Mardi Gras: Obama’s Fireside Chat

I guess the big buzz for the next few days (maybe months) will be President Obama’s address that he made on Mardi Gras. It was quite a landmark speech considering the vast amount of topics covered in a span of about an hour. The popular/unpopular economic stimulus plan was pretty much outlined and those of you who read the paper or watched the speech kind of get the gist of it. Obama eloquently spoke about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the responsibilities we as a nation have to carry this forward.

President Obama announced that 3.5 million jobs will be created over the next two years and 90% of them will be focused on infrastructure development, green jobs, and the expansion of mass transit. Meaning, if you’re bumming out about unemployment or just a terrible job, know that these sectors will be exploding. Also, it’s a good time to invest in some green stock.

You’ve also got your April Fools Tax Cut. No joke there, just a nice tax cut on your paychecks by the time April 1st comes around. But for those of you who are struggling with tuition, a $2,500 tax credit will be available for all 4 years of college. Unemployed? You will be given extended unemployment benefits and health insurance to help you in the meantime.

I thought Obama made an excellent defense for himself when it came to the concern of “big government”. This is a huge argument Republicans are using to repudiate the stimulus plan and muster up cynicism.

“…government didn’t supplant private enterprise; it catalyzed private enterprise. It created the conditions for thousands of entrepreneurs and new businesses to adapt and to thrive.”

President Obama referred to the times during the Cold War when government aided in the explosion of technology and scientific research.

In the middle of  his address, Obama revealed his three pronged approach to the recovery of America: energy, health care, and education. Ever since his campaign, he’s made a real commitment to invest in sustainable energy. Though many speculated that Obama would tackle health care next year (after the economic collapse is dealt with), he revealed that he already subsidized a portion of the money to go to health care. The point President Obama made on education was, I think, the most significant because it was frank and it was fresh.

“Right now, three-quarters of the fastest-growing occupations require more than a high school diploma. And yet, just over half of our citizens have that level of education. We have one of the highest high school dropout rates of any industrialized nation. And half of the students who begin college never finish. This is a prescription for economic decline, because we know the countries that out-teach us today will out-compete us tomorrow.”

President Obama then asked that all Americans commit to more than just a high school diploma whether this would be at a community college or a 4 year school. What probably was the most powerful quote he said about education was, “…dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country.”

In times of strong competition with China and India, the US is going to have to stay on top of its game when it comes to education. Obama sets up a goal that by 2020, the US will again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

This speech wasn’t all about informing American citizens of little shindigs and hootenannies in Congress. We are all called to commit to a bright future by being responsible at home and in our communities. It really illustrates how we can’t stand back and watch the government fix everything for us. This will take patience, maturity, and strength to help rebuild all the broken sectors of America.

On a different note, did anybody else respond to Governor Jindal’s response with a swift and frank “What the f***?” This guy (who, coincidentally, is looking to run for President in 2012) was a total over-rehearsed buzz-kill. What were his critiques? Raised taxes, more debt, and to quote the King of Siam, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. The package is outlined with IMMENSE TAX CUTS, not raises but CUTS. Later on, he implied that somewhere in Obama’s speech, the President mentioned that “America’s best days are behind her”. You can look up the transcript online and I think that you’ll surely find the opposite. By the way, bringing up Hurricane Katrina certainly does not help the Republican side of the argument, even if you’re the governor of Louisiana with a southern drawl.

I have a strong feeling that 218 Republicans in Congress face-palmed after Governor Jindal’s response.

Hail To The Chief

It’s been a very long campaign, a very tiring battle with a lot of boiling blood. I’m glad that it’s finally over and now I’m ecstatic about the future. We’ve all imagined what it’ll be like if Obama won the Presidency; picturing him reclining in the Oval Office, raising his right arm on inauguration day, but still it hit me so hard seeing the headline on CNN. Obama wins presidency. It was a sudden wave of emotion that swept over me, not to sound like a sound byte or a commercial, it was as if hope began to stir in me as I watched the news. Especially for me and my family, the hardships we’ve come by and the change that awaits us. Watching Reverend Jesse Jackson, an African American  who himself have ran for Presidency, cry tears of joy moved me. What a historic moment this was. Centuries from now, children will open textbooks and learn about Washington, Lincoln, FDR, Obama, and only imagine what it would be like to have been alive at such a time. I was a little teary eyed to witness such an event. The entire country, the entire world all held its breath to see who the most powerful man in the world will be. I also liked Senator McCain’s concession speech. We all can agree that Senator McCain is a good guy, a good politician, and a national hero who has been antagonized by the GOP. Palin’s still not an adequate candidate for VP. But I’ve realized now that it’s not really McCain I dislike, it’s those propaganda driven voters I dislike.

I am not disappointed that I was unable to vote in the most historic election of our lifetime. I was not indifferent; I said what I needed to be said and campaigned for change. I honestly feel like I have voted just by being active and voicing what I believed in whether I am an American or not. Despite what paperwork says, despite birthrights, despite culture, despite law, I call myself an American. Though I am stripped of many liberties and many rights that are only granted to US citizens, I am grateful for the opportunities that have been given to me here. I do not see myself as a citizen of Taiwan nor do I see you as a citizen of the United States. We are citizens of the world divided. There is no difference between me and you for we are all human, we are all the same flesh and bone, we are all made from the same clay.

To the republican voters, the McCain supporters, the elephants, the GOP, this was a long fought battle and I am sorry that so many tempers had flared over time. The USA has been polarized during this election but as a new president emerges, we must break our walls and stand behind our Commander in Chief just as Democrats did behind Bush. Like Voltron, we must come together like lions and work as a unified body.

