Drugs: will they be provided

Nikki Keisler
Article 3
North County Times
"New Effort to Reduce drug Shortages Small Step"
http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_3cb032f7-82f7-54a2-91d1-f29a879171c9.html
The Executive Branch

                 This article is about the shortage of life saving and life prolonging drugs. President Obama has discussed with the Food and Drug Administration about notifying people about the shortages early that what is being done now. Drugs have also gone up in price too, one hospital reported prices going from $26 to $1,200. The FDA reported 178 drug shortages last year. The University of Utah's Drug Information Services counted 211 last year and 232 this year. One option to fix this is to ramp up production, finding alternatives and importation of competing drugs only sold abroad. Ina n administration analysis the main problem was the rise in demand. People also say the economy is to blame. The FDA commissioner said that we can make a difference by expanding our network of early warnings.

                This connects to what we are studying in class because the Food and Drug administration is part of the Executive branch. The FDA protects the public health through food safety and drug safety. The FDA also enforces laws in the public help service act.  They control the drugs that get to hospitals to treat people. This also connects to what we are studying because President Obama is involved and he is a part of the executive branch. The President also appoints the Commissioner of the FDA.

                This connects to my life because when they were having the swine flu out break there was a shortage of the vaccine. The FDA controlled the vaccine and their was not enough for everyone. Even when they had just produced it, it was still a shortage. People couldn't get the vaccine because of the shortage and got the swine flu. One hundred and fifty people died for the swine influenza.

               My opinion on this is that the FDA should expand the network of early warnings. For example, if a person had cancer and they were scheduled to have chemotherapy on one day and they got an early warning that the was a shortage of supplies then, the doctors could start the person on a less effective treatment that could keep them stable until they could get the drugs. So if the doctors got an early warning then the would be more prepared to treat the person in a different way. If they didn't do this the doctor wouldn't realize that they couldn't start the therapy until it was too late. This would cause a lot of people to die or become even more ill.

Occupy Portland

Nikki Keisler

Article 1

Ore. police arrest about 30 Wallstreet Protesters

http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_10372fdb-8117-5688-bf1c-0659b4499b8d.html

Basic Freedoms-Amendment 1

         

                This article is how wall street protester were protesting in a park in Portland. The protested in The Pearl District, most say they are the wealthy demographic they are protesting. Most protesters backed off once the police were involved except about 30 people. The police moved in after the protesters violated a midnight curfew.The 30 sat in a circle and waited to be arrested. They were eventually arrested. The police dragged and carried them because the protesters went limp to defy but there was no violence involved. The police said they arrested them on charges of interfering with a police officer, criminal trespassing, and disorderly conduct. The protester had a meeting earlier confirming that they would pass curfew and face being arrested. Police have allowed people to protest in other parks but haven't permitted camping. The Mayor said he would not allow let any more parks be taken over by the protesters. 

             This connects to what we are studying because protesters can argue in court that their right to assemble peacefully was violated by police. They could state that no violence was in any part of the demonstration. There for the police could have no right to arrest them. But the police didn't arrest them under violent protesting. But they still arrested them. So could you argue this amendment? 

                 This connects to my life as a citizen because I have witnessed this and my dad was in San Fransisco when the Occupy Oakland riot broke out. For example other youth and I have witness this and we might have to do to change something. When we grow up we might have to exercise our right to Assemble peacefully. Also if these protesters change something in the system it will affect our generation once we grow up. The protesters can either create positive change for us or negative change.

                  My opinion on the subject is that the protesters should of been arrested. For instance, they were on  property protesting after curfew. So, they were unlawfully trespassing on private property. But I don't think they should be charged with interfering with police officers. In the article it never stated what they did to interfere. I do think they should be charged with disorderly conduct. They were disturbing the residents of The Pearl District. So I do think they should be charged with this crime.

 

Right to Privacy: Being violated everyday?

