Picking Letters, 10 a day, That Reach Obama

Tens of thousands of letters, e-mails and faxes arrive at the White House everday. A few hundred of them end up on the office table of Mr. Kelleher, director of White House Office of Correspondence, every afternoon. He chooses letters that are very compelling and puts them in a purple envelope which will be put in a daily briefing book that is delivered to Mr. Obama. Occassionally, Mr. Obama answers them by hand. Letters range from issues from struggling families, complaints, even tips on best treats for the first dog, Bo. Mr. Obama likes to read these letters because he wants to keep up with what Americans are dealing with. He also received a letter urging him to stop smoking. President Obama thoroughly enjoys keeping up with Americans thoughts, ideas and concerns.

I think this goes to show President Obama is human. He doesn't just sit behind his desk and foget about the American people and the issues facing us. He is very much in tune with the problems we're facing and does what is within his power to help.

Education Standards Likely to See Toughening

President Obama and his administration have been tweaking the "No Child Left Behind" act George Bush created but are keeping their plans hush-hush. Obama's administration is going to toughen requirements on teacher quality, standards on academics and focus on helping failing schools. It also says the laws on testing will change but not disappear. They seem to be working on what many see as defects in the laws. In February Obama signed a stimulus which directed billions of dollars towards public education. The stimulus has guidelines governors must sign to receive the money. The "assurances", as they're called, include: pledge to improve quality of standardized tests, raise standards and promise to enforce a requirement that most effective teachers be assigned to all students, rich and poor. The reward money is in the hands of ecucation secretary Arne Duncan and goes to states who make good on their pleges, better known as "Race to the Top Fund". Obama is also concentrating on failing schools. Currently 6,000 of the nations 95,000 schools are labeled as needing corrective action plans or restructuring because they've fallen below test standards. The stimulus also states high schools must prepare those students who are not going to college or the military how to succeed in life.

I think our schools have gotten so overwhelmed with test scores and how much money they can earn that they've forgotten to actually "teach". I see so many kids who cannot read or write, or both, in the schools I wonder how they keep getting passed on grade to grade. I like the idea of schools teaching our kids how to prepare themselves to survive after graduating high school because not everyone will attend college, trade school or the military. Educators need to do exactly that...EDUCATE...and stop focusing so much if our kids meet proficiency on tests. Honestly, what employer is going to ask if they ranked novice, proficient or distinguished.

Questions posed to Obama: Legalizing Marijuana

One of President Obama's most popular online questions was whether he thought legalizing marijuana would create jobs and help the economy. His remark was, "No, I don't think this would be a good strategy." It goes on to talk about the negative impact drugs have put on communities and how law enforcement should direct their focus on white suburbs and middle class areas where most drugs are consumed. They target areas where drug sales are most conspicuous. One in 99 adults are behind bars. Generations are spending their life behind bars rather than getting an education, working or raising their families. Americas has become the most incarcerated nations with imprisonment five times higher than the rest of the world. The article talks about what a bad shape Mexico is in due to their drug problem, meeting America's demand. Over 1,000 people have been killed in Mexico due to American firearms. Obama will face opposition if he tries to ban assault weapons although Americans weapons have killed many in Mexico.

Basically, what the article is saying is this...legalize marijuana and the killings for drugs will stop. So far, it has been introduced to California's state assembly to legalize marijuana and tax the $14 billion annual crop. Prisons are also overcrowded with drug users. I believe this is a waste of space when it could be used for incarcerating child molesters, murderers, etc. Drug users and sellers should be put on house arrest, therefore if they want to use they will be at home hurting themselves and no one else. I believe legalizing marijuana would create problems but then again free up the police force to hunt down the hard criminals of our society.

A Thank You Note from WRRAP

This post is basically short and sweet but one I am passionate about. I had never heard of WRRAP until now. This is an organization who financially supports women to have abortions. They do not discriminate against age, race, financial background, etc. They assist in giving a woman the right to choose. For example, the following are a few they have helped:

* A 29 year-old low-income woman who works but her insurance will not cover abortion services.
* A 17 year-old who cannot tell her mother she's pregnant.
* A 20 year-old living with her sister and three other children. She works part time at McDonald's and the man will not help.

If some women are in a financial crisis and living in conditions that do not warrant for another child then why put themselves in a position where they can get pregnant. I am completely voicing my opinion on this...if you are not capable of having a child and supporting it then don't have unprotected sex or sex period. It's not a hard concept to understand. On the other hand they have helped women in situations, such as a 34 year-old who has the mental capacity of a 6 year-old and was raped, fund an abortion. In this situation, yes, I do believe in abortion. People need to wake up and realize they have to take responsibility for their actions. When I read this article, which is actually an e-mail sent to WRRAP, it struck something in me that I felt I needed to write about. This world has enough issues to worry about! People need to be more responsible in their life and what they choose to do with it. Link.