GUN CONTROL

I agree with "The interesting blog of an interesting man" regarding gun control.  As stated on INFOWARS.com "even a study conducted at Harvard found that the more guns a nation has the less crime it tends to have."  

In this blog i agree it would be inhumane to take away our right to bare arms kinda like declawing a cat.  Jeffrey makes a great point about gun free zones having episodes of violent acts with guns.  This is a pattern and it makes sense for a terrorist or criminal to act out in a gun free zone because this assumes they are safe from retaliation. 

People will illegally get guns if their rights are taken away, generating even more crime in America. And who knows what kind of lengths Americans will take if they are threatened by their 2nd amendment being taking away from them.  This is in fact scary. 

So if citizens are negligent with cars and people get killed should we take away cars?  Cars don't hurt people, it is the people behind the wheel that are responsible.  It is the person pulling the trigger that is responsible for the gun.  

Men like Jeffrey fought for us to have the right to protect ourselves....what would that say to American soldiers if we took that right away?  It would be a huge insult and create a storm of trouble we are not prepared to face as a nation.     

Legalizing Marijuana under the 280E tax code

I do not sway in only the decriminalization of marijuana and making it medically legal, but I agree with completely legalizing the production, distribution, sale, and use given the Internal Revenue code section 280E is reformed. 

Four states have gained legal recreational use of marijuana in the United States but still face issues that are included in the article of USA Today: "Voters in Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C., legalized recreational marijuana Tuesday.  But without the support of the U.S. Congress, any of the new, voter-approved pot shops may not be able to survive a drug war-era tax code that already threatens many businesses in Colorado and Washington state."

The 280E tax code states:  "No deduction or credit shall be allowed for any amount paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business if such trade or business (or the activities which comprise such trade or business) consists of trafficking in controlled substances (within the meaning of schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act) which is prohibited by Federal law or the law of any State in which such trade or business is conducted."

This code is making it terribly hard for any business to succeed because the federal tax rate is from 60-90 percent.  It is possible that because the federal government can not put Marijuana distribution out of business legally, they will do it financially.

In order to gain any real employment and tax revenue from Marijuana business, the 280E must be reformed.  This code is turning off business entrepreneurs to invest in the Marijuana industry. 

Not allowing the Marijuana businesses a break leads to crimes of more illegal sales. 

Higher Education

I would rather spend my tax paying money to help educate those imprisoned, instead of paying the taxes to imprison them due to lack of support.  

I disagree with this critique on Higher Education. I don't see any proof based on the argument that, "One of our biggest burdens as U.S tax paying citizens, is the inability to afford higher education. There is much frustration behind this issue, seeing as tax payers have the capability to provide education for prison inmates but not for themselves."   For example, the blog states that, "The worst part is the recidivism rate, or in other words the likely hood for inmates to return to prison after release is almost 67% and that's in just 3 years."  So, because they are destined to fail they should not be granted education?  I read an article about Learning to Reduce Recidivism, was by educating the inmates.  There are studies that prove educating inmates helps their success rate and keeps them from returning to prison and costing the U.S. more money to imprison. 

Also, I don't agree that all the education inmates received is wasted as stated.  Look at how many non-incarcerated Americans have received education and not used it.. If we do not give inmates an opportunity for higher education wouldn't that create more chaos and more crime, costing America more money?  Here is another article from the U.S. Department of Education that shows helping educate the inmates pays off.

Legalize It.

Legalize it in the United States already.  Yes, marijuana.  Drugwarfacts.org gives an overview of annual death rates in the United States and marijuana was at zero. Alcohol induced related deaths were at 25,692.  So, why can alcohol be legal and marijuana is left out.  There are no cases that prove drug overdose by marijuana, but alcohol poisoning can kill people who consume too much and do not get medical treatment.

Marijuana is being used for medical purposes, therefore generating business in the health industry.  So many harmful drugs are legally prescribed such as Xanax and Amphetamines to help certain medical conditions and they have proven to be more addictive and can cause overdose.  This makes me wonder why are they leaving out marijuana?  Marijuana grows from the earths ground naturally.

Legalizing marijuana will gain a plethora of tax revenue and employment.  Government controlled marijuana will boost American economy and help relieve debt.

The crime rate of buying and selling marijuana will come to an end. This will put more focus on crimes that are substantial.  Criminalizing marijuana is petty considering the other drugs that walk the streets and cause death.

Welcoming marijuana has great benefits.  It is a choice to consume it or not.  With fair restrictions it will do more good than harm in the United States.




 

Ebola and orphan's

The article published on USA Today by, Dennis Rosen, brings up the devastation of children becoming orphans due to the Ebola deaths.  I see how this author is reaching out to the general public to not lose focus on this matter.  Treating children insignificant will be devastating because it puts a bad mark on the world and the people in the society that it is affecting.

Rosen brings up the BBC toll for children being shunned after parents deaths due to paranoia the child is infected.  I do see how it is important to protect yourself especially if you have children of your own in the countries taking the worst hits, but i believe it is just as crucial to find ways to help decrease the orphan tolls.  

This argument is not just another plea to scare the public and freak people out.  It is simply stating its claim to not let this ostracism go too far as it too will devastate the country just as ebola is.  

It is a great surprise to me that there are articles out there against spreading panic of what is going on in Africa.  The ebola issue is a huge deal due to the death numbers doubling not to mention what it will do to our economy.  To not make it an international problem is going to cause more problems.  I find it sad to not stay deeply in tune with this matter.

The Ebola code of silence: Column

In USA Today David J. Dausey, the dean of the School of Health Professions and Public Health at Mercyhurst University speaks out to Americans about the importance of funding for public health.  His argument is important because it makes sense that we need to be prepared for the worse: "Many public health departments in the past few years have had to cut critical programs and initiatives due to dramatic funding cuts. There is no other way to slice it — our public health system is not ready to deal with a challenge like Ebola if the situation takes a turn for the worse."  This argument is directed toward health care professionals to persuade them that diseases can be and are our greatest threats to society, not just terrorism.  By proving this matter, David Dausey hopes to sway our public and health officials of the importance to raise the budget.  This is a valid point because the Ebola outbreak is rapidly rising in Africa and for the first time diagnosed in America.  As of now there are no vaccines for the Ebola virus.  David Dausey argues that our nation is giving an overly optimistic approach in dealing with this virus but the truth is we are not as prepared as health officials and politicians make it seem: "The lack of infectious disease outbreaks gave the public the idea that public health was no longer a concern and policymakers capitalized on this by taking away funding for public health."  Cutting public funds is a huge mistake in the long run when we are faced with deadly contagious diseases.  It is best to be safe than sorry.  Like all natural disasters, we must be prepared to deal with it.  

Joining U.S. forces

France joins U.S. forces and begins first airstrike against ISIS located in IRAQ.  This is the first foreign country to publicly add to the U.S. military airstrikes toward the group.  The airstrikes are an act of Iraq to strengthen its fight toward the militants who are endangering the country.  The article posted on Fox News quotes U.S. Gen. Martin Dempsey said, "The French were are very first ally and they are there again for us."  This is very important to follow up on due to its cause to stop the militant Islamic State group.  The target was destroyed and there are more operations following this event.