Political Science

The world is already preoccupied with a number of miseries and problems that become hurdle in the ways of the society that strives to take the right and successful path. It is the reality of nature that there exist contradictions in this world, for instance, good and evil, virtue and vice, and honesty and dishonesty. Similarly, where there are good beliefs and actions in this world, there are bad ones too. The immoral or unethical actions are usually linked with each other and work as a chain-reaction following and continuing one after another. For instance, the crime rate in the United States has risen to a great extent, which involves the acts of robbery, kidnapping, murder, rape, and unnecessary knife fights at the street corners having no reason behind them.

It is of worth wondering why these acts are increasing day by day, not only in America but in other parts of the world too. One should find the main causal root behind such dismal acts that result in huge losses  whether material or life. Though there can be several reasons behind such misdemeanors, but one obvious reason that comes to mind is of drugs. The smuggling and usage of drugs has become widespread, even the teenagers are into it. Taking illegal drugs usually cause depression, despair, and frustration that causes a person to act in a violent manner against others. Same is the case in the United States where the usage of drugs is a major problem that causes harm to the society. The paper would discuss the problem of drugs, the measures taken by the U.S government for drug war, ways of stopping the drug problem, and would end with a conclusion incorporated with a few recommendations.

Thesis
Drugs are considered to be a curse over the U.S society that causes numerous issues. War against drug has been there for a long period of time, but many think it has failed in its mission.

Organization and Logical Progression
Drugs come in various forms such as, cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, heroin, opium, and moreover they also include alcohol and whisky. Drug dealers are getting more into providing such drugs especially to the youth of the United States (justice.gov, 2010). Youth is being spoiled to a great extent by the drugs and often commit crimes openly. United states have been fighting the war against drugs for a long time, but no fruitful results are gained till today. The country has set up many rules, regulations, and policies to curb the production, provision, and usage of drugs and this is so since the year 1969 (Tony, 2006). United States introduced the first law in 1917 that was meant to restrict the supply and usage of illegal drugs, and that was Harrison Narcotics Tax Act. Similarly, a number of laws and acts came, but none could resist the circulation of drugs.

America has been fighting this war since decades, which has resulted in nothing but the sharp increase in the budgets allocated to it. There are several steps that were meant to control drug abuse, those measures include the shifting of resources into plans and programs that benefit. It means that government and law enforcement agencies have taken various steps such as, arresting the drug abusers, seizure the drugs, and incarceration of drug abusers. It is estimated that the two-third of the federal drug control budget continues to go to incarceration, interdiction and law enforcement programs (csdp.org, 2010). Providing mental and physical health treatment was another step that was taken by the government, but it resulted in nothing but lackluster response from the drug users.

Another technique that was used by the government was to train and make the youth aware about the drugs and their aftermaths. In spite of all that, the youth still engages in such activities that eventually results in the wastage of all the investment made by the government to curb the drug problem. Also, another failed strategy that has been adopted by the Americas law enforcement agencies and government was to arrest the low-level and non-violent drug abusers too. This results in the wastage of time of the police, courts, and filling up of the prisons by doing so, the resources are being lost over simple and low-level charges or crimes.

Not only this, the United States has been wasting its military resources that must not be spent lavishly over the drug control. The criminals or drug abusers cannot be controlled with strictness, but with providing them with rationality, awareness, and hope. As far as the justice is concerned, it has also worsened because of the prejudice or biasness that is there in the law enforcement agencies and their workers. While arresting or punishing the drug abusers or criminals, whites are usually favored and are given a leeway for their mistakes whereas, the minorities or blacks are given tough times. Several states of the country came up with new strategies and plans to curtail the drug production and supply, but those strategies were rejected by the federal government and hence were not implemented.

Examples and Evidence
Despite all uphill struggle done by the government and law enforcement agencies of the Untied States, there has been no significant improvement for the issue. Even the President of the United States said I think the War on Drugs has been an utter failure. I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana lawsWe are not doing a good job (Jackson, 2010). Thousands of dollars have been spent to bulldoze the production and circulation of drugs by Washington, but no success is there in making a bearish trend in the demand of drugs. According to a poll or research, around 44 of the population of America wants the drug  Marijuana  to be legalized. People who use marijuana for medical or health reasons in certain states cannot be arrested by the federal agents, because it is legal in such states such as Nevada, Michigan, Colorado, and Alaska.

