Showing posts with label Barack Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barack Obama. Show all posts
Norwegians think Barack Obama is rude for snubbing the traditional events for the Nobel Prize awards
In accepting the Nobel Prize for peace, Barack Obama travels to Oslo, Norway. But he cancelled some of the traditional events that go with the awarding, among them a snub to the invitation of Norway’s King to have lunch, a press conference, and a cancellation of a dinner of the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Committee.
“According to a poll published by the daily tabloid VG, 44% of Norwegians believe it was rude of Obama to cancel his scheduled lunch with King Harald, with only 34% saying they believe it was acceptable.”----Guardian.co.uk (12/09/09, Fouche, G; MackAskill, E.)
Without much success in peace promotion while the Afghan and Irag wars are raging, Obama gets the award which many think has become politicized and ill-deserved. The US president has no stellar accomplishment in international relations to make him deserving of the prize. Many peace protesters take note of the 30,000 American troops the awardee plans to deploy in Afghanistan ---a contradiction to the very essence of peace. (Photo Credit: enstarter) =0=
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Pres. Barack Obama: High in respect or stooping low to Japan's royalty?
Unlike Japan, it's not a tradition in USA to bow. Yet, in a meeting with Japanese emperor Akihito and wife Michiko Shoda, the US president bowed as a sign of any of the following: respect, deference, humility, submission, subservience, a sign of weakness?
Americans are divided on what to make out of this unusual gesture of the president on his first trip to Asia. While Akihito estendsd his hand for a handshake like a statesman, Obama stooped low. Many thought bowing to anyone is not what US presidents do. (Photo Credit: AFP/ Getty Images/ Ngan Mandel) =0=
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After the banks, housing sector & the auto industry, a bailout of newspapers?
After the costly bailouts of banks, the housing sector, and the auto industry Barack Obama is considering another bail out---this time, the ailing newspaper industry. Without much help given to ordinary people, the president is likely to think of helping the newspapers, the machinery that helped him get elected.
The media have worked doubly hard, at the expense of its credibility to prop up Obama, hence, in part, the bias that lead to the newspapers' dramatic slide in readership. In the last election, tabloids highly favored the Democrats over the Republicans. Is it incidental then that Sen. Ben Cardin, a democrat of Md has introduced a bill to help these cash-strapped newspapers?
”Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) has introduced S. 673, the so-called "Newspaper Revitalization Act," that would give outlets tax deals if they were to restructure as 501(c)(3) corporations. That bill has so far attracted one cosponsor, Cardin's Maryland colleague Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D).”---- The Hill (09/20/09, O’ Brien, M.)
Many readers have shunned away buying newspapers nowadays, causing a precipitous decline in their revenue. The explosion of fast communication in the internet has displaced most tabloid readers.
Even if Obama thinks that newspapers are "critical to the health of our democracy," he is concerned where reports, particularly in political blogs are going. The bailout of tabloids is part of a string of government controls that recently include the redesigning of the student aid fund and the revamp of healthcare.
Frustrated and tired of the bailouts which preferentially favor interest groups and political allies, the idea of helping out newsprints on the edge of bankruptcy only give credence to more government interference over people’s lives in a way that many think bends to socialism.
Newspapers have been instrumental in Obama’s glossed over persona and his coming into power as president. Now an instrument of slick propaganda, newspapers in democratic societies must be detached and separate from the government. They employ less people and do marginal help to shore up the economy. (Photo Credit: Photoburst) =0=
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ACORN lost federal funding amidst corruption & scandal
In an overwhelming vote of 345-75 by representatives, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN,) the liberal grassroots anti-poverty organization was stripped of its funding on September 17, 2009 after it violated federal laws and found to be engaged in corruption.
The vote against the funding provision was attached to the student aid bill. ACORN did not get the funding approval of the senate in a vote of 83-7, early Monday.
The organization' nefarious activities were exposed in the past election when it was accused of embarking on a massive voter registration fraud. A secret video recording was released recently showing employees advising clients to lie and engage in prostitution. Trust had been shattered. The ACORN footage elicited disgust among taxpayers who had been subsidizing the organization’s operation.
In an attempt to patch up the damage, ACORN announced it would conduct its own investigation. White House tried to distance itself from the organization saying the group's illegal activities are unacceptable. The Bureau of Census which planned to avail of the organization's services cut off their ties. As a bipartisan group of legislators bewail the waste of taxpayer's money on this group riddled with graft and corruption, Sen. Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, believes there are many honest employees employed by ACORN.
Americans had been increasingly frustrated over government corruption which could be worse than what was exposed. The ACORN scandal came to light when consevatives and Republicas aggressively pursued leads of illegal practices and waste in Obama' administration. As many observed if not for the vigilant radio talk hosts and FOX News, the maintream biased media didn't show enough interest in finding the truth about ACORN for the people to know.