Nikki Keisler
Article 2
TSA will stop making kids take off their shoes for airport security
http://www.nctimes.com/ap/national/article_71ce8a59-d7c6-5e3b-a378-c7672e8a9eac.html
Amendment 9

                This article is about the Transportation Security Administration no longer requiring that children under 12 take off their shoes at the security line at the airport. The TSA says that children are less of a threat to terrorism. The are also curtailing the pat-downs for children. The Homeland Security Secretary told congress that she wants to enhance their ability to focus on high risk passengers.The new policy is expected to be used soon. The TSA is already using the modified pat down to speed thing up but they have not stoped using searches and the requirement to take off shoes.

              This connects to what we are studying in class because we are studying the Bill of Rights. For example, some people may argue that the TSA is violating their right to privacy in amendment 9: Right retained by the people. They could argue this because the TSA is searching through their belongings and searching their bodies. On the other hand the TSA is searching people for security. Is it still considered violating the amendment.

             This connects to my life as a citizen because I travel alot and I go through security just like everyone else. For example when we were going to Mexico my mom had to be patted down by a TSA agent. My mom got patted down to make sure that the airplane would be safe to take off. Sure it took a little longer and it was a inconvenience but at least i knew we were safe. Other people had to be patted down too and they thought it was an inconvenience too.

             I think that stopping of the full on pat downs and not requiring shoes is good but I think that the other precautions are still necessary. For example if a person boarded a plane with a bomb and wasn't searched then all the people on the plane would be killed. It is because of the TSA that we are safe when we fly. Sure some times they can go over board but they are trying to protect citizens of the United States of America. So people are protected by the TSA when they travel.

        

The Pledge of Allegiance- Same as it Ever Was... or Not

Nikki Keisler

Article #1

Stories of American Heroes

"The Plegde of Allegiance"

         So this article is about the history of The pledge of Allegiance and how it came to be. In 1812 two men named Francis Bellamy and James Upham were to plan the 400th anniversary of Columbus discovering the Americas. Francis was and teacher and was the chairmen of the National Committee of educators. James was an employee at a Boston publishing firm. These men wrote the original draft of the Pledge of Allegiance. Soon after 12 million children recited the pledge. The pledge became popular after that.

                 I pledge allegiance to my Flag,

          and to the Republic for which it stands:

                 one Nation indivisible,

          With Liberty and justice for all.

On June 14, 1923 the National flag Conference changed my to a the. The next year the pledge was changed once more.

                     I pledge allegiance to the Flag

                 Of the United States of America,

                 And to the Republic for which it stands:

             one Nation indivisible,

        With Liberty and justice for all.

     The pledge was recited regularly by students and patriots. Then the pledge was changed for the last time.  Dwight D. Eisenhower gave approval to adding the phrase "under God". And since no further changes have been made. So by reciting this you are promising your loyalty to the flag, your loyalty to the states, your loyalty to the government and understand that our nation shouldn't be split but one and that the right to liberty and justice belongs to every one.

         This relates to what we are studying because in the Pledge of allegiance you are stating that you understand that every one has the right to liberty and justice therefore, the Bill of Right states all citizen right are stated along with right that insure justice. For example, Amendment 5: Criminal trial rights protect the accused of breaking the law from an unjust trial. It state rights like, right to a jury, right to legal help. All the right listed in this amendment protect people for being tried unfairly. Therefore by saying the pledge you are recognizing that everyone has these rights.

        

        This connects to my life as a citizen because when people say the pledge they are stating that everyone has liberties and freedoms and i have witness people expressing their right and freedoms through the Occupy Wall street protests. People in the Occupy Wall street protest are exercising their right to free speech and the right to assemble. This also connects directly with my life because if the protesters ultimately get the banks to change and start loaning money then my parents can get a loan to invest in a new house and business. But if they don't change the banks then my parents and everyone else wont be able to qualify for a loan. This is how it directly effects me as a citizen.

        If there was one thing i could change about the Pledge of Allegiance it would be that i would have it say " may Flag" rather that "the Flag". I would change this because the flag of the United states doesn't just belong to anyone it belong to the people of The United States. Saying "my flag" would put more emphasis on the fact that the flag and what it represent s belongs to the people. Saying "the Flag" make it sound like our flag is the same as other countries flags. But its not it stands for things other counties flags don't stand for like democracy, justice, rights, freedom and liberty. h