Speculation out of Webb City High School

Eli Yokley

8/28/2009

Speculation.

Speculation is brewing in Webb City surrounding a certain 16 year old girl.

While we won't propose this as fact, we will say sources very relevant in Webb City High School are suggesting a 16 year old sophomore girl was sent home with symptoms of H1N1, the "Swine-flu."

Sources tell TFJ that the girl was sent home with a headache and fever, but it has not been confirmed to, in fact, be the H1N1.

On the record, Superintendent Ron Lankford on Wednesday said, "we have had no confirmed Swine Flu incident at the High School."

Lankford did say, regarding swine flu, that "generally, we follow the lead of the CDC and Jasper County Health Dept." He reminds, "kids should not come to school sick, should wash their hands and follow good health habits."

Optimistically, Lankford says, "Hopefully it will not become a major problem."

(By the way, Principal Stephen Gollhopher has not yet responded to our email.)

More to come, surely, as this story develops.

Blake James on Sotomayor and CARS

I hate to say I told you so.

Blake James, TFJ Contributor
08.07.2009

Good [insert proper salutation],

Readers, August 6, 2009 was an important day in Washington. The confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor as the 111^th Supreme Court justice; ensures a seat for the third woman, and the first Hispanic justice history has ever seen. Our Senate had yet another history changing vote the day before they go on vacation. The emergency bill that was passed in the House last week continued its trip to law status as the Senate approves the $2 Billion for “Cash for Clunkers”.

Sotomayor

Set aside her race and sex for a moment and look at the pure political success of Sotomayor’s confirmation. Obama has to be happy that he was the first Democrat in 15 years to have a nomination to the Supreme Court be confirmed. With the left in full support and the right doing their best (only 9 Republicans voted in favor), the vote tallied 68 in favor and 31 in opposition. The right’s main argument against the justice is that she will bring a liberal agenda and personal bias into the court room. Sorry guys but losing a liberal (Justice David Souter) and filling the seat isn’t going to sway the bench, no matter how hard she could hypothetically push her agenda.

The right should probably watch what they say in following days, America is moving towards a more liberal approach to politics and any Hispanic constituent that happens to be on the fence will certainly be lost to the left.

Kudos to Sotomayor, may she be blessed with a successful ride on the most exclusive bench America has to offer.

“CARS” “aka. Cash for Clunkers” “aka $$$”

After the original $1 billion had been spent (in 10 days) congress was forced to take action, the 60-37 vote in tonight’s session of the Senate shows just what that action will be. The emergency $2 billion for CARS was again supported firmly by the left and the right really couldn’t do anything about it. Officials of the program say that the extra cash could help Americans buy a half-million more cars. While the lawmakers are fretting over more spending the initial success of the program must play a huge factor when looking at the cost benefit analysis of CARS. The first billion has allowed Americans to see a 50% increase in fuel economy and up $1,000 worth of savings in gas. The top selling cars under the program are the Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, and the Honda Civic.

A big boo-yah goes out to the men and women on Capitol Hill, today really shows that our legislative branch can get things done.

Peace, love, and the right to be informed

-Blake James

by Eli Yokley: Want to read on?

• Sotomayor: A Break Down of the Confirmation Here (via the New York Times)
• Senate approved CARS, and Obama plans to sign it.
  

Blake James: Hola. ¿Cómo estás?

Blake James
TheFuseJoplin.com Contributor

August 3, 2009

The Fuse Joplin has already covered the CARS aka Cars for Clunkers dilemma that is heating up, however we need to take a closer look at what is actually going on.

July 31^st, Congress pushed for an emergency $2 billion bill to ensure that CARS could continue to happen. The $2 billion is coming from the Department of Energy’s loan guarantee that was included in the Stimulus package. The bill will hit the floor this afternoon, it looks as though it should move through the House rather quickly, but could face some trouble in the Senate. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) goes in the book saying “Cash for Clunkers is another example of the government picking winners and losers and enshrines us as a bailout nation”. What the left has to do is convince the GOP that the spending is no new money; hopefully this will ease the vote into passage.

CARS has already yielded upwards of 250,000 cars since the start of July and with the new provisions should be continued till September 30th. The goal is to get the gas guzzling cars that Americans are driving now off the road, and replace them with high efficiency cars of the future. New car buyers have the ability to receive tax credits when the trade in their clunker. How much of a rebate you get depends on the positive net change in your miles per gallon; +4-10 mpg lands you with $3,500, whilst 10+ mpg will allow you to pocket the larger $4,500 rebate. You must also meet a minimum of 22 mpg in order to receive the credit. The premise of the credit is to increase overall fuel economy of the cars being driven in America. The reason I see no problem with the trade-off in the D.O.E. spending is that in all reality this could be the first step to a greener America. Fuel economy helps not only your pocketbook, but America as a whole. Higher fuel economy means our oil supply can be extended that much longer for R&D on other forms of energy. Not to mention that the emissions level in newer cars is considerably less than many older models. Overall the CARS initiative seems to be a good thing for America.

