"Vermont Senate votes to close nuke plant in 2012"

Source:
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/business/85235907.html
Date: 2/24/10

Summary:

Last Wednesday, the Vermont Senate voted to block operation of the state's only nuclear power plant in the year 2012 after its license expires (which somewhat works against Obama's plans to use these plants/ fission reactors as a source of electricity.) Vermont is the only state in the country that has a law, giving the state's legislature power to control the relicensing of nuclear plants. Although some senators may have voted in favor of an extention on the plant's license, several issues, including accusations of the plant leaking radioactive tritium into the groundwater and suggestion that the plant lied about its piping lines, would have made it very difficult to pass.
Concerning Obama's plans, the president believes that investing/relying more on nuclear power will help the nation become a step closer to becoming less reliant on foreign resources (ex. oil).

Question:
Do you believe that Vermont was smart in its decision to block the plant from operating anymore? Furthermore, do you agree with Obama's plan that nuclear power will help the US rely less on foreign sources?

Healthcare Again

Obama has come back to the table with a new health care plan. This new plan is important to the Obama administration because if he is not able to pass this new plan, it will reflect on his ability to lead. The new plan address the issue of affordability, and pre-existing conditions; and also giving federal Health and Human Services Department control over premiums. The president has actually put forward proposal for the bill himself. He will have bipartisan talks on Thursday at the White House on the issue.

If Obama’s administration is not able to get a bill passed, how do you believe history will view him?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8528100.stm

Somali pirates free Taiwanese fishing boat

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8510938.stm

A group of Somali pirates finally released a Taiwanese tuna fishing boat after the owner paid the ransom. The boat had been captured by the pirates ten months ago, only three of the thirty crew members died as a result of the captivity. They died because of malnutrition, disease and neglect. There were reports that the capture fishing boat, the Win Far 161, had been used by the pirates during the ten months to attack other ships like the US-flagged Maersk Alabama. The seas around horn of Africa has now become one of the most dangerous places because of the Somali pirates.

Question: Should people continue to just pay ransom to the Somali pirates or should our government intervene militarily?

New Drug Worry in Phila: Synthetic Marijuana

http://www.philly.com/philly/health_and_science/84835717.html

Synthetic versions of marijuana have been appearing in the Philadelphia area and have been confiscated by local authorities. It is not illegal to be in possession of the marijuana but it is illegal to import or sell because the FDA has not tested or approved it. 85 packages of the drug arrived from Amsterdam and were taken after testing as marijuana. The packages consisted of "random plant material" that was dried and coated with chemicals. The drug, JWH-018, is labeled as K2, an incense that can be smoked. Technically it is not illegal to possess because it is not classified as a narcotic. Kansas and Missouri are already considering outlawing synthetic marijuana.

If regular marijuana was legalized, would other types of marijuana, such as this synthetic marijuana, be legal also? Should new types of marijuana be named illegal before they are brought into the United States?

the Bad Guy in Insurance Premium Hikes

http://www.aolnews.com/politics/article/whos-to-blame-for-insurance-premium-hikes/19364618

What's increasing faster than inflation? Health Insurance premiums are increasing faster than inflation. Experts are saying that insurance premiums will continue to rise if there is nothing done to reform the system. While people who have to buy their own insurance are usually worse off than those who receive insurance from their place of work, a raise in premiums will take place in both individual policy holders and those who have employer-sponsored coverage. No one can get around the high costs of health care. The slow stock market is not helping insurance premiums. President Barack Obama will sit down with lawmakers to decide on what to do for the reform.

Do you think insurance premiums is the number one thing our president should be concentrating on at this time? Do you think this will lead to universal healthcare? 

2nd Amendment Applies to States, Court Rules.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/02/18/24830.htm

The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that the 2nd Amendment indeed applies to the states "via the 14th Amendment due-process clause." The ruling comes after a 17 year old boy was arrested for carrying a loaded semiautomatic handgun and sued, claiming his 2nd Amendment rights had been violated by a Washington state law banning minors from carrying firearms. The court did not rule on whether minors should be allowed to carry guns, focusing on the 2nd Amendments applications instead. The US Supreme Court is to hear arguments on the same issue later on in the year.

Should the 2nd Amendment be read in a strict manner, or one that is more open to interpretation?

