Monday, May 11, 2020
The Impact Of The North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement was created in order to help relations between Canada, The United States, and Mexico. While Canada had previous relations with the US with free trade when Mexico became a part of the talks in 1991 thus creating the North American Free Trade Agreement otherwise known as NAFTA. The premises of the agreement are to allow trade without tariffs except on certain products to flow freely between the three countries. While NAFTA include Mexico, United States, and Canada the paper will focus on the relationship between the US and its southern neighbor Mexico, the paper will inform the reader NAFTA consists of, the controversy behind creating NAFTA, the effects of NAFTA on Mexicoââ¬â¢s economy, environments andâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦NAFTA was created to making trading easier and less expensive for the actors involved to export and import with one another. When it was first introduced, there were many negotiations and ramifications that took pl ace. The premise for the negotiations and agreements was to make North America the most productive and richest market in the world and help in continuing economic growth within the countries. This however, has not been achieved and while it has contributed to cheaper goods for consumers there is still plenty to be done to create an agreement that will benefit all actors involved. As negotiations took place the outline of NAFTA began with reducing the tax on exports from the Mexico to the US by half while the US imports to Mexico tariffs were reduced to one third. Eventually within years of implementing the trade agreement most US-Mexico tariffs would be eliminated making it easier for trade to happen among the countries. There were many provision that were negotiated by all three countries to do their part in becoming better partners within one another. In the actual text of the agreement we see that along with making trade easier they are advocating to ââ¬Å"promote conditions of fair competition in the free trade areaâ⬠which would allow smaller business to gain consumers into their good and allowShow MoreRelatedImpact Of The North American Free Trade Agreement991 Words à |à 4 PagesA free trade agreement is a treaty between two or more countries to establish a free trade range where commerce in goods and services can be regulated across common bor ders, and without tariffs. An extensively recognized trade agreement is the European Union. The European Union has been advantageous by providing, safety, international mobility, employment mobility, residential mobility, and tax options. However, free trade agreements are not always beneficial. This paper will illustrate the negativeRead MoreThe North American Free Trade Agreement. One Of The Major1307 Words à |à 6 Pages The North American Free Trade Agreement One of the major keys to having two or more parties successfully trade and invest with each other is the ability to make agreements peacefully and come to similar terms. Many times, people would like to trade goods and services, but cannot agree on the terms each other have made. This can obviously cause many problems with trading and is the reason many deals do not go through, which can impact not only the people involved, but many more people very negativelyRead MoreThe North American Free Trade Agreement1118 Words à |à 5 PagesThe North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) has tremendously helped Canada and its economic well- being. On the beginning of the year of 1994, an agreement on the basis of trading between Canada, the United States of America, and Mexico was made. This agreement was based on the motive of free trade, such that of paying significantly less in import and export taxes between the three nations. NAFTA has aided North America extensively, that being said he lping Canadaââ¬â¢s economy is no exception to itââ¬â¢sRead MoreEvaluating Naft Was It Worth It?1229 Words à |à 5 Pagesworth it? In 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was enacted between two industrial countries and a yet still developing nation. This was an agreement that was the first of its kind due to the relationship that the countries had and the investment opportunities that it presented. The United States, Canada, and developing Mexico decided to work towards eliminating most tariffs and non-tariff barriers between the three in order to increase the flow of trade in goods and services.Read MoreNAFTA Case Study1586 Words à |à 7 PagesS. exports to Mexico. Within 10 years of the execution of the agreement, all U.S.-Mexico levies were to be eliminated except some U.S. farming exports to Mexico to be eliminated inside 15 years. Most U.S.- Canada exchange was at that point duty free. NAFTA likewise tried to take out non-duty exchange barriers and to secure the intellectual property rights on traded items. