DHSpeller's Community Blog

‘Americans for Prosperity’ to Support the New Wake County School Board on Busing
In an email dated December 14, 2009, the group, ‘Americans for Prosperity’, is planning to have a rally to show support for the new Wake County [North Carolina] School Board in their actions concerning the county’s busing practices.

In November 2009 a conservative majority was elected to the board. There is controversy surrounding their perceived mandate to change the diverse busing policies the county had been previously following.

In briefly researching the issue, conservatives and those who voted them in office, feel that the busing of children outside of their communities to other schools is not necessary. In opposition, others believe that it adds both to adding to a diverse community overall as well as insure some form of equality in schools across the county. Memories are still fresh in the minds of some of inequality of the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’.

Communities which were well to do tended to get more resources than poorer communities. Citizens of the county do not want that to happen again after progress has been made to improve the situation. I have listed two articles which explore the controversial issue further:

http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=5876  (David N. Bass of Carolina Journal)


http://blogs.newsobserver.com/opinion/wake-county-dont-turn-back 
(Ashley Osment / BWheeler of Newsoberser.com Blogs)

There are people on both sides of the heath care issue who stand very strongly either against or for the proposed changes. In this article, I give my basic opinion on the issue. I also provide a few links to where you can hopefully find more specifics on the issue.
My opinion is that we need change. I am one of those who believe that, In America, getting good health care should not be an issue and it should not cost you bankruptcy either. I believe that with a few hard changes we could make reform happen. In a way the critics of Democrat proposals are right, but not in the way they think.

We should focus on what works. For instance, people with or without insurance, already go to the emergency room in hospitals across America for care. This in effect is adding to the overall cost for everyone. Why not focus on that area as one of the things we can fix to drive down the cost of health care? Instead of paying the insurance companies more money and buying more policies, we should set up a fund that everyone contributes to specifically for the use of the “Emergency Room”. Let the Emergency Room become a default “public option” as it is already a “primary care facility” for many across America. We can then turn towards debating and establishing a real “Single Payer” public option to compete with the insurance companies in effort to further drive down and control costs.

  I am also one of those who think that insurance companies are making way too much. I think it’s fair for them to make something for managing the accounts or whatever. But to actually not provide “health care” and to get paid the amounts they are paid is crazy and it has to be changed.

If you go to the government web sites http://www.whitehouse.gov and http://www.senate.gov you should find information about health care and the issues surrounding it. Also, New York Congressman Anthony Weiner has a web site he is trying to get people to sign up for to voice their opinion. The site is: http://www.countdowntohealthcare.com. You should check it out.

I stopped by a charity car show in Durham that I heard about through an email over the weekend. They were just getting started when I stopped by but I managed to capture some of the events while I was there in this video I posted on my blog. The event was held as part of a scholarship fund-raiser. There was also a fish fry and several entertainment segments scheduled for the event.

I’ve heard that comment several times this weekend on different networks; disputing the fact that jobs were saved. They can’t be serious!

Consider this: If you are about to get laid off or your company says that they are going to let you go because they don’t have the budget to keep you; then out of the blue, they get the funds or budget from additional funds made available so that you can continue to work… YOUR JOB WAS SAVED!!! To think anything different is illogical.

It's amusing to see how so much blame some are willing to place on the President without giving credit for anything. Nine months now the President has been functional in office. Eleven months since being elected. During that short period of time, He and his staff have addressed issues concerning: two wars, an economic collapse, a financial-- Wall Street collapse... and a health care system that's on the verge of collapse. Bravo! Fired up and ready to go.

As opposed to doing “nothing” as some critics propose, I am glad that President Obama is doing something. Contrary to the belief of critics problems don’t just solve themselves. And we WERE in trouble a year ago. The funny thing is (if there is anything funny about the situation); It was not just us. It was the WORLD economies and everybody was afraid. I like the fact that President Bush started a process and I am glad of the fact that President Obama and his team had the insight to continue it.

To be blunt, people are expecting way too much in nine months of operation. Every President has a four year period to make their case and layout the agenda they campaigned on. They should not be judged on the first 9 months in office, especially with such issues being faced by this President. Give President Obama the same opportunity to succeed as most Americans gave President Bush.

As for the nay saying Republicans –they’ve been in office a very long time; and over the last eight years they have had the control with nothing to show for it. Now, they want to mess it up for the new President. Do they think they can just go around and jack stuff up and not be blamed?
I say, kick all the Republicans out. It’s interesting that even after the Democrats incorporated over 100 of their suggestions in proposals and bills, they still are trying to block progress. Enough is enough, send the bums home. If the Republicans don’t want to work—send them home.

They talk big about the American Flag when they can wave it in the support of their cause. What should be realized is that the American Flag is for all Americans…not just the ones they agree with. I think that if anyone has church and state mingled together—it would be them. The reason for the separation of church and state is so that people would have the freedom to worship God freely and enjoy other freedoms as they see fit…as long as their enjoyment does not infringe upon the rights of others.

Some are quick to talk about how wrong it is for government to take away their right to bear arms; but they don’t respect someone else’s right to assemble peacefully without being threatened by the arms they want to bear.

If anything, people should learn to pray while waving the flag and toting the Bible; for themselves and for their leaders. They should pray that the decisions would be right in the sight of God. I believe in God too. And, in the Bible He gave us the freedom to choose life or death (Deuteronomy 30:19) and urged us to choose life, nevertheless the actual decision remained with us.

I also believe that foundational principles are taught at home/church/community. Then, personal decisions should be made on that teaching. In saying that,
pro-choice or pro-life are decisions that cannot be made by any government; but the freedom to make that decision should remain.

The government’s role is to enforce rules and laws and make provisions which protect and promote the general welfare of its people.

There’s enough hype already—no need to cause more hate and discontent. Regardless of your party, be a part of the solution. We should begin working on bigger issues that affect the well being of our nation and help it to quickly recover from recent devastation.