North Korea Refuses To Abandon Missile Program

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/19/north.korea.nuclear/index.html?iref=allsearch
North Korea vowed Friday, that it will never abandon it's nuclear missile program so long as America continues a "hostile policy" towards them. Isolated by both choice and numerous sanctions from the UN, North Korea is severely hurt by its lack of foriegn relations. It is suffering from both economic and food shortages and situations are continue to grow more and more dire without external support and aid. US secretary of State Hilary Clinton, and other world leaders believe that these problems will cuase North Korea to sit down to open negotiations sometime in the near future.
Do you think North Korea will ever be willing to give up its nuclear program, even if sanctions are lifted and aid is given?

Iran's supreme leader: We do not seek atomic bombs

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons and that Iran doesnt believe in making nuclear bombs. There have been recent tensions between Iran and the West over the issue of Iran's supposed production of nuclear weapons. However, Iran has frequently insisted that their uranium is simply for civilian and medical use. A draft report from the IAEA has stated that Iran may be working on a nuclear warhead for a missile, and that Iran has been defying U.N. orders. Iran has begun to enrich Uranium enough to sustain a nuclear reaction, without proper IAEA inspection, and a secret nuclear facility has been discovered at the city of Qom. Also, Iran has been pushing for concessions from Western powers, which leads the West to believe that Iran has been developing nuclear weapons. If Iran continues to prod, they may be susceptible to an attack from the Jewish state of Israel. Iranian president Ahmadinejad recently said that enrichment would increase to 20 percent and that "big changes are underway.

Should the West give in to Iranian concessions? What do you think this would lead to?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/02/19/iran.nuclear/index.html?iref=allsearch

Mass. says federal marriage law unconstitutional

Source: http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation_world/84776502.html

Recently in Boston Massachusetts, Attorney General Martha Coakley is filing a lawsuit challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act- which highlights two major things:

1. No state (or other political subdivision within the United States) needs to treat a relationship between persons of the same sex as a marriage, even if the relationship is considered a marriage in another state.
2. The federal government defines marriage as a legal union exclusively between one man and one woman. "
   

* source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Marriage_Act (its from wiki but it looked like the info was pretty accurate)

Last Thursday, Coakley asks a judge to deem the law unconstitutional without holding a trial on the lawsuit. She argues that martial status should be left up to the states and that " the federal law treats married heterosexual couples and married same-sex couples differently on Medicaid benefits and burial in veterans' cemeteries."

Massachusetts is the first state to pass the law on gay marriage and is now the first state to challenge this law.

Questions: Is it fair that marriage could be valid in one state (such as MA) and not be valid in another? Does this only pertain to marriages of same sex? Doesn't this mean, then that heterosexual marriages could also be "invalid" then in other states? Is not a discrimination then to have the ability (which is given in the Defense of Marriage Act) to pick and choose which marriages are valid?

Bill Gates Calls for Better Nuclear Tech

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/02/12/bill.gates.clean.energy/index.html?iref=allsearch

Bill Gates, known for co-founding Microsoft and his philanthropic efforts, called for better nuclear technology. Gates named climate change "the world's most vexing problem," and he set a deadline for the elimination of all carbon emissions by 2050. Advancing technology would make this goal much easier - the ability to turn 99% of spent uranium (nuclear waste, in other words) into energy would create a near limitless source of power. Large scale use of alternative energy would require better battery technology than is currently available. Gates believes that we need batteries 100x better.

Do you believe advanced, high concept tech advances such as these will be the answer to the world's energy problems?

Obama Funds First New Nuclear Plants In 30 Years

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/16/obama.jobs/index.html?iref=allsearch
President Obama recently announced an $8.3 billion loan to build two new nuclear power plants in Burke County Georgia. This project will give energy to 550,000 homes, and 1.4 million people, as well as create thousands of temporary and permanent jobs. However, like any other nuclear endeaver, there is opposition. Ben Schreiber of Friends of the Earth had this to say about the mater, "The Department of Energy is putting taxpayers on the hook for bailing out costly and dangerous nuclear reactor projects when the loans used to finance those projects default. This is great news for Wall Street but a bad deal for Main Street." However President Obama promises that all new nuclear facilities will be held to the highest safety standards, and will benefit both the economy and the ecosystem.
Do you think nuclear energy is a valuable or dangerous tool? Under what conditions should it or should it not be used?

