cheap prices = unhealthy food

"Lingering Unemployment Could Delay Recovery for Foodservice Industry. However, discounts, free food and additional dollar menu items could bring customers back, according to a new NPD Group report." -NACS Online

Unemployment, lay-offs, and cuts in work hours have increasingly been a major factor in the health and well-being of an individual. Not only have many lost their jobs but a multitude of individuals have lost their healthcare coverage and insurance as well. The health of America is declining as a nation and a population, but there is more than one factor in such radical downfall. The public has cut down on the luxuries of eating out one would think right?!

They can no longer afford to pay for a quick deluxe breakfast on their way to work/schoool or eat out during lunch, because of this despairing economic episode. However, truth is America still continues to eat itslef alive, most of the population eats poorly on a daily basis. As the economy falls, it is evident people restrict themselves from spending in excessive amounts, affordability and costs worry and concern the mind of consumers during times of crisis like this. Yet somehow fast food restaurants haven't been impacted much, or at least it seeems, take MC Donalds for example, they seem to be running on their famous Dollar Menu. How so, one may ask?! Well according to NPD studies consumers claimed that "Discounts (31%), giveaways (24%), and additional dollar menu items (23%)" entice them to visit restaurants more frequently.

If you'd ask me it seems as if the food industry allures the public wih deals that promote obesity and an unhealthy diet. But oh well I guess with this economy that is what most of the public is pushed to resort to, a $1 dollar cheeseburger. But I still believe that the food corporations are decieving, devious, and scheming companies. For they pretend to be concern about the struggles the public faces b/c of this economic episode, yet they continue to feed off the consumerism and needy situation of ours. Is this morally correct, to feed off and suceed through the lingering economic situation citizens are troubled with?!

More than Skin Deep?!

"The president's policies have drawn legitimate protests -- but Jimmy Carter's allegations regarding racial animus have some relevance too." -The LA Times

Anyone who saw the speech Obama delivered regarding the healthcare reform during a joint session of congress will surely remember Representative Joe Wilson's "You lie!!" outburst. President Obama had just disclaimed rumors that alleged that the healthcare reform would provide coverage for illegal immigrants, when Rep. Wilson publicly called out Obama a liar for 'retrieving' his previous idea to cover illegal immigrants as well. As Obama distangled the misconceptions that were brought upon the gullible public to believe, there was great commotion, did Obama ever promise healthcare for all, all precisely including those whom are undocumented?!

Well now a new issue has been brought to attention, currently spectators believe that many 'conservatives' or opponents of Obama's may not even consider his ideas, rather they judge him on "racial animus" not his policies."I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African American" says former 'white' president Jimmy Carter.

Obama declines to make the same accusation against racial bigotry and rejects that such is so. He does not believe that that criticism comes based on the color of his skin. Many whom also discard race as a possible leading factor claim that 'Obamaphobes', critic the president because he is pushing "big government" programs in order to bring about the CHANGE he promised America.

I personally agree with the comments of spectators regarding the idea that Obama is judge predominantly on his race. Individuals dislike him because they fear the "seismic social change" Obama symbolizes as an African American president.Now I'm not calling all of Obama's detractors racist, but I must say that I do believe that because Obama is a man of color he is subjected to much more harsh criticism.

Remembering 9/11.

"President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama stand with White House staff members as they participate in a moment of silence marking the eighth anniversary of the 9/11 morning attacks, Friday, September 11, 2009."
-The Associated Press

As we all know, today September 11, 2009, marks the eight anniversary of the terrible terrorist attacks that shaped the history of America forever. Earlier this week, President Obama urged the public to mark the anniversary of the attacks with community service, after remembering those lives that were lost the morning of the tragic attacks. Today, the president and first lady, along with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, participated in a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House at exactly 8:46 a.m., the time the first jet line struck the World Trade Center in 2001.Then Obama, placed a wreath (circular arrangement of flowers) at the site of the attack on the Pentagon, where 184 people died, expressing his condolonces for the victims and their families. Later that day the Obama's toured a Habitat for Humanity housing development in Washington and contributed by helping paint a living room.

