Don't Ask, Don't Tell

On September 13, 2010, CNN. com posts an article in which the controversial repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy will follow through after marches and strong disagreements towards it. There is still yet no concluded matter until President Barack Obama, the Secretary of Defense, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all give their approval. The decision by California federal judge from the United States District, Judge Virginia Phillips, that stated that the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy was unconstitutional shifted congress' focus. Already, 12,500 gays have been discharged from the military since the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy has gone into effect. The executive Director and founder of Service Members United was “pleased and relieved that Senator Reid has decided to schedule the defense authorization bill for floor time next week.” He also adds that, “ It would be shameful for lawmakers to vote to hold up an important and expansive piece of legislation like the defense authorization bill simply because of their opposition to one or two provisions within it.” Discrimination towards homosexuals is what many believe this policy is all about. When the policy states and segregates that only homosexuals will be affected because of it, the public have nothing else to question but the fact if congress, the senate, or the government is being sexually discriminatory?

Kaiser Permanente's Choice

On September thirteen of this year, the Los Angeles Times recently posted a battle between two Unions fighting for 43,000 employee votes. The battle is to be said the biggest private-sector labor election since 1941. Edvin Hakopian a member of the NUHW describes the battle between two grand Unions as “hostile.” If SEIU were to win, it could help the company from moving off a turmoil, but if the NUHW won it can cause an increase in significant force in the healthcare industry. The Kaiser face off according to UC Berkeley Professor Harley Shaiken, "is a critical election, but it's unusual in that it's a fight between two unions versus a fight over organizing new members…this is putting a lot of resources into fighting for a group that is already in a union." The Unions ups and downs are that SEIU has much more money and people but NUHW is counting on the loyalty of their people as pay for what their Union leaders have accomplished. Others like SEIU executive vice president assume that, “Kaiser workers would risk losing hard-earned gains in salaries and benefits if they decided to leave SEIU. There are also others who doubt the new coming business of NUHW because they have contracts with SEIU and with NUHW they have no complete guarantee. Although NUHW has about 8,000 workers, there have been about 30 elections they have chosen to drop out of in which SEIU have seem to be strong. SEIU has been built for more than 30 years now and it’s challenging trying to compete with this Union especially if you’re a new comer in the business.

Legalizing Pot/Marijuana

On September thirteenth, the article "Legalizing pot would free up police to fight violent crime, law enforcement group say" has been in question to whether legalizing marijuana would be for the public's benefit. In endorsing Proposition 19, the marijuana legalization measure, the law enforcement say would put a dent to drug cartels and would free up police for something more useful like chasing robbers and burglars. Orange County Superior Court Judge James Gray argues that, "Current laws are making pot more readily accessible to youngsters than would be the case if it were regulated and taxed by the government, similar to tobacco and alcohol." Much of the money that flows to drug cartels are that made from illegal marijuana and 60% of the cartel money stems from marijuana sales. San Jose Police Chief Joseph McNamara states that those who worry about marijuana legalization don't pay much attention to history. He contrasts how if back when the prohibition on alcohol was repealed the bootleggers disappeared than maybe if marijuana is made legal, then cartels and the war on drugs would too. If marijuana should be legalized, consumers would only be permitted one ounce per personal consumption and it is estimated that it would bring 1.4 billion dollars in new tax revenue per year. As I always say, people always want the illegal, the bad, or the ugly. They like either the rush of being chased by the police, or the fact that they’re thuggish for being on the news. It keeps them satisfied to know that the entire nation spends money on them when they are gaining much more. If marijuana was legalized then cartels would have not much to offer because it wouldn’t be illegal, anyone could get it anywhere and on a regular basis. It wouldn’t be difficult to get or find and people just wouldn’t take that much of an interest in drugs any longer.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/09/legalizing-pot-would-free-up-police-to-fight-violent-crime-law-enforcement-group-says.html

BP Excuses being questioned

Posted by the NY Times on September 8, the article on BP's excuses and the blames falling on different parties and perspectives falls in question to readers as well as workers and different parties. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill is said to be caused by human judgments, engineering design, operational implementation, and mechanical problems according to British Petroleum's one hundred and ninety three page report posted on their website on Wednesday. British Petroleum not only went a far to blaming such complex failures but also in blaming its own workers of misconduct but applauded the design of the well as being "careful in its assessments." Not only was their critique blunt and non accurate but also their blame shot through during court hearings to rig owner Transocean Ltd. and cement contractor Halliburton. Accuses and blames are still in question and yet not final as several divisions of the United States government such as the justice department, Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy as well as Regulation and Enforcement are investigating. The April twentieth explosion is also in doubt after there were eleven workers killed and yet the explosion has no conclusion. There are jumpstart conclusions that the explosion might have been caused because of British Petroleum trying to “cut corners” and getting a forty three day-twenty billion dollar delayed project back on track. British Petroleum’s internal review is really not something to look at when it is in fact already facing hundreds of lawsuits and billions of dollars of liabilities.

Controversial aid from U.S Soldiers

Posted on Sunday September 5th by The Los Angeles Times, the Headline "U.S Soldiers help repel deadly attack on Iraq army headquarters" grew great spur among readers because the attack helped made by the United States troops was done five days after our United States President Barack Obama, declared an end to combat operations in Iraq. Even more fuss was made when it was official that there were eighteen casualties and thirty-nine injuries and no casualties included any Americans. The United States not only provided hands on aid but also helicopters, bomb disposal experts, and other unspecified reconnaissance. Now Americans are afraid that since combat is obviously yet not over, that now that there was experience in combat after a long time and after such declaration from the President on Tuesday, that this can be an on going situation and that American troops will be caught up in violent combat operations in Iraq more often. Definitely more questioning has overthrown Americans minds when after the suicidal bombing on August 17th occurred killing forty-eight it seems much more evident that Iraq has not yet secured their capital enough to manage it completely and that they will be asking for American aid soon enough. American soldiers are with no doubt tempted to fight in combat for any given reason now that declarations were only made but actions will be taken until 2011 when the United States troops finally head out back home.