Tuesday, October 13, 2009
4th Period Current Event- State or Local Government- 10/16
Please post your current event for Friday, October 16 below. Your current event this week should be about state (NC) or local (Chapel Hill/Carrboro) government. Remember to include the link to the article you read, provide the topic of your article, and write at least 5-6 sentences discussing your opinion of the article. You may also use video clips or podcasts for your current event.
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http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Nov05/0,4670,ElectionNorthCarolina,00.html
ReplyDeleteDemocrats taking over North Carolina
North Carolina is still in shock about the success of our new female governor. But with that win, we have a loss of our female senator. This article is basically saying that the shock may not wear off as easily because of the quick successions. With the success of a black man and two women, the old style of north carolina (including it's racist past) have been harshly turned around. With this in mind, it may become a more easily accepted note for women to succeed whereas some white males may fail. I think that it's saying that we have to get used to these new ideas for they may be more common in our near future.
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=AP&date=20091015&id=10496772
ReplyDeleteI read an article on the stimulus packet in Raleigh providing 24,000 jobs in the triangle. Also a lot of money went toward the local school district and Medicaid. Also managable amount of money has been used to fill revenue gaps in the state budget and contract 110 new highway projects. I am happy to see that the stimulus packet has finally came and helped out a lot. There is a sizable amount of unemployed people who need jobs and can not find any. Also the school districts need money to pay for supplies.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/08/north-carolina-lawmaker-gets-death-threat-health-reform/
ReplyDeleteWhile I am usually hesitant to read anything published by fox, this article was fair and balanced, unlike their news channel. However, that is not to say this article left me smiling. Does the public refuse to gather information from both sides? It seems that republicans influence the complete opinion in this country, which should not be the case! May I remind you that Sarah Palin, who voted for a bridge to nowhere, is not the most reliable source of information! Death Panels will not be in effect, I GUARANTEE YOU! And even if you refuse to acknowledge the facts, and stick with your foolish beliefs, there is no reason to threaten a congressman’s life. He was elected by a majority, he will not have the exact opinions that you feel, but chances are he’s representing the state, not you! Our constitution ensures “freedom of speech,” others may influence his decisions, but in the end, it is all up to him. So why must other’s stoop to such low levels! Health Care is an important issue, and I hope it does get passed, but that is no reason to threaten someone if it doesn’t. Our representatives represent the majority of the public, NOT YOU!
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/6216603/
ReplyDeleteA recent "report card" has given North Carolina an F, regarding child health. The eight year study found that children are getting more access to health care, but there are too many that are overweight or use alcohol, tobacco, or suffer abuse. According to the study, there has been an increase in enrollment in public health insurance programs, such as NC Health Choice. In my honest opinion, it shouldn't be the state's responsibility to run health care. It should be the people's responsibility to live as healthily as they can, ensuring that health costs around the nation decline.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/health_science/story/142089.html
ReplyDeleteThe Triangle has only been receiving H1N1 vaccines for a week, and it is already running low. The first vaccines were delivered last week, and all 3,500 doses had been administered by Wednesday. New doses arrive every week. I think that vaccines against the swine flu are important, as it is a pandemic. Many students have already been out sick this year, and it isn't even flu season yet. Swine flu is supposed to be relatively mild, but can still kill in combination with other health issues. Even if the shots are controversial, they are important.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6218918/
ReplyDeleteNorth Carolina is planning to release 20 inmates who were sentenced to life in prison. The inmates argued that according to a law briefly passed in the 70's that states a life sentence is 80 years, they've served their time once you add in good behavior. I don't agree with the decision to release them. Even though they have technically served their time, they commited rape and murder. In my opinion, no one should be allowed to roam allowed North Carolina who has done such things. It's not safe for the citizens.
-BAILEY
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/6199540/
ReplyDeleteI’m glad to see that North Carolina’s economy is on its way to recovery. I’m sure it’s not as easy as Beverly Perdue makes it sound, but it’s nice to see her trying to give people some hope in the midst of all the bad news. I also like how the smaller companies are getting more contracts, since in this economy they suffer the most because they can’t compete with the cheaper prices the larger companies have to offer. I feel like she has to be careful with the highway projects because those don’t last. Once the road is fixed/built, those jobs will be gone since there’s nothing left to do.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6218918/#
ReplyDeleteSo it has been heard that the state of North Carolina is releasing 20 inmates on October 29. I think this move is crazy, and so does Beverly Purdue. Bev Purdue says " I am appalled that the state of North Carolina is being forced to release prisioners who have commited the most heinous of crimes, without any review of their cases." I don't agree with this move at all, I think people who have done such horrible crimes should stay in prision forever. And just because they did their time, doesn't mean that we can just forget what kind of crimes they did.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6218918/#
ReplyDeleteI agree totally with Jake. Just because they discovered a flaw in the system and a way to get out doesn't mean we should let them. We cannot forget what these people have done. If they were sentenced to LIFE, they should get LIFE in prison. They have commited disturbing and terrible crimes. They don't deserve a second chance.
-Glenn Floyd
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6218918/
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why life sentences were limited to 80 years back when the law was first established. It's obvious that many people live past 80 years old, so that isn't an adequate age for a supposed "life" sentence. Now, these prisoners have been given false hope that their prison sentence is over, since 80 years has passed. I completely agree with Bev Purdue that it is crazy to allow these prisoners out of jail and back into the public. I'm not saying that all of them will fall back into their old ways, but it's likely that a lot of them will continue to commit more crimes and endanger others' safety. Keeping them locked up for life is not only best thing for NC citizens, but also the right thing to do in order to make them pay for the crimes that they committed in the past.
