Gays in the Military

About a week after the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was "struck down," a United States appeals court decided that a ban on gays serving in the military would be reinstated, at least temporarily. The U.S. military continues to struggle with how they can integrate gays into the military without making dramatic changes. Despite how much the United States has been struggling over the issue of gays in the military, many other countries around the world "allow gay personnel to serve openly." "Don't ask, don't tell" was established under the Clinton administration in 1993. The policy made it so that military officials were not allowed to inquire about sexual orientation, but if any individual was found to be gay, they would be released. Following the decision about the policy, many former servicemen who were found to be gay and expelled from the service attempted to re-enlist.

I am glad that the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was struck down, but that doesn't mean that the United States is making any progress in allowing homosexual individuals to be treated equally. There are still many areas of society in which they face great discrimination. Also, I think it is wrong for there to be temporary ban on gays in the military while a final decision is still being awaited. For a country that prides itself in being free, we sure do a good job of discriminating and preventing all people from having freedom.

Source: BBC News - "Court allows Pentagon to re-instate ban on gay soldiers"

"Rentafriend"

Most of us have seen commercials for online dating sites, but how about websites that allow you to rent a friend? There are now multiple countries that now offer such services on the internet. The name of one of these friendship sites is Rentafriend. On Rentafriend, anybody can "become a friend and advertise your social services on the site, anyone wanting to rent a friend must pay $24.95 a month...to become a member." Aside from those fees, some "friends" will charge hourly rates or may only require that the person who sought them out on the website pay for the costs of their activities, such as dinner, a movie, etc. Along with just providing companionship, individuals on friendship sites may also offer to do chores or tasks, acting as an assistant or housekeeper.

I think this is a bizarre idea, but at the same time, I don't know whether it can be defined as a completely bad idea in my opinion. On one hand, I don't know if friendship can be built on paying someone for companionship. On the other hand, what started as compensated time could evolve into true friendship, which is nice. Like anything where strangers are meeting each other, I think people need to be careful of where they meet. It would always be safest to meet for the first few times in very public places. It will be interesting to see what becomes of these friendship sites...

Source: BBC News - "Is a rented friend a real friend?"

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Issue #3 - Social Insecurity

Social Security is an entitlement and a program of the United States that was established as a way to fight poverty following the Great Depression. It has, in fact, been quite successful in lowering the poverty rate from the 1930s to today. After retirement, individuals who earn lower wages generally receive a higher percentage of benefits from their Social Security package than those who earn higher wages. Social Security is contributing greatly to the national debt because of its money problems and the possibility of going bankrupt. The major problem that the Social Security program now faces is that it will soon be taking in less money than it will be spending. Should Social Security continue to exist in the United States or should the program be eliminated?

I think that Social Security should continue to exist in our country. The risk of bankruptcy is present, but with some changes, it could be possible to eliminate the problems that the program is presently facing. Social Security has been successful so far in decreasing the prevalence of poverty, and hopefully it will continue to do so if the program is kept. I also don't believe that retirement should become privatized. This is a program that really should continue to exist. Like any other problem, individuals in power simply need to think of ways to solve it, as well as the many other problems contributing to the United States' growing national debt.

See this article for an idea of what President Obama's opinion is.

Issue #2 - Spending What We Can Afford

Issue #1 - War Dollars

First Woman in Five Years to be Executed in the United States

On October 30, 2002, the husband and stepson of Teresa Lewis were found dead in their home after being shot. Lewis was found to be guilty of conspiring to murder the two, and she was also found guilty of hiring two hit men to commit the murders. Lewis, who has learning difficulties and an IQ of 72, filed for executive clemency in August, but Virginia's governor has said that there are no compelling reasons to grant her clemency. Matthew Shallenberger and Rodney Fuller, the two men found guilty of committing the actual murders of Julian and Charles Lewis, were both sentenced to life in prison but have not been sentenced to death.

I think that it is a shame that the United States still allows the death penalty. Even if one were to use the reasoning that the punishment should fit the crime, Teresa Lewis was not the individual who committed the murders of Julian and Charles Lewis, so that doesn't even fit the circumstances. Along with that, anybody with a low IQ, even if not found to be mentally retarded, should probably be evaluated in a different manner than someone with a much higher IQ. I find it hard to believe that she would have really thought out an elaborate plan that would result in the murders of her husband and stepson. Furthermore, if anybody involved in these murders were to be sentenced to death, why not the men who committed the murders?

Information and picture source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11401164