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: The North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act rolled out a few improvements to the copyrightRead MoreNafta Essay1377 Words à |à 6 PagesINTRODUCTION TO NAFTA: The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect on January 1, 1994 (Free Trade Agreements, 2016). The agreement was marked by President George H.W. Bush on December 17, 1992 as the primary period of his Enterprise for The Americas Initiative (EA) and endorsed by Congress on November 20, 1993. The NAFTA Implementation Act was marked into law by President William J. Clinton on December 8, 1993. NAFTA eliminates tariffs and other trade barriers on goods and servicesRead MoreBasic Equivalent Of The Border1354 Words à |à 6 Pagesto smuggling, free trade, and border enforcement. Among the cultural differences, the levels of social society class, and comparison between the Third World and the Superpower countries, both the United States and Mexico share a difficult border relationship. Despite the hindrances of violence, corruption, security and criminal activity, the opportunity to capitalize in money making investments was highly present. With the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) tradingRead MoreThe North American Free Trade Agreement1711 Words à |à 7 PagesThis paper will discuss four components of the North American Free Trade Agreement: Background, events, pros and cons. Upon the research, you will discover four online articles to provide more detail and examples. This research will indicate how it was developed and the reasoning on why it would benefit the nation. Also, it will provide events that occur after the agreement was signed by congress and the recession the countries experience during the early 2000s. There will be a chart locatedRead MoreNorth American Free Trade Agreement981 Words à |à 4 Pagesforms of trade in order to benefit themselves and their communities. From bartering in Ancient Egypt, to the international trading the world has today, trading has found its way into various sectors of modern civilization. The idea of free trade dates back to sixteenth century Spain and it was believed by certain economists to be the reason why certain civilizations flourished more than others. Free trade was an idea The U.S., Canada and Mexico struck gold with when they implemented the North AmericanRead MoreEssay On Nafta1182 Words à |à 5 PagesKey term As a result of extensive research on various topics, the one area there has been on the rise and is subject to further debate and analysis is the North American free trade agreement. This particular treaty is of interest owing to the current globalization that is fast consuming economies across the world as well as the change in leadership in the three countries involved. As a result, this essay takes into account the current economic state of the world about the increased competition;
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Essay on Mary Shelleys Frankenstein and Bladerunner
Similarities between Frankenstein and Bladerunner Many similarities can be found between Mary Shelleys 1816 novel, Frankenstein and the 1982 movie Bladerunner . The number of similarities between these two works, created more than two hundred years apart, is staggering. A cursory look at both works reveals these similarities: Both stories feature a very intelligent person trying to play God through the creation of life. Both of the creatures were subsequently mistreated by their maker and society as a whole. In both stories, the audience is left feeling greater sympathy for the monster than for the creator. Both stories contain a very intelligent creator who seems unaware of the forces that they are dealing with. Theyâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Are the Replicants revered or given special treatment because of this? No, in fact, they are treated as slaves and hunted down when they return to the birthplace of the human race. Both creators are faced with limited tools in which to create their new lifeforms, ...but my imagination was too much exalted by my first success to permit me to doubt of my ability to give life to an animal as complex and wonderful as man. The materials at present within my command hardly appeared adequate to so arduous an undertaking... (pg 53). This lack of materials causes both creations to suffer with characteristics that make them very different from the rest of humanity. Frankensteins monsters image was very disgusting, ...and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! -Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; ...only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion and black lips (pg 57), while Tyrells replicants are without the ability to feel empathy, and have a four year life span. These differences force the creatures to confront those that created them. Frankensteins
Essay on Biography of President Barack Obama Free Essays
Barack Hussein Obama jr. was born on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He grew up with his father, Barack Hussein Obama Sr. We will write a custom essay sample on Essay on Biography of President Barack Obama or any similar topic only for you Order Now , and mother, Stanley Ann Dunham. He went to college first at Occidental college in Los Angeles in 1989, then went to Columbia University, where he graduated in 1983, and finally went to Harvard Law school in 1991, where he met his wife, Michelle Robinson Obama. They had two daughters, Malia Obama and Natasha ââ¬Å"Sashaâ⬠Obama. Constitutional Issues Barack Obama faced many Constitutional Issues during his presidency. One significant issue he faced was in regards to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as Obamacare. Obamacare increases the affordability of healthcare, providing more people with healthcare. It was extremely controversial, with republicans, in general, strongly opposing the reform, and democrats, in general, strongly supporting it. One of the most controversial and central parts of obamacare is that it was required that everyone not receiving healthcare, is required to pay for it, with exceptions for people with enough financial hardships that the insurance would cost more than eight percent of their household income or certain religious groups. This was controversial because there was a tax penalty for all people not exempted, but had remained uninsured, causing the debate over whether or not congress could penalize people for not buying healthcare. In 2012, this debate ended up in the supreme court, with a 5-4 ruling that it was indeed constitutional. Another significant issue Obama faced during his presidency was the Iraq war. In addition to Obamacare, ending the Iraq war is one thing that Obama is widely known for. The war began in March 2003 because the Bush administration believed that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and that Saddam Hussein, Iraqââ¬â¢s tyrannical dictator, was housing terrorists. Even from the beginning, Obama opposed the war, though at the time, many people disagreed with him. In August of 2010, Obama announced that the U.S.