Despite being a great leader, Odysseus makes no effort to hide his hubris. The heroic description Odysseus gives himself at the beginning of The Odyssey reveals his true inner personality of arrogance. In Alcinous palace, Laodamas challenges Odysseus to participate in the games, however Odysseus responds that he is too weak. With that, Broadsea begins to throw insults at Odysseus, and in remark Odysseus exclaims in rage that the

gods don’t hand out all their gifts at once, not build and brains and flowing speech to all. One man may fail to impress us with his looks but a god can crown his words with beauty, charm, and men look on with delight when he speaks out,. Never faltering, filled with winning self-control, he shines forth at assembly grounds and people gaze at him like a god when he walks through the streets. [….] I’m no stranger to sports—for all your taunts—I’ve held my place in the front ranks, I tell you, long as I could trust to my youth and striving hands. But now I’m wrestled down by pain and hardship, look, I’ve borne my share of struggles, cleaving my way, through wars of men and pounding waves at sea. Nevertheless, despite so many blows, I’ll compete in your games, just watch (8. 192-215).

Without giving away his identity, Odysseus refers to the successful, prideful, powerful man as himself. He uses his own characteristics that he is famous for to describe the qualities that the gods gift worthy ones such as “brains and flowing speech”. Although, Odysseus explains that one may not be able to gain the public’s attention with looks, a “god can crown” such small imperfections if the individual deserves it. Athena “crowns” Odysseus in his full glory up to book eight, even when there is no necessity. Odysseus knows that Athena is on his side and how rare it is for gods to help mortals, so Odysseus considers himself superior to other mortals. Odysseus mentions that “people gaze at him like a god”, clearly confirming his perceived superiority. For this reason, he puts himself in the front ranks of mortals. As a final testament to his arrogance, Odysseus asserts that even after all his hardships, he can still best those who insult him at the games.

When Odysseus’ pompousness gets the worst of him he realizes the consequence of his arrogance. As Odysseus begins to change, his arrogance turns into regret which reveals his progress towards becoming a meek yet successful leader. After listening to a harper sing about his own battle in Troy he

melt[s] into tears, running down from his eyes to wet his cheeks…As a woman weeps, her arms flung round her darling husband, a man who fell in battle, fighting for town and townsmen, trying to beat the day of doom from home and children. Seeing the man go down, dying, gasping for breath she clings for dear life, screams and shrills –But the victors, just behind her, digging spear-butts into her back and shoulders, drag her off in bondage, yokes to heard labor, pain, and the most heartbreaking torment wastes her check. So from Odysseus’ eyes ran tears of heartbreak now (8. 585-597).

When his face becomes wetter with each subsequent drop, Odysseus is reminded more and more of what home is really like, and how his actions are directly responsible for the breakup of families. The brutish killing of families makes him realize that he has gotten such a high status from the deaths of innocent people – perhaps in the name of the Greeks but most likely for his own selfish gain. Odysseus finally realizes that one cannot be a hero if the title is derived from the death of innocents. Homer thus shows how Odysseus is amenable to change, especially as it pertains to perceptions of the past, and not persist in stubborn error. The most successful leader must be able to admit past mistakes in order to avoid future ones. Allowing himself to feel humility, he ultimately lets his “eyes run tears” which engrave the end mark to his arrogance.

By the end of his journey Odysseus’ arrogance disappears and humility and humbleness take reign. His newly changed personality leads to his transformation from a haughty hero to a more humble hero. Athena inspires the suitors to insult Odysseus and in response Odysseus tells the suitors that

You’d see what straight unbroken furrow I could cut you then. Or if Zeus could bring some battle on-out of the blue. This very day—and give me a shield and two spears, and a bronze helmet to fit this soldiers temples, the you’d see my fight where front ranks clash- no more mocking this belly of mine, not then. Enough. You’re sick with pride, you brutal fool. No doubt you count yourself a great man because you sport only with a puny crowd, ill-bred to boot. If only Odysseus came back home and stood right here in a flash you’d find those doors—broad as they are—too cramped for your race to safety through the porch (18. 425-436).