As with all good things there must be the dissenters, in this case it’s the dealers that are selling the new cars. The New York Times published a story on July 31^st in which a dealer isolated 5 major problems with CARS.

“1. We have not had one application accepted without it being rejected numerous times.

2. We have 9 people at 5 dealerships working full time on this, it should take one person.

3. We have over 100 waiting to be paid and have not been paid on one yet.

4. They changed the rules part way through.

5. It is a mess. “

The dealer goes on to say that the environmental benefits that drive the project, in many instances, is not what American people are thinking about; “Most people, he said, just wanted to get a good deal when they exchanged an old car for a new one.” Should we worry about what Americans are thinking about when buying that new car, or take it in stride and see it as the people propping up a falling industry?

My gut says go for it, and, as my AP Mobile Breaking News text [on his new iPhone!] says, The House does too. The bill was passed 316 in favor and 109 in opposition. The Senate will open up debate on the legislation on August 7^th. So stay tuned in folks, this should be an interesting. Maybe you can talk mommy and daddy into that new car after all.

Peace, Love, and the right to be informed.

-Blake James

Extra Reading:

CARS page

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Goolsby on Health Care and The Failing GOP

Bucks are the Beef

Op-Ed by Sarah "Not-Palin" Goolsby
July 21, 2009

I was taught about analogies in the fifth grade. Back then, I used analogies such as “a curtain is to a window as a blanket is to a bed.” I’m heading into my senior year, and my analogies have advanced a little – one analogy that’s been on my mind lately is the following: Nancy Pelosi is to the left as Sarah Palin is to the right.

Over the past few years the right has taken some major beatings from the media. On top of Bush’s devastated PR by the end of his term, one of the most severe media lash-outs dealt to the GOP was the blatant mockery of Sarah Palin in the 2008 presidential election (Tina Fey, anyone?). This media coverage was one of the contributing factors in the election of a Democratic president and a Democratic majority in Congress.

Given that Republicans suffered an overwhelming defeat and that they no longer hold the power to filibuster, Republicans don’t have much to cling to right now. Because of this, I can’t blame them for trying to fight fire with fire – they’re targeting Pelosi as a weak spot in the left and milking every blunder she makes for everything it’s worth.

One of the issues Pelosi’s been speaking out on lately is universal healthcare. Obama is pushing his healthcare plan as much as he can, and that’s got Republicans all fired up. Their biggest beef with Obama’s bill? Funding.

Several plans have been proposed as to how universal healthcare can be paid for. Pelosi released a statement about a so-called “millionaire tax,” meaning that part of the funding for coverage would come from taxing individuals with adjusted gross incomes of $500,000 and joint filers with incomes of $1,000,000. While there are some benefits to this plan, such as reducing the amount of people being taxed, the right is (predictably) infuriated by any mention of taxing the rich.

Although the GOP can huff and puff as much as they like about Pelosi, what they fail to realize is that Pelosi’s currently proposed plans are unlikely to materialize. From the New York Times, “The Senate … has shown little interest in such a tax to pay for the legislation. And House Democrats, especially more junior members elected in 2006 and 2008 from Republican-leaning districts, are reluctant to vote for a big tax increase if it is unlikely to be included in the final bill. Such a vote, they argue, would provide easy fodder for opponents seeking to paint them as tax-and-spend liberals.” And Republicans are seeking to do just that; they’re attempting to group all supporters of Obama’s healthcare plans with Pelosi and portray them as careless spenders.

Another factor the right conveniently chooses to overlook is that funding for universal healthcare wouldn’t come solely from taxing those hard-working, under-appreciated millionaires. There are multiple sources available for funding Obama’s healthcare legislation, such as increased savings via concessions from pharmaceutical companies and private insurers. Sleep easy, Republicans, your checkbooks aren’t entirely up for grabs.

But perhaps the biggest flaw in the GOP’s logic is that the current system is essentially universal healthcare. Consider this – if you’re an uninsured citizen in the United States that requires medical attention, you’re sent to the emergency room. This is an extremely costly procedure, but the hospital can’t refuse you – they’re required to give service to anyone in need. There’s no way you can pay for all of your medical expenses, but you can’t just write the hospital an IOU – so where do the costs go? That’s right. They go to the American taxpayer.