Pres. Obama had been linked with the left-leaning orgnization as its lawyer and community organizer before he became president. The organization's scandal rose to prominence as Obama got pummeled for hiring too many advisers (32) and "czars" without adequate vetting and accountabiity. Van Jones, the environmeat and energy “czar” was forced to resign because of questionable qualifications. Obama had been under heavy criticism (which Jimmy Carter called racism) for building an overextended government that threatened to intrude in ciizens' lives and for proposing a healthcare overhaul that was deemed costly and unrealistic. (Photo Credit: John Wiggin =0=
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Obama drops missile defense in Europe
To add to the administration rocking the boat in the hope making a better and safer America, Pres. Barack Obama announced a new approach in missile defense in Europe, a turn-about in the Bush policy’s policy of putting a long–range ballistic system in the region to defend countries like Poland, Czech Republic, and Israel from countries like like Russia, Iran, and North Korea. America’s allies in Europe are disappointed and they see the plan as a weakening of Europe's defenses.
“He says his decision was guided in large part by new intelligence that shows Iran is focusing on the development of medium and short-range missiles. The original missile defense policy was based on the assumption that Tehran was seeking a long-range capability. This new ballistic missile defense program will best address the threat posed by Iran's ongoing ballistic missile defense program," the president said. VOA (09/17/09)
Not knowing the back-door deals surrounding this plan, the effects of withdrawal are still unclear. But Republicans in the US Congress are quickly critical of the policy. This comes at a time that Iran is close to making its nuclear bomb to threaten its neighbors.
John Boehner, a Republican in the U.S. Congress says President Obama's decision will empower the Russians at the expense of America’s friends in Europe. Obama’s security plan will be part of the issues to be tackled in the coming UN meeting or in the economic summit of the Group of 20 where Russian President Dimitri Medyedev is expected to attend. (Photo Credi: Iranmade_it) =0=
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Ex-pres. Jimmy Carter playing the race card to defend Obama
Joining New York Times’ Maureen Dowd in blaming racism as a reason for the growing unpopularity of Pres. Barack Obama, ex-president Jimmy Carter joins the irrational reflex of raising the race factor as the main reason why Obama isn’t as popular as before and faces opposition from his critics. However, those who blame racism like Carter are at a loss of satisfactory explanation(s).
Why is the mere expression of contrarian views against Obama suddenly constitutes racism. If racism is involved, how come the first black president got a commanding mandate over white man Sen. John McCain in the last election? Obama's popularity was stratospherically above the clouds only to fall when his rhetoric starts to show it doesn't match his performance. Many who voted for him are disappointed.
In spite of the slobbering of the biased media for Obama, overspending, lack of accountbility, and increasing government intrusion to private life are apparent and people are opposed to them. Even the healthcare overhaul which promises medical services for all doesn't guarantee that it will be cheaper than the status quo which Obama wants to change.
What critics believe is the administration is faced with serious queries and doubts on the economy, social engineering, and the healthcare reform that cost a lot of money. While the govenment assures against scare tactics, exaggerations, lies, misleading interpretations of Obama’s plan, the uncertainty, confusion, and doubts persist. That’s because the pathway to recovery that Obama proposes is expressed in hazy generalities. When asked for details of the plan, the mumbling, incoherence, and confabulations stand out. Raising racism in the debate of the issues is another incoherence. (Photo Credit: PBS.com) =0=
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More disenchantment over Obama’s administration
In the weekend thousands rally in Capitol Hill to protest against overspending and Obama’s way of managing the government. This comes on the heels of more uncertainty over joblessness and doubts over the healthcare revamp the government is proposing to the Americans.
Under overcast skies, the demonstrators whose magnitude was greater than expected aired their anger ---accusing Obama of not following with his campaign promises. The protesters’ dissatisfaction came across vexing issues from excessive government spending, unemployment, budget deficit, healthcare and illegal alien.
“Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar!” the crowd shouted back, echoing the accusation that Representative Joe Wilson, Republican of South Carolina, hurled at the president three days earlier during his address to Congress.---New York Times (09/12,09, Zeleny, J.)
Dick Armey, former House Republican leader and member of Freedomworks who helped organize the rally assailed Obama’s lack of loyalty to the USA's founding fathers. Like Ruth Lobbs, a schoolteacher from Jacksonville, FL., Armey believed the president is violating the constitution.
There is wide public perception that Obama was not being honest with his policies. The details of his costly plan are confusing and hazy---suggesting his radical socialistic tendencies and ambivalent naivete.