The level of arresting rate can be understood by the statistic that shows that after every 38 seconds, someone in some part of America is arrested just for the reason of having or using marijuana. Even the puffers of or smokers of spliff are arrested and treated as if they are traffickers, furthermore this war against drugs has imprisoned and enslaved countless people ranging in millions of citizens of the United States, each year (Vulliamy, 2009).

Afghanistan is the major producer and supplier of opium through poppy, and in the year 2006, it broke all the records of exporting the drugs. United States is a very large country as compared to Afghanistan, therefore, calculated efforts are required to minimize the incoming supply of drugs from other parts of the world (Page, 2010).

Conclusion
Of all the evils and vices, drugs is considered to be a prominent one that encompasses the addiction to the illegal smoking, puffing, and drinking that are injurious to physical and as well as mental health. The vices and evils in the societies seem to be interconnected with each other, murder, rape, kidnapping, and robbery all are related to the using of drugs. The United States of America is facing the similar issue of high drug usage, especially by the youth. This obviously causes increased crime rate in the country, and to limit those crimes the government and the law enforcement agencies have embarked on the war against drugs long ago. They have wasted millions of dollars each year by arresting, punishing, imprisoning, filing law suits, and indulging the military in issues related to drug abusers. But no such success is attained by the government against the production and exchange of illicit drugs, even the problem is worsening day by day.

The government needs to work on the social aspects of the society by making them aware and providing them with alternatives of their health medications. Education is a very important aspect that needs to be considered especially at the lower level for the youth. Treatments must be limited to children and women and must be focused on those who are addicted to a large extent to drugs, not those who rarely use drugs. Moreover, law enforcement agencies should try to stop spending unnecessarily in the arresting or possession due to trivial charges, and military should not be allowed to indulge in this issue. Another measure that the government can take is to control or minimize the production of drugs by imposing heavy duties, levies, and taxes on the manufacturers. In this way, the manufacturers would automatically reduce the amount of drugs being produced. In short, the war is so far a failure, but it can be won to some extent if proper measures are taken with calculated risks.

Re Mr. Cheung, Mr. Ma and Mr. Wong
This is to report to you the case of Mr. Cheung and Mr. Ma, workmen from the cleansing team, in relation to the referral of the investigating policemen from the alleged misconduct of the said employees on the ground of falsification of attendance record to cover up their unauthorized absence from duty. Upon thorough investigation on the matter, the two were found guilty of the said demeanor for repeated times during the period of January 2005 to December 2008 and are hereby recommended to be subjected to formal disciplinary action with punishment of financial penalty and or dismissal as may be deemed appropriate.

Also, Mr. Wong, Supervisor of Kwai Tsing Environmental Hygiene Office of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, is recommended for formal disciplinary action with action to reprimand on the ground of slack supervision resulting in recurrence of misconduct of staff.

Furthermore, the attendance record located at the reception unattended should be given attention to avoid future falsification. The attendance record should be under the custody of the Supervisor so he can monitor in strict compliance the attendance of his staff. All the staff should be reminded of their responsibilities indoor especially after their outdoor duty.
 
The accumulated absences of Mr. Cheung reached a total of 500 hours while Mr. Ma got 1500 hours and 200 days of sick leave. As employees, they are expected to render full service on the time agreed upon. This is a case of a big loss for the company and for the government as well since they were paid for the entirety of their service which they failed to render fully due to unauthorized absences. According to the Civil Service Code of Hongkong, Civil Service is the backbone of the government and civil servants are required to uphold core values, one of which is professionalism. In this case, Mr. Cheung and Mr. Ma failed to present honesty and dedication to their work.

However, both admitted their fault. In the case of Mr. Cheung, he only left early whenever he was done with his work to go to his wife and child in Shenzhen. He explained that the attendance book was always left unattended so he could sign it anytime. Mr. Ma, on the other hand, stated that he frequented Shenzhen to seek medical help due to his skin cancer, and like Mr. Cheung, he would only leave after doing his job. He mentioned that he just added his attendance in the record on the following day. He was able to produce a medical certificate from a herbal practitioner, but he failed to present this to the department. This act therefore violates Civil Service Regulation (CSR) 1273, under the section of Sick Leave, wherein it clearly states that,  An officer is responsible for passing the certificate to his departments headquarters at the earliest opportunity.  Furthermore, CSR 1291 authorizes sick leave regardless of its duration as long as it is found necessary after a check up before a government or hospital authority medical officer. Any other medical certificate not from authorized personalities shall not be honored. In the case of Mr. Ma,  he should first undergo a medical examination by an authorized hospital or clinic before directing him to compulsory retirement if necessary. Despite the decreasing quality of his work performance, he has the right to be examined by appropriate personalities before giving him the final judgment.

