Texas 'wrongful birth' bill would allow doctors to lie, critics say

3/6/17

Texas 'wrongful birth' bill would allow doctors to lie, critics say

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/06/health/wrongful-births-bill-texas-senate/index.html

A new bill being decided on in the Texas Senate called the Senate Bill 25 is currently causing a lot of uproar (for fair reason), according to Wayne Drash from CNN. The Senate Bill 25 is a bill that will prevent parents from suing their doctors if their children are born with disabilities. Essentially, this creates a loophole in that this bill might result in doctors lying to their patients about the condition of their baby in order to prevent them from aborting. However, supporters of this bill claim it is simply to protect both the rights of doctors from "wrongful birth" lawsuits and the rights of the disabled, and is overall founded on the idea that a life is not an "injury" in which parents would need damage payment for. Its flaws are pretty translucent as it seems, as Margret Johnson said this bill will allow doctors to withhold vital information on the babies health in order to prevent parents to make a formal decision on whether or not to continue with the birth. It is clear to see the anti-abortion aspect of this bill without explicitly saying it. The several issues are clear to see, this bill rights a wrong and will protect doctors, and will also allow doctors to impose their own moralities within these cases. Though the author includes lots of rhetoric against this bill, he also includes several positions of the Republican supporters, some of whom believe that current laws promote abortions which is why this bill is a necessary one. Despite this, it is clear throughout the article that this bill will allow for doctors to commit malpractice without getting the proper (or any) punishments for the damages they cause. In defiance of all the oppositions, the committee voted unanimously to send the bill to the full Senate.  

As stated by several other very woke men and women throughout this article, the Senate Bill 25 is one that erects several questions and concerns. My ultimate reaction is that it is simply a bill to strip women of their reproductive rights without straight straightforwardly banning abortion. Instead, this bill creates a loophole that will allow for doctors to lie to patients about the health of their babies for extremely minimal punishment in return (if any). This bill is also an extreme threat to babies with potential disabilities, especially if action during pregnancy can be taken but the doctor fails to tell them due to the ideas that 1.) if they do tell the parents they might consider aborting the child (which the majority of Texans are against) and 2.) that they won't even be sued for lying so why not?!. I think it is ironic that this bill is be founded on the protection of the rights of the disabled when this bill in fact could put their lives at risk, especially if a doctor fails to tell the parents of a disability and the parents are then highly unprepared to take care of this child, and won't receive the funds normally provided from the lawsuit, therefore it does not protect the disabled in any way shape or form, other than preventing the termination of life that should not even be up to anyone other than the woman herself, let alone the government. In conclusion, I firmly believe this bill is horrendous and I hope for the sake of everyone in Texas that it dies in committee. 

Google spinoff Waymo has built its own self-driving sensors

1/8/17

"Google spinoff Waymo has built its own self-driving sensors"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2017/01/08/google-spinoff-waymo-has-built-its-own-self-driving-sensors/?hpid=hp_no-name_hp-in-the-news%3Apage%2Fin-the-news&utm_term=.ec88a2b4da62

This article is exactly as the title depicts it. As Steven Overly describes in his article, Waymo has developed 360 degree sensors that will essentially allow cars to drive themselves. It has better data, highly developed software and the companies are looking to expand all aspects of the hardware and essentially make it more sophisticated and actually usable within the near future. One of the other latest updates reported within this article is that in October of 2015 this very company completed its first ever ride with no driver controlling the vehicle. It is clear throughout this article that regardless as to whether or not we are aware, technology is rapidly expanding, for better or for worse. 

This article, though not directly related to politics or government, is big news. We are yet another step closer to developing cars that do not need to be driven. With President Elect Trump's inauguration coming up, I cannot help but think about the upcoming four years. Though we will more than likely expand our technology database and usage infinitely over the next for years, heading straight into a reality that was the endless amounts of futuristic Pixar movies. However, despite our constant development and advancement of new technology, I feel as though we will be regressing in terms of political and social issues. It is funny how the two are coming together, but only time will tell. 

Woman overdoses in a gas station bathroom with a crying 4-year-old nearby, police say

12/6/16

"Woman overdoses in a gas station bathroom with a crying 4-year-old nearby, police say"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2016/12/06/woman-overdoses-in-a-gas-station-bathroom-with-a-crying-4-year-old-nearby-police-say/?hpid=hp_no-name_hp-in-the-news%3Apage%2Fin-the-news&utm_term=.671d39199d37

In this tragic article by Lindsey Bever for the Washington Post, the seemingly never ending tragedies regarding drug addicted parents is brought back to life. Bever focuses her article on a woman who was recently found in a Wawa bathroom with her screaming four-year-old, overdosed on heroin. Bever makes point that although this is tragic, it is something we are seeing nearly everyday now, from the photos of the two parents overdosed on heroin driving a car with their very young son strapped into his car seat in the back, to a young girl whose mom passed out in the middle of a toy store due to drug overdose. To make matters worse we are even beginning to see very few cases in which parents are injecting their own children with heroin, or even cases like the one involving a 7 year old from Pennsylvania who had to take care of her three infant siblings and go to school while her parents were sleeping for three days straight (turns out they were actually dead due to overdose). The national death toll is exponentially rising due to opioid overdose, and it us up to state officials to prevent it.