Attended by citizens of all political stripes, the protests parallel the findings of the recent popularity polls showing Obama losing grip on approval ratings. He has lost a big fraction of his popularity capital since his spectacular win in the November election. The incongruence of his lofty rhetoric and uncertainty in the direction of the government cause more Americans to regret voting for him. But his ardent supporters are optimistic that bright days are ahead if his plans are put into action. Obama has a very short window period o prove he can be trusted. (Photo Credit: New York Times) =0=
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Healthcare reform loses support from the elderly, chronically ill, and the disabled
As lawmakers went on their August recess, Americans from all sides of the political aisle had started debating on the merits of Pres. Barack Obama’s ambitious healthcare reform. Even though only a few legislators read the more than 1,000 pages of proposal to overhaul the medical insurance system whose budget constitutes a 6th of our economy, the administration had been rushing and pushing for changes that had been met with growing opposition.
The senior citizens, elderly, the handicapped and disabled are for a universal health care that is cheap. But they are up in arms against what they perceived to be a threat to their health and lives. Even with more than a trillion budget (contrary to Obama’s campaign promise that healthcare will be kept inexpensive,) the specter of rationing of services, prolonged waiting times in doctor’s offices, denial of certain medical tests and treatments, the weakening of America’s leadership in medical science, and the discrimination of the severely ill and those with disabilities are real issues that spark shouting matches in town meetings all over the country.
My Personal Experience
As a disabled with an unrelenting chronic medical condition, I have serious concerns about Obama’s healthcare proposal. Even with the current system, cost-cutting has already started. Presently, I am due for chemotherapy in New York, but my nurse told me, we have to hold-off because Medicare, our government insurance system, has not approved the treatment. In short, I am being denied access to a live-saving medical intervention. The disapproval is directly linked with cost-cutting and I need to appeal to justify my treatmen. Obviously, the denial is intrusive to medical wisdom and interferes with my doctor’s trained judgment. The delay in treatment it causes can surely jeopardize my health. So if this is happening to me now, how much more when the Obama’s proposal takes effect?
I worry for those who don’t know how to deal with the complexity of the current medical system. I'm apprehensive for us who'd be dictated by new rules that may shut-down apt treatment for the severely sick. The healthcare change will serve best if one is not sick, but when someone contracts a difficult health problem, the nightmare begins. From my experience, the sick is practically alone to negotiate the system in order to survive.
I was denied coverage of claims for certain medicines before and I had to dig deep into my pocket to pay for them. Scrimping on my budget, I had to buy additional medical insurances to supplement my coverage. Putting up medical claims is confusing and takes a lot of effort. Too much cost-cutting can lead to morbidities and deaths.
Questions Demanding Answers
Forty six (46) million people without insurance will be added in the system when Obama’s healthcare reform gets approved. How will America pay for them except from taxpayer’s money? In a socialistic bent, why will certain sectors of society pay more in favor of others? Why is personal responsibility not emphasized among us---giving priority to pay for one’s medical insurance, discouraging fraud, supporting medical tort reforms among others?
Do we have enough doctors and nurses who will take care of the newly insured? How can Obama assure there will be no lines in the ER and doctor's offices? On what basis will the sick be denied or approved of their diagnostics and treatments?
Who has the moral authority to select which patients deserve medical care over the other? Are the lives of the elderly any less important than the young as suggested by some of Obama’s radical healthcare planners?
How can the public trust Capitol Hill’s health experts when they demonstrate partisanship, show sharp adherence to their brand of morality and social agenda? Why is accountability in their decisions lacking?
Sen. Nancy Pelosi (California-Democrat) in criticizing those who oppose the healthcare plan immediately labeled them as “nazis” and "unAmerican." In her maturity, why can’t she engage in a rational, free and honest debate on the issues that will affect the people for generations?
Why do some administration officials like Obama and Pelosi rush the public to decide on the proposal just like the wishy-washy approval of the $787 financial bailouts of banks, housing and auto industries without the public’s understanding? These are some questions that aren’t satisfactorily answered by the administration who promised wild things during the past election.
As a result, in August 11, 2009, the Rasmussen poll has showed a precipitous drop in Obama’s approval---51 disapproved (with 37% strongly against) and 49 (with 30% strongly against) approved. This is expected to worsen as the real intent of his healthcare revamp is fully revealed to the public. In the meantime, the gnashing of the teeth is getting louder in limbo. (Photo Credits: Ben Heine; flikr Nurse; barack obama) =0=
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From stratospheric high, Barack Obama’s job approval falls to the ground
The president of the United States does not lack good intentions to overhaul the entire America or perhaps the world. Since his landmark win as the first black commander in chief, he pursues an ambitious plan of “change” that for a while the public supports. Americans want to give him a chance to succeed.