Since January 2005, Mr. Wong has been unaware of the misconduct of his subordinate, resulting in the frequency of the said behavior. As a supervisor, it is his responsibility to ensure that his staff adheres to the standards of performance required. Thus, he should also be be given disciplinary action if misconduct among his staff continues to recur.

Attendance is essential in any field because time lost is money lost as well. Also,
the importance of having a satisfactory performance at all times is necessary. Any supervisor must not neglect to monitor these aspects that should be observed by all employees. Considering the case discussed previously, I highly recommend that the company employ a timekeeper in order to monitor strictly the attendance of employees and avoid any losses that may be incurred as a result of neglecting to keep track of their attendance.

How does religious, scientific andor political authority play a role in their theories How is such authority either affirmed or questioned

The theories forwarded by Descartes, Hobbes and Locke argue for the existence of a temporal authority and the legitimacy of such an authority. This temporal authority refers to the authority that is witnessed in two relationships true to humans a) that which exists between man and man and b) that which exists between the government and its people. Significantly, JS Mills theory involves an appeal to a religious authority while the theory of Descartes provides justifications by making an appeal to a scientific authority and the theory of Hobbes seeks theoretical grounding through a religious authority.
It is crucial to note that while these philosophers present different justifications for their claims on temporal authority their theories nevertheless contain significant commonalities. For one, the theories of Descartes, Hobbes and Locke all rest on claims of universal truths, specifically on the necessary existence of God. In this case, the existence of God provides the necessary validity from which the validity of the human power and authority are derived. Essentially, the theories are necessarily framed within the assumption of a divine existence, as without this assumption, the strength of the validity attributed to authority that man possesses is undermined for the grounding on which it rests upon collapses. 

Descartes, Locke and Hobbes recognize the Divine to be the sole possessor of ultimate authority. Taking that view as their starting point, the three philosophers argued for the legitimacy of what is to be considered as a temporary authority among individuals and societies. For them, the authority of God extends to legitimize the authority of men over men primarily because every individual has the basic right to life. In so protecting this life from any transgressions, he has the right to assert his power and authority over the transgressor.  Furthermore, the three of them maintain that this authority is discovered through the use of reasons. For instance, to quote Hobbes from Chapter 14, A law of nature, lex naturalis, is a precept, or general rule, found out by reason (par.5)

As has been shown, a significant part of the core of the theories rest on a common notion on God. As much as there are affirmations that support the claims of one theory by another, there are also challenges posed by one theory to another. To illustrate this point, what follows are selected notions from each theory as well as the claims of another theory that poses themselves as a challenge.

The Different Theories vis--vis Authority and Legitimacy

John Lockes On the Second Treatise of Government 
Locke differentiates spatio-temporal authority from absolute authority although both operate within the state of nature. According to Locke, humans have a natural state wherein there exists equality among individuals. This state is different from the society or societies that humans have. Rather, it is a state free from any notions of societies and takes into account only individuality and the law that governs individuals courses of actions without necessarily having an appeal to some human social contract.
To Locke, the natural law is consisted of reason, which is a God-given gift that is present in every individual and that which determines the propriety of human actions. To quote Locke, And thus, in the state of nature, one man comes by a power over another but yet no absolute or arbitrary power (8). This arbitrary power is defined only within the imposition of sanction to an offender. Mill argues for the power or authority of men over men based on the premise that every man hath a right to punish the offender, and be executioner of the Law of Nature (8). 

Lockes appeal is necessarily religious. Specifically, Locke draws the authority and legitimacy of power that is attributed to men and to the government over its people from the necessary and absolute authority of the existence of God. To quote, there being no law of nature nor positive law of God that determines which is the right heir in all cases that may arise, the right of succession, and consequently of bearing rule, could not have been certainly determined (Locke, 1).