Iran Boasts of Capacity to Make Bomb Fuel

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/world/middleeast/12iran.html?scp=2&sq=nuclear&st=cse

This article covers the is that is being looked at daily, Iran and it capability to be a threat on a nuclear level. The Iranian president stated that the country has the capability to makes the fuel necessary for nuclear bombs. Yet, some are looking at his speech as just a way of intimidation. He stated that, “We have the capability to enrich uranium more than 20 percent or 80 percent, but we don’t enrich because we don’t need it”. The only speculation is that the range of percents are very large, making his speech look more and more like an exaggerated boast. He also warned the West that his country can make a bomb at anytime, and when it is built they will not be afraid of any other country.

I feel as if this is just one big show. Although Iran posses a threat by becoming active with nuclear materials, they are late in development. Even if the country were to launch its missiles, we have weapons systems to shoot them down and have our own weapons. Many other countries are well developed in its offensive weapons systems. I feel as if this is just a man who is trying to feel as much power as he can by blowing hot air.

QOTD- Do you feel as if Iran's threats really pose a problem? Why, why not?

Clinton calls for Iran to pay 'greater costs' for 'dangerous' policies.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/02/14/clinton.iran/index.html

The article begins by describing Iran's nuclear policies and how, in recent days, the production of highly enriched uranium has been stepped up. Iran said last week that it had completed its first batch of 20 percent enriched uranium (enough to set off a nuclear reaction) and would soon triple production. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has denounced Iran's new approach, saying that they have not demonstrated that their program is entirely peaceful, and that further sanctions will be placed on them. "The country could get the enriched uranium that it says it wants for medical research by accepting a proposal under which Iran would ship its uranium abroad to be enriched and then returned, but Iran has rejected that offer, Clinton said." What is Iran hiding?

Is it the United States' place to say who can and who cannot enrich uranium? What are Iran's intentions?

Gay Soldier Invited Back To National Guard

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123684042&ft=1&f=1014

The military policy Don’t Ask Don’t Tell requires the discharge of openly gay service members. Lieutenant Dan Choi was recommended for discharge after he became openly gay. However because the military is taking a second look at the policy he has been asked to return to training with his National Guard Unit. His unit may be sent to Iraq in the coming months so his commander wants every able and willing soldier he can get. Lt. Choi says he can still get a call any day saying he is officially discharged though but he his happy to return to service. He also entered West Point knowing he was gay but has now realized he does not want to lie about it anymore.

Do you think that Lt. Choi should be allowed back into the National Guard even though he is openly gay and the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy is still in action?

Record Number of Somali Pirate Attacks in 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/world/africa/30piracy.html?_r=1

The Piracy Reporting Center of the International Maritime Bureau has reported 214 pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia in 2009. There were 111 attacks in 2008, a 200 percent increase from 2007. In 2009, there were 47 successful hijackings, 12 of the ships have crew members still being held for ransom. Warships from the European Union, United States, China, Japan, Russia, India, and other countries are deployed in the Gulf of Aden, resulting in 30 ships patrolling the waters at all times. However, the pirates have moved to the southern and eastern coasts of Somalia, where patrols are nonexistent. There they are having a high success rate in capturing ships, and the coalition does not have any free ships to guard those areas.

Do the world superpowers need to take a tougher stance on the pirates, or are they doing as much as possible?

Marijuana Is Gateway Drug for Two Debates

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/fashion/19pot.html

The article opens with a story about Joyce, a pot addict. She started smoking marijuana when she was 15, and it became an addiction to her. Her daily routine, once she was older, was go to work, come home, close the door, have her bong, her food, her music and her dog, and she would not see another person until she went to work the next day. This process continued for 20 years, and when she tried to quit she was irritable and anxious. Eventually she checked into treatment, but she view marijuana as a slow form of suicide. Marijuana is the country's most widely used illicit drug. Writer, musicians, and movie have played it off to be appealing, or silly. It cannot lead to a fatal overdose, but it is more potent than it used to be, and is more dangerous for teens, and children whose brain are still developing. Some advocates view these claims as neurotic and say it is an effective medical treatment, and most people can smoke it everyday without any lasting negative effects. The article concludes with a brief story of Milo, who started smoking pot when he as 13, now 60 and had to attend a Marijuana anonymous in order to attempt to quit.

Do you think marijuana is a stepping stone to other, or do you believe it has no gateway effects and stories such as Milo's and Joyce's are a rare occurrence?