But 8 months after election, the doubts and fears of America have taken shape. The budget deficit has grown to an all time high. There is too much spending and borrowing by an increasingly intrusive government. Unemployment is still on the rise. Economic recovery is plagued by conflicting reports of stalling and rebound from "experts" that are hard to trust. Accountability (particularly in the administration's spending and borrowing) is virtually absent.
Healthcare reform is hard sell. It is more costly than the current system Obama wants to replace. There is widespread fear of a socialistic government-controlled Canadian-like system that threaten to ration services, curtail approval of diagnostics and treatment, delay services, limit the choice of doctors and their treatment options, and jack up taxes. This comes when 85% of Americans like their current insurances and the services they offer.
As a result, Barack Obama’s job approval rating is sliding fast and is down to 50%.
“Exactly half of the registered voters surveyed from July 27 to Aug. 3 by Quinnipiac said they approve of the job Obama is doing, compared with 42 percent who disapprove. That’s down from 57 percent approval and 33 percent disapproval.
The poll found that voters disapprove of the way Obama is handling the economy by 49 percent to 45 percent.
On his effort to overhaul of the health-care system, 52 percent disapprove of his handling of the issue while 39 percent approve. Only foreign policy offered a bright spot: 52 percent of poll respondents approved of his job on this front, compared with 38 percent who disapproved.” Bloomberg.com (08/06/09, Jensen, K)
What is clear is good intentions do not necessarily translate to good results. Theory in governance doesn’t always jibe with practice. Even with eloquence, the claim of experts and leaders must always be seen with caution. A president with glowing grassroots ideas from Harvard does not guarantee godly results. It’s dangerous to rock the boat with promises. Change comes magically, but not always in a hurry. (Photo Credit: nmfbihop) =0=
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Arroyo-Obama meeting: beholding the face of "god" & the desire to have a photo-op
There is unexplained elation in Gloria M. Arroyo’s “successful” meeting with Pres. Barack Obama. The president and her supporters show palpable delight, as if something big has been achieved after seeing the face of “god.” Whatever the achievement, the Filipinos are still scrambling to know.
If there is something uniquely surprising about the Filipino's expectation on the gains of meeting Pres. Obama, ask Sen. Lito Lapid. He said he would do anything to have a photograph with the most powerful man in the world---"I hope I’d be lucky enough to be chosen among the five that would be allowed to accompany the President when she meets Obama.” Such slobbering from a senator is odd.
Obama who is extremely popular in the Philippines sees that the county as the chief ally of America in Asia. In blurry terms, his statement that country will serve a “coordinating link” to the ASEAN countries is flattering. His conversation with GMA on regional security, the economy, foreign aid, and mutual cooperation may have pushed through, but the question is: how do their words become success for the country? What do their pronouncements mean? At best, if Arroyo achieved anything, not so many Filipinos understand.
That’s why in USA and in the Philippines there are murmurs of dissent. Fil-Am activists staged rallies in Washington and California to protest Arroyo’s corruption and human rights records. In Manila, Bayan members lambasted the president for a trip that they think won’t benefit the people. Many who disapprove of GMA took to the streets in a new wave of condemnation. There are those who are bitter to be reminded that the Philippines is still a “colony” and serves as an “errand” boy of America. (Photo Credit: Reuters/Jim Young; Reuters/ Romeo Ranoco) =0=
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Race-relation in the White House: mending the “stupid” comment of Pres. Barack Obama
As a photo-op to mend the racial controversy sparked by Barack Obama’s siding with his friend, the black Harvard professor Henry Lewis Gates, Jr, the White House welcomed the two warring personalities----Cambridge police officer Sgt. James Crowley who was accused by Obama to have acted “stupidly” in arresting Professor Gates. The teacher was rowdy, belligerent and angry after being asked to produce an ID, prompting Crowley to arrest him..
Sgt. Crowley went to Gates’ house in response to an alleged break-in the latter’s residence. He found the black teacher suspecting the white police officer of “racially profiling” him. In truth, Crowley was just there to help.
The supposedly educated black Harvard mentor escalated the simple situation by raising a race issue----something he professed to be an “expert” of. Many viewed this case as a “Do you know who I am?” kind of thing by a teacher known to Obama which brought the incident to national attention.
In the White House on Thursday, July 30, 2009 Crowley and Gates got time with Obama. They talked and tried to mend fences over a drink of beer.
What resulted was an embarrassment for Obama who joined the controversy by siding with Gates without first knowing the facts. So they had to meet in the South Lawn of the presidential house, most likely to minimize the negative backlash. There were criticisms against the president from the police force nationwide for his “uncalibrated” comment against the police officer.
