Mining the Minnesota Recount

More than two and a half months after the general election, Minnesota still only has one senator. We try to explain why.

Norm Coleman was leading going into the recount by over two hundred votes Over Al Franken, but On Jan. 5, 2009 the Canvassing Board declared that the result of their recount put Al Franken over Norm Coleman by two hundred and twenty five votes. Norm Coleman is challenging the board's certification. From what the article states, Coleman never suggested any funny business from the five members of the Canvassing Board (Canvassing is the systematic initiation of direct contact with a target group of individuals commonly used during political campaigns. A campaign team (and during elections a candidate) will knock on doors of private residences within a particular geographic area, engaging in face-to-face personal interaction with voters. Canvassing may also be performed by telephone, where it is referred to as telephone canvassing. The main purpose of canvassing is to perform voter identification - how individuals are planning to vote - rather than to argue with or persuade voters.[1] This preparation is an integral part of a 'get out the vote' operation, in which known supporters are contacted on polling day and reminded to cast their ballot) Definition from Dictionary.com. The appeal has gone in front of a three judge panel starting on the 26th of January. It could take several weeks for the panel to come to a decision. If I felt that I was treated unfair, I would express my rights and have it further reviewed. In this situation it seems like someone is just mad because they were beat, but every one is different.

This is an example of a healthy example of a representative democracy, because Coleman is expressing his right to have a fair election. This is an example of the constitution and the branch responsibilities.

After Losses, a Move to Reclaim Executive's Pay

After Losses, a Move to Reclaim Executive's Pay

This article basically talked about how seven major corporations were in the crisis stage along with the country, but still managed to give their executives a lot of money. If I were the government I would want the money back to. One person, who probably didn't deserve that much money over a four year time period got it, and so many people are unemployed, laid off, going bankrupt (people as well as businesses), and so on. A fair amount of money would have been reasonable, but the amount that these guys received was ridiculous. In the article Mr. O'Neal ran Merril for 6 years and received $157.7 million. That is more that $26 million a year. I really wish I had his job.

This is kind of a good example of the representative democracy, but is it for the right reason. I think the guys that started this investigation was only because of their egos and maybe the fact that they don't get this much.

Bankrupt Bailout

Basically this article talks about how we need new ideas and a new way of thinking in the White House, this makes a lot of sense. We do need to get away from traditional thinking of the people who have been there and think outside of the box. If the solutions from older government were the right answers, the U.S. would not be heading into recession again. What got us once, should not get us again. I especially like the way that the article compared Obama's work ahead of him to Humpty Dumpty. We'll have to approach this, but one piece at a time. Our economy has taken a big hit and even though we have a new president in office. I don't believe we'll see the changes until well into his term. "Rome wasn't built in a day"!

President Obama Signs SCHIP Reauthorization and Expansion

President Obama Signs SCHIP Reauthorization and Expansion

SCHIP program is for children who's parents cannot provide private health care insurance. Basically for children who have parent's that have a full-time job and cannot qualify for medicaid. Children are born without having a say in it. They cannot help the economy. They cannot help the fact that their parents have either made bad decisions or cannot find decent work. Children are born into the constitution and have the same rights as anyone else. President Obama realizes that they are humans/people. The bush administration was self-centered and in humane. How is vetoing this bill twice "for the people". That is the reason that in my previous blog I stated that I think our representative democracy will improve with Obama. Already, in the first couple weeks of his presidency he has already shown that he is for the people and making this representative democracy the way it should be.

Steve J.
Gov't 141_095