America's Infatuation With Sports

I'll be the first to admit, I love my sports. As an American, organized sports are a part of my own individual make up. Still, it is a bit moronic to suggest that a guy who catches a football or hits a baseball should make more money than the guy who performs brain surgery or puts his/her neck on the line to save lives on a daily basis. My general question, I guess, is are we (society) a bit confused in organizing our priorities? Not to take away from the individual athletes talents, which are not to be argued wth, but it angers me when a sports star making millions utters the words "I need to feed my family". Americans of all lines of wealth are dishing out tons of money to attend a sports event, so the team owners and players become overwhelmingly wealthy. What ever happened to good old fashioned family fun? This is a prime example of when Capitalism goes too far. Arguing for government interference to curb this is said to be both anti-capitalist and big government socialism. Is there any common ground? I understand that this is also, in many ways, a global issue.

Really Nancy?

Democratic Superwoman Nancy Pelosi made another smart comment on Saturday, blaming the Bush Administration for the whole BP oil spill fiasco. She says "Many of the people appointed in the Bush Administration are still burrowed in the agencies that are supposed to oversee the oil industry". Well Nancy, President Bush can be blamed for a lot of things. The financial crisis, the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are just an easy few. However, blaming Bush for such a disaster is absolutely ludicrous. It's becoming more and more evident that whenever something goes wrong, the Democrats seem to blame it on Bush. Such a remark from Pelosi is somewhat comical, especially when she says that the Democrats are free from any of the blame in regards to the oil spill. The bottom line is, put politics aside for a minute Nancy. This is an issue that could very well effect the whole country, as well as the lives of millions of Americans. Comments like that only strengthen the divide between the two parties and make the Democrats look foolish. I do not say this very often, but leave the poor guy alone.

Global Warming: Here and Now

(click to open full diagram in new window)

Here are some of the leading stances on global warming:

Ron Paul: "The greatest hoax I think that has been around for many, many years if not hundreds of years has been this hoax......global warming". November 4, 2009

Barack Obama: "This is our generation's moment to save future generations from global catastrophe by creating a market for clean-burning fuels that can stop the dangerous transformation of our climate".

Regardless of what many think, global warming is a very real issue. Many people fail to realize or accept it as an issue. A great deal of these people are in the pockets of the oil companies who stand to lose the most, should green legislation be passed. Look over the above chart outlining the potential causes and effects of global warming. Comment and let us know what you think.

Politics In America

The United States of America is indeed a beacon of hope for the rest of the world. It offers freedom and liberty to all, and the ability to achieve anything. However, the country is ravaged by political corruption. Politicians that we elect are taking advantage of their positions at the publics' expense. Very few people in Representative office have overcome the dangerous greed that seems to corrupt all in the political field. As an American citizen, all that I ask is that our government does whats necessary to promote the common good, not that of the individual. As a society, we must pass over any individual come election season who has not upheld the interest of the public to the best of his/her ability. Representing the citizens of the United States is not only a right, but a privilege. One must take that responsibility seriously. I know its a bit much to ask to, but the American public must begin to hold these individuals responsible. Democrat and Republican should not come before American. As Jack Shepherd says on ABC's Lost "We must learn to live together, or die alone". Our founding fathers did not imagine a United States so corrupt and divided along political lines. Yes, politics were aggressive in the days of Adams and Jefferson, but today they have reached an all time low. When watching the news we see not the good our country is doing and has done, but the bad. The issue is, everyone seems to have an agenda and most of the time the American public is left in the dark. We need to come together before we drive ourselves apart.

Universal Health Care: Necessity or Expense?

The idea of Univeral Healthcare is something that has been discussed for decades here in the United States. The argument is that a country that presents itself as the beacon of democracy and freedom, should at the very least offer all of its citizens legitmate health care. The system in place is ubdoubtedly corrupt, earning health insurance companies billions of dollars at the public expense. President Obama has made it his platform to pass some form of health care bill to take care of those Americans who desperately need it most. The question then becomes, is the President pushing this bill to establish a firm legacy for himself or is it what the American people truly need? The proposal would, as an estimate, cost approximately 940 Billion dollars. The burden of paying for this bill would essentially come out of the American citizens' pockets. Whether you argue the rich shoul contribute more to the general good, which I do, this bill is a substantial burden on the backs of American wallets. We are in a deficit as it is, yet more spending is taking place. Let's make it clear, that I voted for Obama, I want universal health care. Still, it seems as though we are undertaking the process of establishing it blindfolded. We must first realize that something must be done to stop insurance companies from denying health care to those who need it most, while stuffing their pockets with income from premiums. It is clear that Obama wants to get this bill done so he can move on to other measures and because it will be one of the most significant bills passed in a very long time. However, we must consider all aspects of this bill. Not rush it, just for the sake of getting it done. Bipartisan support is not going to happen, that much is clear. This bill could very well make or break Obama's Presidency, making it crucial he does what is necessary to insure its long term success.