In simple terms, I believe, Obama didn’t have to meet the two in the White House. He has more important national issues to tackle. Instead of trying to deflect the real issue from himself and his black friend, he could just have apologized for a mistake----a racial bias (a Freudian slip of sorts) he expressed against Crowley. The public is smart to understand. (Photo Credit: CBS/ AFP/ Saul Loeb) =0=
RELATED BLOG: Obama backtracks from “stupid” statement against a white Cambridge police officer Posted by mesiamd at 7/27/2009
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GMA meets with Barack Obama
The meeting of Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo which is drummed up in the Philippines as "historic" occured Friday, July 31, 2009. In spite of high hopes of Filipinos that something big will happen to such a meeting, it barely made a stir in the US media.
Arroyo's and her coterie of 20 congressmen beheld the face of the US president and defended their travel with familiar justifications of advancing the diplomatic relationship of the Philippines with the US, an old time ally. Philippine authorities speak of a 45-minute talk on the economy, security, the Mindanao conflict and regional cooperation among Asian nations---something glowing that makes the trip look essential. Few disagree except fot the money to spend.
Yet, it is hard to quantify what benefits ordinary Filipinos will get from this recent US travel. In the fading days of her presidency, GMA is beset with poor popularity, charges of corruption, human rights violations, and a weak economy. With some gains, many look at the White House visit as another political move which combines government business with pleasure.
As before, many legislators and administration supporters scramble to join the travel wagon to be part of an official trip underwritten by taxpayer's money. Many of them include in their travel side trips to Las Vegas, tourist attractions, and shopping malls in various cities of America. It is unclear what this group of GMA companions will do after the Washington DC meeting with Obama. =0=
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Another US trip for Pres. Gloria Arroyo
In an astonishing display of enthusiasm to travel, RP president Gloria M. Arroyo left for a 4-city tour to the United States. In her 16th official trip to USA, a meeting with Pres. Barack Obama was scheduled on July 30. She boarded a commercial Philippine Airlines plane two days earlier and will be back on August 2, 2008
Accompanied by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy Gaa, and a delegation of 20 congressmen, the president will meet with the American president on “peace and security issues.”
This foreign trip is the 72nd travel of GMA abroad, one among 41 countries she visited during her term. Her expenses have ballooned to an estimated P8 billion prompting critics to question whether such expense brings enough benefit to a country reeling in poverty. There are allegations that some of her trips with bloated claims of success have turned into "vacations" for her family, political allies, and friends.(Photo Credit: GMAnews.TV/ Galvez, J.) =0=
RELATED BLOG: Pres. Gloria Arroyo’s foreign travels questioned Posted by mesiamd at 6/28/2009
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Obama backtracks from “stupid” statement against a white Cambridge police officer
Without knowing the circumstances between in the altercation between a white police officer and a black Harvard professor, Pres. Barack Obama, jumped in siding with the black professor----only to learn later he should know better. The police officer wasn’t stupid and he was just doing his job.
Sgt. James Crowley, the police officer responding to a break-in report in the home of Harvard teacher Henry Louis Gates Jr. found himself dealing with a belligerent acidic professor who didn’t want to show his identification. It boiled down to Gates’ unfounded paranoid suspicion that he is being “racially profiled’ by Crowley.
Pres. Barack Obama who is a friend of Prof. Gates reacted quick without knowing the facts:
"I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry," Obama said. "Number two, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home. And number three -- what I think we know separate and apart from this incident -- is that there is a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately, and that's just a fact."---http://wb.tv (07/23/09,
In truth, the Cambridge police officer was there to help black teacher----but Gates probably expected that people like Crowley should first know him because he is a “Harvard professor(?)”. Call it hubris in the academe's ivory tower, a demand for respect or an overreaction, but in the police report, Gates was described as tumultuous, uncooperative, and upset.
It is disgusting that this happens in America on people who are supposedly educated. This kind of “Do you know me?” challenge by people of influence and arrogance commonly occurs on simple folks who need to deal with the “VIP’s” like fragile porcelains. Self-importance and inappropriate reaction are most likely operant here.
People like Gates are absorbed in their self-awareness and that a simple showing of identification to a police officer becomes a race issue or a contention to start an argument. The black professor is said to be an “expert” on racism---and in my opinion he has carried his expertise too far.
I am amazed, a US president went down so low to quickly comment erroneously on an issue that is parochial and least deserving of his attention. This split second decision to defend a friend by the president offers clues on what goes on the way he thinks of race relations. Is the preferential option for friends becoming common in the Obama administration?
As a consequence of Obama’s rushed response, he has to patch up,---short of an apology, admitting that he could have used a "calibrated" response. He is correct that the police disproportionately arrest blacks and hispanics more than other races. The reason is obvious--- Blacks and Hispanics have high rates of criminality than other races.
