North Korea: A Nuisance

Now is the time to strike. North Korea has shown that it is the aggressor by attacking South Korea without any provocation. This calls for retaliation.

On November 23, 2010, North Korea shelled the island of Yeonpyeong of the coast of Incheon, South Korea, which is situated near North Korean waters. The shelling killed two marines, two civilians, and wounded sixteen others. The civilian population was evacuated to the mainland. Charred forests and nearly thirty destroyed buildings were left in the aftermath. On March 26 of this year, North Korea sunk the ROKS Cheonan with a torpedo, killing 46 seamen.

South Korea knows how it needs to respond to North Korea’s belligerent behavior. South Korea parliament member Yoo Seung Min stated, “The only solution is to deliver precise strikes on North Korean positions first through a massive air attack in the early stages of a war.” I agree wholeheartedly. At a rally in Seoul, veterans shredded and burned North Korean flags and protested the North Korean leadership. One veteran, Kim Jin Gyu, said he felt that “[South Korea] should just smash [North Korea] up” in retaliation for the attacks, adding that he has “had enough.” The government should give the veterans what they want – I’m sure they would like to see victory before they die.

My friend, whose name I will not disclose, was shipped to Kunsan Air Base in South Korea two days after the attack by North Korea. The United States also sent the U.S.S. George Washington, a supercarrier, to South Korea. And the United States already has over 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea, so we’re prepared.

It was recently revealed that China has decided to stop backing North Korea if the situation escalates. A propitious turn of events, this means that North Korea would not have the support it had during the first Korean War. A weakened North Korea is a prime target for a South Korean and American counterattack.

North Korea has, however, provided Iran with improved ballistic missiles, strengthening a country that wants to destroy Israel and the United States. This signifies that North Korea still has at least one ally – an ally that is considered a threat and enemy of NATO. Helping Iran is practically declaring war on the United States and Israel. Just like Japan and Germany were allies during World War II, Iran and North Korea have united today. But this is yet another reason for the United States to attack; we have a pretext.

At the end of the day, North Korea has: 1.) killed South Korean civilians without provocation in a military strike; 2.) lost support from its strongest ally; and 3.) provided missiles to a country hell-bent on the destruction of Israel and the United States. I believe that South Korea and the United States would be fully justified in carpet bombing Pyongyang’s administrative buildings and all of the North Korea’s military bases. A joint invasion followed by a South Korean occupation and reconstruction would be a good plan to follow after the bombing. We have the chance to put an end to this illegitimate state that misleadingly calls itself the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, so let’s take it.

A Federal Placebo

            The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a placebo, a sugar coated pill to sedate the masses. When passing the PPAC, the Obama Administration announced “healthcare for everyone” like the United States was some utopia. The Department of Health and Humans Services claims that the overhaul strengthens Medicaid and provides health insurance coverage to everyone. That is not quite true.

            The healthcare overhaul does not “provide” health insurance to everyone; “requires” people to purchase health care insurance within the next four years or be subject to a penalty in accordance with Section 1501 of the PPAC. In response to this, insurance companies have increased their job-based coverage. This adversely affects businesses, as they now have to provide more expensive healthcare benefits to all employees. As a result, one organization attempted to bring the PPAC before the Supreme Court last week. The Pacific Justice Institute, in Baldwin v. Sebelius, 10-369, “objects to being compelled to comply with the act because the act imposed increased costs on it by preventing it from denying health care insurance coverage to part-time employees.” But not all businesses are facing this dilemma.

            The Department of Health and Human Services has granted waivers to over one hundred unions and companies since the healthcare bill was passed. Knowing the Obama Administration, I wouldn’t be surprised if the waivers were arbitrarily given to the unions and companies based on party ties – most unions contribute campaign funds to Democrats. Now that the Republicans have taken back the House of Representatives, the healthcare bill will undoubtedly come under strict scrutiny. Senator Mike Enzi (R – WY) has already revealed his intention to use the Congressional Review Act to hinder the implementation of “problematic” or vague sections of the PPAC.