Limbaugh and Beck are Morons

While I agree with Glenn Beck and Limbaugh in the sense that I was not particulary fond of Chicago getting the 2016 nod, this video demonstrates that Limbaugh and Beck take it way too far. They label our Olympic loss as Obama's fault and it is very clear that these guys just cannot stand the guy. Are their statements un-American? It is clear that they are anti-Obama and want to bring the guy down any chance they get. We were not going to get the nod regardless of who our President was, so labeling this Obama's loss is a bit much. Rush Limbaugh is a bonified jackass, he sees everything in one dimension. When America needs bipartisanship to get ahead, people like Limbaugh further the divide.

*Video can be found at www.theyoungturks.com

The Brett Favre Show

There's just something about Brett Favre that everyone seems to either love or loathe. His story is notorious: one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer with the Packers. He retires, then comes back, retires then comes back and you get the drift. Everybody is going to be watching tonight when he takes on his former team as a member of their numero uno rival, the Minnesota Vikings. I personally think he should have stayed retired the very first time he announced he had turned in the cleats. However, he has proven to be effective late into his 3o's. He is an iconic figure in sports that every kid knows and looks up to. If you want to be an NFL quarterback, Brett Favre is the guy to look up to. I like to think that this may be his last season, but then again he is Brett Favre. Really when you look at the news we are used to (sex scandals, crime, embezzlement), it is refreshing to see some get criticized for just not wanting to get old.

Is it Un-American to be happy Chicago wasn't chosen for 2016?

The 2016 Olympics caused quite a bit of frustration for many here in he US as Chicago lost out to Rio de Janeiro. Fox News host Glenn Beck was criticized by a heavy contingency of Democrats for saying he was glad Chicago was lost out and was called "un-American" for his comments. I happen to agree with Beck on this notion. It is not un-American in the least, in fact my justification is very American. I understand why President Obama went to Copenhagen as he wanted to improve our foreign relations abroad and display the US as the capable democracy it is. However, we have bigger things to worry about than the Olympics. We are in the midst of an economic downturn, in need of a strong health care system and fighting two wars abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead of spending millions of tax dollars (state, city, federal) on propping up Chicago for the Olympics, we should provide food, health care and housing for our own citizens, let alone world athletes. I voted for Obama, I support Obama but his energy and time should be spent more efficiently. It is not un-American to want your country to spend money efficiently and take care of its own citizens that need help now. The Democrats did the same thing that the Republicans did to Obama during the election with the whole flag pin nonsense. We do not define the love of our country in the wearing of a pin or opinion on the Olympics. Democrats and Republicans alike need to grow the hell up and start getting things done. Beck needs to smarten up and stop following the lead of Rush Limbaugh. Beck and Limbaugh go way too far and their criticisms are a disgrace to their own character.

What Does the World Need?

This question oftens come up when government leaders and political activists get together. What can be done to decrease the famine going on in some countries? Put an end to terrorism? Find an answer for global warming? The answer is simple to all of those questions. We are taught at a young age in school that there is no I in team and that teamwork is often times the best answer to any problem. The nations of our world need to realize in between fighting one another, that we face an even greater struggle. We create more problems for ourselves by waging war against other countries as we neglect the needs of our own people and the much greater burdens that lay over our heads. If in some way we learn to respect one another, we may be able to see humanity at its greatest form, the human species at its peak. If we continue to fight one another, we are in a greater sense contributing to our own demise. We neglect issues like global warming and world hunger that will ultimately defeat us all if we continue to act stupid and take no action. We take expensive vacations, buy expensive cars and luxuries to make our already high standards of society and living even higher while people from all over the world in third world countries are lucky if they have a home to call their own. We continue to drain our natural resources and pollute the ozone layer in the process. What the world needs more than anything else is people who understand and appreciate it.


I originally posted this on my first blog and republished here.

The Least Experienced Presidents of The USA

Following my previous segment on the most experience people to ever be elected President of the US, I have decided to run an article on the least experienced Presidents. You will find that some Presidents were complete successes and others failed to really ever accomplish anything.

