America's Municipal Meltdown-AlterNet

I read an article on AlterNet.org about America's tough economic crisis and the effect on each region of the U.S. The story starts off by talking about a town called Elkhart, Indiana which has reportedly been hit harder than almost any other town in the U.S., with an unemployment rate of 15% while the rest of the country was at 4.5% on average. This town is called the "RV Capital of the World". The Daily Show's Jon Stewart joked,"Imagine your main industry combines the slowdown of the auto market with the plunging values in the housing sector." Though it was a joke, it is the hard truth. This is the story of many once-booming small towns all over the country. Another is Dalton, Georgia or "The Carpet Capital of the World". Another is Lehigh Acres, Florida, a community that houses carpenters and pest exterminators, that went bust in a county that between June 2007 and June 2008, lost a higher percentage of jobs (8.8%) than any other in the nation. In the East, companies such as Fruit of the Loom in Rhode Island and even local newspapers have cut endless jobs. In the Southern Appalachian town of West Jefferson, North Carolina, "the town and the neighboring county seat of Jefferson have lost more than 500 factory jobs -- a number equal to 20 percent of the town's population." In the West, the same story.In the town ofEl Centro, California, there is a 22.6% jobless rate. This is reportedly the highest rate in all metro areas. But as I read on, I found that small towns aren't the only ones hurting,but large cities also. New York City, for example, lost 65,000 jobs in the last months of 2008. Whether your in a small Appalachian town or a huge metropolis, you can't hide from the job crisis in the U.S. Locally, jobs are being cut left and right at the Toyota Plant in Georgetown, leaving its former employees wondering what they are going to do. Personally, I feel the woes because my dad had a prominent mobile home business for the past ten years that has almost went under in the latter two. Hopefully before it gets any worse, we get relief from this crisis soon.

Sliming Pelosi-Political Fact Check

I read an article on the Political Fact Check website I thought was entertaining. Some anti-Pelosi attacks were issued through claims in chain emails and on wikipedia claiming many alleged things.First, her husband owns a 17 million dollar stake in a company that she tried to exempt from minimum wage laws. Second, she demands to fly in a 757 air force issued jet everytime she flies. Third, that that she's calling for a 100 percent "windfall" profits tax on stock profits or retirement savings and last (and most entertaining) that that she couldn't figure out that the voyage on which Captain Cook died was his last. These attacks increased after the democrats won majority in the house after the action last year and supposedly were written by a conservative. What I wonder about all of this is, when did celebrity rumors and government start mixing? It has seemed to me for a long time and especially here recently, that the people we have running our country have reached celebrity status. With all the silly rumors going around, it wouldn't surprise me to hear about our leaders on TMZ or Perez Hilton! It is no surprise that Obama has become a pop icon but now is it trickling down to people in his cabinet? Why did they allege that a conservative wrote all of these things? Because it makes good news. I think whoever wrote this about her needs to grow up because all of the time that was spent clearing up these allegations (and that goes for any political leader that has been targeted), could have been spent on figuring out what we are going to do about the economic situation in this country.

Focus on Fertility Clinics-The New York Times

This article was sparked by the recent headline where a single mother of six got pregnant again through invitro fertilization, and had another eight babies. The government and other professional associations, have been pushing fertility doctors to reduce that number(one-third of all invitro cases produce twins or more). In many cases health consequences come with multiple births such as infant death, low birth weights, long-term disabilities. Also, thousands of dollars of doctor bills that go along with these consequences. Last year, the Association of Fertility Doctors adopted some guidelines to encourage one embryo transfer if the woman is under 35 and if the woman is older, she is allowed up to five. As I read on I found the United States has no laws to enforce any of those guidelines but the CDC is watching these clinics closely. Especially since only 11% of invitro cases involve implanting one embryo. One problem with this whole system boils down again to the United States' healthcare. The cost of invitro is usually around twelve thousand, and with insurance refusing to pay, the doctors better get it right the first time, so they implant many embryos to increase the chance. In some countries though, doctors can only perform this if the person has insurance and sometimes there is a cap on costs. This way, women can focus less on the finanical part of it and they dont have to worry so much about getting it right the first time. But of course this is not the case in the U.S. In some large cities, sales pitches aren't uncommon to hear due to competition in the area. One doctor even offers a ninety percent refund if invitro does not work. According to CDC reports, 134,260 procedures were done last year and there were more than 483 clinics across the country. More than 50,000 children a year are born as a result of in vitro fertilization in the United States. It is a one billion dollar business. Since our society revolves around money, the ethical issues won't matter to doctors, insurance companies or anyone else for that matter. Ms. Suleman who had the octuplets was struggling to begin with because her first six kids and in fact, I saw an interview with her mother who was raising the kids herself! I believe if there was better insurance options for women who can't get pregnant, the finanical pressure will be lessened or off. But of course there are always exceptions, like Ms. Suleman, who do this for fame or maybe her own tv show and it does nothing but hurt those who truly want to have babies for the right reasons.

Life or Death-The Nation

I read an article called Life or Death on The Nation's website about the United States lack of healthcare. The author starts off by saying that the constitution protects the basic inalienable rights given to the people of the U.S. but unfortunately, since it has moved from a manufacturing economy to a service economy, health insurance has became very unstable. He goes on to say some companies cannot even afford their healthcare premiums, let alone individuals by themselves. He includes that there are over 50 million people in this country lacking healthcare and over 18,000 Americans will die this year simply because they are uninsured. He then tells a story of how his father had a brain tumor and when he had surgery in the states, they did not get rid of it and the bill was over $200,000. He then traveled to his home country of China, where they removed the tumor and the bill was just about $6,500.
It is really no shocker to me or to anyone else in this country that getting healthcare is like pulling teeth. I, myself have two credit cards that are almost maxed out due to dentist bills that I could not have did without. If I get sick and need to go to the doctor, I simply don't. I'm not sure how to fix healthcare problems in this country or if it can even be fixed at this point. President Obama has a huge duty to fulfill because so many Americans are affected by this problem. The problems are never ending. I know someone that due to the bad economic situation, the conditions at the factory where he works are horrible and they are struggling for work. Most have been laid off but he has to endure the bad conditions because he will lose his healthcare benefits in three months if he gets laid off. With a wife that is four months pregnant, there is no way that could happen. Also, students like myself that do not have kids and have no income, can't get any help while they are going to school full time. I have been blessed to not have any major medical problems like the author's father because if I ever did, I'm not sure what i would do.

reply to last comments

I do believe Bush vetoed it. The last time, I believe in 2007, did not even pass the 3/4 House vote. I was just saying why not go through with it, especially if you believe it will make a positive difference.
Thanks for the comments:)