Odysseus cannot stand the “mocking [of his] belly”. When he says belly, he does not use another word and neither does he use any adjectives to describe his belly or how great it is. Therefore he defines his belly to that of any person, and just like any typical person, he does not like to be mocked. Odysseus could have revealed his identity any time just like with the Cyclops however, Odysseus clearly learned from his past mistakes. Finally Odysseus is able to recognize that being “sick with pride” is bad and is what pulls a man toward failure. In order for a man to succeed and be great, he must recognize and come to terms with his pride.

• • Carbon dioxide (CO₂) – greenhouse gas
  • Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) – causes acid rain–this could be harmful to animals and plants that are aquatic. This also could worsen or cause respirator illnesses and heart diseases
  • Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) – contributes to ground-level ozone, which damages and aggravates the lungs.
  • Particulate Matter (PM) – contributes to Asthma and chronic bronchitis
  • Other various air toxins: benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, 1,2-butadiene, carbon monoxide (CO), and lead.

Offshore Oil and Drilling

• Deep-Sea oil drilling causes many more disasters than benefits. Although a great supply of oil is located on the ocean surface, spills frequently happen and some of them could greatly damage the environment.
• There is a 200 mile area after the U.S. coastline called the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In the EEZ the sandy ocean floor extends into the ocean onto a continental shelf. This shelf eventually descends to a steep drop which is called the continental slope up to 400 kilometers wide and 200 meters deep! This land is controlled by the federal government.

Oil Spills

• On April 20, 2010 an explosion and fire occurred on a British Petroleum (BP) offshore drilling rig. This had been a tentative well in the Gulf of Mexico 50 miles off the Louisiana coast. This tragic accident caused the deaths of crewmen and it left as much as 200 millions of gallons of oil gushing into the ocean for many months. This oil spill is 20 times the amount spilled by the Exxon Valdez in 1989, which was also a big environmental disaster. This BP oil spill caused critical damage to sea animals as well as fishery businesses in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, many birds, dolphins, and fish died from the oil.
• ECONOMIC
  In 2008, crude oil prices for the first time were higher than $100 a barrel and gas prices went as high as $4 a gallon. In 2006, the world has a 35% rate of oil consumption. In 2007 the US energy consumption uses for petroleum were 70%: transportation, 24%: industrial, 5%: residential and commercial, and 2%: electric power. Eventually oil prices will be so expensive that they will be impracticable and other sources such as renewable power will be used.
• The United States Minerals Management Service (MMS) rents the EEZ to outside businesses and producers. These businesses give the MMS a certain amount of royalties on all of the minerals and petroleum they extract from the ocean floor.

GEOGRAPHICAL & POLITICAL NOW

• Crude oil is harvested in 31 US states and U.S. coastal waters. Since 2009, 50% of crude oil was produced from five states including Texas (21%), Alaska (12%), California (11%), North Dakota (4%), and Louisiana (3.5%).

About 33.3 % of U.S. crude oil came from offshore state wells and federal waters from the Gulf of Mexico. Oil production has typically been decreasing yearly since its peak in 1970. However, it increased by 7% from 2008 to 2009 due to an increase in production by 35% in federals waters in the Gulf of Mexico. Compared to 1950, oil production increased by 18% in 2009. In the 1950’s and 1960’s America did not have to import oil in great quantities and it was reasonably inexpensive.

• • America gets imported oil from countries and regions that carry aggressive threats or instability such as Venezuela, the Middle East or Russia, Africa, and Central Asia.  Even though America cannot sustain itself with its own crude oil anymore, it still remains on petroleum for 40 percent of its total energy needs, according to the US Department of Energy. Surprisingly this reliance on oil is far greater than any other developed country– Japan, France, Germany. Most US reserves over the years have been consumed or soon will be. This dependence builds developing clashes and competition between the US an other oil purchasers such as China

FUTURE

• • Americans definitely want to see a considerable decrease on the US dependence on imported oil. An increase in renewable energy sources would be ideal as well.

If we stop relying on oil, other sources which are more expensive will have to be used, and energy prices will go up, leading to another recession. We need alternate energy sources to be cheaper, and need to increase research on alternate and cheaper energy sources.