The Least Experienced Presidents

1. Zachary Taylor

Before being elected President, Taylor never held any political office. He rose to fame as a successful American General during the Mexican American War, in which he proved to be a well liked military commander. Taylor only served as President for two months, before dieing due to gastroenteritis. His short term had the daunting task of dealing with the slavery issue and was mildly successful, at the very least, of asserting the preservation of the Union at all costs. Taylor could have accomplished much more had he lived longer. All in all, the United States has seen much worse Presidents.

2. Ulysses S. Grant

Best known for his work as a General during the Civil War, Grant was elected the 18th President of the United States in 1869. Despite being elected to two terms, the Grant Presidency is renowned for its corruption. As President he supported amnesty for Confederate leaders and also decided to limit the number of troops stationed in the south to avoid further conflict. His Presidency was hit hard by the Panic of 1873, as historians feel Grant did little to stabilize the nation. His cabinet was increasingly corrupt and Grant did little to halt this. He meant well but Grant was not able to accomplish a whole lot.


3. George Washington

Washington set the precedents for the majority of all Presidential duties. Being the first President, Washington really didn't have an opportunity for experience. A member of Virginia colonial legislature, Washington led the Continental army to a victory during the Revolutionary War. As President he was flawless, calling for America to stay separate from foreign affairs and focus on what is going on at home. Perhaps his greatest feature was his humbleness, as he willingly gave up command of the country following the Revolution to the Continental Congress. He was never power hungry and refused running for a third term because he did not want to be like a King. Many scholars consider him the greatest President in American History.

4. Abraham Lincoln

Another worthy man is the "inexperienced" Senator from Illinois and no, I do not mean Barack Obama. Abraham Lincoln, like Obama, was a junior Senator from Illinois. Lincoln was elected in 1860 and reigned in the most turbulent period in American history. He was faced with a southern secession and a subsequent civil war. Poised and focused, Lincoln led the Union to victory and was able to achieve the abolition of slavery throughout the entire country. Although this was achieved, Lincoln ran for President with the intention of maintaining slavery as it was, without expanding it. Despite his success as President, Lincoln was the first President in US history to be assassinated. It has been said that Lincoln was the last casualty of the Civil War. Like Washington, Lincoln is often considered the best President in US history.

5. Dwight D. Eisenhower

The former Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe during WWII, Eisenhower never held political office. His popularity as a military figure led to his ascension to the nations highest office in 1953. Eisenhower pioneered the construction of highways throughout the country, supported the ruling of Brown V. Board of Education and asserted a strong foreign policy. During his Presidency, Alaska and Hawaii were admitted to the Union. Eisenhower proved to be an able commander in chief and was well liked during his Presidency.



Other notables include: Chester A. Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Barack Obama, Andrew Jackson, Franklin D. Roosevelt and W00drow Wilson.

Huey Long: Every Man a King

After reading up on the Great Depression, it has become strikingly clear that much of the same things are going on now. Barack Obama, much like FDR, has moved towards creating a stimulus package to jump start the American economy. Obama has proposed a "new deal" of his own that closely resembles the one implemented by Roosevelt. The figure of Huey Long, former Governor and Senator from Louisiana seems to be often forgotten in history. Much like Roosevelt, Long advocated for government regulation and intervention to get the nation out of the Great Depression. His "Share our Wealth" program focused on the motto "Every Man a King" and sought to impose a cap on income. He theorized that the wealthy did not need an excess of money and sharing their wealth with the lower classes would in turn cause a boom in the economy. Long endorsed Roosevelt in his bid for the Presidency in 1932 but shortly after broke in his support for the President. During this period, it is safe to say that everyone knew Huey P Long. He defined Louisiana politics and was even seen as a potential opponent to President Roosevelt for the Democratic nomination in 1936. At this time, Long was often viewed as a radical politician. His speeches in the Senate were considered works of oratory art and entertainment, causing many politicians to either respect him or disdain him. However, with his political future having endless possibilities and his own ambitions set on America's highest office, Long was shot on September 8, 1935 and died two days later. The man who could inspire any crowd, stir up those who had no reason to rejoice, was assassinated without ever realizing his potential. As he lay dieing, Long reportedly said "God, don't let me die. I have so much left to do".