On a side note, I had an assignment to predict which states will go to whom by gathering sources online and studying polls. It turns out that I predicted this election 100% correctly. I’ll be getting some extra credit points, thank you very much.

God Bless America.

photo courtesy of grizzly_lightning

‘08AMA: AMERICA MUST ACT

Today is election day. Everyone who is able to vote must do so. Please.

You can head over to CNN.com to keep up with the polls across the nation. Remember, all we need is 270 electoral votes to paint the White House Barack. After really really analyzing the polls, McCain must win all of the swing states to pull one of the biggest upsets in voting history (Don’t fuck up, Florida). And young voters out there, every election year, analysts warn about the great power vested in young voters across the nation and the greatness in their numbers. Problem is, every election year WE DON’T DO SHIT! Let’s speak up a bit, yeah?

I’m looking to have an election party or something tonight. Get some chips, some salsa, have a few brews, party hats, streamers, the whole shebang. The last poll to close is Alaska at about 10PM Pacific Time, but I think we’ll know for certain who’s president before that. Remember, 7PM is your deadline to vote! DO IT.

Schiff In Power

Congressman Adam Schiff

Today, I attended Q &A lunch meeting with Congressman Adam Schiff where he talked briefly about the presidential election, energy dependence, and the economic disaster.

The congressman talked a lot about Senator Obama’s policies including one about community college. I’ve heard Obama speak of adding more funds into the school system, especially colleges. According to Schiff, Obama plans to give a $4,000 refundable credit to students. Also, 2/3 of your college tuition will be paid for and community college students will get to go to school for FREE. That’s much better than that $15 a unit proposition last year. Here’s the Catch 22. Recipients must do 100 hours of community service. Honestly, that’s easy as pie for a free tuition (or close to free). After my stint last year, 100 hours of community service isn’t that bad. Take a summer off to do a little community work here and there and never worry about paying for college again.

Now apparently there were some concerns about a certain legislative house becoming “filibuster-proof” which I haven’t heard of yet. Schiff was quick to explain that such a thing is not likely. Democrats from red states will more often cast their votes in reflection of their states rather than their own agenda. Also, the houses are always fluctuating.

Other issues include that fact that we use 25% of the world’s oil but can only produce 3% at most so the idea to “drill, baby, drill” has no substance; it is a completely hollow pursuit.

Schiff was careful to warn of Bernanke and Paulson. It was a stupid idea for them to be comparing the Great Depression to our recession when it started going downhill two months ago, causing widespread panic which makes you wonder why they would so blatantly throw in scare tactics like that. When Alan Greenspan was chairman of the Federal Reserve, he was extremely careful with is word. If he hinted at any nervousness, you can be sure that the market was going to drop that day. The idea to buy up bad mortgage assets may not work as well as planned and also that tax payers may not get their money back. It is because of Democrats in Congress that equity and oversight was implemented in the bill. Schiff understood that it was time for us to realize that laissez-faire policies just doesn’t work and a re-regulation of Wall Street was required.

After the meeting, I was able to catch up with him and ask him some questions about immigration policies that he and Senator Obama have in the works. My questions were more specifically about illegal immigrant students, like myself, who have no way out. Apparently, he was a co-sponsor for the DREAM Act here in California that was unfortunately shot down by Governer Schwarzeneggar (sp). He was quick to assure me that an immigration reform will be in the works whether or not Obama gets to the White House. Families getting separated, children sent back to an unfamiliar world, and the oppression of young immigrants will soon be fought against and overturned.

The House of Representatives is up for election so when November 4th comes up, be sure to vote Schiff.

‘08AMA

Since I can’t vote, I have to make a difference some other way. Hopefully you guys can go on out and vote for me, eh? Not like…vote for me, but vote in place of me yada yada yada. Did you know that our voting demographic (13-26) outnumbers those of seniors? Yeah, one problem: we’re fucking lazy.

This is probably the most important election in our lifetime unless Jesus comes back and runs against Robocop in the greatest election ever. How will you face your kids when they ask “Who did you vote for in the election of ‘08?”

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for a few good men to do nothing.”- Edmund Burke

Don’t go voting Conservative just ’cause I brought up Edmund Burke. I think the choice this year is pretty clear. There is no way for anyone in their right mind to vote McCain/Palin. McCain’s not a bad guy, he’s done well in the past (not recently). Palin’s a different story. The problem with them is, they’re the wrong pieces to this puzzle we’re dealing with. The consequences of tax breaks and loopholes made for large corporations are starting to take its toll. It is because of a lack of government regulation in business that we are knee deep in this pit of recession shit. With the recent bailouts of banks and insurance companies, things are getting out of hand. This ridiculous $700 billion plan, foreign banks plundering, and the banks we have at home ending up in the ownership of foreign investors is dragging us down to a place where we don’t want to be. If the government continues to bail these banks out, we’re going to have a socialist economy; an entire facelift of our government.

The economy is just the start of it. We can argue immigrant reform, the war(Iraq, Georgia, and perhaps Iran),  gay rights, and more but that’s way too many things to discuss.
Friday, September 26th- The Presidential Debate

WATCH IT. Then go over to factcheck.org for the truth. Please, our government would not work without participation. If McCain becomes president, then dies, then Palin takes over, you’ve got only yourself to blame. The polls are close. Remember Gore vs Bush? We all thought Gore was going to win. NOPE.

Come on.