            Now, to address the issue of strengthening Medicaid – it doesn’t work, so strengthening isn’t going to improve anything. Let me explain. Medicaid has turned to privately managed health care plans, like Healthcare USA, which attend to their profits more than to patient’s needs. USA Today recently reported a story about a woman who had to drive five hours to get therapy for her knee because the orthopedists in her area were not covered under her Healthcare USA plan. When she got a brace for her knee, Healthcare USA wouldn’t cover it. Healthcare USA and its competitors are shams. Unfortunately, it is predicted that the enrollment in these managed-care plans will increase by 30% due to the new healthcare law.

Starting next year, Republicans will have more authority in Congress. They are the majority in the House. They cannot be filibustered on the Senate floor. And after witnessing the federal and state-level onslaught, the Democrats will have to keep a low profile lest they anger more voters before next election. However, this regained authority will not allow the Republicans to eradicate the PPAC entirely, but maybe they can amend the bill or pass a new bill nullifying specific sections of the PPAC.

The Treachery of Considering Sharia Law

Last Tuesday, a controversial amendment to Oklahoma’s state constitution prohibiting state courts from considering Sharia law when deciding cases passed with an amazing 70 percent of the vote. Critics of the bill – Muslims and liberal bloggers – are calling the measure a pre-emptive strike. I must agree with them, that it is a pre-emptive strike, but that is exactly what the country needs. They are also saying that the bill is unnecessary, because Sharia law is not being considered by courts. This is a lie.

            In a recent New Jersey trial court decision, S.D. v. M.J.R., a judge applied Sharia law to a case of domestic abuse between a Muslim man and wife, ruling that the husband could not be held accountable for the rape of his wife under Sharia law. The judge reasoned that the defendant’s actions were “consistent with his [religious] practices.” If rape is a normal practice in a religion, then maybe the practice of that religion and the imposition of its laws should be prohibited.

In 2008, the immigrant couple were wed in Morocco in an arrange marriage. After coming to the United States, the husband began to pinch, beat, and rape his wife. The wife stated in court that she “felt he was enjoying hurting” her. Evidence was brought into the trial proving that the husband had told his wife, “You must do whatever I tell you to do. I want to hurt your flesh” and “this is according to our religion. You are my wife; I can do anything to you.” The defendant’s Imam testified that, under Sharia law, a wife cannot refuse her husband’s sexual advances. She apparently refused, so he raped her. As justification, he told her that, “I am doing [this] to correct you.” I hope our Department of Corrections does not apply these standards to the treatment of their women inmates, because I’m sure the ACLU would be all over the government if that was the case. Luckily this horrendous ruling was reversed by a New Jersey appellate court, so the Sharia victory was short lived.

It may not always be this way, though. Sharia law may be used as a standard in more courts if laws, like the measure in Oklahoma, are not passed to prevent it. These laws also need to be enacted immediately, as the Muslim in the presence in the legislature is likely to grow in the coming years. As of now, there are only two Muslim Representatives in Congress – Andre Carson (D – IN) and Keith Ellison (D – MN). This, however, could change with the growing Muslim population; therefore, it is paramount we thwart Muslims in their pursuits of political and legal power in America. In 2008, former U.S. Representative Virgil Goode (R – VA) stated that to avoid more Keith Ellisons from being elected, that we cannot allow “persons from the Middle East to come to this country.” I feel that he is right, because the less Muslim politicians, the least likely it will be that Sharia law is considered in American courts.

Judges have ruled in the past that prayer in school is an affront to the Constitution. But now they have ruled that adopting a religious law that promotes violence towards innocents is the correct way to proceed. And they are doing this while Muslim politicians are being elected in non-Islamic states. Laws prohibiting the consideration of Sharia law, the influx of more Muslim immigrants, and the spread of Islamic power are vital if we are to halt the perfidious spread of Sharia law into American law.

The Real American Express

This past Saturday, I attended the Republican Rally on campus. The rally was replete with refreshments, American flags, and great candidates. Of those candidates, one really enticed me with his speech. His name was Joe DioGuardi. A CPA that had been in Congress during President Reagan’s second term, Mr. DioGuardi was our lone, but well qualified, senatorial candidate at the rally. Halfway through his speech, he pulled out his Congressional voting card. He held up the card and said, “My friends, take a good look at this card. This is the Most Expensive Credit Card in the World.” He was right; the government increases the national debt without ever being held accountable.