To read more about Huey Long, visit http://www.hueylong.com/

Rush Limbaugh Is an Idiot

To my dismay, I am not the first person to make this distinction, as Mark Sanford and Al Franken have already beat me to it. Limbaugh has gone on a limb to make it clear that he wants President Barack Obama to fail. This of course is coming from a man who has a contract to make $400 million dollars throughout the course of his talk radio contract which expires in 2016. It does not surprise me that a man of such wealth would want the President to fail. If Obama fails, the American economy will fail to recover and subsequently the middle/lower class American will fail. What does Limbaugh have to lose? Money? He already has enough money to live very well for the rest of his life. In calling for his hope that Obama fails, Limbaugh is insinuating that he hopes the economy fails and that notion, in my opinion, is UN-AMERICAN. The American people have so much at stake right now and Limbaugh's attitude is both disgusting and insulting to the United States as a whole. It appears as though his loyalties lie with his party, rather than his country. Mr. Limbaugh, the American people have spoken and it is time you get off your high horse and stop sulking over your beloved Republicans defeat. Our current economic situation is an American crisis, that transcends party lines and political ideological differences. If you cannot understand that, you are a fool.

Connections in History: Flavius Stilicho and Benedict Arnold

Flavius Stilicho was a noble Roman general, perhaps the best of his time. Like Benedict Arnold, another brilliant general, Stilicho never received the respect that he truly deserved. Without his diplomatic skills, the Visigoths led by Alaric would have sacked Rome long before. The son of a Vandal father and Roman woman, Stilicho had to work very hard to the earn the respect of the Roman public. Unfortunately for both him and Rome, Stilicho was never quite able to truly earn the respect and admiration of the people he devoted his life to defend. Emperor Theodosius I entrusted the Western Roman army and care for his young son Honorius, the Western Roman Emperor, to Stilicho. Honorius was extremely fickle and cared more for the luxuries royal life had to offer him than his duties as Emperor. Despite his loyalty to the Roman people and his success as a military general, Stilicho was assassinated per the orders of Honorius. Honorius had been convinced to order the death sentence by his power-hungry aids who were Stilicho's political opponents. Stilicho could have contested his charges but refused to, therefore dying a noble death. Benedict Arnold was perhaps the greatest military general for the colonies during the early stages of the Revolution. Unlike Stilicho, Arnold's excessive pride got the best of him causing him to commit his infamous act of treason. Arnold was crucial to the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, though he was not recognized for his acts. The general felt as though he was not being appreciated by the Americans and this hurt him most of all. Stilicho and Arnold are connected by the simple fact that the stories of both figures have sad endings. Both figures were elite military figures of their time, but neither was truly treated as such. While Stilicho died a noble death, Arnold, the epitome of treachery and deceit, died alone and regretful.

How Experience Has Failed Us

I wanted to bring one of my favorite posts from my other blog over here. I will be having a followup "How inexperience has surprised us" article very soon. In the history of the our country, we have looked to the most experienced individuals to lead our country and have elected those “experienced” politicians to the nations highest office. In the current election, many argue that Barack Obama lacks the experience necessary to be successful as President of our country. Below you will find the 5 most experienced individuals ever elected to the Presidency and a brief overview of their terms in office.

Most Experienced:
James Buchanan: The 15th President of the United States, Buchanan failed to accomplish really anything during his Presidency. As states were gearing up to secede from the Union, Buchanan argued that secession was illegal but that starting a war to stop it was also illegal. His strategy (or lack thereof) helped contribute to the Civil War. During the Buchanan Presidency, the panic of 1857 caused a huge economic crisis and government revenue deficit. In short, the Buchanan Presidency was a huge failure.

Andrew Johnson- The 17th President of the United States, Johnson became President after the disastrous assasination of Abraham Lincoln. As devestating as the death of Abraham Lincoln was, the Johnson presidency was not much better. Successfully avoiding impeachment twice with the Radical Republicans in power. Johnson was initially against awarding amnesty to leading Confederate officials because he felt treason should be dealt with severely but eventually agreed to pardon all Confederates on Christmas day, 1868. Johnson was ineffective at leading the country through reconstruction and experience again failed Americans.

John Quincy Adams: Widely regarded as one of America’s finest diplomats and one of only two Presidents to later serve in Congress, the Presidency of the younger Adams did not go as smoothely as he would have liked. His elaborate domestic projects and policies were not very popular with Congress and very few were actually passed. Adams personal feud with Andrew Jackson was arguably considered the biggest highlight of his Presidency.

Lyndon B. Johnson: The 36th President of the United States, LBJ was sworn in as President under the same circumstances as Andrew Johnson following Lincoln’s assasination. The assasination of John F. Kennedy caused an uproar amongst the American public. Johnson did several great things during his Presidency including the nomination of Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court and his work in the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, when the Vietnam wore broke out Americans lost trust in Johnson, who claimed he would avoid dragging the US into war during his campaign. In the election of 1968, Johnson was defeated by a large margin by Richard Nixon.

