Welcome, CCAA History students!
Tonight, President Obama is giving a speech regarding the United States' high unemployment rate. Over 9% of Americans want to work but can't find a job. Obama will make suggestions about how to put people back to work.
The speech will be online at nytimes.com at 7 and on many TV stations. When I get home tonight, I'll write a few discussion questions. In the meantime, feel free to post with your opinions. Make sure to use proper grammar and to sign your name.
E-mail me if you have questions. See you tomorrow!
UPDATE (10:35 p.m.): Thanks to everyone who's already posted. Great comments! I promised discussion questions tonight, but instead I'm going to sleep. You can leave comments all weekend, so if you're reading this on Thursday night, you too should go to sleep so you're all ready for Day Two. Hasta mañana.
UPDATE (10:00 p.m. Friday): Great to see you at school today.
Here is a link to the president's speech. Take a look. The speech begins shortly after the 4 minute mark. Up until then, it's mainly applause and the president shaking hands.
Here are some discussion questions. You may want to answer one, some, or all of them.
- Do you think President Obama's jobs plan will work? Why or why not?
- Which parts of Obama's plan seem most likely to work? Which parts might fail? Why?
- Our country is in debt. That means that our country spends more than the government earns in taxes, so our government needs to borrow money from other countries to make ends meet. Is this a good idea? Could it ever be a good idea?
- Do you think the president communicated his ideas well? What did you think of the way he spoke? Is he a good speaker? Give examples to support your opinion.
the speech that was given tonight by barrack Obama at 7pm on the news was a very convincing, powerful, life changing speech. This speech can even convince the world that this is our world we should make the best of it and by the best of it i mean we should make it a better place. the speech was mainly about how the economy needs help, making a difference in the world, providing more jobs,making more money,cutting half the price of tax to those who have small jobs, how china is improving a lot more than we are,how schools desperately need renovate,schools need to be modernized, there should be no more fighting for jobs,we shouldn't get the worst pollution here, and how we should be raising up to the top. These are all examples of how we can make the world a better place. one of mr. toomajian's
ReplyDeleteby:Alicia Fernandez
President Obama really knew what he was talking about. he spoke as if he was one of the families that are struggling in this hard economy. i strongly agree with Obama's proposal because i can see my parents struggling to pay some of these bills cutting back on supplies its hard to adjust but with this new proposal that will hopefully be passed can at least make some changes. this isn't the first and last its the beginning.
ReplyDelete-Damola Ajibola
Obama spoke loud and clear about what he was speaking about jobs.He had lots of good points in his speech because just like obama was saying there are lots of people in the struggle in this country and if something is'nt done it could be worse. Another good point Obama made was that other countries are improving quicker then us like for example china. Also how there could be taxes half off with the people who dont make enough money.Another good point is that Obama was saying how schools need there own improvement like renovating and stuff that they need.- Marco Marrero
ReplyDeleteI feel President Barack Obama's idea to pass the American Job Act is a pretty well thought out idea. But although he is mentioning all the PROS such as the unemployed getting employed again, I can't help but ask; What are the CONS Obama? I'll tell you what one of the CONS are, general tax rates will rise! So, even though those who are getting jobs in the Job Act will get their tax cuts, everyone else who is not a part of it will get their taxes raised! Why do the citizens with well paying jobs, who worked so hard to get where they are with that pay check, have to pay for those who have no job because they were too lazy to push themselves? I mean they're some people who really need it, but others just lie and take advantage of the financial aid that is presented to them.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama made his points the best way he could in his speech. And I hope the congress does something good and makes the right choice because his points were 100% true. He mentioned renovating alot of schools which is true because some buildings have limited space, and arent helping the kids learn alot. In my opinion that should be fixed for a better learning evnvironment for the students. He mentioned getting people employed again which needs to happen as soon as possible because there are people who have been unemployed for so long and are having a hard time paying their bills and even going grocery shopping. They're having a hard time giving their children everything that they need and they want jobs too help their family.
ReplyDeleteI ALWAYS MADE FUN OF POLITICIANS BECAUSE OF THE MANY MISTAKES THEY MAKE WHILE DECIDING WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR NATION. BUT NOW I REALIZE HOW HARD IT IS FOR THEM TO FIX OUR ECONOMY BECAUSE THE ECONOMIC CRISIS IS IN A CHAIN. WHATEVER YOU INSERT IN THE CHAIN MAY OR MAY NOT EFFECT THE PROBLEM. I THOUGHT THAT OBAMA WAS JUST GOING TO COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT WOULD KEEP HIS APPROVAL RATINGS UP. A LOT OF POLITICIANS TRY TO MAKE A QUICK PLAN THAT HAS A LOT OF FLAWS, SO THAT THEY CAN BE SEEN AS A HERO. NONE OF THESE PLANS GO INTO EFFECT BECAUSE OF THEIR CONSEQUENCES. OBAMA CAME OUT TONIGHT AND SPOKE ABOUT HIS SOLUTION. AS I LISTENED, I HAD SOME CONCERNS, BUT THEY WERE LATER ANSWERED. IT MAKES SENSE HOW THE RICH HAVE MORE TAXES, AND THE POOR HAVE BETTER GOVERNMENT SERVICES. HIS PLAN IS TO SPEND AROUND 450 BILLION DOLLARS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES HIRE THE UNEMPLOYED WHILE GETTING REDUCED TAXES; AND HELPING VETERANS ADJUST BETTER TO AMERICAN LIFE BY HAVING A SAFE JOB TO COME BACK TO. HIS PLAN WILL GET THOSE WITH NO JOBS BACK TO WORK TO HELP OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE ECONOMY, CONSTRUCTION, AND EDUCATION FIELDS. A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAPPY WITH HIS PLAN TO HELP MAINTAIN THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AWARD IN OUR HANDS BY A LONG SHOT, BUT I DID SEE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS DISAPPOINTED. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DON'T DO WHAT'S RIGHT. THEIR WHOLE MOTTO FOR DEFENDING THE RICH AND NOT THE POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS IS JUST NOT RIGHT.
ReplyDeleteERWIN D. (804) E-mailed to Mr. Toomajian
*Please also note: the 3rd post (from c800...) was written by Melissa B. from the 9th grade.