The theory of Thomas Hobbes on the other hand, offers a significantly different claim on the existence of God which may try to undermine the kind of authority that Lockes arguments appealed to. To quote from Chapter 3, Whatsoever we imagine is finite. Therefore there is no idea or conception of anything we call infinite. No man can have in his mind an image of infinite magnitude nor conceive infinite swiftness, infinite time, or infinite force, or infinite power And therefore the name of God is used, not to make us conceive Him but that we may honor Him (Hobbes, par.13) 

Thomas Hobbes The Leviathan
Hobbes, on the other hand, draws the authority and its legitimacy from what he terms as the right of nature, that which gives human the liberty to exercise his powers over fellow men in efforts to preserve his life and that which the power of reason discovers. To quote from Chapter 15, The right of nature , which writers commonly call jus naturale, is the liberty each man hath to use his own power as he will himself for the preservation of his own nature that is to say of his own life (Hobbes, par.1). Furthermore, Hobbes in Chapter 5 states, When man reasoneth, he does nothing else but conceive a sum total, from addition of parcels or conceive a remainder, from subtraction of sum from another which, it if be done by words, is conceiving of the consequence (Hobbes, par.1).

Contrary to Lockes arguments, Hobbes idea of the state of nature is composed of a state of war. Hobbes in Chapter 13 states, So that in the nature of man, we find three principle causes of quarrel competition secondly, diffidence thirdly, glory (Hobbes, par.6). In this context, the legitimacy of power and authority come from the state of war, while in Mills arguments the same follow from the peaceful natural state of nature. 

Rene Descartes Method on Discourse
Descartes also seeks justifications for the power of reason by necessarily making an appeal to a Divine existence but which practical application resides significantly on scientific authority. To quote from Part 3, For since God has endowed each f us with some light of reason by which to distinguish truth from error, I could not have believed that I ought for a single moment to rest satisfied with the opinions of another, unless I had resolved to exercise my own judgment in examining these whenever I should be duly qualified for the taskAnd in fine, I could not have restrained my desires, nor remained satisfied had I not followed a path in which thought myself certain of attaining all the knowledge to the acquisition of which I was competent (Descartes, par.5). 

According to Descartes, it is only proper for the human mind to reject that something which it doubts. As the fives senses of humans necessarily err and the natural design of humans are necessarily imperfect, everything that the five sense conceive of are doubtful but not altogether to be disposed as pure illusionary. Descartes argues that the fact something touches the senses and the fact that the individual is conscious of its own existence means that there is something real that has caused all of these experiences. As the reality of objects that caused the experiences is necessarily apart from human consciousness, they should be from somewhere else. That is to say, that their reality should be from something les imperfect like human sense because the highly fallible nature of human sense cannot possibly cause them.  If it did, the limitations of the senses render in this case, the sensical interpretations of data false already and thus the reality it forms of objects is necessarily false. That perfect source God. To quote from Part 4, It remained that it had been placed in me by a nature which was in reality more perfect than mine, and which even possessed within itself all the perfections of which I could form any idea that is to say, in a single word, which was God (Descartes, par.5).

The  election of Barrack Obama as the 44th President ff the United States, The first African-American to occupy the highest political office in the country, has profound implications for people of US, various groups in the American polity and the international system.

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones weve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek 
(barrack obama httpwwwbrainy quote.com)                                                                                                                     
With the arrival of the first truly technologically savvy President in Washington DC many people have high expectations of both the President and Congress.

Before and after being elected Obama made many promises to change USA to make what he said he see as improvements. This has led to people being impatient to see that the promises that effect and improve their lives in the way they want is not at the top of the list of priorities. Obama had actually placed him self into a position of too much responsibility on each  promise made and thats because citizens expect too much change in a very short space of time.

The Senate voted Tuesday March 2, 2010 1025 p.m. EST to pass a 10 billion measure to extend benefits for unemployed workers and fund road projects after Sen. Jim Bunning agreed to end his filibuster. We cant do everything wed like to do, Bunning said. We dont have the money.( washington (CNN) --)

Moderating job loss is a step,but the crucial thing, the happy days gonna be when theyre not negative, when theyre finally positive again, and that is absolutely what were gonna have our eye on.the White House is watching the economy like a hawk and would not rest until the country is on its way back to full employment.(Christina Romer, chairwoman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers),   (msnbc)

Obama administration economists reckon the jobless rate will hover around 10 percent this year, and now say the U.S. economy will generate an average of just 95,000 jobs a month. That tally with Team Obamas forecast of anemic 3.0 percent GDP growth. Monthly job growth of 125,000 to 150,000 is needed to start bringing the unemployment rate down from its current 9.7 percent. Thats what would normally be expected more than two years after the onset of a recession. Its not happening  at least not yet.

