 50%. Should this be passed? Absolutely. Naturally it sounds like a bad thing to legalize such a substance, and the first thing that pops into one's head is DUI's and deaths. However, the flip side of the coin is realizing that marijuana has been around since time and people have smoked it since its existence. It has been illegal for 71 years and people continue to smoke, deal and profit off marijuana...so why shouldn't the state collect taxes off of a recreational substance? Especially at these economic hardships of the state and the nation as a whole. Pot growers would have to apply and obtain a growing licence, then properly distribute their products. People who want to smoke weed always will, so why not make money off them and use it for every one's benefit. It is a win-win situation in that smokers are now happy and legal while the rest of the state is more financially stable. Even today if you are caught with a under certain amount of weed, you are exempt of higher charges. Weed is already half way legal, why not open it up all the way and profit from it...while setting proper regulations. In California, marijuana should be legalized with proper regulations, so the state can gain capital from its taxes and utilize it to help with the economic slump.

Are times tight? Buy a video game

According to an article from Tim Magazine entitled, "Video Games: Still Booming in a Bad Economy", explains how this industry is doing so well with the economies current state. The article mentions a 20% increase in sales for Microsoft and Nintendo selling 2 million Wii's and 1.5 million DS's. The article explains that video games provide a sense of escape and is can be cheaper in the long run then other sources of entertainment.
I would have to agree although I do not play a lot of video games, even my parents had bought Nintendo system for my little brother. I feel in the long run you can get more out of a home entertainment system as opposed to bowling every week or going to see a movie. Also with the current popular games that require a vast amount of your time it requires you to forget and let go of the real world.

The Effects of Birth Order

The article I chose was "Second Place" by Catherine Crawford. Catherine determines that children's development problems are directly related to their birth order, the oldest being the most favored and adored, and a downward spiral from there. Catherine gives examples from her own upbringing (being one of twelve children!) and in her own family (she has two daughters) of this parenting problem. She attributes her youthful rebellion to receiving less attention because she was born somewhere in the middle-to-bottom of the ladder as opposed to the top of it. And in her own present family, she is seeing the same potential problem in her younger daughter, whom she has deemed the wild one and not compliant. Truly, many challenges of youth are because of their birth order; however, children's developmental problems can be traced to many other issues besides just birth order. For starters, it must be recognized that some children just have problems, either from genetics or personality. A child with ADD would have this learning disability whether they were born first or after other kids. Additionally, the child's friends greatly determine who they will be. So, in the end, it is incomplete to say that birth order is the sole reason for problem children.

I'mz ohkayz...gave muh anadar....

Talk about slurred speech...Yuck. Well just recently, I was reading an article about America's Drinking Age on an website, raising the question should the drinking age in America be lowered? The article expresses the possibility of having the drinking age be lowered down to 18, just like in England. The article states that if the age were to be lowered, eighteen-year old would have to have a drinking license, just like as if it were a drivers license; teens would take classes on alcohol, take a test and must pass it in order to obtain the license. Similar to how to be able to drive isn't it? Yeah just a little, I believe.

However, honestly, I say keep it where it's at and don't bother to change it. It's already too much of a hassle to keep up with the death tolls for teenage drunk driving and I already fear from a couple of my friends winding up in one of those accidents. "Sure it's not healthy or good for you, but c'mon live a little", some may say and it can possible be fun. Just not until you are drunk to where you puke every other couple of minutes; I don't have any experience but one day soon, but not now.

All in all, lower the drinking age, then lower it. If not, keep it as it is because either way, we will all be drinking soon (unless others chose not too).

Is baseball really being destroyed by steriods?

I read an article entitled "Steroids Are Destroying Baseball", written by George F. Will. In this article some really great points are made regarding the use of steriods such as; chemicals jeopardize the health of the body and mind, abnormal behavior, dangerous, and even dishonorable. However, of all the facts and opinions presented, none of them carry enough weight to make claim to the destruction of the game of baseball. Like people need something to talk about writers alike need something to write about. I recall some years back when the cry's of complaint rang out about lack of scoring in baseball and how the game was getting boring. The league changed a few rules, diminished the strike zone, and players used enhancements to not only better their personal performance, but to keep the game alive. Final scores of 1-o after three hours of competition is not exciting or worth the money for that matter. What is even more disturbing is the fact that its called cheating and frowned upon. Man has cheated his way into the whitehouse, the top of corporate America, and lesser "accomplishments." Steroids will not destroy baseball. It may piss some people off when they learn that these multi-million dollar players are just like them--human. It more than likely will cause some players to be stripped of their rights to play major league baseball. And because of the attitudes of voters those players caught will not be inducted to the hall of fame. But the big business of America and baseball will continue to thrive. Tickets will be sold as seats will be filled and owners will continue to capitalize as will the bosses in Vegas.

Legalize What?

