Critique

The blog post “Medicinal Marijuana” by Shawnta Anderson is written in a clear and concise manner. It is easy to follow, and the main points are clearly outlined. It is clear that the author is arguing for the legalization of marijuana. Shawnta does a great job comparing marijuana to alcohol and demonstrates that alcohol is often more dangerous than marijuana. She states two reasons why alcohol is dangerous: liver disease and poison to the body.

Shawnta also does a good job considering the other side of her argument. She states that legalizing marijuana may increase its production and trafficking. This is an argument that many people may make against legalization. However, Shawnta argues that the government should spend more time dealing with drugs that produce worse affects. She also claims that the government is spending too much money in order to convict those with marijuana.

This is a strong argument considering the current state of our economy. The government is looking for ways to cut spending and maximize money within the system. Therefore, I think that Shawnta makes a very good point stating that thousands of dollars are spent on something that may be legalized.

One thing that I would like to read more about in this article is the beneficial use of marijuana. It would be a strong argument to prove that marijuana could seriously help with certain illnesses or diseases. Now that is has been shown that marijuana isn’t extremely harmful, how can it be helpful?

Shawnta’s post is very coherent and presents a valid argument. I enjoyed being able to read her blog and understand the exact points and arguments that she was trying to present. Well done.

The U.S. Government in 2010

Our government is in a place where action is crucial. The economy is down and people are losing jobs by the hundreds. Obama conducted his campaign based on “change” and a new beginning for our country. However, since his election, the American people are still waiting for things to look up. Many of my fellow republicans claim that Obama is only creating more problems within our government and making the economy worse. Although Obama did not have my vote, he won the election. He has been placed in power over our country. Therefore, I feel a sense of submission and support him in leading our country.

Instead of bashing Obama for not making immediate fixes, I would like to look into how he is trying to change the U.S. government. Regarding our economy, Obama claims that he is trying to create more jobs. By signing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, our president is hoping to save 3.5 million jobs. Although right now all we have seen is job loss, perhaps there is hope for the future. Obama is also trying to make homes more affordable for families who are struggling to have places to live. In terms of civil rights, Obama is working to make anti-discrimination laws stronger. He is currently fighting for equal pay for many employees. He is also working on getting more severe punishment for hate crime. This is extremely important for a nation that is trying to live within the principle of equality.

In other areas of our government, heavy funding has been invested within education. Emphasis has been put on early education, so that our students will be better equipped citizens in our nation. Our community will function much better if our citizens are well educated. The president has promised to offer better incentives to our teachers. I believe that this will encourage them to teach well and impact their students. In terms of foreign policy, our government is working towards protecting our country. Obama wants to have all troops out of Iraq by 2011. He claims that he wants to stabilize the forces of Iraqi Security. The government has a plan to keep all terrorists from entering our country.

As stated, the government has the ability to change the state of our nation for better or worse. We are in a war against terrorism and our economy is suffering. The president has made many hopeful predictions about the future of our nation. Instead of criticizing him, I will hope for the best for our country and hope that the change Obama promises will come.