What's All the Tweet About?

We have all heard of Twitter by now, it is the new social networking hype. But did you also know that it can be used for hostage negotiation? Yes it sure can! The US State Department (Crowley) sent a birthday tweet to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. "Happy birthday President Ahmadinejad," the first tweet reads. "Celebrate by sending Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer home. What a gift that would be. "The second tweet reads: "Your 54th year was full of lost opportunities. Hope in your 55th year you will open Iran to a different relationship with the world." Seriously, is this what our government is coming too? The world of technology is forever changing, but I do not think it should involve tweets of negotiation.

I cannot help to wonder if this could be true. I am left stunned and disappointed to the fact that our governing people could stoop that low. I tried to look for the original posting of the birthday message, but I had no such luck. There were several comments left by viewers like me, that just do not understand the "why" behind it. I think of Twitter as a way for everyday common people to communicate and have fun. I do not see it as a governmental tool to create conflict and more controversy. I believe it to be childish and selfish response to a very serious and deeply saddening issue. These men are part of somebody's family; they are friends to many and deserve respect.

This has definitely produced much social jargon and cannot help but wonder if it has anything to do with the forthcoming elections. This truly is a desperate cry for a popularity contest.

 

 

Thinking Twice

USA Today provided me with a very interesting editorial to ponder. The overview of this article is very simple. "Cash-strapped" states are deciding that they need to charge fees for public defender attorneys. A fee, that puts a damper on one of our Constitutional Amendments, a right a fair trial. "If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you by law," and so on, we all know these words. The author also thinks that these state's divine plan to charge court and attorney fees will backfire, resulting in having to pay extra to house the convicted defendants in jail who cannot afford to pay their fees and that these states need to find other ways to pay for their court system. The claim and creditability of this editorial is real, especially for those who have endured some of those pain-staking fees.
From my opinion this editorial holds a biased commentary towards how the government is run, regardless of what our Constitutional rights as American citizens. It also depicts a certain audience's attention, one that already has issues with the government. Logically speaking this is a great way to help recover from the economic downfall, but is it really? The author makes for a great argument but fails to see the other side of the fence. As a taxpayer, I see nothing wrong with people having to pay for their attorneys. I believe that if they committed a crime and are convicted, then "yes" absolutely they should have to pay certain fees. If they are innocent, then "no" they should not have to pay. The fees that are being charged now will surely raise controversy.

Unfinished Business

To summarize the article from USA Today ,Congress is adjourning this week. They will begin campaigning for reelection and leaving unsigned bills that have yet to be passed. Numerous bills, including one that will give the Food and Drug Administration higher levels of resources. These resources would include more staff and authority for public safety.Public safety dealing with nutritional benefits of the public should be at the highest concern of the American people.
The intent of this article is to inform the public of what goes on behind closed doors of the Congressional floor. It exposes the sad fact that lawmakers are more concerned with keeping their jobs than actually doing them.This author refers to a bill that was passed in the house but due to a filibuster in congress is stalled. These filibuster moves prevent important bills from getting through.This information is available to the general public. It is even broad casted on most television networks via cspan channels.
Agreeing with this column would lead followers into believing my views to be of a pessimistic nature also. I agree with them in the sense that more needs to be done about certain issues instead of sitting on them. But on the other hand, I think they are doing their best with what they have to work with. Newspapers post commentaries that are going to catch a person's eye, so they can draw them in, by doing this they can put in their biased comments. I think that we as the public should concentrate on what we could do to help, instead of blaming congress for not doing their jobs!