Gerald Ford: The 38th President of the United States, Ford became President following the resignation of Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. Ford was criticized severely for his pardon of Nixon, as the majority of Americans wanted Nixon to be punished for his crimes. The Ford Administration was forced to address America’s faltering economic issues, something they were never fully able to grasp. However, Ford did just about all he could do taking over the office at such a critical time.

Question of the Week/ Feb. 27

The Question is: I was considered the first of athens. I led Athens through the early stages of a great war. Who am I?

Last Week's Answer: Khufu

Please send all answers to Khoops621@gmail.com
The winner will be posted on the blog for the entire week. First person to answer correctly wins. For more information, please read the blog post.

Winner will be announced on February 27th and only email submissions will count.

A Real American Hero

Too often today, society tends to look up to those not worthy of our admiration. Our media glorifies stars who cannot stabilize their own lives, let own positively affect the lives of others. So I ask all of you, why do we honor those that dishonor our country. The real American heroes, those serving in the armed forces and in various other integral positions, are neglected the honor and media coverage they truly deserve. Too many lives are lost every day on foreign soil to give me this very opportunity to speak to all of you on my blog. The American Dream is an unmistakable freedom, which too many take advantage of at the cost of our dedicated service men and women. They defend our country not for the fame and publicity that our “beloved” stars receive, but for the opportunity to spread the American Dream beyond our soil and to defend the people of our great nation. I write this evening to spread the story of Marine Sergeant Merlin German, who in 2005, was injured in a Humvee attack and received burns covering 95% of his body. With all odds against him, German survived and has undertaken over 100 surgeries to get him in a stable condition. However, German has passed away as a result of complications after his latest surgery. The face you see above, is the face of a true American hero. In no way, can this post or any post for that matter, do any justice to the great service this man has given this country. Those of you out there that look up to sports stars like Alex Rodriguez, I am sorry to inform you that you are setting yourself up for disappointment. We should not look up to those who make millions of dollars for actions that hold no real weight. For those of you that admire the people we call “stars”, I urge you for the sake of your own integrity, to reconsider your own values.

What America Needs....Bipartisanship

With a new 787 billion dollar stimulus package being approved in the Senate, it was revealed that only 3 Republican Senators approved the measure. With all due respect, what the heck were all the other Republicans thinking? I understand the difference in the political lines amongst the two parties, but it is clear that we need action now before our economy falls too far from the prospect of recovery. The three Republicans in favor of the bill were Susan Collins and Olympia Snow, both of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. Our economy cannot wait while the Democrats and Republicans battle over small party ideals. Republicans, whether willing or not, need to give President Obama the opportunity to succeed or fail. If squabbling amongst the two parties continue to transpire, America as a whole loses. Bipartisanship is the only way to climb out of the economic trench we now find ourselves in. The stimulus package is not perfect by any measure, but it has the ability to be effective. We need to reinvest in the American system and reclaim American industry. With bipartisanship in our government, we have the potential to truly unite and overcome yet another troubling obstacle. As the champion of the New Deal, Franklin D. Roosevelt once said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself".

The Economy

I do not have to tell you that the economy is in a disastrous state right now. President Obama finds himself inheriting the country at a time where inaction could prove to be more costly than the Iraq War. Whether Obama is inheriting George Bush's problem or not, the fact remains clear that something has to be done sooner rather than later. As the Democrats and Republicans battled over the stimulus, the only side to suffer was the American people. Democrats argue "we need more" and Republicans argue "that is way too much". Obama ran his campaign on promising the American people more jobs and tax cuts to over 90% of Americans. Now is the time to put all his plans into action. The longer we wait, the more we have at stake to lose. One thing Obama needs to at least moderately improve on, is the production of American exports. Over the last several decades, the United States has increasingly become dependent on imports and this has impacted American business. I am well aware we can not compete with the labor costs in China, but we at least need to infringe upon this devastating transgression. The stimulus should provide some comfort to the weak economy, but even chief economists argue that it would at the very least take one year to have an impact. Where's FDR when you need him?

Question of the Week

Each Monday, a historical question will be posted on the blog and the first person to "decipher the code" will be honored on the blog for the entire week. The questions require you to delve deep into your historical think-tank and be the first to reveal who the code identifies. The question can be found each week at the top of the blog in the special "Historical Question of the Week" section. Please send all answer submissions to Khoops621@gmail.com and the winner will be announced as soon as a winning response is received. The question is can you crack the code?

The Straight Talk Express

I found this video quite interesting and felt that as election time is drawing ever closer, it may be a good idea to present some opinionated videos and information on each of the candidates. The views expressed in the video do not necessarily reflect the views of myself or this blog. We are here to present you with information and draw your own conclusions.