Nuclear energy is a must have, imho. Most of the country's energy consumption doesn't come from cars, like most people think, but from electricity, among other things. Nuclear power would vastly reduce this cost, and put the American people less at the mercy of rising oil costs.
You know what contributes the most to making the environment horrible? The wars.
... Rema, Obama didn't bring up bombing new countries in his state of the union at all, and neither did I. I'm so confused on where this point came up at all.
Japan also runs on Nuclear energy too, last I checked. And thorium is one of the alternatives to uranium, that basically is much safer. I feel like you're completely throwing out the nuclear energy program based on risks like Chernobyl, which was mostly gross mismanagement that would have been prevented by simple steps taken to counteract it. Every alternative energy source will have it's pros and cons, but most of the cons for nuclear energy I've heard aren't very convincing because they rely on Chernobyl. You mentioned the radioactive waste, which is a good argument, but we currently have no sustainable way of disposing of/containing it because the system isn't developed.
The US has invested in alternative energy sources, but we need something realistic and immediate.
I know the spending freeze is going to be unpopular, but... I can see his reasoning for doing it, just like I could see the reasoning when McCain proposed it on his campaign. America has run itself into debt, though I also feel the debt has been slightly exaggerated as well.
... $3 trillion deficit may be exaggerated in some ways, but it's enough to show we're way more in debt than we were a few years ago. And part of the reason is because Obama's plans initially were to feed the buckling economy money that we don't have and then take it from the taxes, as I understand it. Which is fine. If it wasn't a temporary solution. That he's stopping and seeing that this is not helping and only delaying some of the problems is a good thing, but I kind of worry about having a total freeze of spending at this point. To me, that sounds like cutting a druggie who's been getting hits more often than not getting cut off cold-turkey. The economy won't like not having a leg to stand on anymore. But. Well. Learned helplessness might be a factor here
( ... )
But you also have to put it into perspective of GDP. With regards to deficit vs. GDP, America isn't near the top on that list, and that's what I mean. Switzerland has a much higher deficit per percent of their GDP for instance, and Germany and Japan both managed to completely double theirs last year.
Obama didn't come close to that.
Spending freeze doesn't mean to stop spending, either. It means to keep the budget the same, which won't happen until 2011. These agencies won't find themselves without a leg to stand on, they just won't see any increases-- or decreases.
Ah, okay, that makes things clearer. I can actually agree with something like that. Possibly also weening certain agencies and companies off of government spending. Like the auto and housing industry. But who knows? That this won't actually happen until 2011... meh.
I'm more fiscally conservative and socially liberal, so the idea of certain industries being under government control--especially money-wise--makes me cringe a bit. But. Hopefully they'll work on the areas that we actually NEED work on--such as education and health care. I'm all the way with agreement on them fixing up the public school system for primary and secondary education. Especially since I personally had to spend $300 to graduate from a public high school of a sub-par educational system just because I live in a rural area where people couldn't afford the taxes for new bonds and such.
Well, it's a bit muddled... I agree the government shouldn't be in cars or housing, but both of those industries need the help right now. There's just no getting around it. Hopefully, though, they'll repair quickly.
Now, this is me being curious. If we do innovate nuclear energy, what is going to happen with the waste produced?
I recall a bill or something of the like being proposed to store that waste in the Yucca Mountains in Nevada. Are they still intending to go through with that... because to be perfectly honest despite all the safety precautions involded I'm not sure I like the idea of storing the waste in my own backyard.
But then again, no one likes the idea of storing the waste in their own backyard.
Also let it be known I am so behind on this news. I haven't heard about it in years.
I'm not hip with the hop on politics. But I actually watched his speech and thought it wasn't bad at all. In fact I enjoyed it when the Republicans were just dumbfounded. You could tell they knew he was right about their, dare I say, childish behavior.
Also, normally the Republicans (or rather the party opposite to the current president's) boos during the State of the Union. I personally heard no booing.
Now what does that say?
The Republican Response was a little disappointing though. I didn't really see a point in it. Though that may just be my own ignorance to politics. What did you think of it, if you managed to watch it?
But anyway, personally? I found it terrible. He didn't respond to the speech, he just said some random speaking points, and his speech had absolutely no focus whatsoever, where as Obama had a point that he used to pull all his random talking points together. You could tell which of them had practiced and practiced, and which had made it up on the fly.
