What is Happening With The Health Care Reform Law?





Today Robert Vinson, a federal judge in Florida, tossed out the sweeping health care reform law.  He did this because he found that the key provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was unconstitutional.  This part of the Health Care Reform Law pretty much states that Americans must buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties.  He was not the only federal judge who found it unconstitutional.  A judge in Virginia also found it unconstitutional.  I agree with these federal judges that is unconstitutional.  People shouldn't have to face penalties if they don't buy health insurance by 2014.  They will have to face their own penalty when they have to pay for medical bills and it costs a fortune or when they can't see a doctor of some sort because they don't have the insurance.  But the one question is what is going to happen to this reform.  What is most likely to happen is a contentious Supreme Court challenge over the legislation in coming months.  This reform should be passed in my opinion but if it wants to be passed President Obama will need to change a few of the things that some people don't like or it won't pass at all.  Lets just hope all is good and we will figure out what will happen to the Health Care Reform Law.

2011 State of The Union

             

On January 25, 2011, President Obama gave The State of The Union Address.  Before he entered the building the was something different.  The difference between the State of the Union and other ones was that both Repbulicans and Democrats were sitting together instead of sitting of oppisite sides of the audience.  When the Obama finally entered everyone rose out of their seats and clapped and greeted him.  President Obama talked about a few of the major things that we need to focus on.  He talked about innovation, education, rebuilding America, health care, and our troops that are over seas.

One thing that Obama said was that the future is ours to win.  That's the one line that really said it all to me.  He is completly right it is ours to win and that what will have to do.  Even though we will have to sacrifice things, struggle, and meet the demands of a new age.  He gave us the steps on how to win the future now we just have to go out and follow each step starting with encouraging American innovation.  One of the last things Obama said on this night was "The idea of America endures. Our destiny remains our choice. And tonight, more than two centuries later, it's because of our people that our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward, and the state of our union is strong".  Now all the people of the country have to do is go out into the world and work hard no matter what happens and we will win the future!


 

Shooting is Tucson, Arizona and How the Shooter pleaded in court.

On  January 8, 2011, Representative Gabrielle Giffords was holding a open meeting in a supermarket parking lot.  During the meeting a man by the name of Jared Lee Lougher started shooting at the people attending including Giffords and Chief Judge John Roll.  Fourteen people were injured(13 by gun fire), and there were six death including John Roll.  Lougher was arrested at the scene of the shooting.  His motives for the shooting are still unclear.  Giffords was in critical condition and had to have surgery after being shot in the head. 



Only eight days into the new year and something like this happens.  When I first heard of this i just sat there in shock.  I didn't know why someone would do such a thing, it was really one of those things u wouldn't think of having at a public meeting like this one.  But it is good they caught the man that did this.  Today Lougher appered in court.  On his behalf the court pleaded him not guilty on attempted murder charges.

What is a Third Party and Why are they Important

                                                                            

What is a Third Party? A Third Party is party other than one of the two dominant ones in a two-party political system.  There are many types of third parties such as Green Party, Labor Party, Liberty Union Party, Boston Tea Party, etc.  In my eyes a third party is important in everything now.  They can really put a twist on elections and other things in politics.  Third Party candidates rarely win elections.  There are only two U.S. Senators Joe Lieberman and Bernie Sanders, who are neither Democrat nor Republican.  Even though these parties rarely win elections the can have a big effect on them.  This effect is called a spoiler effect.

                                                

Just like in the 2004 Ralph Nader helped George W. Bush win the election(spoiler effect).  Nader helped Bush win by having 463,655 votes, for 0.38 percent of the popular vote, meaning that he took some votes away from some votes away from John Kerry because  he charged that the Democrats were attempting to smear him.  

                                              

The spoiler effect is one of the big reason why third parties are important.  Another way is they are able to support some of the issues that the major parties don't cover.  This is what a third party is and how it can be important in politics.