ââ¬â¢s combat mission in Iraq had ended, but the troops were going to stay in order to support the Iraqi soldiers. By June of 2011, 100,000 troops had already left Iraq. Despite Obamacare and the Iraq war being the largest constitutional issues during Barack Obamaââ¬â¢s presidency, there were a number of other issues. These include when, in February of 2015, Obama spoke to the nation about, and in favor of the prospect of legalizing marijuana, in mid-2015, when same-sex marriage was legalized in the U.S., and First Lady Michelle Robinson Obama was born on January 17, 1964 in Chicago, Illinois. She always was incredible in school, and even skipped 2nd grade. For college, she went to Princeton University and graduated in 1985. She later entered Harvard Law School and graduated. After graduating from Harvard, Michelle Obama joined the Chicago corporate-law firm of Sidley ; Austin and mentored Barack Obama who was a Harvard law student at the time and had joined the firm as an intern in 1988. She married Barack Obama in 1992 and was quickly plunged into politics. During Barack Obamaââ¬â¢s presidential campaign, Michelle Obama was a crucial part of their campaigning; touring the country with him, and even sometimes made her own appearances to support him. In addition, Michelle Obama had her own goals and was able to work towards them during her husbandââ¬â¢s presidency. During Barack Obamaââ¬â¢s presidency, Michelle Obama fought the epidemic of obesity in America, promoting physical activity and healthy eating. She started the program Letââ¬â¢s Move! in February 2010, which encouraged everyone to make healthier changes. Often, she would visit schools and invite children to the white house where they would tend to her vegetable garden in order to promote healthy lifestyles. She traveled to foreign countries with and without the president, with the intent to improve the relationship with those countries. In addition, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden worked together and launched a program that supported the families of military members in April 2011. Summary of Administration Barack Obamaââ¬â¢s presidency began in November of 2008 and ended in January of 2017. He had 8 years in office. During those years, he did many notable things. In 2009, Obama was very active. In February of 2009, he signed a $787 billion spending plan to prompt the economy, announced a salary limit of $500,000 for top executives that had requested federal bailouts, and started a $75 billion plan to help 9 million Americans faced with mortgage problems. In May, he made first supreme court nomination, judge Sonia Sotomayor who was the first Latina supreme court justice and third women on the top court. In the summer, after Obamacare was put into effect, it took over media headlines, causing immense controversy. Obamaââ¬â¢s first act in 2010 was in April, after the explosion of an oil rig in the Gulf of mexico, when he met with victims of the explosion and established a $20 billion fund for the victims. In May Obama ordered 1,200 National Guard troops to enhance security along the U.S.-Mexican Border, and Fired Stanley A. McChrystal, who was the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, and replaced him with David Petraeus. In the late Spring, he gave speeches about the how education is important to the success of America. In August, he spoke to the nation, marking the end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq. 2011 and 2012 were not as eventful as 2009 and 2010. In June of 2011, Obama spoke to the nation, announcing the withdrawal of troops in Afghanistan in July, with 33 thousand people returning home. In May of 2012, he challenged lawmakers to help Americans with mortgage and to create jobs and disclosed his belief that same-sex marriage should be legalized. On December 14, 2012, Obama faced what he called, ââ¬Å"the hardest day of his presidencyâ⬠. Students and teachers in Newton were attacked by an armed gunman, taking the lives of six adults and twenty children. Obama traveled to newton to publically speak about the tragic event, and privately meet with the families of the victims. On December 31, 2012 the government hit the limit on money allowed to borrow, which left the middle class vulnerable to higher taxes. 2013 began with Obama announcing 23 executive orders about gun control, strengthening all background checks for the purchasing of guns on January 16. His second inauguration, took place on January 21, 2013. On the first of February, Hillary Rodham Clinton, the secretary of state, stepped down and was replaced by Senator John Kerry. In September, Congress failed to raise the national borrowing limit as a result of the debt ceiling that was hit on Dec. 31, 2012. This caused 800,000 government to be forced to take a leave of absence, essentially shutting down the government. As a result of this, republican leaders demanded the defund of obamacare, a demand that obama refused to negotiate with. After 16 days, republicans gave in to president obama, allowing temporary spending bills to pass. Dr. Janet Yellen was nominated by Obama as chair of the Board of the Federal Reserve in October. She was the first woman to ever be nominated for the position. Works Cited ââ¬Å"Affordable Care Act (2010).