“By the following winter, it was only a faint scar. Which was ironic. Because that was the winter that Hassan stopped smiling” (47 ).

ANALYSIS

Winter is a cold month in which things freeze. It is just like winter that Amirs peace becomes frozen and he struggles to come out of the ice. Faint is a symbol which represents that even if a scar is not visible it still lies in the same very place where it came from and it will never disappear even if that means calling it faint. Stopped refers to winter and how in winter things stop growing and instead begin to die. Hassan’s happiness stopped showing and died down while ironically Amirs guilt begins to grow as he was stuck in decision which bears lasting consequences. Smiling symbolizes happiness and since literally it has stopped for Hassan, metaphorically speaking it has stopped for Amir because the scarring has caused him bad memories to re-pop up as a placeholder of guilt in his life.

BRIDGE:

As Amir begins to get himself out of the frozen ice, he finally takes more and more steps until he nearly succeeds in attaining peace. When spring comes, winter drifts away. It is at such transitions in time that Amir realizes a developing change, not only the cyclic change from season to season, but more importantly the changes in attitude that dictates how close he is to his redemption and therefore at peace as well.

QUOTE2

“I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare of epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night”(359).

ANALYSIS

Spring is a sanguine time for flowers to bud or bloom as well as other things. Perhaps when “forgiveness budded” is being said it is being referred to peace finally being attained or achieved. The pain is what lasting consequences the scar comes with. This includes the punishment of not allowing the scar to slip away and therefore leaving an irremovable memory. Ironically somehow Amirs scar from Hassan finds a way to slip away. Nothing comes for free either way. In trade Amir would be scarred with Sohrab. Therefore literally the original scar which has kept haunting Amir has slipped away but metaphorically the scar is still there. There still are other possibilities at removing the scar however at this point Amir has no perception of how to reach them. When things are unannounced they usually take one by surprise. But Amir’s forgiveness was not really a surprise it was just a temporary feeling of content that he unknowingly created to give himself a fake redemption at his sins. The word fake is used because at later events, proved by in The Kite Runner, he still strives to redeem himself and therefore he has not actually retained peace at this point in the book.

QUOTE1

“Because when spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting”(371 ).

ANALYSIS

Each flake that falls from the sky represents yet another step that Amir takes to be free. It takes one flake at a time to finally see the first flake. The first flake is the first point in time that Amir and Sohrab finally are both smiling. Perhaps this is the author’s way of foreshadowing that they will finally both be at peace. The flakes melting away are perhaps Amirs sins finally slipping away and burying themselves into the other flakes and never reappearing. It is almost as if he finally buries his past and turns a clean new leaf.

BRIDGE

This new leaf is the new life of which Amir will live with his new family now including Sohrab. Although Sohrab may be a reminder of Hassan to Amir, it now does not scar him but instead gives him more ever the reason to continue his thought of lifetime redemption.

QUOTE2

“I ran. A grown man running with a swarm of screaming children. But I didn’t care. I ran with the wind blowing in my face, and a smile as wide as the valley of Panjsher on my lips. I ran”(371).

ANALYSIS

Perhaps the wind could be his past of sins blowing rite into his face and yet he just keeps running and finally learns to ignore it, or the wind could be foreshadowing for his future with Sohrab and how he will have to go against the wind to be with Sohrab. A smile is an ironic symbol for Hassan and his msile. It is the idea that since Hassan used to smile than stopped, Amir has become  Hassan and therefore since he has been “reunited’ with “his child” he is once again happy. He is now happy enough to forget about his past and look ahead to the future with his entire family. The way Amir runs and keeps running is a metaphorical analogy to his stride to attain peace by getting to the finish line-. The finish line is wherever the fallen kite lands. However the final step in order to win is to give it to Sohrab. It is almost as if he was Hassan getting the kite for him but instead he awaits his own troubles ahead of him in order to get the kite. Only after Amir has solved those other problems he will finally be at peace. Yet the other troubles are yet to come. Still, those other problems cannot account for his not grasping peace. Therefore he is finally at peace, and the troubles are those which he will have with his new family. But those bumps will be smoothened and learnt from just as any family goes through them. Amir now takes a new path as if stepping into his child life and it is almost as if he is given a chance at retaking his steps from his childhood all with Sohrab.

