Obama Issues Ultimatum to Carmakers

President Obama has laid down the law to the struggling automobile industry and informed them that it is do-or-die this time. As shown in http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/business/31auto.html?_r=1&hp Sheryl Gay Stolberg she discusses Obama's perception that past "failure of leadership" is the reason for the automobile crisis at this time. Obama's administration announced a limited time offer for help with creditors, unions and other stakeholders, this is being done to fundamentally restructure, while justifying an investment of additional tax dollars. During the period they must produce plans that will bring confidence, and long-term prospects for success. Finally a President who knows how to get things in action and actually has a decent sounding plan of action. While speaking about the plan of action, President Obama tried to project optimism as he summoned images of Detroit's mighty past. Obama brings the picture into reality, but why not reduce the price of America's cars, instead of using money from the stimulus package to make more cars? Obama declares the "cars industry", "like no other, an emblam of American Spirit and wants to encourage people to buy more fuel efficient cars . Obama wants the automobile industry to shed it's old ways and remake itself. Is this a realistic idea? I don't want to eat my words, but I think with Obama anything is possible and I really hope that he knows what he is doing.

GOP Implosion: Will Tthe Republican Party Survive

Will the Republican Party survive? David Michael Green, a professor of political science at Hofstra University says its hard to say at this time, but analyzes the question in his article: ttp://www.alternet.org/democracy/129659/the_gop_implosion%3A_will_the_republican, I personally think that the Bush administration and the Republican party have really worked on the economy in such a negative way by showing their greed, and inconsideration for the lower classes that it would be a good a great thing if they were out of the picture. According to Green their are two things threatening the life of the Republican party. One being Barack Obama, who is probably the most skilled and era-appropriate politician in possibly over a decade. The second being the Republican party itself. Wow, why am I not surprised. There are also two political questions that Green says can only be told by the future actions of the two party. Those questions are, who will the Democrats (and especially Obama) be, and who will the Republicans be? In Green's opinion the disposition of either of the ideological battles is yet unknown, and feels that the outcomes are just as unknown to the leaders of each party. Unlike, the leaders of past parties, today's leaders may be more pressers, as other forces prove more influential in dictating the directions that their parties take in the upcoming months and years. From the falling economy that has occurred in the past 18 months or longer due to George W. Bush and his poor decisions. I hope the Republicans will stop being so greedy, and consider the loss of jobs, poverty, and poor health care, They need to realize that their poor decisions and greedy behavior are in turn eventually going to result in their own loss. Greed is one of the seven deadly sins, and money makes the world go around. At least that is what I have been told. As Green feels that the Democrats have the ability to forge a popular consensus-based governing regime that will last at least a generation and possibly more. I totally agree that is possible, considering the past decisions of George W. Bush, (worst President, ever) and the Republican party, decisions that have showed their insistence on maintaining in the twenty-first century every ounce of the poverty, ignorance, prejudice and class apartheid that marked the eighteenth century. Green is not saying the Democratic party is the perfect party, and does recognize in his opinion that they are a shameful thing, but nevertheless look a lot better comparatively and longitudinally . Also mentioned is the difference in maturity between the two parties, or atleast Obamaand the GOP. Green says this is truein two respects. First, Obama is the most mature American politician we've seen in decades, and the fact that he is the first major politician ever who talks in living color. I have to absolutally agree with Green's thinking, I believe that Obama's intelligent, resurved maturity, and his wonderful family values, make him a perfect representation of what an American President should be. I have so much faith in President Obama, and feel its definatelly time for the Republican party to get what's coming to them, and time for a positive change for the U.S and our economy. I agree with Green's article one hundred percent, other than when he said that the Democratic Party is shameful. I am also glad that such an historical even as having the first African American elected as President of the United States has occured in my lifetime. I am curious to see what kind of future it will make for the United States, all good I hope

Loccked Out and Locked Up: Youth Missing in Action From Obama's Stimulus Plan

http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/127460, Though during this economic crisis much has been said about te conditions that enabled the free market to operate without accountability in the interests of the rich and the great suffering that it has created for millions of hard-working, decent human beings, but why is nothing being said regarding the ongoing insecurity and injustice that todays youth are facing? Arn't todays youth considered to be the future of tomorrow? Yet, the current concerns about the effects of poverty, homelessness, economic injustice, and galloping unemployment rates and Obama's plan to rectify them almost completely ignor the effects of these problems on young people in the United States, especially poor whites and youth of color. Henry A. Giroux addresses this in his article, Locked Out and Locked Up: Youth Missing in Action From Obama's Stimulus Plan. As Giroux states it, children seem to have no standing in the public sphere as citizens and as such are denied any sense of entitlement and agency. It is a fact that children have fewer rights than almost any other group, and fewer institutions protecting these rights. This has resulted in their voices and needs being almost completely absent from the debates, poolicies, and legislatve practices that are constructed in terms of their needs. The suffering and deprivation experienced by millions of children in the U.S. in 2008 that is bound to get worse during the current economic meltdown is a true testimony to a state of emergency and crisis regarding the health and welfare of many children. There is such a need for action against the present problem facing America's youth, and Obama's message of hope and responsibility will be meaningless unless he addressess the plight of poor white youth and youth of color. I definatelly feel that the focus needs to be shifted onto America's youth, how can we as American citizens ever expect to have a promising future if the health, safety and welfare of our youths is not brought into the spotlight.