NRA Will Argue in Second Amendment Case

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2010/01/nra-will-argue-in-second-amendment-case.html

Despite the 2nd amendment giving citizens the right to bear arms, many states have laws in place limiting gun rights in one way or another. Now the National Rifle Association has been allowed to argue that the 2nd amendment should supersede these state laws before the Supreme Court. To do so they are working with a plaintiff arguing against Chicago’s gun limits specifically. However, the plaintiff’s lawyer Alan Gura, has a history with the NRA and believes they will be of little help. According to him “The only factor separating NRA from the myriad other groups advocating for gun rights as amicus curiae is the payment of filing fees.” But NRA lawyer Paul Clement apparently has a history with the Supreme Court and has used that influence to make sure the group gets a say during the process.

Do you think federal legislation like 2nd amendment can override state laws in this particular field, and what place do groups like the NRA have in this whole process?

Don't Ask Don't Tell ( Current Event)

“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell“, is a policy that was passed by congress in 1993 requiring the discharge of openly gay , lesbian, or bisexual service members. Now in 2010 this policy is being attacked and rightful so. There is reason and just cause why the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy should be abolished. Sexual orientation does not play a role in a person calling to service. Being gay or straight does not make a person a weaker or better soldiers; it is having the heart to uphold the values of the American flag and willing stepping on to the battlefield which has nothing to do with sexual orientation. Federal agencies do not discriminate based on sexual orientation so the policy should be repealed. Even Robert Gates the Sectary of Defense believes that the policy should be repealed, so the fight for gay rights, might just reach a milestone in history.

Fun Fact
The U.S and Turkey are the only two original NATO countries to still have a policy like Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

Why do you believe that the policy of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” has lasted this long?

http://www.sldn.org/pages/about-dadt

Obama Invites GOP to the Table on Health Care Reform Bill

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/02/07/o/

Obama wants to include the democrats and republicans in reforming the health care bill. This shows how critical reforming the legislation is to Obama. Health care reform was in jeopardy after the loss of the Democrats' 60 majority vote in the Senate. Many people are pleased in this bipartisan conversation on health care. They are not, however, starting over on writing the health care bill.

Many people believe that Obama is "all talk" in the matter of bipartisan reform on the health care bill. Other people have said that Obama is just reiterating what he has said back when he was first elected about bipartisanship. I personally think even if Obama is reiterating what he previously mentioned that it means that he is stepping it up in making it happen. I think it is good to include democrats and republicans in reforming the health care bill. It's like the saying two heads are better than one. Do you think democrats and republicans should come together for this cause or do you think its better with one group at a time? And do you think Obama is "all talk" no action?

Oakland Tries to Take On Guns

Source:
http://bayarea.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/oakland-tries-to-take-on-guns/?scp=1&sq=Gun%20Rights&st=cse


Last Tuesday after a City Council meeting, Oakland became closer to establishing stricter gun control laws. The City Council approved a proposal from Larry Reid, who represented East Oakland. The proposal including the following: "require the reporting of lost or stolen firearms to the Oakland Police Department, requiring a thumbprint for all ammunition purchases, and enforcing strict permit requirements for the sale of firearms and ammunition in Oakland." The City Council, however, must cast another final vote for the proposal to pass. Many people in Oakland are upset by this, because the city already does not have any firearm dealers that will sell to the public and having such strict regulations on gun control will further prevent the possibilities of having a firearm store. Do you these measure are too extravagant since there are already no firearm stores in Oakland? Will enforcing these regulations "fix the problem"? If not, why? And what do you think should be done? Should the Second Amendment remain no matter what the gun control laws say in a certain area?

Somali Pirate Seize Libyan Vessel

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/world/africa/05pirates.html

Somali Pirates hijacked a Libyan merchant ship, called the Rim, in the Gulf of Aden. It was seized on Tuesday and by Thursday it was taken to the Somali Basin. An American destroyer and helicopter, part of an anti-piracy operation, confirmed the piracy that European Union officials had seen. It was estimated that a crew of approximately 17 people were present on the ship; however, it was not part of the Operation Atalanta, a European Union force that escorts ships. It is assumed that the pirated ship is not being taken to a Puntland pirate lair. Last year 217 ships were hijacked by Somali pirates with 47 being successful and 867 crew members becoming hostages. This is more than half of all hijackings that happened worldwide in the last year.