â⬠Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History, edited by Thomas Riggs, 2nd ed., vol. 1, Gale, 2015, pp. 10-12. Biography In Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3611000019/BIC?u=mlin_c_gibbons;sid=BIC;xid=0294951f. Accessed 3 May 2018. ââ¬Å"Barack Obama.â⬠Contemporary Black Biography, vol. 74, Gale, 2009. Biography In Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1606004418/BIC?u=mlin_c_gibbons;sid=BIC;xid=88f4b098. Accessed 3 May 2018. Devaney, Sherri, and Mark Devaney. Barack Obama(JB). MI, Lucent, 2007. Freeman, Richard, et al. ââ¬Å"Barack Obama.â⬠Paywizard.org, 2018, paywizard.org/main/salary/vip-check/barack-obama. Accessed 3 May 2018. ââ¬Å"Kathleen Sebelius.â⬠Newsmakers, vol. 4, Gale, 2008. Biography In Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1618004793/BIC?u=mlin_c_gibbons;sid=BIC;xid=3b18062b. Accessed 3 May 2018. ââ¬Å"Michelle Obama.â⬠Contemporary Black Biography, vol. 61, Gale, 2007. Biography In Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1606003703/BIC?u=mlin_c_gibbons;sid=BIC;xid=bdb31a03. Accessed 3 May 2018. Nardo, Don. Barack Obama. Minneapolis, Compass Point Books, 2010. ââ¬Å"President Map.â⬠The New York Times, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2012, www.nytimes.com/elections/2012/results/president.html. Accessed 3 May 2018. Williams, Joel, et al., editors. ââ¬Å"Barack Obama: Vetoed Legislation.â⬠Ballotpedia, www.nytimes.com/elections/2012/results/president.html. Accessed 3 May 2018. How to cite Essay on Biography of President Barack Obama, Essays
Goal Visualization of Attack and Analysis â⬠MyAssignmenthelp.com
Question: Discuss about the Goal Visualization of Attack and Analysis. Answer: Introduction Games can be said the best example of time passing for any human being, be it video game or game that are played in the field or any other type of game. In this paper the concept of goals in a game will be discussed. Every game must have a purpose r goal to be solved, if there is no motive then the player will not have any interest in the game after a certain time. Games has already explored a huge concept possible ranges and are to be explore more. Goals can be defined as the aim of doing or completing a certain task (Hibi et al., 2015). In video games the basic aim is to complete the real goal that is completing of the goal that the game is designed for. There are few types of goals that are implement in any game, Point competition: The point completion is to collect the maximum point by the end of the game. Scoring points opens up new goals of a game or opens up new possibilities. Races: Here the goal is to get to the best position available or scoring the best point. An example of this is the NFS racing game where the aim is to achieve the first position in any race. Elimination: Here the concept is to achieve the best position or else to get eliminated from the race (Putri, Suyanto and Al Fatta,, 2017). A good example of this is the chess game, where if the movement of the operation of is better the users avatar gets eliminated. Real goals: The Real goal can be explained as the one task which is needed to finish at the end of the game. An example of this is the FIFA football game, where the main aim of a plyer is to represent as a dream foot ball player one wishes to become in real life. Sub goals: Sub goals can be defined as the goals which needs to be completed aside from the main goal. One of the best expel of this is the FIFA games, manager mode or the player mode. In the beginning of the video games, the first ever video game developed, the aim was to play tennis like game between two plyers, subsequently the games developed, and the aims and the objectives became more advanced with the graphics of the games (Mun, 2015). As the games developed further, the concepts and types of the challenges and the goals increased. In the FIFA 2018 editions which is virtual foot game, the primary goal is to complete the journey of a player from being selected in a specific club and to become one of the best player subsequently. The there are also sub goals where the user needs to complete other thigs like the manager part, scoring goals, completing drills and earning points. Conclusion Thus, concluding the topic it can be said that the goal is one of the major aspect for any developer who is designing a game. A game without a goal is a game without any reason to play, and hence is a must need. References Easports.com. (2018). FIFA 18 - Soccer Video Game - EA SPORTS Official Site. [online] Available at: https://www.easports.com/fifa [Accessed 25 Mar. 2018]. Hibi, H., Kameoka, Y., Uchiyama, S. and Yamamoto, Y., 2015, November. Visualization of attack and analysis of play affect goal in soccer game. InICT and Knowledge Engineering (ICT Knowledge Engineering 2015), 2015 13th International Conference on(pp. 15-18). IEEE. Mun, J., 2015. The effect of game playing, goal orientation, and game difficulty level on subsequent creative new product development outcomes: A multi-process account. Putri, P.H., Suyanto, M. and Al Fatta, H., 2017, November. Perancangan Game Design Document Serious Game Permainan Tradisional Angklek Sleman Yogyakarta. InSeminar Nasional Informatika (SNIf)(Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 1-7).