QUOTE1

“The rest of my life might have turned out differently if I had. But I didn’t. I just watched. Paralyzed”(73).

ANALYSIS

The fact that Amir did not do anything to save Hassan, and just watched, brings out his cowardice and real inner personality- his selfishness. After watching Hassan’s rape Amir was paralyzed for life. Not literally but metaphorically speaking- he was scarred with the fact that he did not help but just stood watching. and with the fact of witnessing something that he could have made not happen.

BRIDGE

Unlike Amir’s choice to not save Hassan, Sohrab first choice was entirely different. He was willing to give his life for Amir while Amir would not give his life for Hassan when he really needed it. It is the choices that each character in the novel make the not only define who they are but change aspects of reality that become more apparent after such choices are made.

QUOTE2

“We had both betrayed the lives of the people who would have given their lives for us”(226 ).

ANALYSIS

Baba is scarred for not telling his children the truth about who they really are while Amir is scared for not saving Hassan. “For us” shows that together Baba and Amir are in so many ways similar that in calling them “for us” they both have sinned pasts which may not include the same sins, but equal up in their harm and foul toward those who they did it to.The innocent such as Hassan would have done anything to save Amir, while Amirs self centered personality stops him and has therefore lost all sense of his own innocence.

QUOTE1

“The impact had cut your upper lip in two, he has said, clean down the middle. Clean down the middle. Like a harelip (297).

ANALYSIS

The cut is a symbol for Amirs sins which he wishes will heal, however he believes it will not heal on its own and therefore he is attempting at redeeming his mistakes which compose the cut. Since the surgery goes fine it is like his cut slowly becomes better and better until it somewhat heals, but it will never completely heal for it has been cut and therefore it will leave a lasting scar. Clean is a metaphor for an almost clean slate beside the harelip. The harelip is an irony for his cowardice of saving Hassan and therefore he tries to be more like his friend in order to forgive himself for his morally wrong actions. In order to become like his friend he needs to have the one main characteristic that comprises Hassan: the harelip which was a scar to his life, being bullied, to Amirs scar- which serves as a reminder of his friend and their relationship. Originally their friendship was Hassan: all in, while Amir was not sure yet whether he was fully devoted to publicly saying he was his friend, and therefore was not all in for more reasons than just that. However, Amirs later “friendship” with Sohrab is all in, not in the middle, for he has finally learned from his mistake with Hassan.

BRIDGE

Even though Amir can learn through mistakes, the mistakes will always be remembered in order to keep him away from others to be made in the future. It is the past that cannot be forgotten and the future which can be changed even with the worst possible past.

QUOTE2

“That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out” ( 1 ).

ANALYSIS

Usually when someone says bury they are referring to burying something that died. However here Amir is actually saying that although his friend Hassan has died and is buried somewhere, his scars that he has left on Amir is not and will never bury. Metaphorically, however, if the scar can never be buried it can still be put to death and rarely, on occasion, be remembered. When something claws, it ferociously tears something and leaves scars. Consequently, the past is what is clawing Amir and scarring him- painfully- and therefore always re-appearing.

A good nurturing mother also takes on the responsibility of guiding her newborn at every step of the way through childhood. In Annie John, Jamaica Kincaid debunks the idea that mothers are care-takers. Kincaid refutes this assumption and describes the evils of tyrannical matriarchal power. Sometimes typical portrayals of nurturing mothers mask the reality of intransigent power. Such is the case in Annie John, where Annie’s mother’s “care” of her child leads to Annie’s inability to discover her adult self. Kincaid uses metaphors of Annie’s mother’s authority to represent Annie’s inability to successfully mature into womanhood, ultimately suggesting that the evils of guidance can forever bind an individual under authority.

