1. President Obama's State of the Union Address
I didn't watch the SOTU speech nor am I going to read it but I did read articles talking about the highlights. I am one of the many who has become disenchanted with the way Obama is handling what's going on in Washington. I don't necessarily blame Obama but I do blame the Senators who are in power for not working together and trying to help this country. Instead, they are working to try and keep their jobs in 2012. Maybe if you actually do work, you'll be able to be reelected.
But it's a new year so here's hoping Obama can get some stuff done. Democrats need to quit being so chicken shit and Republicans need to actually start offering up solutions instead of complaining about what the Democrats and Obama are doing. We have the ability and the power to make this country great again but, and I know this is cliche, we need to work together.
2. Paul Shirley's Letter to Haiti
Call me an ass but I completely agree with what Paul Shirley wrote. It's harsh, I know and I think that's why people caused such an uproar about it. On the surface, Americans really do want to help people in other countries but inside, we're thinking: "Why? How are they going to use our money? What's in it for us? Have you people learned anything from this?" and we hate feeling that way so when someone actually points it out, we get angry and defensive because it's true.
The only part of the blog I don't agree with is the more insulting part of it:
Dear Haitians –
First of all, kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded.
As we prepare to assist you in this difficult time, a polite request: If it’s possible, could you not re-build your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?
Sincerely,
The Rest of the World
Ouch. Now that's too harsh. But look at Haiti's history. They haven't learned from their past and those who do not learn history... Like I said last week, the United States seems to always offer the most aid than any other country in the world. Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and dozens of other towns. Guess who gave the most. Us, first of all, then Canada. Most other countries donated at most $9 million (Australia), at least $100,000 to Red Cross or something similar or they offered doctors, military, water to the hurricane victims. Ironically, only 5% of the $894 million has been spent on what it was donated to do.
No one helps us as much we help them. We need to stop helping other nations and start using the money we donate to ravaged areas to help out our own ravaged areas. The $379 million sent to Haiti could really help out our own people hurt by unemployment and foreclosures.
And now onto the comics:
by Robert Ariail 1/27/10
South Carolina has some pips doesn't it? I think it's too much to hope that South Carolinians set down and coordinate this stuff which is why they seem to stay in the news. For those who don't know, Lt. Governor Bauer compared people on welfare to stray animals. You give stray animals/poor people food and they breed. I've always heard you don't feed strays because then they hang around and are possibly diseased but I guess breeding works too.
by Michael Ramirez 1/28/10
Someone, anyone, name a good one-term president.
I'm not saying any president who has only served one-term is a terrible president but our current one-term presidents (Carter and Bush, Sr.) seem to do more out of office than they did in.
I wish someone would compare Obama's first year with that of other president's first years to see how it compares. I can't remember how Clinton's first year went, or Bush, Sr's and I wasn't alive for Reagan's. I remember George W. Bush's first year and the only reason he got stuff done was because of 9/11. No one seems to remember he did nearly nothing then took a month long vacation in August. I remember this because I was also in Texas while Bush was. For more on President Bush's time in office before 9/11, click here.
by Henry Payne 1/23/10
Ah, hypocritical hippies. They want to save the planet but never seem to offer any other solutions. They buy nickel-battery hybrid cars but don't want you mining for nickel. They do realize they aren't melting down the coin for those batteries right?
It's crap like this that make people like me go "Well, this is complicated. Screw this," and I don't want to do that. I do want to be greener but the proponents of it seem to be trying to make it difficult.