We as taxpayers are slammed with the uninsured’s costs. Whether we realize it or not, we provide healthcare coverage to those that will not or cannot seek it for themselves. At the point when we switch to universal health care (note that I say “when,” not “if” – Obama’s made this too critical to his campaign to not push it through) we will not see skyrocketing taxes. We will not see millionaires being robbed blind (don’t worry, Mr. Hefner, you can keep your mansion). Most importantly, we will not see a socialist government – that is, unless you think the current healthcare system is a socialist plot, too.

Republicans are outnumbered. The biggest weapon they possess in their arsenal is public criticism of the left. However, their arguments are flawed. When, not if, we have universal healthcare it will prevent costly ER bills shouldered by the American public and will be funded by multiple sources – excessive taxation of the rich won’t happen because Congress doesn’t support it. Sorry, GOP. Try another day.

American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

Monday, July 20, 2009
Op-Ed by Blake James.

House: [H.R.2454.EH]

Senate: [H.R.2454.PCS]

The A.C.E. was placed on the Senate's calendar two Tuesdays ago. The legislation’s goals can be found in the title, “To create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy”.

Federalism

I’m happy to see Congress propose legislation that finally sets a precedent as to who has ground on alternative energy. While this is just the first step I think it will even out the alternative energy playing field so to speak. With the passage of the A.C.E. the Federal government will set the standard for Cap and Trade within the United States. The text of the legislation clearly prohibits states from setting their own standard while the legislation is enforced.

Long Term

It joys me even more that with the passage of this bill congress solidifies numbers for America to shoot for in the future (6% in 2012, 9.5% in 2014, 13% in 2016, 16.5% in 2018, and 20% in 2021-2039). We can all talk about how “green” we want to go, but unless there is a goal for us to meet and be judged against there won’t be any progress made. However these numbers don’t really play towards you and I, they’re directed at the business industry of America. More specifically businesses that emit greenhouse gasses. For those of you who don’t know what a cap and trade system is here is the EPA’s quick explanation. Basically businesses are held accountable for their pollution. Over the limit, and you’re taxed; under, and you can sell your credits to bigger business.

Efficiency

No matter how large the shift towards greener energy is there’s one more problem that stands. The old faulty gridlines that stretch across the nation are that problem. The legislation will include provisions for the implementation of smart grid technology. The change in efficiency doesn’t stop at the grid, consumer products also fall under the legislations umbrella.

See the full text of the legislation here.

Sonia Sotomayor: A Woman, A Hispanic, A Supreme Court Justice?

Monday, July 13, 2009
Op-Ed by Blake James.

Sonia Sotomayor, a woman, a Hispanic, a Supreme Court Justice?

There is no doubt that in 2009 far right Americans have been forced to bite their tongues. The most recent bloodshed was the selection of Sonia Sotomayor as a nominee to replace Justice David Souter. Sotomayor, deeply rooted in her Hispanic heritage was born in arguably the most American part of the nation, New York, New York. Sotomayor started her climb to the top of the Judicial branch in 1979 as Assistant District Attorney for the New York district.

The Critics

Conservatives brought their A-game recently in efforts to push the confirmation date back into September. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., when asked about Sotomayor after her controversial ruling in the Ricci vs. DeStefano discrimination case is quoted saying "It is a troubling philosophy for any judge — let alone one nominated to our highest court — to convert empathy into favoritism for particular group,” strong words there McConnell. Needless to say I have a feeling many people are jumping to conclusions about Sotomayor, and the dozen NRA board members that have written in to their senators to oppose her confirmation are a punch line by themselves. Not to mention Karl Rove and his uneasy feelings on Sotomayor’s “Intellectual strength,” sorry Rovie but when you say things like Palin retiring will “hurt” her chances for 2012 it makes me think you should be getting out of the game any time soon.

The Truth

An overtly conservative blog Hot Air has been recorded saying that Sotomayor’s confirmation is “a done deal”. “The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey found that 47 percent of Americans want the Senate to confirm Sotomayor, while 40 percent do not and the remaining 13 percent have no opinion.” Monday will be interesting to say the least, but I have a feeling Sotomayor will come out on top. She wants to do “good” for the United States, and I think she has the ability to do so. Vice President Joe Biden sent an email on the 10^th that many of us may have received. The email may have swayed some Americans opinions, after all, who could say no to such moving rhetoric like “Judge Sotomayor's brilliance and unique legal qualifications have stood strong against fierce scrutiny. Law enforcement officials have praised her tough-mindedness and experience as a prosecutor and trial judge, and just this week she earned the highest possible rating from the American Bar Association.” Kudos to Biden whose foot stayed planted firm to the ground this time.

Thanks to Eli Yokley, Zach Sewell, and The Fuse Joplin. Hopefully I can write for you all again.

(Blake recently competed at the National Forensic League's national tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to that, Blake competed in several debate competitions, as well as the district FBLA event.)