At first glance Annie’s complete trust in her mother represents how Annie believes that guidance is always necessary in order to grow up. Kincaid uses the image of a shell to represent the protective tendencies of Annie’s mother. Annie’s mother coaxes Annie to swim in the sea by letting her “place [her] ear against her [mother’s] neck, and it was as if [Annie] was listening to a giant shell, for all the sounds around [her]—the sea, the wind, the birds screeching-would seem as if they came from inside [Annie’s mother], the way the sounds of the sea are in a seashell” (Kincaid 43). In this fashion, the “shell” is a metaphor for Annie’s mother. Just as a shell traps “sounds” in its interior, the “birds screeching” is trapped in the shell. The “birds” and their “screeches” represent Annie and her screams to get out of the shell and explore the exterior. The “wind” is a metaphor for Annie’s trust in her mother and overpowers her screams and attempts to get outside the shell. The inside of the “shell” is created solely the way Annie’s mother wants Annie to see the world. Annie can only see what is inside the shell and therefore is bound to live under her mother’s rules. The “wake” metaphor represents Annie’s reliance on her mother which causes Annie to constantly be under her mom’s control. As Annie watches her mother boil food over a pot she is “ever in her wake. [… Annie’s mother] would give [Annie] a taste of [the food] also, asking [Annie] what [she] thought. Not that she really wanted to know what [Annie] thought, for she had told [her] many times that [her] taste buds were not quite developed yet, but it was just to include [her] in everything” (Kincaid 17). Annie understands that she is in the “wake” of her mother, yet she does not realize that she should be living in a “wake” of her own. Annie acknowledges that her mother only cares about her own opinions. The fact that Annie feels “included” is good enough to keep her living in her mothers “wake”. Furthermore, this causes Annie to forget about the reality of how her mother does not “care” about her opinion. Since Annie’s mother claims that her taste buds are not “quite developed”, this confirms that just like her taste buds, Annie is not fully developed to even begin to think of rebelling against her mothers authority.

Annie recognizes that she is caught between her mother’s control and her own independence which signifies the necessity to distance herself from her mother in order to create her own sense of identity. Kinkaid uses pair imagery to express Annie’s transition in her character development. Soon after Annie turns fifteen years old she goes in to a state of depression, where both Annie and her mother

each soon [grow] two faces: One for [Annie’s] father and the rest of the world, and one for [Annie and her mother] when [they] found ourselves alone with each other. For [Annie’s] father and the world, [Annie and her mother] were politeness and kindness and love and laughter. [Annie] saw her with [her] old eyes, [her] eyes as a child, and [Annie’s mother] saw [her] with [Annie’s mother’s] of that time (Kinkaid 87).

By growing “two faces”, Annie begins separating herself from her mother. Annie’s creation of a split identity is her first step toward creating her own one final identity. However, faking her old life for the appeal of society causes her to revert to living mostly off her childhood personality. Additionally, this brings Annie back to her previous state which results in her always being under her mother’s authority and personality. Because Annie sees her mother only with her “old, child eyes”, she reminisces about the times when she always wanted to be with and like her mother forever. Annie’s character cannot develop further than her split “faces” and therefore cannot transition to something new and her own. The use of physical appearance imagery reveals that Annie fails to fully let go of her “childhood” personality. After Annie’s argument with her mother on Annie’s meeting with group of boys, Annie believes

it was [she] who was tired and old and broken, and as [she] looked at [her] mother, full of vigor, young and whole, [she] wanted to go over and put [her] arms around her and beg forgiveness for the thing [she] had just said and to explain that [she] didn’t really mean it. But [Annie] couldn’t move, and when [she] looked down it was as if the ground had opened up between [Annie and her mother], making a deep and wide split (Kinkaid 103).

Annie mixes her personality of “young” with her mothers “old, broken”. For this reason, Annie begins to feel that because she is “broken”, and the only way to become “young” again is to be like her mother. Annie wants her mother to apologize to her, but at the same time Annie feels the need to apologize to her mother.  Through this state of confusion, Annie make a “wide spit” between herself and her mother. Realizing what she has just done, Annie freaks out, and cannot stick to her “final” choice to be herself.

