How Can MLB Better Penalize Known PED Users in Free Agency?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1917700-how-can-mlb-better-penalize-known-ped-users-in-free-agency?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&hpt=hp_t1

 

 

SUMMARY

        Performance enhancing drugs are still a problem in national baseball leagues. The MLB has come a long way in trying to fix this problem. However, it is still relevant. PED use hasn't been eliminated. The biggest issue, however, is that even those who have been caught and reprimanded are still receive financial rewards. Shortstop Jhonny Peralta landed a  $53 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals only weeks after being banned for 50 games as part of the Biogenesis fallout. The punishments for using PEDs just aren't enough.

        It then goes over solutions such as bigger bans, contract cuts, and penalizing teams.

 

ANALYSIS

        I think this is a serious issue and really does need to be addressed. The author of this article hits in spot-on with their suggested solutions. We can't allow for there to be rules that are not followed or are simply too light for the circumstance.

        There may come a time when this is just not enough any more. Doping should be considered a more serious issue. 

Conservatives question US Chamber's plan to spend millions to defeat Tea Party style candidates in 2014

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/11/conservatives-question-us-chamber-plan-to-spend-millions-to-defeat-tea-party/

 

 

SUMMARY

         So this article talked about how the US Chamber of Commerce is going to back "pro-business" candidates this next election. This stemmed from frustration over the shutting down the government issue that took place a few months ago.   “We will support candidates who want to work within the legislative process,”  said Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue. They are annoyed with the extreme factions that have aligned themselves with tea-parties.

        The chamber, one of the country's richest lobbies, said they would spend $50 million in this year’s GOP primaries to back establishment Republicans over Tea Party challengers. of Matt Kibbe, president of FreedomWorks, which often backs Tea Party candidates, said that he thought that the chamber only seemed interesting in backing incumbents. Donohue concluded by saying, "If you can't make them see the light, then at least make them feel some heat."

 

ANAYLSIS

        This goes back to when we were talking about lobbyist and special interest groups. Here is where you see them at work. The US Chamber of Commerce is working the political channels in order to get their needed things done.

        I thought that this article was really interesting to read. It really shows the different characteristics of each party in a more blunt fashion. Really, these politicians all just seem immature to me. I feel as though they are both to stubborn in their thought to get passed bias and pride and actually solve an issue or too.

        The need for compromise reveals itself in this scenario. Both ideals here have something to contribute to the country, if we were willing enough to at least come to terms with the other side. This mudslinging and undermining is counterproductive. We're fighting ourselves more than we are fighting real issues. I'm not sure that I like the fact that elections are being swayed so much by people with deep pockets and shallow brains. 

Man pleads guilty to misdemeanor 2 years after teen claimed she was raped

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/09/justice/missouri-alleged-sex-assault/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

 

 

SUMMARY

        Matthew Barnett was accused and pleaded guilty to the rape of fourteen year old Daisy Coleman. He gave alcohol to her until she was intoxicated and left her in front of her house in temperatures below freezing. The original prosecutor dropped the case, saying that the Coleman family was not cooperating. Jean Peters Baker was appointed to reopen the case. Barnett's attorney, Jay R. Hobbs, said the misdemeanor charge "accurately reflects the conduct of which he should be held accountable for." Coleman was in the hospital after her attempted suicide, with her mother by her side. Part of the plea deal was that Barnett had to apologize to Coleman. He did so and received a lighter sentence.

 

ANALYSIS

        I thought it interesting that he was required to apologize to  her. I don't know how much of an impact this would make, nor really where it belong in the judicial system. An apology really does nothing to lessen the effects of the crime committed.

       There was really no real use to include the apology as part of the deal. If he was sincerely sorry, he can apologize on his own. If he's not sorry, than he would just lie. Really, it's as simple as that. Would we have accepted an apology from the Al Qaeda after terrorist attacks? It doesn't change the act done, and it really seems more like a nagging parent to me.  