Sgt. Crowley could have over-reacted in arresting this black teacher, but the officer isn’t pleased by the president’s partisan reaction---and so are his colleagues in the police force who try to do their duty as officers. The irony of it all, Crowley, in his career, has been a resource person on avoiding "racial profiling" and in the past, tried to revive a black guy in an emergency, by mouth to mouth resuscitation. (PHoto Credit: WBZ.com) =0=
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Legislation stalled: Americans question Obama's healthcare overhaul plan
The attempt of Pres. Barack Obama to hasten the approval of his universal health care plan met significant opposition when Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced the floor will take up the contentious matter after the August recess. At the earliest, the legislation will be voted, in September 2009 to allow time for legislators and citizens to think.
“Obama envisions legislation that would, for the first time, require all Americans to be insured. A new government insurance program would compete with private insurers, and insurance companies would be barred from excluding people with pre-existing conditions. The goals are to hold down costs and extend coverage to most of the 50 million uninsured. The price tag: $1 trillion-plus over a decade.”----AP (07/24/09, Werner, E.)
But a growing number of citizens and leaders from both sides of the political aisle are questioning the huge price tag of healthcare overhaul plan----exactly the reason why USA is pushing for a change. Many are resentful, appalled and worried that the reform will lead to rationing of medical services as 47 uninsured will be included. The danger of overtaxing the system is there---leaving doctors, nurses and caregivers overworked, underpaid, and unable to deliver the quality of care America expects.
Taxes which Obama promised to keep low, are likely to rise astronomically to subsidize at least 10 million illegal aliens who will crowd the system. The elderly and disabled may suffer denial or delays of service as the government wants to give the young and socially productive the priority in health services.
Through government machinations planned by a few supposed medical experts, many tests, procedures and treatments are in danger of being denied from the seriously sick, chronically ill, and those who suffer from rare diseases. This practice has begun even in the current system and is expected to be greater when the Obama plan takes effect.
Doctors often complain of being slowed by insurance disapprovals and delays to the detriment of their patients' health. Reimbursements of claim from medical services have been cut or denied on top of over-regulation. People have suddenly realize the creeping interference of government in their lives.
So therefore, it is easy to understand why enough time must be given for study and deliberation before a decision is made. There are reasons to doubt Obama and his contentious plan. As it is, his proposal for reform doesn't fly with the people he wants to serve (53% disapproved vs. 46 approved as one recent poll shows.)(Photo Credit: Reuters/ US Health Politics/ Reed, J; AP/ Burke, LV) =0=
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US economic recovery & the uncertainties Americans face ahead
In spite of Pres. Barack Obama’s eloquent words, the US economy is still on the edge. The ambitious social engineering of the Democratic party has started to fray---- ahead of the economic recovery that it promised. The president who built high expectations since his election campaign is losing his approval and credibility at a fast rate.
Healthcare Dilemma
The country is spooked by the healthcare overhaul plan which will likely be rationed, endangers the independence of doctors to decide for their patients, and may lead to treatment delays and astronomical costs which can rob the future of generations.
Though most Americans agree that a change in healthcare is needed, Obama’s plan to pattern the delivery of American system of healthcare to Canada and Europe is met with growing opposition. His universal healthcare plan threatens the structure that makes medicine in USA the best in the world.
American medicine brings leaders of foreign countries to come to the US for treatment. With all its faults, it is the pre-eminent leader in innovation and the advance of medical science. Though expensive, the fast delivery of medical services for difficult health problems makes it outstanding.
Yet, cutting costs will bring undesired consequences. These, the Americans are grappling to understand. They don't know how much it will cost them in insurance premiums and what medical services will they get in return. They are seriously thinking how much of their income must realistically be alloted to medical care.
Even the Obama government shows poor grasp on the details of the change the "experts" are pushing, making the public doubt whether the rush to tinker with the current system will make their life better. It seems Obama wants the health plan to be voted upon soon while the public hasn't absorbed its hidden ramifications. In a speech, he mumbles of the same generic old tunes that don't clarify the uncertainties of his plan. To President Obama's and California legislator Nancy Pelosi's disappointment, the senate recently stalled the health reform bill for September after the August recess.
For one, they even haven’t tackled how to prevent billions that are lost in Medicare and Medicaid fraud. Many lawmakers who bat for more government intrusions in private life haven't read the legislation or discussed the health proposal. It's just like when Capitol Hill voted the $700 billion plus economic stimulus in haste and the public is left guessing. They don't know where the huge public money is going. Without giving evidence, the financial decision-makers say they "averted" the total collapse of the US economy while at the same time, they warn for another stimulus package if the initial strategy doesn't work.
The administration wants to tax the people so that it can subsidize the insurance of at least 10 million illegal aliens, part of the 47 million people who are uninsured. At the expense of the elderly who may be denied of certain diagnostic tests and medical treatment, the government wants to give medical coverage to those who ignored the law and gate-crashed into America.