So far Obama has distanced himself from the anti-terror tactics of the Bush administration, but nonetheless he is committed to his responsibility as chief protector of the country. "We will not tire, we will not falter and we will not fail." President Obama echoed the words his predecessor delivered to Congress immediate after the attack regarding the pursuit of the al-Qaida back in 2001.

"Let us renew our resolve against those who perpetrated this barbaric act and who plot against us still… In defense of our nation, we will never waver... Let us remember how we came together as one nation, as one people, as Americans, united not only in our grief, but in our resolve to stand with one another, to stand up for the country we all love," were his exact words at the memorial to the victims.

“There is no higher priority and no greater focus” wrote CIA Director Leon Panetta in a letter on Thursday to intelligence officials. He reassured the long steadfast commitment of the nation’s spy agency fight against al Qaida and his supporters.

“No life lost in this attack or battle shall be lost in vain."

We will never forget.

But now the investigations on the alleged claims that CIA terror tactics violated the law have been accused of "crippling" the CIA and jeopardizing the nations security. Can the government afford to do both, protect the nation and investigate its spy agency, the very organization responsible of preventing future terrorist attacks?!

Has President Obama Striked Again?!

"The White House found itself on the defensive Friday over what would ordinarily be considered the most uncontroversial of events: a back-to-school speech to the nation's children." -CNN

During times like this one cannot enforce the importance of education enough especially as the nation’s dropout rate increases day by day. Education is and will continue to be the backbone of the economy; only with it can we produce a competent workforce. Though, unfortunately the US currently finds itself in a distressing economic episode which can only improve through the success of education.

Currently President Obama's plan to deliver a speech to public school students from Virginia remain, where he will highlight the importance and significant impact education has on both the individual and the country. Yet, such plans have lit great controversy amongst critics, conservative parents to be precise, whom allege that the Democratic president is trying to 'indoctrinate' their children with socialist ideas. The uproar over the speech, in which Obama intends to urge students to work hard and stay in school, has escalated to the point where parents have asked school officials to excuse the children from listening. Several other school districts, under pressure from parents, have arranged plans to let children choose not to lend an ear to the president of sweet democratic America. Other parents however, simply have decided to keep their kids home on Tuesday, for they don't want their children to witness as the school is plagued by some "socialist movement".

Obama's plans to deliver a speech was announced weeks ago, but recently Republicans have claimed he is stepping out of his presidential boundaries and his speech designated at the nation's children is all paid political advertising. They further regard Obama's plan only to be an attempt to endorse the spread of his socialist ideology paid by the dollars of taxpayers.

"At a minimum it's disruptive. Number two, it's uninvited. And number three, if people would like to hear his message they can, on a voluntary basis, go to YouTube or some other source and get it. I don't think he needs to force it upon the nation's school children," said Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.

Defendants of the speech have declared that the message is solely educational, a designed plan to encourage students to remain in school and focus on their academic studies. The choice to watch it is completely voluntarily, nobody will be obligated to watch it if they decide not to. In fact the school administration has been left to decide whether the speech will be shown during school hours to students. Some school districts (predominantly in Republican dominated states: Texas for example) have already decided that they will not show the speech. In other areas, teachers have been required to notify parents if they intend to show the speech, and if a parent objects then an alternative class will be provided. Nonetheless if students wish not to listen/watch the speech they will be given the opportunity to avoid it on any cause.

The most alarming concern in this spirited debate would have to be the extremes conservative parents went through in order to avoid the president's inspirational words to reach the minds of their children. They blame it all on the belief that the president will "brainwash" the vulnerable developing notion's of students, but I believe they are acting upon an irrational fear. I personally come from a family who has very very different stands on various issues of today, nonetheless my parents have taught me how to think, not what to think. So I suggest to the conservative parents to allow their children to cultivate their own philosophy of life.

Even if parents disagree with Obama's policies, telling the youth of America not to hear out the words of the chief justice of the country, implies the idea that one should not listen to someone with whom one disagrees with. A reasoning that still remains difficult for me to understand how it works.