National Security Post

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/can-obama-wage-war-islamic-state-group-without-congressional-approval/ Read the article and watch the video about the expansion of Presidential War Making Power. Identify one contention made by the author or individuals quoted within the article, and provide your opinion of it with support. Also, react to 2 other classmates posts by Friday the 5th (your last blog post / comment).

President Vs. Congress Constitutinal Showdown - Immigration and the Budget

There is a classic showdown heating up between the President and the newly emboldened Republican led Congress over immigration, and that fight may well spill over into the budget battle when history / ego / legacy / political grandstanding intersect. Watch, listen, read and post. 1 paragraph summarize what you have seen, heard or read about the battle. 2nd paragraph share your reaction, including any questions you may have.

Health Care and Keystone

I support the affordable care act because it provides fair ways for people to access insurance. With out the law people can get lost in what insurance to buy and cannot make the correct choice that could decide the outcome of their life. Healthcare cannot be a purely free market issue because these people don’t have a choice in buying insurance or healthcare because their lives are on the line. Because of this it is extremely important that everyone is informed about what their plan covers and everyone has equal access to a healthcare plan which the former system didn’t guarantee. The majority of problems relating to the ACA are regarding its implementation and people’s compliance with it. If we look to Hawaii, who has required employers to provide health insurance since 1974, we see that they didn’t see more people switch to part time jobs and continue to have a very good employment rate. These are only unsubstantiated claims and overall a fair healthcare market will benefit more people.

            The United States must see a substantial economic and overall welfare benefit in order to justify the use of eminent domain by a foreign country. The Keystone Pipeline simply does not pass this litmus test. The majority of job claims assume that all materials and employees will come from the US despite the reality that the majority of supplies and jobs will be contracted to foreign countries. According to a comprehensive report by the University of Cornell, because keystone diverts the oil from refineries in the Midwest and sends it south to be sent oversees; the Midwest could see and increase in their oil costs by two to four billion dollars annually. This cost is enough to negate any benefits from the temporary jobs it creates. Because of the massive political influence of this bill the study furthers its passage could lead to drastic declines in investment in green energy, which creates four times more jobs for every dollar invested compared to oil. The promises of Keystone are merely a façade for expanding foreign interests and big oil in the United States

Obamacare should be repealed because you are forcing companies to give plans to people who will not make them money. While this sounds bad, it is the truth, insurance companies are just like any other company in that they are trying to make money. You would not make a bank give someone a loan if you know they will not repay it. Even with the government compensating them it will not be enough for the loss in profit margin. If a person wishes to take a gamble and not get health insurance that is their choice and they must live with the consequences. Also, according to the Houston Chronicle, hospitals are going to lose $28 billion due to Obamacare's lowering of federal funds to hospitals and setting prices for surgeries.

The keystone pipeline should be approved. It will lower carbon emissions and be better for the environment. It will also lower gas prices, which will lower the cost of an Americans daily commute but also the cost of most goods. This is due to the fact that the transportation of these goods will be cheaper and overhead costs will be cheaper due to the lower cost of energy, both of these due to the decrease in the cost of oil/gasoline.

Healthcare / Environment Post

Watch the two videos below and write 1 paragraph explaining / defending your opinion regarding whether or not the Health Care Reform Act should be repealed. (Feel free to research further). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Ilc5xK2_E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGN6vlnlJPM and in the same post add a second paragraph that tackles the environment. Write a paragraph that attacks or defends "cap and trade" legislation, OR the passage of the Keystone Pipeline. Use the following video for information, and again, feel free to research further. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdk5n0Lx8Z8

Drug Testing Welfare Recipients

The first article is talking about whether or not recipients of welfare aid should be drug screened and possibly tested to recieve welfare. There are multiple reasons behind this bill being proposed by Republicans- one reason being the concern that welfare recipients will use the federal aid to buy illicit drugs. On the other side, critics note the high expenses that come with drug testing and the lack of aid to recipients who don't pass the drug test. In the second article, Jack Kingston is sharing his popular view that this ruling should be passed. Some reasons include that the welfare could just continue to bring down individuals as they sink deeper into a drug addiction and don't return to the "playing field" of having a job. The expensive funding of drug tests would be solved by reducing Independent Advisory Board spending.

I agree that yes, welfare recipients should be drug tested but the bill should propose alternatives to individuals who don't pass. To sum up the view in favor of the bill, giving certain welfare recipients drug money through welfare is a government that doesn't support what is best for the individuals of its country. Testing individuals would be a step in the direction of solving some of the real problems that are causing poverty stricken individuals to need welfare besides economical reasons. I agree with critics that if the bill would be passed, there needs to be an alternative (counseling, job training, drug therapy, etc.) to the individuals who don't pass the drug test and are unable to recieve welfare. Overall, I think this bill is a step in the right direction for Republican and Democratic compromise for the current welfare program.