Colorado lawmaker pushes to strengthen media shield law, cites FoxNews.com reporter case

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/09/colorado-lawmaker-pushes-to-strengthen-state-shield-law-cites-foxnewscom/?intcmp=latestnews

 

 

SUMMARY

         A lawmaker from Colorado was inspired by Jana Winter's (a fox news reporter) battle to keep her sources secret. He believes that the law protecting reporters should be strengthen. He talks about the first amendment, and how if we claim to believe it, then we should uphold it, especially the freedom of the press. He says that they are a "watchdog" for the people, and if sources aren't protected, they won't come forward. It'll just to bite all of us in the butt. Most states have some form of shield law, but to different extents in each state. In New York, they need to prove that it is "critical or necessary". In Colorado, however, all they need is to prove it relevant to the case.

 

 

ANALYSIS

        This goes to the civil liberties we're discussing in class. We have the amendments for a reason. This article is going to be biased, of course. It was written by a reporter, and a fox news one at that. They had a personal connection to Jana Winter. But they do have a point. Without a certain level of security for reporters sources, it undermines itself. There is a need of secrecy and openness, to different extents. I believe that we need to have more similar laws between states concerning this matter. It does not make sense that they would be so starkly different.

       Winter was faced with the possibility of jail time if she did not reveal the names of her sources, who told her about a  notebook “full of details” that James Holmes had mailed to a psychiatrist before a July 2012 rampage. James Holmes gunned twelve people in a movie theatre.

        Whether or not you believe it necessary for the case for her to reveal the names, it seems to me that the laws do need to change.





Drivers vow to fight de Blasio plan to eliminate NYC horse-drawn carriages

 

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/09/nyc-carriage-drivers-vow-fightback-against-de-blasio-plan/?intcmp=latestnews

SUMMARY
         This article focuses on the concerns of animal cruelty surrounding the horse-drawn carriages in New York City. A campaign to get rid of these and replace them with classic cars is being supported by the new NYC mayor, Bill de Blasio. Those who are in favor of keeping the horse drawn carriages protest that the horses are indeed being taken very good care of and that no one comes to New York and wants to be driven around by a car. This is a city that needs to be seen. They have started a protest: http://www.savenychorsecarriages.com/ is their website.

ANALYSIS
        We've been talking about civil rights and liberties in class. This is more about the civil rights of animals and the differences in these laws. If you remember back a few months ago, one of the horses that pulls carriages in NYC died and their was a lot of controversy about it. I believe that this has sort of stemmed from that. Animal right activists were set off because of that. To me, it seems that the horses have been taken care of, but their might be some concerns as to the gas fumes their inhaling and things like that. I believe that instead of getting rid of the horse and carriages, we should takes steps to make sure that the horses are being well cared for and not harmed by this activity.
        The carriages are a novelty of NYC. It's part of the culture and vibe that you get when you go there. New York is a beautiful place and should been seen. If it does turn out, however, that the horses are suffering from this, then of course we should get rid of them. It seems that de Blasio is being a bit preemptive. He has not yet, according to some drivers who have  been interviewed, visited the stables and seen the horses. This needs to be done before we further any action.

Just 1 in 4 young teens meet federal fitness guidelines
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/01/08/just-1-in-4-young-teens-meet-federal-fitness-guidelines/?intcmp=latestnews

 

 

SUMMARY

        The health recommendations for 12-15 year old teenagers is a hour a day in exercise. However, only one in four are actually meeting these requirements in America. Tala Fakhouri says, "There's always room for improvement." First Lady Michelle Obama launched the Let's Move anti-obesity campaign in 2010. This new statistic has dropped from the CDC survey taken by the parents in 2010. The parents, however, may be unreliable.

 

ANALYSIS

        I first want to comment on how unreliable these statistics appear to be. The first was taken by 800 teenagers, and was self-reported. The second mentioned, which was taken in 2010, was taken by the parents, who tend to exaggerate in favor of the child. None of this information seems to be accurate at all. There is so much room for discrepancy.

        I appreciate how Mrs. Obama has attempted to help cede the problem of obesity in American youth, but I do not believe that her efforts are the most convincing. I believe that we would achieve better results if we could surround the children in healthier environments. Educating the parents of these children would have a better trickle down effect for them.

        What I wonder is how much control the government should have on an issue such as this. The government has dipped its hands into similar issues, such as health concerns of smoking, ect. This may be less of an extreme as smoking, but it still is having an impact on the lives of Americans. Eating this way is a personal choice, of course, but how much room should the government have to influence that choice?