Question: If Somalia had an effective government, would piracy cease, or would poverty cause piracy to continue?

Nuclear Power Gets Strong Push From White House

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/science/earth/30nuke.html?hp

The Obama administration is pushing nuclear power by proposing federal loans for new nuclear projects and appointing a panel to solve the problem of nuclear waste. Instead of the current $18.5 billion in loan guarantees, Obama is requesting $54 billion for the 2011 budget year. Loan guarantees are supposed to cover 80 percent of construction cost, and the current amount can only cover the costs of three projects. The federal government hopes to profit from the loans by collecting fees from the profits, but many experts believe that this will result in the fiasco of the 1980's, when the cost of construction rose so much that the projects were abandoned before being completed. Another problem is what to do with nuclear waste, especially since Obama has ended the use of Yucca Mountain.

Is nuclear energy the most profitable investment in the move towards sustainable energy, or is just another endless money drainer?

Report: Iran opens two missile plants

Two brand new missile plants were opened in Iran on Saturday. The anti-helicopter Qaem missile and the anti-armor Toofan-5 (Hurricane) missile are now being mass produced to improve Iranian ground and air defenses. The Iranian defense ministry told their semi-official Fars news agency that the missiles had "high penetration and destructive power." The Toofan 5 is capable of destroying tanks and armored vehicles and the Qaem is designed to resist electronic warfare. Iran and Western governments have been in frequent conflict with one another over Iran's nuclear program, although the Iranian government has insisted that the program is for peaceful energy purposes. Iran has proposed a plan to export low-enriched uranium to Western states, in hopes to quel the resistance to their program, but so far no agreements have been finalized.

Do you think the Iranian government is sincere in its intentions for nuclear power?

http://http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/02/06/iran.nuclear/index.html?iref=allsearch

Iran May Be Near Uranium Deal

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/world/middleeast/06iran.html?ref=todayspaper



The entire basis of this article is over the use of uranium. Iran is working on a deal where they would send low grade uranium off to a western country in order for high grade uranium to be sent back. Iran proposes that these isotopes that are produced will be used for medical cures. Yet, many other countries speculate that this is just a cover up for a nuclear weapons program. The Swedish Prime Minister commented in saying that " the clock is ticking" for the opposing countries. Either this uranium will be used for medical purposes or it will be the cause of a nuclear war in the future.

Personally, I feel as if this is a cover up. Any person who has watch this situation unfold, it is obvious that Iran is not a particular fan of the USA. Although I do understand it may look like the USA is being a power monger. That is, the USA doesn't want any other country to have that kind of firepower in order to have a secure future. I just don't believe a combative country like Iran is going to use the awesome force of nuclear energy just for health plans.

QOTD- Do you think Iran is going to use uranium for medical purposes, or for firepower? Explain.

Top uniformed officer: Gay ban should be lifted

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/feb/02/top-uniformed-officer-gay-ban-should-be-lifted

The “don’t ask don’t tell policy” allows gays and lesbians into the military as they don’t reveal their sexual orientation. Now many, including President Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Michael Mullen are calling for an end to that discriminatory practice as well. Mullen and gates recently appeared in front a Senate panel in order to gain support in overturning the practice. They argue that those who wish to serve their country should no have to lie in order to do so. Panelist included Sen. John McCain. McCain and many supporters of the status quo argue that the current interactions between soldiers are crucial to their effectiveness and that allowing gays to openly serve would harm this delicate balance. Mullen disagrees saying, “it is my sense that rank-and-file troops would support the change.”

Do you guys think that the military should stay the same or do you agree with Barry Goldwater’s quote, “You don’t have to be straight to shoot straight”.

British Couple Remain Captive to Somalian Pirates (Current Event)

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/01/31/uk.pirates.chandlers/index.html?iref=allsearch

British Couple Paul and Rachael Chandler have now been held captive by Somalian Pirates for over 100 days. The Pirates are demanding a $7 million ransom for the return of the couple, who are being held in an unknown inland location in Central Somalia. The British Governement is refusing to pay, as is their policy. Paul and Racheal are seperated, and being held in different locations. The physical health of both are slowly deteriorating. What should governments do in order to prevent piracy? What should they do in situations like this?

The Fort Hood Report: Why No Mention of Islam?

The Fort Hood Report: Why No Mention of Islam?