I read an article that was published in August of 2008 pushing for drugs to be legalized. The author argues his idea about the prohibition between the 1920's and 1933. He shows how the alcohol prohibition caused people to do more crime and as an end result alcohol had to be legalized because it just did not work. The author goes on to imply that illegal drugs are unsafe and disputes involving street drugs are solved by drug dealers with guns instead of doctors and court rooms. The ironic statements about this authors point of view and his solution to the "war on drugs" is that the drugs of choice have changed for this up and coming generation because prescriptions are the new way of getting high. Government regulated prescription drugs are now being sold as street drugs by doctors and drug dealers. How would legalizing drugs change addictive behavior? Although alcohol is now legal there is many crimes surrounding it, not to mention homelessness, prisons, and death are end results of legalized alcoholism. I don't want my children having permission from the government to be a drug addict and ruin their lives because unfortunately all these man made drugs are highly addictive.

Oops, we forgot a sponge in your stomach during surgery. Sorry!

Recently two hospitals in Ventura County have been fined 25,000 dollars each for leaving sponges in patients during surgery, forcing them to come back for a second surgery to remove the sponges, and who knows how much pain those sponges caused. Santa Paula and Thousand Oaks were only two of ten hospitals in California that have been fined for leaving sponges in their patients. In my opinion, 25,000 dollars is not enough for putting a person's life in danger by forgetting a tool inside their bodies. Doctors need to be less careless, and focus more on the surgery. If they are forgetting sponges inside, obviously their mind is not in the right place, which makes me very uneasy to know that while operating on someone, a doctor could easily be thinking about their personal lives instead of focussing on the patients life.

Take all that you need of me...

In the article “The Organ Donation Argument”, by Elizabeth Held, the author brings up an argument that she recently witnessed while watching the television show “The View”. One of the hosts on the program proposed that the organ donation process should be something that is automatic unless a person opts out of it versus the current process of having to opt in.

I absolutely agree with this idea. Organ donation is a powerful way that a person’s own tragedy (death) can benefit dozens of other people. Last week I had a teacher who had a close friend pass away, and with this one person’s untimely death, sixty to seventy people were given her organs and a chance to live a longer, fuller life. If a person were to be against organ donation for religious or strong personal reasons, there would still be the option to opt out; but in many cases people just do not take the time to place the pink sticker on their driver’s license, and in these cases – their precious organs would go to benefit others.

fourteen kids?!?!

I’ve recently read an article about the second woman giving birth to live octuplets in the US. Though a birth of a new child should be rejoicing, this article shames the mother of these octuplets. She already has six other children all ranging from ages 2 to 7 and she is currently unemployed. Also, the octuplets she gave birth to were implanted embryos. The article stated that the only reason she did this was to get more money from the government which basically is coming from us, the tax payers. So now child services are debating whether they should take away her children because she obviously can’t take care of all of them. I strongly do agree with this article that it is not right for this woman to be popping out multiple babies all at once. Is it even legal to implant that many embryos in one person especially a woman in her situation? It just seems bizarre to me that doctors would even implant that amount of embryos in her without checking up on her background. Yeah, mothers should have all rights with their own children, but I don’t think this mother can tend to her young ones momentarily.

Down with Barbie, The Bulimic Icon...

Recently, a Bill was proposed to ban the sale Barbie dolls on the market. When I read this I presumed it that she was created using hazardous materials like lead or Uranium 238. Instead I find out that she is giving something more deadly, a thin body. "Delegate Jeff Eldridge says such toys influence girls to place too much importance on physical beauty, at the expense of their intellectual and emotional development." So government officials are doing their job after all, worrying about banning a children's toy and putting even more jobs at risk. Honestly I believe this to be very trivial because it's a toy used to inspire imagination of the child, not invoke the future of person. Not only that there are people who's jobs are to manufacturer and supply toys that children might want. Politicians never fail to prove they are the most idiotic people on the planet, worrying about something as surreal as this and not paying attension to what the people real need, hope and guidance in a declining economy.

Housing Plan

In the recent article that i read on Obamas help for the homeowners help up to 9 million borrowers stay in their homes, through refinanced mortgages or loans that are modified to lower monthly payments. The Obama administration's program has two parts: one to work with lenders to modify the loan terms for up to 4 million homeowners; the second, to refinance up to 5 million homeowners into more affordable fixed-rate loans. Mortgages for single-family properties that are worth more than $729,750 are excluded. So -- if you have negative equity you are underwater. But, if you are living in your home and making the mortgage payments -- what do you have. I think the artcle presumes that everyone will abandon their homes and/or default on their mortgages.
How about we hold the people who signed the mortgage accountable? After all if you are aware that you cant afford 800 a month in rent and then you get a mortgage for 1400 a month is it not your fault?