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Underclassman Advice free essay sample
If I could give an underclassman some advice, I would definitely give it about school, family, and relationships. As you grow up, you will soon realize how much time is worth; also, stay out of trouble! Nobody wants to be grounded when they could be out with their friends. My first piece of advice is to work hard in school. To be a good student, you must do your best in everything you do. Do your homework! Put all of your effort into each and every test and assignment.No matter how young you are, you need to start y researching about the life you wish to have, and the places you want to go to be successful in your eyes. My second piece of advice is to always love your family. I know, parents can be tough, but know that they mean well. Family is a very Important thing in life. We will write a custom essay sample on Underclassman Advice or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They are the people that will always be there, no matter what you have done. Listen to your parents. Before you know it, you will be saying goodbye to them, heading off onto a road that is unfamiliar, but they have to believe in you and hope that everything they have taught you will be enough.Dont let them down. My last please of advice Is to not be wrapped up In your lover throughout high school. You dont need to rely on somebody else and then expect to be independent after you guys break up. Most relationships dont last In high school anyways, so why wait for the harsh break up? All of this advice will help you grow up and be a good student, perfect daughter/son, and live a drama free life throughout high school. A student shouldnt worry because of unneeded stress, for they should Just have fun. I hope that you will use this advice and actually get something out of It. Just be mature and do your best.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Free Essays on Islam in the African American Experience
In his incisive book, Islam in the African American Experience, Richard Brent Turner takes the reader through the evolution of Islam in black America. First, he discusses the ââ¬Å"old Islamâ⬠brought over with the slaves. Then turner describes how ââ¬Å"new Islamâ⬠was formed out of Pan-Africanist and Black Nationalistic doctrines of the late nineteenth century. Finally, Turner goes on to talk about different sects of new Islam in the black community. Part one of the book is called ââ¬Å"Root Sourcesâ⬠. In it, Turner comprehensively demonstrates how he believes that, ââ¬Å"The new American Islam was deeply influenced by racism in America, by the Pan-African political movement of African Americans in the early twentieth century, and by the historic patterns of racial separation in Islam.â⬠(p.67) Turner utilizes Part one to set the stage for the ââ¬Å"new Islamâ⬠of the twentieth century discussed in part two. In the first chapter, titled ââ¬Å"Muslims in a Strange Land: American Muslim Slaves in Americaâ⬠, Turner describes for the reader the early evolution of Islam among blacks in West Africa. He also describes how that same brand of ââ¬Å"old Islamâ⬠would follow African Slaves across the Atlantic to the shores of North America. Turner focuses on how Islam spread to West Africa, and how it was adapted and changed by the natives. North African Muslims helped plant the seeds for West African Islam through their encounters with sub-Saharan Africans by way of a slave trade. Often times these Arabs and North Africans would settle in the West African towns, creating an Islamic presence in the town. Natives were generally impressed with their intellect and religious beliefs. One thing that the Muslims offered that caught the attention of the West Africans was a chance to become literate by way of learning Arabic. Later, ââ¬Å"teachers and messengersâ⬠of Islam would arriv e in West Africa. This was a catalyst for the mass conversion of Wes... Free Essays on Islam in the African American Experience Free Essays on Islam in the African American Experience In his incisive book, Islam in the African American Experience, Richard Brent Turner takes the reader through the evolution of Islam in black America. First, he discusses the ââ¬Å"old Islamâ⬠brought over with the slaves. Then turner describes how ââ¬Å"new Islamâ⬠was formed out of Pan-Africanist and Black Nationalistic doctrines of the late nineteenth century. Finally, Turner goes on to talk about different sects of new Islam in the black community. Part one of the book is called ââ¬Å"Root Sourcesâ⬠. In it, Turner comprehensively demonstrates how he believes that, ââ¬Å"The new American Islam was deeply influenced by racism in America, by the Pan-African political movement of African Americans in the early twentieth century, and by the historic patterns of racial separation in Islam.â⬠(p.67) Turner utilizes Part one to set the stage for the ââ¬Å"new Islamâ⬠of the twentieth century discussed in part two. In the first chapter, titled ââ¬Å"Muslims in a Strange Land: American Muslim Slaves in Americaâ⬠, Turner describes for the reader the early evolution of Islam among blacks in West Africa. He also describes how that same brand of ââ¬Å"old Islamâ⬠would follow African Slaves across the Atlantic to the shores of North America. Turner focuses on how Islam spread to West Africa, and how it was adapted and changed by the natives. North African Muslims helped plant the seeds for West African Islam through their encounters with sub-Saharan Africans by way of a slave trade. Often times these Arabs and North Africans would settle in the West African towns, creating an Islamic presence in the town. Natives were generally impressed with their intellect and religious beliefs. One thing that the Muslims offered that caught the attention of the West Africans was a chance to become literate by way of learning Arabic. Later, ââ¬Å"teachers and messengersâ⬠of Islam would arriv e in West Africa. This was a catalyst for the mass conversion of Wes...
