Supreme Court Set New Execution Dates

In Washington, the Supreme Court has set new execution dates for three inmates in Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas because they were granted last-minute reprieves by the justices a year ago. Even so, the court turned down the appeals for Carlton Turner of Texas, Thomas Arthur of Alabama, and Earl Wesley Berry of Misissippi. The court blocked their executions while it considered Kentucky's lethal injection procedures.

The justice feels that the procedures used for the people in death row are unconstitutional and cruel. This decision will almost certainly lead to a resumption of executions after a 7-month hiatus of course.

Unfortunately for the three inmates, the high court's sparing them expired when the justices denied their appeals. Not only did these three inmates get denied their appeals but so did seven other death row inmates, Juan Velazquez in Arizona, Samuel Crow and Joseph Williams of Georgia, Michael Taylor in Missouri, Kenneth Biros, Richard Cooey, and James Frazier of Ohio. But unlike the other three inmates, they will not be facing imminent execution.

It is still unclear to the courts whether or not they will grant the seven inmates new appeals to stop their executions. Challenging the lethal injection procedure as being cruel and injust has become very hard to prove. Many problems have occured with numerous states asministering the drugs in the lethal injection procedure.

Only three dozen states use three particular drugs to kill death row inmates. The first drug puts the inmate to sleep, then the second paralyzes the inmate, and then the third drug finally kills the inmate. Critcs of these procedures note that if the first drug is not admisinstered properly, the inmate could suffer excruciating pain from the other two drugs that follow. Because the second drug is paralytic to the inmate, leaving him/her to move or even speak, the inmate would be unable to express their discomfort.

"Housing Loss Crisis"

In this editorial, you can tell that Omar is a firm believer in Obama and what he has to offer if he were to win the presidency. You can tell that he is most appreciative that Obama is planning to have the government's aid in fixing what he has helped to destroy, our economy. Because our economy is in a recession, the government has allowed banks to write several loans to people that could not pay them off. Omar states in his blog that McCain refused this bill and felt that the government should play no role in the future of home owners that are at risk of losing their homes. It is important to know what Obama plans to do for the economy, and Omar's blog clearly defines this approach as helpful and needed.

New Focus of Inquiry Into Bribes: Doctors

For a long time now doctors have taken advantage of the elderly and charged them for procedures they dont even need. It isn't until now that the government is finally stepping in. The government is now starting to pay attention to the doctors who receive money as the compnies' paid consultants. Lewis Morris, the chief counsel in the federal office told hundreds of doctors and company representative that they would be "looking at those soliciting kickbacks." This same speech went to the health care lawyers who attended siminars in earlier months. United States attorney in Newark, Mr. Christie addressed sales meetings of the five companies, Biomet, DuPuy Orthopedics, Smith & Nephew, Stryker, and Zimmer who all reached settlemnts last fall to avoid prosecution on charges of illegally being paid kickbacks to surgeons. If that wasn't bad enough, not only are the surgeons and medical suppliers recieving extra money, so are the doctors. The doctors are sending their patients to surgeons for unnecessary knee and hip surgery. Kickbacks raise the overall cost of health care for the 68 year old patients who are weak and unaware of the kickbacks in the health industry. Doctors could be convicted of violating Medicare's antifraud statutes for submitting a bill for a procedure linked to a kickback. The government has yet to put any of these low-life people in prison because they simply settle out of court. Companies such as Biomet, DePuy Orthopaedics, the Johnson & Johnson Company, Smith & Nephew, and Zimmer Holdings have all agreed to pay $310 million in fines to settle civil charges. The money that they have stolen from their innocent patients is the money that they use to bail themselves out of prison, which the government should not allow. Of course the government's perspective on all of this is that it has been "succesful." The doctors and surgeons responsible for charging their clients for procedures they didnt even need should all be put in prison and then it would be "succesful." After all this, the companies were allowed by the government who is supposed to protect us that they did no wrongdoing in the criminal and civil settlements that were negotiated. Each company signed delayed prosecution agreements so they could avoid criminal cases filed against them to be dropped. That is what our government has done to help the hundreds of patients who had a painful surgery and the wallets wiped out, he let the doctors and companies settle out of prison.