Self Image

I recently read an article in an old magazine of mine and it was about body image. In the article the writer blamed the media for representing women as perfect bodies with flawless skin. That was the basis of the article. I can only partially agree with the article. I agree because there is an extremely large amount of ads all protraying women as size 0's with large chests to go along with it, and long slender legs. The reality most of the girls and women across the world deal with is nobody is nearly close to being that perfect. This is where I believe there are other factors that lead to girls with poor self and body image. When you see an ad it is up to the viewer to decide how to interpert it. Most of the girls and women know that the people we see on T.V. and in magazines are airbrushed to perfection, because this is a reality to us, we should be able to tell ourselves that and not let the media control us and make us think skinny and perfect is beautiful. It takes the consumer to not let it get to them but it would be a great deal of help if the media relaxed a little bit and showed the world real women instead of a body type that only makes up a small portion of the world's population.

4: PLEASE HOLD WHILE YOUR LIFE IS AT RISK...

A robber just broke into your house, not expecting anyone to be home, he is startled by your presence, and attacks you with his knife.

* Dialing 911*
Four more minutes have gone by and you still hear the same recording, "Please hold for the next available operator to answer your call." Finally she answers with "911 dispatch center, please state your emergency." At this point you have been gushing blood from your lower stomach for about 5 minutes, barely breathing, and in agonizing pain. You give the lady all your information but its still another 10 minutes (which is a "good" reponse time) before a police officer arrives.

I was recently reading a story very similar to this one in a speech for anti gun-control vocalist. Jeremy Clyde a member of the NRA, states that "situations like these are possible to avoid, if the homeowner is knowledgable on how to operate a gun." I do believe that he is correct, that maybe guns are a neccesary evil to protect our homes and families.

Gun-control adovocates argue that if there was no personal gun ownership, that situations like that would never occur, that robbers would not have enough courage to inavde someone else's home without a weapon. However; Most would agree, that it is an ignorant thought. I believe that if anything, knowing that the average american who abides by the law has now turned over their only protection to the government, might make a criminal more urged to invade a home. Not only do I believe they would break in more often, but they would be more likely to have a firearm bought illegaly to make sure their robbery went as "smooth" as possible. Dont forget who was the criminal to start with.

Too hot to handle?

I have read Global warming: A Time to Act by Dianne Feinstein. She argues about global warming, the issues at hand and the ways to eliminate green house gasses.

Greenhouse gasses are the main causes for global warming. These gasses are created by the burning of fossil fuels and the excretion of carbon dioxide. The United States is the largest contributor to the destruction of our planet through pollution that enables global warming to occur. We have to stand up and act together in order to eliminate the excess we produce and consume in order to save our mother earth. Only we can save ourselves so we need to start immediately in reducing the amount of fossil fuels we consume and the carbon dioxides we create.

Chris Brown and Rhianna...

I recently read an article regarding Chris Brown and Rhianna.... The Article titled "Behind Chris Brown and Rhianna's fight" By Karla K.

I agree with the article that states that no on was in the car when the fight happened, and we as the public are outside looking in - we could not know what happened and what caused the fight.
There are reports that the fight was due to a break-up or whatever. Karla goes on in the article stating that everybody is human and she even exposes her own skeletons, about being in arguments that required police attention.
Rhianna and Chris are public figures, but just a Karla states in her article - it is easier just to walk away.

Blog 4 Mark to market

Is “Mark to Market” a Cure for the Banking Crises?

In the 20th Century Congress came up with a new accounting method called “Mark to Market”. This rule has been attributed for the current financial crisis we are in by inflating and deflating assets on balance sheets of major financial institutions.
The current recession we are in was led by the housing bubble. This has caused severe trouble on some of the largest banking institution’s balance sheets. Is Mark to Market to blame? First let’s find out what it is. Mark to Market is an accounting method used to record the price or value of a security at its current market value rather than its book value. This means that a mortgage backed security, which is illiquid, can be valued the same as a stock like Microsoft, a liquidity that is traded daily.
In a recent commentary for Forbes, Newt Gingrich (the former Speaker of the House) tells us that the government needs to “suspend mark-to-market”. I agree since this is certainly hurting banks and creating huge losses on paper leading to loss of credit and capital. Suspending it should stall the bank failures. It should also suspend us from having to loan them billions of dollars. He tells us that “while congress and the president are trying to figure out their next move the treasury should intervene”. He is right since what they have done thus far, just throwing billions of dollars at the problem, has not freed up lending. Newt goes on to say that “when these firms try to sell these mortgage backed securities to raise capital, the market values of the assets are driven down further”. I’m torn by this statement. On one hand mark to market is hurting the current values, but in the past 3-4 years it certainly helped them. The other side to this is when the inflated prices were on paper and many people were making a lot of money no one complained. Now that people are losing money they want to get rid of mark to market. It should be suspended right now and see if it helps, it can’t hurt. Then before the economy turns around the government can revise it so next time maybe we won’t have such a severe problem.