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Why Obama Won the 08 Presidential Election
Why Obama Won the 08 Presidential Election Barack Obama decisively won the presidential election, for many solid reasons and due to many factors, including weaknesses of his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain. This article enumerates and explains the five top reasons why Obama won win the 2008 race to become the 44th President of the United States. Reasons Why Barack Obama Won the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election Reason #1 - Empathy and Genuine Help for Middle-Class Americans Barack Obama gets what it means for a family to worry financially, to work hard simply to make it, and to do without essentials. Obama was born to a teenage mother, abandoned by his father at age two, and raised largely in a small apartment by his middle-class grandparents. At one point, Obama, his mother, and younger sister relied on food stamps to put meals on the family table. Michelle Obama, close counselor and best friend to her husband, and her brother were similarly raised in modest circumstances in a one-bedroom apartment on the south side of Chicago. Both Barack and Michelle Obama speak frequently about what it means for middle-class Americans to be at a disadvantage financially and otherwise. Because they get it, both Obamas refer with heartfelt eloquence to middle-class fears, including to: the climbing unemployment ratethe staggering home foreclosure rate gripping the nationcrashing 401(k) and pension plans, leaving retirements in limbo48 million Americans without healthcare insurancehigh percentages of public schools failing our childrenthe continuing struggle of middle-class families to balance work and parenting demands In vivid contrast, John and particularly Cindy McCain exude an aura of financial insularity and well-heeled elegance. Both were born wealthy, and have been quite wealthy for their entire lives. When cornered by Pastor Rick Warren several months ago, John McCain defined rich as I think if youre just talking about income, how about 5 million. Middle-class anger is palpable about economic fairness in these unusually tough financial times, and subsequent to what many viewed as President Bushs $700 billion bailout of rich Wall Streeters. Obama offered actual, understandable policy solutions to help middle-class Americans, including: a detailed 12-point program to repair the economy for middle-class families, including a $1,000 tax cut, creation of 5 million new jobs, protection of family homes from foreclosure, and reform of unfair bankruptcy laws.a Small Business Emergency Rescue Plan which includes emergency lending for small and family-owned businesses, special tax incentives, and tax cuts, and expansion of Small Business Administration support and services.a specific plan to reform Wall Street practices, including new regulation of the financial markets, to blunt the greedy influence of special interests, crackdown on manipulation of financial markets, and more. John McCains tin ear on middle-class financial woes were evident in his prescription for the economy: more tax-cuts for major corporations, and continuation of the Bush tax cuts for U.S. millionaires. And this McCain stance is consistent with his stated desires to slash Medicare and privatize Social Security. The American public is fed-up with failed Bush/McCain economics, which claim that prosperity will eventually trickle down to everyone else. Obama won the presidential race largely because voters correctly perceive that he, and not John McCain, care about and will address middle-class economic struggles and inequities. Reason #2 - Steady Leadership and Calm Temperament As of October 21, 2008, Barack Obama earned more than 120 newspaper endorsements, versus 33 for John McCain. Without exception, every Obama endorsement referred to his presidential-like personal and leadership qualities. And all echo the same basics about Obamas calm, steady, thoughtful nature, versus McCains impetuousness and unpredictability. Explainedà The Salt Lake Tribune, which has rarely endorsed a Democrat for president: Under the most intense scrutiny and attacks from both parties, Obama has shown the temperament, judgment, intellect and political acumen that are essential in a president that would lead the United States out of the crises created by President Bush, a complicit Congress and our own apathy. Summedà The Los Angeles Times: We need a leader who demonstrates thoughtful calm and grace under pressure, one not prone to volatile gesture or capricious pronouncement... as the presidential race draws to its conclusion, it is Obamas character and temperament that come to the fore. It is his steadiness. His maturity. And fromà The Chicago Tribune, founded in 1847, which has never before endorsed a Democrat for the presidency: We have tremendous confidence in his intellectual rigor, his moral compass and his ability to make sound, thoughtful, careful decisions. He is ready... Obama is deeply grounded in the best aspirations of this country, and we need to return to those aspirations.... He has risen with his honor, grace and civility intact. He has the intelligence to understand the grave economic and national security risks that face us, to listen to good advice and make careful decisions. In contrast, during the past two months of the 08 presidential campaign, John McCain acted (and overreacted) inconsistently, unpredictably, and without forethought. Two examples of McCains unsteady leadership were his erratic behavior during the financial markets meltdown, and in his poorly-vetted pick of Sarah Palin as his running mate. John McCain served as the perfect foil to highlight Obamas solidly grounded leadership skills. Obamas even-keel temperament made him seem well-suited to be President for these troubled, turbulent