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/6216603/
ReplyDeleteThis article said that North Carolina received a grade of an F on a "report card" on the health of its children. Far too many of our children are obese. The cause behind this is most likely related to health education and making children aware about the abundant opportunities for health care in this state. North Carolina received high marks on the state government provided opportunities to access care and vaccinations. However far too many of our states children suffer from drug and alcohol related problems (the state received a D for that) and we are graded at an F for the sheer number of low income children who are obese. I found this article very interesting because it shows that even though people are clamoring for national healthcare reform we don't use what is offered already by our state.
-Ben
http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/state/story/142055.html
ReplyDeleteOne positive thing that could happen with these new board members is maybe more promotion of green transportation. I'm not really familiar with the past ideas promoted by the board, but I think green transportation would really go along well at this period in time. Although, one setback would be the cost. Cost is one big reason why some places in the US don't attempt to get green transportation and anyother green technology, because they know they can't afford it. I think it's a fair enough reason not to have it, but I think we should try a lot harder to raise money for green transportation and such. There are many organizations trying to fundraise for these types of things, but most people just ignore them.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6218918/
ReplyDeleteI know nothing of what these men did or why, how long they have individually served, or how their behavior has been in jail, but if they are being released, no questions asked, after they have all been denied parol several times, this law really needs to be re-looked at. I do not want it changed to keep them in just because we can, but I want it re-written so that it functions like any other parol hearing, but maybe with some sort "special" case. I don't know anything at all about law, but from what I've heard(which has only been from one news source, and only one side), this is seems like a very defective law.
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/6216603/
ReplyDeleteI find it strange that there is greater access to healthcare in North Carolina, yet our state scored poorly on an analysis of children's health. This score is the result of high levels of obesity among the low-income population, which is quite unfortunate, and also, more young people use substances such as alcohol and tobacco. I think these problems need to be confronted so that the general health of children in North Carolina improves drastically. We cannot afford the repercussions of such poor health - it will cost more overall.
-Sarah
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A402654
ReplyDeleteOnce again, Chapel Hill is holding mayoral elections. There is only one registered Democrat running for mayor of Chapel Hill. I find this strange because Chapel Hill is one of the most liberal places I've been to. Personally, I think if a republican were to be elected for mayor of Chapel Hill they might throw the balance off. Mayoral elections are something that usually slip a lot of people's minds. I think it's interesting how people focus so much on the more advertised politicians than the ones running their community, who will effect you more personally.
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/6216603/
ReplyDeleteI think that its great that children in North Carolina are recieving more medical and dental care since a lot of people aren't able to have that. The only bad thing is that more and more children are becoming overweight. Children are also getting into substance use and abuse. The good thing is that on this "report card" we got a high grade for providing care for more children but on the down side we got low grades for the substance abuse section and the obesity section. This is something that needs to be fixed and the only people who can really fix it are the children themselves.
-Katelyn
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6218918/
ReplyDeleteNorth Carolina is releasing 20 inmates who were sentenced to life because of an old law defining life imprisonment as 80 years. One thing these men were sentenced to LIFE imprisonsment, not 80 years of imprisonment. What's even worse is that none of these men has served 80 years, they've served 30-40 years and are being let off because of good behavior. These people are rapists and murderers they should be kept off the streets for life. I think that even if you do use the old law and sentence them to 80 years they shouldn't be let off early for good behavior. Last time I checked rape and murder weren't considered good behaviors.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/health_science/story/142089.html
ReplyDeleteFlu vaccines make me nervous. My personal policy is to avoid them unless the disease in question is heavily life-threating, especially if the vaccine is in short supply. H1N1 is not very threating to most people and it is in short supply to the Triangle. Therefore, healthy, young people should not get the shot. Save it for the elderly and the sick. Who knows what adverse health effects getting this vaccine could cause?
http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/6220913/
ReplyDelete20 inmates are being released even though they were put to the life sentence. Since they had good behavior it reduces the years and in the 70's life sentences ment 80 years. The supreme court decided that they would release them. I think that it could go good or bad. But, im hoping that most of them will decide that WOW prison sucks im not going to screw up this time. But, i think everyone deserves a second chance.
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/6216603/
ReplyDeleteNorth Carolina is doing very badly healthcare-wise. The "Action for Children" group gives North Carolina an "F" if heath care were to be graded by a report card. Their reasoning is that there are too many low-income obese kids. They also give North Carolina a "D" for substance abuse/use. However you look at it, North Carolina fails when it comes to the health of kids and drugs. We always think that that's not a big problem in Chapel Hill, so it won't be a problemm anywhere else in North Carolina, but it is.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6218918/#
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings on this article about the 20 inmates being realeased from jail. Yes, most of them have done terrible things that they shouldnt be realeased for but sometimes peopele change from being in jail and probably wont do anything again. they should never get completly free though because their previous actions should affect them forever. I do think they should be countinued to be kept in jail for their horrible acts. Its a very tough decision by the states and im sure the families of the affected victims will be very upset
-John Alex Porter
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6218918/
ReplyDeleteI do not think that these people should be released from jail. They did terrible things and I do not think that they should get their freedom from a loophole in our laws. I think that the Government should do a better job ensuring that such obsolete laws do not cause things like this. For the good of the people of North Carolina these people should not be released. They have already proven that they are dangerous, violent people who are a threat to society. It does not make sense to give them another chance to do more bad things.