After the rally had ended, I conversed with Mr. DioGuardi about reckless spending at the federal level and his time in office under Ronald Reagan. As he was leaving, he invited me and a few others back to his RV, where he gave us copies of his recently revised book Unaccountable Congress: It Doesn’t Add Up. I read the book as soon as I returned to my dorm room. It exposed the true extent of the national deficit – $56 trillion if Medicare and Social Security debts are included. That means each of us owes $569,330 because of the irresponsible spending of 535 individuals (I’m glad Mr. DioGuardi informed me of this). It also illuminated the problems with Congressional budgeting, spending, and accounting, touching on issues such as healthcare and Social Security. Mr. DioGuardi’s book allows the average citizen to see through the “smoke and mirrors” of the appropriations process.

Unaccountable Congress does an excellent job underscoring the contemptible Congressional budgeting processes and inadequately designed bailouts. However, I would like to focus on a matter mentioned in passing in “Chapter Six: A House of Ill Repute” that is plaguing every level of government – personal spending. Spending on personal luxuries has become a pastime of the members of Congress whom Mr. DioGuardi refers to as “spendaholics.” Nancy Pelosi is the latest culprit of this wasteful spending. Pelosi spent over two million taxpayers’ dollars in the past two years on travel expenses for her and her family. Thousands of dollars were spent on her expensive friends Jack Daniels and Johnny Walker. Fine dining also accounted for tens of thousands of tax dollars. This wasteful spending needs to stop.

Now, there may not be a company to cut Congress’s line of credit, but we the people can monitor its spending. Mr. DioGuardi’s organization, Truth in Government, exposes the poor budgeting and spending practices prevalent in Congress. The organization’s website, truthingovernment.org, is constantly being updated with the latest news and information concerning fiscal issues. The information shows why Social Security reform, which has been ignored for too long, is imperative. Why repealing Obama’s Healthcare Bill should be of a high priority.

If Congress continues to increase the national debt at the rate it has been, China will soon overtake us as the number one superpower. The threat that China poses is great, as their economy is irrefutably more stable than, and arguably as powerful as, ours. Social Security will be non-existent. Taxes will have to be increased to keep up with defense spending. The hazardous spending needs to stop. It is our job as citizens to pressure the lawmakers, especially those in Congress, to rein in the monstrous budget we are facing. If we don’t, the deficit will indisputably have terribly adverse results on future generations, including our own.

No Loyalty, No Citizenship

            With the moratorium on building in West Bank settlements terminated, Israel has taken an even greater, though primarily symbolic, step forward by requiring non-Jewish citizens to pledge an oath of loyalty to Israel.

            The measure has come under fire from Arab advocacy groups, like Adalah. The bill affects an Arab minority, which is already considered as “second-rate” by many. One Arab lawmaker said that the bill is intended “to solidify the inferior status of Arabs by law”. Another advocacy group stated that the legislation is just one factor contributing to a “terrifying” atmosphere for Arabs. I find this to be ironic, as the Arabs in Israel have been known to support Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist organizations operating in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It appears that they can dish it out, but can’t take it.

            I feel that the measure was a great idea, as loyalty to the Jewish state is not very strong among Israel’s Arab minority. Many members of Israel’s Arab minority comfort Israel’s enemies, encouraging their actions. For instance, some Arab groups continue to mourn the Nakba, which is in support of a Palestinian state instead of a Jewish state. Fortunately, there are efforts in the Israeli parliament to punish those participate in this treasonous act.