times. And the mere image of ultra-volatile, careless John McCain in the White House was enough to scare the majority of the electorate into supporting Obama. Reason #3 - Fair, Cost-Effective Health Care Insurance Americans were finally fed-up enough with the unfairness of health care delivery in this country, to be ready to make the issue a priority in selecting a president. The U.S. is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not have a universal health care system. As a result, in 2008, more than 48 million U.S. men, women, and children have no healthcare insurance. Despite being ranked #1 in health care spending by the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. was rankedà 72nd among 191 nationsà in 2000 in overall level of health of its citizens. And the state of U.S. healthcare deteriorated further under the Bush administration. Barack Obamas health care plan and policies will fairly ensure that every American will have access to good quality medical care services. John McCains health care plan was a stunningly radical scheme that will: still exclude millions of the uninsured,raise income taxes for most American families and,in the opinion of most experts, causes millions of employers to drop health care policies for their employees. And unbelievably, McCain wanted to deregulate the healthcare insurance industry, much as Republicans disastrously deregulated U.S. financial markets under President George Bush. Obamas Health Care Plan Briefly, Obama will make available a new plan to all Americans, including the self-employed and small businesses, to buy affordable health coverage that is similar to the plan available to members of Congress. The new plan will include: Guaranteed eligibilityNo one will be turned away from any insurance plan because of illness or pre-existing conditionsComprehensive benefitsAffordable premiums, co-pays, and deductiblesEasy enrollmentPortability and choice Employers that do not offer or make a significant contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees will be required to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of this plan. Most small businesses will be exempt from this mandate. The Obama plan requires only that all children have health care coverage. McCains Health Care Plan John McCains health care plan was designed to control health care costs and to deregulate, and thus enrich, the healthcare industry, and is not necessarily designed to offer health care coverage to the uninsured. For consumers, the McCain plan: required that insurance policies from employers be included in employees taxable income, along with salary and bonuses, thereby causing employees income taxes to increase;then provided a $5,000 tax credit to partially offset increased income taxes;deleted the employee health care insurance income tax deduction for all employers. Innumerable experts predicted that these massive McCain changes would: cause the taxable income of the average family of four to rise by about $7,000;cause employers to drop health care insurance for employees;would cause an increase, not decrease, in Americans without health care coverage. McCains plan was intended to push millions of Americans into the market to buy their own individual health care policies, which will be offered by a newly deregulated healthcare insurance industry. Newsweek reported, The Tax Policy Center estimates that 20 million workers will leave the employer-based system, not always voluntarily. Midsize and smaller companies are likely to drop their plans... CNN/Money added, McCain sorely lacks a plan for people in their 50s without corporate benefits, and Americans with pre-existing conditions, who would be brutally stripped of coverage if insurance crosses state lines. Observed blogger Jim MacDonald, The result... wonââ¬â¢t be healthy competition that will lower costs for everyone. Itââ¬â¢ll be higher costs and fewer options for the poor, the old, and the sick. That is, the people who need health care. Young, healthy, rich people wonââ¬â¢t be affected... Obamas Plan: The Only Viable Choice In summary, Obamas plan, in which long-time health care advocate Hillary Clinton will be deeply involved, will fairly and inexpensively ensure that all Americans have access to quality health care services, but without the government providing those services. McCains so-called health care plan was intended to free the business community from providing for its employees, to enrich the healthcare insurance industry, and increase income taxes for all Americans. But not to provide health care services for the uninsured. For anyone who valued their health care insurance, Barack Obama was the only viable choice for president. Reason #4 - Withdrawal of Combat Troops from Iraq Barack Obama bested Hillary Clinton by a small margin for the 08 Democratic presidential nomination due mainly to their differing positions on the Iraq War, especially at the wars inception in 2002. Sen. Hillary Clintonà voted YES in 2002à to give the Bush administration authorization to attack and invade Iraq. Sen. Clinton rightfully believes that Congress was misled by Bush, and after a while, she admitted her regret for her vote. But Clintons 2002 support for the unpopular war was brutal fact. In contrast, Barack Obama famouslyà spoke out in late 2002 against the Iraq Warà before Congress voted, declaring: I dont oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt... to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne. What I am opposed to is the attempt by political hacks like Karl Rove to distract us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income, to distract us from corporate scandals and a stock market that has just gone through the worst month since the Great Depression. Obama on the Iraq War Obamas stance on the Iraq Warà is unambiguous: he plans to immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Under an Obama administration, the U.S. will not build or maintain any permanent bases in Iraq. He, of course, plans to temporarily maintain some non-combat troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats, and to complete the training of Iraq troops and police forces, as necessary. Also, Obama plans to launch the most aggressive diplomatic effort in recent American history to reach a new compact on the stability of Iraq and the Middle East. This effort will include all of Iraqââ¬â¢s neighbors, including Iran and Syria. McCain on the Iraq War McCain, a third generation Naval officer, voted in 2002 to give President Bush full authority to attack and invade Iraq. And hes continually served as supporter and cheerleader for the U.S. War in Iraq, albeit with occasional objections to strategies. At the 08 Republican Convention and on the campaign trail, McCain and running mate Gov. Palin frequently proclaimed a goal of victory in Iraq and scoff at withdrawal timetables as foolish and premature. McCains website proclaimed ... it is strategically and morally essential for the U.S. to support the Government of Iraq to become capable of governing itself and safeguarding its people. He strongly disagrees with those who advocate withdrawing American troops before that has occurred. McCain took this stance: despite theà $12 billion monthly pricetagà to U.S. taxpayers;despite the fact that the Iraqi government has a substantial budgetary surplus;despite mounting deaths and permanent maimings of U.S. soldiers;despite exhaustion of U.S armed forces;despite the crippling effect the Iraq War has on U.S. armed forces abilities to address other conflicts and emergencies. General Colin Powell, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Secretary of State, disagreed with McCain, as did General Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO, and as do dozens of other retired generals, admirals and other top brass. Heres the really odd part: the Bush administration also disagreed with John McCain. Per various internationalà sources on October 20, 2008, the U.S. is finalizing negotiations on a security agreement with Iraq: The agreement also contains a timetable for the withdrawal of the U.S. military from Iraqi cities and towns by June 30, 2009 and from Iraqi territory by Dec. 31, 2011. Even General David Petraeus, often referred to with great reverence by McCain,à recently told the British pressà that he would never use the word victory to describe U.S. involvement in Iraq andà commented: This is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag and go home to a victory parade... its not war with a simple slogan. The hard truth is that John McCain, Vietnam War POW, was obsessed with the Iraq War. And he couldnt seem to shake his angry, unhealthy obsession despite either reality or exorbitant cost. U.S. Voters Want Out of Iraq Perà CNN/Opinion Research Corp. pollingà from October 17 to 19, 2008, 66% of all Americans disapprove of the Iraq war. Barack Obama was on the correct side of this issue, per the entire voting public, especially per the centrist, swing voters who decide most election outcomes. Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election in part because he consistently exhibited wise judgment on the Iraq War, and because he insists on the obviously correct course of action. Reason #5 - Joe Biden as Running Mate Sen. Barack Obama won the presidency in part because of his wise selection of highly experienced, well-liked Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice-presidential running mate. The first job of the vice president is to assume the presidency should the president become incapacitated. No one doubts that Joe Biden is fully prepared to become President of the United States, should that terrible occasion arise. The second job of the vice president is to be of constant counsel to the president. In his 36 years in the U.S. Senate, Biden is one of theà most respected American leaders on foreign policy, the U.S. judiciary, crime, civil liberties, and many other vital areas. With his gregarious, warm personality, Biden is suited to offer direct, smart counsel to the 44th president, as he has done for many other U.S. presidents. As an added bonus, the working chemistry and mutual respect between Obama and Biden is excellent. For Americans concerned about Barack Obamas level of experience, Joe Bidens presence on the ticket added a large dose of gravitas. Had he selected one of the able, but far less experienced candidates on this short list (Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, to name two top contenders), Barack Obama may have been less likely to reassure a majority of voters that the Democratic ticket was experienced enough to tackle todays tough issues. Joe Biden vs. Sarah Palin Joe Bidens deep grasp of the issues, appreciation of U.S. history and laws, and steady, experienced leadership were in jarring contrast to that of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential candidate. Republican nominee, 72-year-old John McCain, has wrestled with three episodes of melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, and gets an in-depth skin cancer check every few months. Mr. McCains serious health challenges greatly increased the risk that he could become incapacitated and/or pass away in office, which would require his vice president to become President of the United States. It was widely recognized, even by a plethora of conservative pundits, that Sarah Palin was wholly unprepared to assume the presidency. In contrast, Joe Biden was widely regarded as well prepared to assume the presidency. Due to these five important political factors, Barack Obama won the November 4, 2008 election to become the 44th President of the United States.
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