By the end of Annie John, Annie’s stubborn belief that she needs her mother at her side reveals her inability to stand as an individual. Kincaid uses water imagery to represent Annie settling down on a permanent identity. Annie hears

“the rain on the roof, and it was still pinning [her] down. [She] looked inside [her] head.” Annie begins to dream about “A black thing [which] was lying down there, and it shut out all [her] memory of the things that had happened. [Annie] knew that in [her] fifteen years a lot of things had happened, but now [she] couldn’t put [a] finger on a single thing. [… Annie] dreamed then that (she) was walking though warm air filled with soot, heading toward sea.  When [she] got there (she) started to drink in the sea in huge great gulps, because [she] was so thirsty. […]All the water from the sea filled [Annie] up. […] But then little cracks began to appear in [her], and the water started to leak out. […] Only this time wet […] and not going anywhere” (Kinkaid 111-112).

The rain and more specifically water, are metaphors for Annie’s mother. The “black thing” is also a metaphor for Annie’s mother. Therefore Annie is “pinned” under her mother’s rule which is blocking her “memory” and consequently her own sense of identity. Annie is “thirsty” for her mother’s guidance, for without it she believes she will “not [be] going anywhere”. Ironically though, with her mother guidance she still will “not [be] going anywhere” in life, that is, unless Annie’s mother commands her to. Annie’s mother’s authority has “filled” Annie up to the point that she begins to “crack” and her mother’s guidance slowly “leaks” away. However, just like Annie’s days of transition and finding her own character, she is unable to completely “leak” away her mothers remaining “water” and therefore she remains “wet” and “not going anywhere”. Light imagery represents Annie’s mistaken belief that she has finally created her own character. Inside Annie “a part of the black thing broke away, as if it had been dropped to the ground, and a small yellow light took its place” (Kincaid 114).The “black thing” becoming a “yellow light” is just an illusion that Annie’s mother has instilled inside Annie, to make Annie believe that her mother’s authority has been replaced by Annie’s creation of her own individual authority. However, in reality, this yellow light is just Annie’s mother in another form. The unique color transition from black to yellow signifies Annie being hypnotized yet again, into thinking that yellow, a happy bright color, will lead to happiness and never again to depression, “the black thing”, which is exactly part of her mother’s plan. Depression was one factor that helped bring Annie into rebellion, and therefore without depression, Annie will always be pinned under her mother’s intransigent power.

The shell and wake metaphors show that her mother’s overprotectiveness stems from Annie’s reliance on her. Because her childhood is comfortable, Annie split personality forces her to take refuge in this past identity and is thus not able to fully reconcile her true self in the present.

Whenever a politician campaigns for free health care, he always comes off as the one who takes the moral high ground, even if his intended plans are impractical. Regardless of whether or not national free health care is possible, it is definitely not morally correct, and anyone who campaigns for it is definitely not on solid moral ground. Such a deception does not so easily reveal, and appear immediately obvious to the average person just why making sure everyone is healthy is not moral. In short, health care has very real costs, and these costs can only come from private citizens who in reality have no desire to slave away at their jobs, only to have their rewards taken and redistributed to provide health care for the nation. To put it in perspective, if a thief came to someone’s house and robbed them, but told them that the proceeds would go towards paying his bills, would they not call the police? But it seems as if the government has the right to rob though they condemn the thiefs that would do the very same thing. In fact, this action would seem to contradict the very reason government was established for in the first place. Government was originally established to protect individuals against criminals, whether it be the British demanding undue taxes without representation, or common thieves. Ultimately, a politician strives to get himself re-elected. To do this, a politician will attempt to convince the general public to pass new measures that would ultimately gain him more votes. Such measures, as one can guess, are usually those that give services to the greatest number of people for free. What would get a politician reelected and what is constitutional, however, are not always the same. If one were to compare the original text of the constitution with the proposed health care bill one would find it unconstitutional. The entitlement to medical care and the means of its finance violate the constitution.