Obama plans to control the approval and denial of services, putting the lives of the old, disabled, and those with chronic and rare disease in limbo. It is likely, the sick who are young with high chance for full recovery and are able to go back to work will be given priority over those who are old, recurrently sick, and those without hope of improvement. As a result of the expected decline of health service, according to political analyst Dick Morris, author of a new book "Catastrophe," this health plan will displace the elderly with poorer care, it may lower the life expectancy of the Americans in the next decade as well.
Joblessness still on the Rise
In the meantime, in spite of the outrageous spending that puts USA at the edge of bankruptcy, under Obama’s watch, the joblessness in the heartland doesn’t abate. The budget deficit continues to rise, prompting America to finance its runaway spending from debts abroad. If Obama’s plan fails, there will be many apologies, but almost no accountability---just the way it happened when bankruptcies occured in the housing sector, financial services, banking, and auto industries.
Newly laid-off workers seeking jobless benefits increased last week, consistent to the forecast by the Federal Reserve that unemployment will rise beyond 10%. Bolstering this prediction, the Labor Department announced that the initial claims for unemployment insurance went up by 30,000 this week, raising the number of idle workers to 554,000.
With these, the sword of Democles hovers precariously over the heads of US citizens, not used to having no control over their lives. Unlike before, Obama can blame his predecessors as the cause of the economic mess, but as time passes, it is looking more like his own. The free fall of his popularity may be one to tell. Those who slobber and blindly support him is likely to find disappointment. (Photo Credit: iQoncept) =0=
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Economy is worse than what Obama wants the public to believe
When the Bureau of Labor and Statistics released its June 2009 joblessness rate, the number ballooned to 467,000, putting a total 7.2 million out of work since the onset of the recession. The unemployment rate had reached 9.5%, the highest in 26 years. It was the largest job contraction in a 6 month period since the 1940’s.
With lack of public confidence, the meltdown drags--- the huge job loss equaled the job gain in the last 9 years. As a consequence, U.S. Federal Reserve officials revised their unemployment forecast to top 10 percent, above the 9.6 percent that was previously predicted. Economists and financial analysts foresee the unemployment rate to rise between 9.8 and 10.1 percent in 2009.
States Above 10% Joblessness Rate:
Alabama,
California,
Florida,
Georgia,
Illinois,
Indiana,
Louisiana,
Michigan
Nevada,
North Carolina,
Ohio, Oregon,
Rhode Island,
South Carolina
Tennessee.
"Most Fed policymakers said it could take "five or six years" for the economy and the labor market to get back on a path of long-term health. To get there, consumers must return to a regular spending groove and housing prices need to start rising again."---AP (07/17/09, Aversa, J.)
According to Mortimer Zuckerman of the US News (07/15/09,) the June data include 185,000 people who are presumed to have work, but in reality, may be jobless. Not part of the unemployment list are the unpaid leaves that have become commonplace. The work-hours in many industries have dropped and fulltime jobs for workers are being converted to part time.
About 1.4 million people are available to work within the last 12 months, but they have not been looking for employment. The average duration of joblessness in this recession has lengthened to 24.5 weeks and the average pay of workers remained at $18.53 per hour. About 223,000 positions in the production sector have been lost, creating a dismal picture for labor.
Obviously, Obama’s good intentions did not translate into success. Instead, more whispers of difficult times spook Americans who could just wait and see how the administration churn the business climate to stimulate the economy and create jobs.
With Obama’s falling popularity and shortening of public patience, a second stimulus program is in the horizon, furthering the alarming big borrowing and spending of the government. The budget deficit has skyrocketted. Just as before, financial planners and legislators in Capitol Hill have little accountability. As doubt mounts and money flows into uncertain hands, it’s the American people who are caught between the stone and a rock-hard place. (Photo Credit: Darth Dragon) =0=
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Obama’s approval rating falls
After a very strong start early in presidency, popular Barack Obama is now experiencing an erosion of his approval rating as the Rasmussen reports the following salient findings as of Monday, June 22, 2009. His approval index has dropped to negative (-1).
33% of voters strongly approve
34% of voters strongly disapprove
(-1) net approval index
Among other findings from the survey, many voters still blame the Bush administration for the faltering economy, but the number has fallen to 54%----8 points down from last month. This indicates that the problem of the economy during the change of leadership is getting to be attributed to Obama rather than Bush.
The consumer confidence according to the survey is at its lowest level in the last two months. Americans are equally divided on whether to push through with healthcare reform now (46%) or wait on a later date to coincide with economic recovery(45%).