Higher Education Gap May Slow Economic Mobility

This article published by the New York Times by Erik Echolm criticizes the widening gap between the rich and the poor, the whites and the minorities, which could soon lead to a spiraling downturn for the poorest families that work the hardest. Although in certain areas of the United States such as Texas and California, whites are now the minority, and Mexicans the majority. Even so,researchers have found Hispanic and black Americans to be falling behind whites and Asians in earning college degrees, making it even harder for the middle class or higher. Ron Haskins, a former official and welfare expert reported that "growing differences in education levels between income and racial groups, especially in college degrees, implies that mobility will be lower in the future than it is today." Though there are several welfare families that are black and hispanic, why aren't the poor white families exposed? Why must the African-Americans and Hispanics always be stereo-typed as the people who are too poor to go to college? There is financial aid available to college students, as well as grants, loans and several scholarships that any and all races can apply for despite your economic status and color of your skin. In the article, it states that there is "some good news," that college can inforce change in "their station in life." So the minorities that are poor and can't afford college according to Erick Echolm can change their status just by attending college. According to Ms.Sawhill of the Clinton Administration, getting out of povert and going to college is "still alive for immigrants but badly tattered for African-Americans." Ms.Sawhill is obviously unaware of all the many African-Americans who once lived in poverty but made it to college and made something great out of their life. In a report by John E. Morton of the Pew Trusts, it is evident that "a majority of black children born to middle-class parents grew up to have lower incomes and that nearly half of middle-class black children fell into the bottom fifth in adulthood." Just because an African-American lives in poverty doesn't mean that they will stay in poverty. Serena and Venus Williams lived in Compton, California and they are millionaires and undefeated tennis players. They practiced in the worst neighborhoods and still managed to make history as the best female tennis players. I believe in going to college to improve yourself, but i do not agree that you have to go to college to be wealthy.

Israel Hit by First Suicide Attack in a Year

In Dimona, Israel, one of two suicide bombers blew himself up at a shopping center on Monday. Then there was a second bomber who attempted to blow himself up, but failed his bomb failed to detonate and he was shot dead by police at the scene. The last suicide attack the country has seen occured in January of 07' it the city of Eilat, killing three Israelis. After the bombing, police officials went on high alert in various areas of the country, and near Dimona, officials were stationed at main junctions in and around the city. Not only are suicide bombers a massive threat in Israel, but so is the Israeli air force that also carried out an attack in Gaza against militants that had been responsible for rocket attacks on Israel. In my opinion, i dont think that the security of Israel defense, Shin Bet is taking the right measures in securing his people from terrorists and suicide bombers. When weapons were smuggled into Gaza, it was because at the time the border was down, leaving it ungaurded. Many weapons were smuggled at the time such as long-range missiles, anititank and antiaircaft missiles. As a result of this, the defense minister, Ehud Barak told the cabinet that there was a high urgency to build a fence along the border between Israel and Egypt. Though there are constructive plans to build a border, the lack of money is always an issue. Egyptians want the border to feel safe and secure again, but find it hard to come up with the finances for such a structure.Many civilians are so scared that they refuse to leave their homes becuase in Israel you are unaware of who is against you and who is not. I feel that the people should be protected first and foremost, and a way to do so is found to be most challenging.

The Blackwater Case Faces Obstacles

In Washington D.C, justice department officials have told Congress numerous times about the legal difficulties in pursuing criminal prosecutions of the Blackwater security guards involved in a September shooting that left at least 17 Iraquis dead. The Justice Department revealed that on January 16, 2008, the briefing had prinicpally been held to answer questions concerning those problems involved in the case. One of which arose when State Department investigators granted Blackwater employees a limited form of immunity, immunity that should have never been granted. When asked about this, investigators declined commenting on the matter. There are several questions from the public as to whether federal law even applies to the Blackwater contractors.On the night in question of the September shooting, one of the bloodiest involving private security guards in Iraq, set off furious protests from the Iraqui goverment and has forced a major reassment in both the Bush administration and Congress over the role of private contractors in the war zone. Justice officials main concerns are between the gaps in the law and the immunity deal. Officials in the briefing stated that the federal law that applies to civilian employees by or accompanying the American military overseas may not apply to contractors in Iraq working for the State Department. Blackwater is under contract by the State Department to provide security for American diplomats in Baghdad. Officials have openly admitted to the public that they are not going to prosecute anyone because of the enormous amount of difficulties concerning the situation. Because of the immunity deals offered to the Blackwater guards by investigators, it can not be proven that the evidence gathered by federal prosecutors stemmed from those statements made by the guards after they were promised limited immunity. A group called Human Rights First is angered by the situation and argues that the laws are sufficient to prosecute contractors, including those working for the State Department, and that the Bush administration has failed to do so because of a lack of political will. Since the September shooting, the State Department and the Pentagon have reached an agreement to put private contractors under greater military control.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/washington/16blackwater.html