Nowhere in the constitution can one find the right to tax in order to secure healthcare for all. The only thing vague enough that could perhaps justify such taxes would be the necessary and proper clause. The Necessary and Proper Clause, however, does not apply to medical care. It gives the government the right to make “all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof” (Wikipedia.com). Although given this statements vagueness, the restrictions of the necessary and proper clause are so tight that even health care can not slip through. Medical care has nothing to do with the governments foregoing powers or any other powers in the constitution. In fact it is not even listed or hinted anywhere in the constitution. However politicians skew what is necessary for the betterment of society by being “very clever in spreading these benefits all across the economic spectrum so that nearly everyone has some stake in continuing the status quo,”(HawaiiReporter.com). Even so, these benefits do not please all, and some were better off before these benefits were distributed. Obama a day or so ago stated that persons making over $200,000 will be taxed an additional one percent to their existing medical care tax. This promotes inequality to those who work tediously to make money which is rightfully theirs and the government allocating peoples money to those who are less fortunate. In the tax bill in the constitution consisting of “section 8 [nowhere] does it give congress the power to tax people for betterment of others” (ConstitutionUS.com). America still lives with health care as an option and personal preference. Medical care is neither an enumerated or implied power. The only thought to be applied clause left is the commerce clause. However that does not apply, for the following reasons. The constitution defines this clause to give congress the right “to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes,” (USConstitution). Health care is not commerce between states. Health care is an individual mandate which has nothing to do with that clause, and thus can not be applied. Also, because not buying health insurance is not commerce then the same can be proved vise versa. A majority of cases “similar to mandatory health care, are in favor of blocking the application of the commerce clause” (Ken Cuccinelli). Because such cases exist and are quite known it does not give 100% chance that health care would have been blocked, but it does indeed have a meaning. This meaning includes that as currently the health care bill goes once again with changes through Congress some democrats may finally see how much damage it would cost America and thus vote against it. The only power of the government left that is thought to apply to the constitution is the power to tax. The power to tax solely consists of the tax bill which is “Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States” (USConstitution). Government therefore has the power to tax only so it can continue to protect citizens from criminals, whether they be foreign countries or thieves, and ultimately protect their private property. This means that taxing to provide healthcare is actually a violation of the government’s power to tax.

Medical insurance is not a right, but is instead a luxury. Nowhere does the constitution grant an individual the right to medical care. Americans seems to believe they have “much entitlement in todays economy. However, currently Americans are entitled only to social security” (HawaiiReporter.com). Politicians are to blame for leading people to believe in endless entitlements. However this is all part of their plan, in which later after robbing people of all their money, all their so called rights in which they are entitled to will fade away. This cycle has spun for too long. People do not speak up because of the “mistaken belief that such collapse can never happen. “(HawaiiReporter.com). One day when the cycle does fail, probably through massive debt or a lack of incentive to work, even average Americans will see how these proposed rights from politicians are entirely fake and are indeed not rights guaranteed under the constitution. Because medical care is not an entitlement it thus then becomes a personal preference and consequently a luxury. All luxuries come at costs.

Even with current estimates and suppositions, “health care spending costs are bound to increase. Not only will this spending consume the government’s money but families and businesses too. This higher spending would increase our future national budget deficit already projected to total about $9 trillion over the next decade. New taxes will not entirely finance this new spending, however could be “exclusively” used to slowly pay down our deficit” (Newsweek.com).

How can this not be called a luxury, if its costs are so high that the government cannot fully finance it and will cause the rest of America to mainly pay for it? Medical care has been a personal preference for a long time. What causes it to somehow out of the blue become a right and an entitlement? The answer is quite clear; if the government and its politicians keep it up soon Americans will be entitled to everything and shortly after nothing.

The entitlement to Medical care is no where described in the constitution. The government has no business with individual mandate and preference. Since the time of the framing of the constitution, the issue of healthcare has never before been considered a necessity. The entitlement to medical care actually violates the premises on which the constitution was founded, mainly protection against criminals. Will the robbers eventually become the good guys? How can such morals of entitlement to health care be so skewed? In short, if medical care is constitutional than why is it that criminals are sitting in jail and the government is not?

Year of 2055 a couple weeks after the previous story:

Me: Would you like another cup of tea and some more sushi?

You: I never had a first…

Hope you liked this end to a beginning!