Maybe the station I was watching didn't focus on it or the sound wasn't picked up. That or I was cackling too loudly.
I can't believe my state voted for that guy. I am disappointed Virginia. Very disappointed. :| But at least we're kept as a swing state by it. That means we get more attention during election times, whether that's good or bad is another thing.
That aside, for that Republican's defense, I suppose it would be rather difficult to write a response to something that has yet to be said. At best they can just predict what will be said, but it's not always obvious. But it really was clear who was better with speeches. The Republican looked so stiff to me. It didn't feel very... reassuring being talked to by someone who was acting something like a statue. ... If that makes sense. Maybe I'm the only one who got that vibe.
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You know what contributes the most to making the environment horrible? The wars.
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I know climate change is important, but that wasn't what I was focusing on in that part. I was focusing on rising energy costs.
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Japan also runs on Nuclear energy too, last I checked. And thorium is one of the alternatives to uranium, that basically is much safer. I feel like you're completely throwing out the nuclear energy program based on risks like Chernobyl, which was mostly gross mismanagement that would have been prevented by simple steps taken to counteract it. Every alternative energy source will have it's pros and cons, but most of the cons for nuclear energy I've heard aren't very convincing because they rely on Chernobyl. You mentioned the radioactive waste, which is a good argument, but we currently have no sustainable way of disposing of/containing it because the system isn't developed.
The US has invested in alternative energy sources, but we need something realistic and immediate.
... Wow, I shouldn't argue when sleepy.
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Seriously.
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... $3 trillion deficit may be exaggerated in some ways, but it's enough to show we're way more in debt than we were a few years ago. And part of the reason is because Obama's plans initially were to feed the buckling economy money that we don't have and then take it from the taxes, as I understand it. Which is fine. If it wasn't a temporary solution. That he's stopping and seeing that this is not helping and only delaying some of the problems is a good thing, but I kind of worry about having a total freeze of spending at this point. To me, that sounds like cutting a druggie who's been getting hits more often than not getting cut off cold-turkey. The economy won't like not having a leg to stand on anymore. But. Well. Learned helplessness might be a factor here ( ... )
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Obama didn't come close to that.
Spending freeze doesn't mean to stop spending, either. It means to keep the budget the same, which won't happen until 2011. These agencies won't find themselves without a leg to stand on, they just won't see any increases-- or decreases.
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I'm more fiscally conservative and socially liberal, so the idea of certain industries being under government control--especially money-wise--makes me cringe a bit. But. Hopefully they'll work on the areas that we actually NEED work on--such as education and health care. I'm all the way with agreement on them fixing up the public school system for primary and secondary education. Especially since I personally had to spend $300 to graduate from a public high school of a sub-par educational system just because I live in a rural area where people couldn't afford the taxes for new bonds and such.
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I recall a bill or something of the like being proposed to store that waste in the Yucca Mountains in Nevada. Are they still intending to go through with that... because to be perfectly honest despite all the safety precautions involded I'm not sure I like the idea of storing the waste in my own backyard.
But then again, no one likes the idea of storing the waste in their own backyard.
Also let it be known I am so behind on this news. I haven't heard about it in years.
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Also, normally the Republicans (or rather the party opposite to the current president's) boos during the State of the Union. I personally heard no booing.
Now what does that say?
The Republican Response was a little disappointing though. I didn't really see a point in it. Though that may just be my own ignorance to politics. What did you think of it, if you managed to watch it?
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But anyway, personally? I found it terrible. He didn't respond to the speech, he just said some random speaking points, and his speech had absolutely no focus whatsoever, where as Obama had a point that he used to pull all his random talking points together. You could tell which of them had practiced and practiced, and which had made it up on the fly.
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I can't believe my state voted for that guy. I am disappointed Virginia. Very disappointed. :| But at least we're kept as a swing state by it. That means we get more attention during election times, whether that's good or bad is another thing.
That aside, for that Republican's defense, I suppose it would be rather difficult to write a response to something that has yet to be said. At best they can just predict what will be said, but it's not always obvious. But it really was clear who was better with speeches. The Republican looked so stiff to me. It didn't feel very... reassuring being talked to by someone who was acting something like a statue. ... If that makes sense. Maybe I'm the only one who got that vibe.
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