The opioid epidemic has been an exponential issue for god knows how many years. It is not only taking the lives of countless American citizens, but it is also having an extremely harmful effect on the kids whose parents are involved. Though it sounds like the government along with local and state officials are doing the best they can to keep the death toll from increasing, how much are they actually doing? Though a newly discovered phenomena, medical marijuana is known to have incredibly beneficial effects on those addicted to opioids like heroin. It has been found that medical marijuana can be used as a safer alternative for treating those post addiction symptoms such as anxiety and chronic pain. Though it does need an extensive amount of more research, medical marijuana in most cases has been found to successfully get these drug addicts off harder drugs. Therefore, are these officials really doing the best they can? In my very own opinion, I think every state across the United States should look more in to the endless amounts of benefits medical marijuana has on drug addicts, and hopefully get some legislature passed, because at this rate the epidemic is only increasing. 

11/9/16
Post Election Day

Doggedness and Defiance: How Trump won

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/09/doggedness-and-defiance-how-trump-won.html

The morning after the newly elected President of the United States was determined, half of America sits in mourning wondering how such a hateful man got elected into the highest office of them all for the next four years. This article by Howard Kurtz gives insight on how the once butt of the election jokes has risen to become the next President of the United States.The article clearly depicts the bumps and overturns Trump faced throughout his campaign, and how at times most of America was sure he would loose, the democratic half sure of this based on his persona and the way he delivered speeches, and his mannerisms during debates both on and off camera. However, it is exactly his tone and speech which won him this election. Many people, as Kurtz points out, were attracted to Trump's "street like" way of speaking, he told you how it was, straight up, exactly whatever was on his mind at the moment. This upfront character was viewed as a weakness by the Democrats, but a strength by the Republicans. Trump also portrayed great strength by bouncing right back after being blown down, whether that be being exposed for making horrific and incredibly sexist remarks, or for being exposed for providing incorrect facts, Trump always bounced right back on his feet; he never gave up not even for a single moment and that is what the Trump supporters of America love him so much for according to this article. He is everything a politician is not. 

Being the brutally honest man that he is, pretty much won Trump the election. Many people did not want a woman who had been known for lying and being involved in scandals to be put in office because they truly believed she was a lying enemy whom one could not trust nor rely upon. It was not just his utterly racist remarks and plans to build a wall that won him this election, but his ability to always speak his mind, no matter the circumstance, that won nearly all of the votes of Midwestern white people. I do fully agree with this article, in that he came off as such a strong figure that people were exited for someone who spoke his mind, wholeheartedly promised immense change, and according to them "never lied". It was time for a new start in America, this one not including a political family in power, but a businessman, someone who the people could actually relate to and somehow rely upon. 

In my own words: A true tragedy. 

Illegal immigrants surging to US-Mexico border in race against Election Day

11/8/16
Election Night

"Illegal immigrants surging to US-Mexico border in race against Election Day"

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/03/illegal-immigrants-surging-to-us-mexico-border-in-race-against-election-day.html

 A surge of illegal immigrants has been recorded crossing our southern boarder just days before this major election. This news report and article compares the sudden uproar in illegal immigrants to the final days of this presidential campaign. As the race is coming to an end, the boarders may or may not be closing soon, as this article by William La Jeunesse says, the immigrants are racing to get across the boarders before they close; to "get into the U.S. while you still can.". As the article describes, it is not simply one candidate driving more immigrants over the boarder, but both. Half of these immigrants, as reported by the Rio Grande Valley, believe that if one candidate leaves, the border will be closing almost indefinitely; whereas the other half of people believe that if Hillary wins they will finally gain amnesty in America (as long they are already there). Therefore, either way more and more immigrants are fleeing to America in large amounts, according to this article some as large as 800-1,000 just overnight. The number of Haitian, African and Asian immigrants all went up, and the majority were apprehended. With an uproar in the amount Haitians crossing the boarder, boarder control is seeking backup from D.C. They are constantly asking for all of the immigration laws known to man to be in effect. Overall, the article provides the idea that neither Clinton nor Trump's immigration policies would do much for the increasing issue of illegal immigrants seeping through the cracks of our boarders.
Although I am not one hundred percent sure about the statistics provided in this article, I do believe that regardless of whether or not they are correct the purpose of this article was to invoke fear in the American people. Immigration reform laws has been a constant battle for the people of the United States, and this article allows citizens, just days before the election to really think about who has the better plan. While this article does state that neither Hillary nor Trump's plans will be all that effective, it does suggest that harsh boarder control laws be implemented, and as of now there is no boarder control solution more harsh than Mr. Trump's. To conclude, this article invokes fear through the use of statistics, for example by stating the absurd amount of immigrants waiting to get in to our country, and no one there to stop them.