There is doubt on the massive spending Obama has laid out for the bailout of banks, mortgage institutions, auto industry and private companies which many believe compromises taxpayers’ money. If the economy improves (i.e. it comes out of the recession) Obama’s numbers are expected to rebound to his favor. But further slide of his rating is expected if financial trouble persists and joblessness remains rampant.(Photo credit: Roddick Remixed) =0=
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Protests against Iran’s contested election continue
Riots against the alleged fraudulent landslide re-election of hardliner Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad grew in the streets of Tehran. Thousands of irate Iranians clashed with the police injuring many and killing at least one person in the largest protest since 1979.
Droves of pro-democracy forces and opposition activists loyal to rival candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi continued to vent anger to the rigging of the election. It prompted supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was originally supportive of the election result to order an investigation into the alleged voter anomalies.
World leaders expressed concern over the continued chaos in the streets which have ramifications to the stalled diplomatic overtures to have Iran abandon its nuclear program.
While evaluating the suspected landslide win of Ahmadinejad, Pres. Barack Obama said it’s up for the Iranians to choose their leaders. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared support to look into the contested presidential election. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband voiced "serious concern" while French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed worry over Iran’s political situation. (Photo Credit: Mark Baker/ AP; AP; Behrouz Mehri/ AFP/ Getty Images.=0=
UPDATE: June 16, 2007---7 Iranians protesting the cheating in the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were gunned down in a public square during a confrontation with riot policemen.
RELATED BLOG: "Ahmadinejad wins in Iranian election" Posted by mesiamd at 6/14/2009
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Divided reactions to Barack Obama’s speech in Cairo
US President Barack Obama who said he came to Cairo, Egypt to find a new beginning between the United States and the Muslims of the world, based on “mutual interest and respect” got mixed reactions from his audience worldwide during his speech on June 4, 2009:
"I think President Obama's speech had a positive meaning. However, we hope it will not become a mere slogan but be followed up in concrete terms," ---KH Salahuddin Wahid, Indonesian Cleric. Antara News Agency. www. Chinaview.net (06.05/09 Tong, X)
"No American president has ever gone out of his way to reach out to the Muslim world in the way that President Obama has. We applaud that. But our applause is discreet rather than rapturous for these are as yet mere words. Were we ever to see all -- or any -- of them transition from rhetoric to reality then the applause would thunder across the world, and bring together the hands of every faith."---The News (Pakistan) Rhetoric and Reality (editorial) www.rferl.org (06/05/09)
"His naivete can be dangerous,” said Aliza Herbst, West Bank Settler. Huffington Post (06/04/09 Gutkin, S)
"This has made him close to the heart of the people. Our people like the person who is honest and address them with frankness and opens his heart and says good words, but not without action," said Salah Mansour, Café manager, Cairo, Egypt VOA News (06/05/09, Desvarieux, J)
"It's a public relations address more than anything else," said Mohamed Habib, deputy leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. Reuters. (06/05/09 Alexander, D; Blair, E; Nakhoul. S)
“I feel that the speech was balanced and offered a new vision of rapprochement regarding relations with Islamic states. [His speech shows that the US] will deal with the region's issues with a sense of balance. This includes the Palestinian question, the end to Israeli settlements, Palestinian rights, which must be respected. “----Amr. Moussa, Head of the Arab League.Rhttp://news.bbc.co.uk (06/04/09)
“His bloody messages were received and are still being received by Muslims, and they will not be concealed by public relations campaigns or by farcical visits or elegant words," said Ayman al-Zawahri, al-Qaida's No. 2 in criticizing Obama’s upcoming message. AP (06/02/09, Youssef, M)
"The nations of this part of the world ... deeply hate America…Even if they give sweet and beautiful (speeches) to the Muslim nation “ said Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as reported by Reuters. www.npr.org (06/04/09 Holzma, T)
"It's some of the biggest pile of horseshit I've had to listen to in years.. and I still don't understand what's "historica"l about it?!!"---Hossam el Hamalawy, Egyptian leftist blogger. Guardian.co.uk (06/04/09)
"The Islamic world does not need moral or political sermons. It needs a fundamental change in American policy," said MP Hassan Fadlallah of Lebanon's Hezbollah. Reuters. (06/05/09 Alexander, D; Blair, E; Nakhoul. S)
“Obama has the intention to build goodwill with Muslims worldwide. But so far he is just an actor. This is just a spectacle. The dialogue is good. But if the policy doesn't change, nothing will change." - Dian Teja, 25, watching the speech at a café in Jakarta, Indonesia. www.politicsdaily.com ( 06/04/09 Kraskin, M)
“I think on human rights there were many things that were commendable... but it is disappointing that when he talked about democracy in the Muslim world he wasn't more specific about some of the problems.”---Eric Goldstein. Human Rights Watch. http://news.bbc.co.uk (06/04/09) (Photo Credit: Alex Johnson; Peter Gutierrez x 2)=0=
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