http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/20/opinion/20tue3.html?_r=1&n=Top/Opinion/Editorials%20and%20Op-Ed/Editorials&oref=slogin

This author speaks about the injustices of jailing juveniles in adult facilities. This article states "The rush to criminalize children has set the country on a dangerous path". I feel the author is trying to let us know that the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 was a law enacted with good intentions but resulted in the mass incarceration of children. I also feel that we should scrap current laws in favor of letting parents discipline their children without fear of going to jail. Too often parents are afraid to spank their own kids because the children are taught to tell some one or call the police if they become bruised in any manner. As a result, parents are very hesitant of punishing their children. Time outs are a joke and no television has zero effect as punishment. The end result is the children having no respect for authority or authority figures. And this lack of respect leads to out of control children that the parent can't reach and must rely on a crowded juvenile justice system for help. Let's give parents their authority back so they can control their children and raise them to be good law abiding citizens. Let the parents give them a home so they won't be under house arrest.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/12/opinion/12mon1.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

The author writes that despite this being an unpopular war, the troops fighting it is doing so with pride and honor. The author states that "The entire burden of the today's wars has been carried by a volunteer military force and its families". To use the words "and its families" takes on a whole new meaning in itself. Alot of people can't connect with that because the families don't make the nightly news too much. But I truly know and feel their pain. I am grateful for the author's acknowledgement of the families along with the soldiers because they suffer so often in silience. When the soldiers gets a medal the families deserves one also. The spouses, the children, the Moms, Dad, grandparents, inlaws, etc. On this Veterans Day we salute each of you also. Just like the author remembered you, so do I.

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1622009,00.html

This article is about how former Vice President and Presidental Candidate in 2000, Al Gore has found his true calling. Not the as a politician but Mr. Al Gore the enviromentalist. I feel through this author's story a peaceful, laid back and self assured man. While Mr. Gore may indeed feel the itch to run for politics again, it is that alter ego that would ask him why? I have sensed the urgency is no longer there but should America need him he could and would serve on behalf of the American people. The author states that "He (Al Gore) dedicated himself to a larger cause, doing everything in his power to sound the alarm about the climate crisis". Personally I would like Mr Gore to keep the focus the evironment issues because now the movement has a face. With Mr. Gore's Oscar winning documentary and his slide show presentation, he is educating thousands causing a dramatic shift toward saving our planet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/opinion/04sun1.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

This article is about the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)and it's acting chairwoman Nancy Nord. The author writes that there is a bill in the Senate that would gives the agency some legislative power but Ms. Nord is opposed to that bill. There have been too many products recalled especially toys that had toxic lead paint. The author states "She has argued that voluntary compliance by business is the only way to promote safety". This makes her sound as if she was lobbying for the manufacturers and not for the American people. Additionally she has accepted travel gifts from the manufacturers. I feel that the CPSC is a vital agency which vital mission and its needs to function at high capacity. If no one is there to police the businesses, it could lead to someone being severly harmed or even death. I hope that the CPSC come aboard and correct itself because it is needed for the public safety. No games should ever be played when it comes to regulating safety.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/opinion/28sun2.html?n=Top/Opinion/Editorials%20and%20Op-Ed/Editorials&_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print

The state of Missouri have found success in dealing with its juvenile criminal offenders. Now other states are looking at the Missouri model as a standard to base their juvenile treatment program. The author states "Missouri was working against its own nature when it embarked on this project about 25 years ago". To me that is saying quite a bit. States that employ this model are not going to achieve overnight success. That over time, they will start reaping the positive results of creating this type juvenile rehabilitation program. I feel there are three very important reasons why Missouri is so successful. First, they favor the small community based centers instead of mass kiddie prisons. Second, they keep the treatment close to the offender's home so the parents are involved in their treatment. And third, the case manager job does not end with the offenders release. The results have proven out and only about 10 percent are recommitted to the juvenile court system. To me this program show a positive commitment to solving a problem before it became a more serious issue. It is more effective to rehabitate a juvenile offender before they lead a life of adult crime.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/opinion/23tue3.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

This article is about how a new law in California will require all semiautomatic weapons starting in 2010 to be equipped with new microstamping technology. I feel the writer is trying to say that any attempt to solve a crime is worth every effort. The author states "Like any other single attempt to get America's handgun crisis under control, is not a panacea." I agree with the author, that until lawmakers stand up and not be afraid to put teeth in Gun Enforcement Laws, I will settle for any temporary solution. I commend California's Governor for signing this microstamping bill. And I hope all legislators can learn from this courageous act.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/opinion/15mon3.html?n=Top/Opinion/Editorials%20and%20Op-Ed/Editorials

This article is about how Congress is taking a different approach to finding low income housing for the nation's neediest families. They will establish a National Housing Trust Fund. Developers that get their funding or grants from the government will be required to set aside a portionate number of units for low income families. What this program would do is help the needy families while they can help themselves. This program provides assistance before they become homeless and require even more public assistance such as Aid to Dependence Children, Welfare, or Medicare. The editorial states "This program would be a vibrant mixed income community," instead of just housing the poor among the poor. By housing the poor among other mixed income residents will demonstrate the difference of having an education, a skilled job or a real chance to excel. The continuation of mixing the poor with the poor have not been successful in the past because it did not provide the poor residents the kind of postive reenforcements they needed to make better lifestyle improvements and choices.