‘You can’t buy that. It’s Ivanka’: How Trump’s campaign is hurting his daughter’s clothing line

10/27/16

‘You can’t buy that. It’s Ivanka’: How Trump’s campaign is hurting his daughter’s clothing line

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/10/27/you-cant-buy-that-its-ivanka-how-trumps-campaign-is-hurting-his-daughters-clothing-line/?hpid=hp_no-name_hp-in-the-news%3Apage%2Fin-the-news&tid=sm_tw

In this article about Ivanka Trump by Danielle Paquette, the author relays the idea that Trump's campaign likely started for business sake, both for himself and other family members as well. However, as it turns out, Trump's businesses seem to be much worseoff than before. In fact, as obviously stated, Trump's companies have gotten significantly less popular, including his own daughter, Ivanka Trump's clothing line. After the 2005 video of Trump being realized, more and more women are boycotting Ivanka's clothing line. The reason being doesn't always have to do with Ivanka standing by her father, but simply about the name brand of her company. Many people refuse to have any association with the Trump name, and are therefore refusing to purchase clothing items from Ivanka, most of whom happen to be women. Women are especially mad with the eldest of the Trump girls for still standing by her father after the video was deemed as sexual assault and 11 women spoke out against Trump, claiming they had been sexually assaulted by the man in one way or another. 

Though Ivanka is not being as greatly impacted as her Father's business is, the boycottings still go to show the clear issue with one of our candidates at hand. When 57% of women refuse to buy from a specific clothing item, you know there is a clear issue that needs to be addressed and taken seriously. This sudden decline in business success for the Trump daughter also goes to show that Trump's main reason for running in the first place was the publicity, and the hope that his businesses would prosper in ways they never has before. Unsurprisingly, his business ratings and usage have dropped significantly since his campaign started, which he should have seen from the beginning. You gain some, and you lose some as the saying goes. It just so happens that Ivanka is being dragged along for the joyride (or not-so-joyful-ride) due to her fathers actions, the name of her brand, and her decision to stick by his side. 

It's not chaos. It's Trump's campaign strategy.

"It's not chaos. It's Trump's campaign strategy."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/its-not-chaos-its-trumps-campaign-strategy/2015/12/09/9005a5be-9d68-11e5-8728-1af6af208198_story.html

Americans are constantly finding it more and more hard to believe that someone as mysogynistic, islamaphopic and outright chaotic as Donald Trump would ever be running for president, yet here we are and there he is, in the final round of battle. It is quite hard to grasp how exactly a man such as himself has made it this far into the campaign, but Paul Schwartzman and Jenna Johnson shed some light on how and why this has come to be in their article "It's not chaos. It's Trump's campaign strategy.". The two authors raise a very interesting point in the beginning of their article, stating that Trump's hatred for undocumented immigrants, Muslims, Hillary Clinton, and other GOP candidates is just a main piece of his campaign strategy. Trump uses this attack against "villans" to bring in the votes, and it's working. Another one of Trump's campaign strategies, the two pointed out, is his willingness to message-testa constantly. If one insulting joke doesn't quite workout the first two times he uses it, he'll drop it all together, but with others, he'll never let them go. About one of his jokes the authors wrote, "It still didn’t get many laughs — and Trump stopped trying." This gains votes for him because Trump is quickly able to recognize what his potential voters want to hear, and what they don't want to hear. Along with this, Trump states facts with such confidence and poise, that Republican voters are sucked into believing his lies, as he also never goes back to correct his statistical "mistakes". Even when corrected, Trump refuses to back down, denying an refuting corrections to previous claims he made. This persistency and confidence draws him even more attention. Trump's campaign is also highly centralized around his very own social media account on Twitter, where he uses the same ploys by making outrageous claims and statements to get attention, only this time through social media. Trump has also made the apparent habit of repeating things he has already said. By doing so, he is putting emphasis on his ideas and clearly getting his "points" across. All of which, has contributed in massive ways to Trump's clear success.

It is often hard for the US to remember that Donald Trump is a real life presidential candidate, and it is also quite difficult to fathom exactly how he has made it thus far, but both Schwartzman and Johnson made it very clear. His chaotic rebuttals and attacks are not merely due to his rambunctious personality, but because a lot of it is also his planned campaign strategy. Different from any other we have ever seen before, Trump attacks relentlessly, quite the opposite to President Obama's campaign strategy which had a lot to do with hands on, ground work. Most presidential candidates have focused on bettering the lives of others in their campaign strategies, where as Mr. Trump has focused more on destroying the lives of others through harsh and incorrect ridicule. This being said, Trump is not the only one bashing other Candidates, it's simply what they do, however Trump takes things to a whole new extreme, gaining lots more attention for saying outrageous things, rather than things the people want to here.