A deal has been reached with Iran to slow their quest for nuclear weapons.  America wants Iran to give up on their nuclear program because they say it is a threat to the world's safety, but Rouhani insists that the nuclear program is merely for enrichment, and therefore their right.   My opinion on this problem is that all nuclear programs in the world should be ended, but since that does not seem like a likely situation, other strategies are needed.  It doesn't seem right to me that America has deemed theirselves the only responsible enough country to handle possession of nuclear weapons.  We say that Iran shouldn't have them because they are dangerous people who could blow up the whole world.  Don't get me wrong, I am a total patriot and give the military my 100% support, but I'm not sure if we can just declare that we are responsible enough to handle nuclear weapons.  I don't believe any country should have that right.  After all, America is the only in country in history to ever use a nuclear bomb on another nation, yet we think we are responsible enough to possess them?  The only way to make a step forward in world peace is to eliminate nuclear weapons on a global level.  No nation should be allowed to hold that much power.

It is hard for me to understand how congress fails to remember the basic principle that was no doubt hammered into their heads as they were students in high school.  The fact that "the reason we learn about history is so that we are better prepared for the future because history repeats itself". In recent years, congress has once again tried the philosophy that releasing a federal budget is not necessary and just too much work.  I do not understand how they thought that this was a good idea when only 15 years ago congress tried this, and it led to a governmental shutdown.  When congress fails to publish a budget, it passes a continuing resolution which let's agencies do what they did last year and take the same amount.  This is a lazy process that occurs when congress gives up on compromising.  And once again, in 2013, it led to another governmental shutdown.  If congress doesn't get their act together and start passing a budget, the next time a Democrat is in office, the same incident will occur.  I don't think the government has a spending problem, because most of the things that the federal government finances is mandatory things.  I think the government has a problem with big picture spending.  Every American can decide that one day they are going to treat themselves to a new refrigerator or a new shirt, but at the end of the month, those people have to own up to their spending because they allocate themselves a personal budget.  It is time that the national government has to live to those same standards and the only way it can be held responsible is if they pass a federal budget.

If you need any proof that children rebel against their parents when they grow up, you need not look further than the marijuana business.  Back in the 70's, with love, sex, and rock and roll, marijuana was just one of the recreational drugs that were being used heavily.  The children of those hippies decided for themselves that maybe it's not such a good idea to turn out like my parents because they all have STD's and a number of brain cells lost.  As a result, the marijuana industry declined.  In recent years, the children of the children of those hippies are trying to reverse things again.  California led the way a couple of years ago by permitting Marijuana for the medicinal values it can have.  This past year, Colorado led the way by being the first state to pass the use of marijuana for recreational use.  The business purpose of this law was to place a heavy tax on marijuana that would make the state richer.  The Colorado act to legalize marijuana was a public warranted initiative.  Not only do those people really love their pot, they are adamant enough to make it happen. If history is any indication, a lot more states will soon follow Colorado's lead and legalize marijuana. If this process takes too long, however, the next generation of leaders will turn the tide again to make sure that marijuana stays illegal in other states.

LGBT rights is a touchy subject to a lot of people because some feel uncomfortable discussing it due to their religion and some feel uncomfortable talking about it because they feel misunderstood.  I do not think this is an issue that should be brushed aside because it is the next step in civil rights. Back in the 50's and 60's the African Americans attained their justice from peaceful demonstrations and now in the 2000's the LGBT community is peacefully protesting in Washington to gain their full rights as a normal citizen. With the striking down of DOMA, the LGBT crowd made significant improvements in their rights and I believe that it will only progress forward from this point.  In 50 years I'm sure we will look back and won't understand how the times have changed just as we do now with black rights

In George Washington's farewell address, he said that political parties would do nothing but cause a division among the American people, and therefore advised America to not divide into factions.  Immediately after he died, the US divided into factions.  The factions divide people and make them change their ideologies so that they better fit the party that they associate themselves with.  In contrast, political parties trade off their party platforms so they can get more voters.  The flexibility of these political parties is a compromise between the two party system and Washington's no party system.  I know this is a stretch, but this flexibility between the parties keeps America from reaching a stalemate over issues.  This sort of thing happened when the democrats reached a deal with the republicans a couple week ago ending the shutdown. Washington did not get his wish of America not splitting into factions, but our political are capable of compromises which allows for progress

What's the big deal about healthcare? This topic I struggle with. I don't see how a national healthcare program would infringe on our rights as an individual. In Alabama, we are already required to pay car insurance for the safety of our car.  Why shouldn't we pay taxes for health insurance for the safety of our bodies! The poor overwhelmingly support this bill, so obviously the money is not the issue.  Is the issue the pride? Must we depend on our own hard work for everything? Obviously we love help because we have religions based off of gods who help us, so why must we neglect help from other human beings? Wars happen because the countries refuse to help each other, so why not avoid that altogether? National healthcare is not a revolutionary idea, it had been going on in other countries for years.  Lucas Siefert was telling us the other day that national healthcare isn't even a problem because it's just how things are.  Only because we are given the opportunity for protecting our selves is it a problem.  After years of continuation, things become the norm.  Civil rights is now no longer an issue to the young generation of 2013, 50 years from now, gay marriage will be just as normal.  Healthcare will be the same way.

The first week of the government shutdown has gone by and still no progress.  Republicans are refusing to raise the debt limit and Obama is determined not to give in on this issue.  The US may be facing the decision to default, which would cripple the US economy and also impact the global economy.  I believe that both sides are right in what they want.  The liberals want to raise the debt limit and the conservatives want to decrease the debt.  Because neither side can get what they want, why not do both? Raise the debt ceiling so that the government has breathing room to comfortably make decisions on how to lower the debt.  We need not be selfish as a nation to get what we want.  If we remain selfish and eventually default because of our stubbornness, the world economy would be crushed because so many countries rely on payment from the United States for bills. We should raise the debt ceiling and re-open congress so that the lives of other countries aren't ruined, then we can take care of our own policies.  Make congress publish a budget to hold them responsible and put responsible people in congress.  If we take these small steps, then we ca avoid disaster.