The loyalty bill was backed by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who belongs to the nationalist party Yisrael Beitenu. Yisrael Beitenu has questioned the loyalty of Israel’s Arab minority in the past; the party has received a great deal of support for their position on these maters. Lieberman proposed revoking the citizenship of anyone who refused to swear loyalty to Israel as a Jewish state. With more politicians like Lieberman, Israel may have a chance to actually expel members of the Arab minority who present themselves as anti-Jewish. I give my full support to Yisrael Beitenu, because slowly but surely they can solve the Arab problem in Israel and provide the foundation for a strong Jewish state in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

Peace talks with the Palestinians have been strained by the passage of this bill. The refusal to extend the moratorium on building in the West Bank has contributed to this strain, as well. Both of these measures are baby steps in the overall attempt to secure Israel, along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as a Jewish state, which Arab minorities must be forced to respect. I believe that under the leadership of Avigdor Lieberman and Yisrael Beitenu, Israel can eradicate traitorous, spying, Palestinian-supporting Arabs. We can only hope that Yisrael Beitenu receives more support in the coming years.

By: Adam Ondo

Bloomberg, Obama, and Teacher Unions! Oh, My!

Education reform in the United States is facing many obstacles, coming from many different directions. Arne Duncan and his precious Department of Education are interfering with school reform via the Race To The Top program. Michael Bloomberg is exacerbating an already dismal situation in New York City. All the while, teacher unions are making it more difficult to reform schools, creating an even worse situation for the country to deal with, and especially New York City.

            The Obama Administration’s federal accountability and standardized testing policies, which have not proven to be effective, have been adopted by the mayor of this country’s largest city – Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg, and his school chancellor Joel Klein, are after Race To The Top funds, which reward schools based on their students’ performance and teacher’s effectiveness. This accountability issue is a major concern. Teachers “fired” under the accountability policy continue to receive pay during their time in “The Rubber Room” – a place where they sit and do nothing for years on end as they await their hearing. This is because teachers are never truly fired due to clauses in union contracts. Teachers have been caught being racist, sexually inappropriate, drunk, and purely incompetent and still receive pay until a verdict is issued in their hearing, which can take years to complete.

The combination of Bloomberg’s accountability policies and the teacher union’s due process policies, which nearly give teachers complete immunity, have led to the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars. This money could be used improving schools, but instead it is wasted on bureaucratic policies, paying teachers to not work because they were found to be too dangerous or unfit, to work around children. Because of the lack of funds, Bloomberg has decided to shut down dozens of “underperforming” schools in New York City.

Bloomberg has stumbled across one good idea, though. That idea is the establishment of charter schools – public schools that do not have to follow the same guidelines as normal public schools. However, the creation of these schools has cost money, which he had to shut down other public schools to obtain. If the funds mentioned above were not wasted on teachers that should have been fired months earlier, then there would not be a need to close any schools. David Hursh, a professor at the Warner School, stated in my interview with him that, “Instead of closing schools, we should focus on developing structures and systems to improve the schools.” This is true, but as I have already stated, unions have caused many obstacles in the realm of education reform.

Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, is one of the main union culprits behind these problems America’s education system is facing. Besides giving terrible teachers amnesty and costing the government valuable money, she also promotes the airing of misleading commercials. The commercials her union puts out claim public schools are improving, while they are clearly not (largely due to union involvement).

            However, there are two solutions to this education reform problem. The formation of more charter schools is one solution. The second is the use of state funds to provide vouchers to every child in the state, instead of allocating the money to the schools specifically.

The benefits of charter schools are as follows. The can fire underperforming teachers, while rewarding better ones with bonuses; this provides incentives for teachers, which they do not usually get while working for a union. In addition to that, they must be innovative in order to attract students if they wish to stay open. The overall education at charter schools is better than at normal public schools.

My favorite solution to the problem of poorly performing public schools is the assignment of state funds directly to students, so they, or more likely their parents, may spend the vouchers on whatever education they see fit. Public schools, charter schools, and private schools – religious and secular – will all have to compete in order to stay open. This will cause the teachers and school administrators to operate more efficiently in order to attract the students, and their money. This idea has been successfully implemented in Belgium already.

The current system of schooling in the U.S. gives public schools monopoly status over low income families and monopolies have no incentive to improve; the DMV is a good example of this. Charter schools and public schools, however, must continue to offer something better in order to remain open; schools that do not perform well fail because they do not receive any money. This competition is healthy for the education system, so giving students vouchers is the most logical, and may I add capitalist, option for the states to consider.