Enter the U.S. Senate. The centerpiece jobs proposal would spare businesses from paying payroll taxes on some new hires for the rest of 2010. Based on a Congressional Budget Office analysis, this measure might create a feeble 50,000 to 90,000 jobs.

3) Aside from the bills limited potential effects, short-term fixes are not whats needed. Americas job machine didnt suddenly break down in 2008. It has been sputtering since the Internet bubble burst. Some economists now think a decline in education, innovation and other former U.S. advantages means the realistic minimum unemployment rate has gone up from 4-5 percent to as much as 7 percent.
 That suggests legislative efforts at improving the employment picture should focus on long-term measures to improve education and help innovative businesses. Options in the latter category include a reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate, targeted infrastructure spending and long-term tax credits for research and development. Its a shame Washington seems able to set politics aside to accommodate special interests, but not for whats really needed.
                                               
2. National Security
Barack Obama and Joe Biden will take swift action to strengthen security for all Americans... Their strategy will draw on the insights and experience of state, local and private sector leaders to better protect American families and communities.

Obama and Biden will responsibly end the war in Iraq and focus on Afghanistan, the refuge for the terrorists who attacked us on September 11. He will send at least two additional combat brigades, more special operations forces, and 1 billion in additional non-military aid to Afghanistan.
 
Barack Obama will not hesitate to use military force to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to America. Obama and Biden will ensure that our military becomes more stealthy, agile, and lethal in its ability to capture or kill terrorists. Secure Nuclear Weapons Materials in Four Years Barack Obama and Joe Biden will lead a global effort

To work with other countries to secure all nuclear weapons materials at vulnerable sites within four years adding 65,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines to the active duty military. They will bolster our militarys ability to speak different languages, navigate different cultures and coordinate complex missions with our civilian agencies.

Overseas, they will establish a Shared Security Partnership Program to invest 5 billion over three years to help foreign intelligence and law enforcement agencies to target and disrupt al Qaeda and its affiliates. (httpwww.barackobama.com)

A CNN poll released on Jan. 11 2010 shows that 65 percent of the 1,025 respondents said they had either a great deal of or moderate confidence in Obama administration to keep them safe from future attacks. The number is six points higher than a similar CNN poll in August 2006 when President George W. Bush was in the White House. The margin of error in CNNs poll was three points. In a statement by Keep America Safes board of directors criticise the president Obamas administration, President Obama has weakened American security by treating terror as a law enforcement matter and has taken his eyes off the ball, said the statement released on Jan. 11. Americas homeland security and counterterrorism systems will continue to erode in the absence of strong, consistent, unwavering presidential stewardship. Its time for the President to make defending this nation his top priority.
Keep America Safe describes its mission as working to enhance the national security of the U.S. More than half of the CBS News poll respondents said that the administration should keep open the Guantanamo Bay prison, where alleged terror suspects are held.

Shortly after his inauguration, President Obama had signed an executive order to close the prison within a year. (httpwww.globalissues.orgnews)
 
Brzezinski , former U.S. National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski said Friday,  the only way to break the stalemate is for Obama to take the lead.

The president can show leadership, he said, by persuasively going to the country directly, mobilizing the support, taking on some difficult foreign challenge, and prevailing.Brzezinski cited Iran as an example of key challenges Obama ought to tackle.

Obama should not abandon it prematurely, he said, noting the complexities of the internal Iranian situation could give the United States room for maneuver, and perhaps some basis for expecting an eventual partial accommodation.

Brzezinski also cited the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a key challenge because it revolutionizes, radicalizes the Middle East, and maximizes the number of enemies the United States has.Asked how he would grade the Obama administrations performance on Iran and the Middle East, he said, Well, rhetorically, A in terms of performance, B, B-minus.Despite the United States  HYPERLINK httptopics.cnn.comtopicsForeign_Policy foreign policy problems, Brzezinski said, the nation has the resources to deal with new global security threats in cyberspace, outer space and on the high seas.(Obamas foreign policy in gridlock former national security adviser
By Meghan Rafferty, CNN) February 5, 2010 1015 p.m. EST

3. Bailouts
President Obamas mortgage bailout announcement directs 75 billion in government funds to bail out certain borrowers who are behind on mortgage payments or at risk of falling behind (httpwww.cbsnews.com) Although the president said that it will not rescue the unscrupulous or irresponsible, theres no requirement that that U.S. Treasury deny bailouts to Americans who took outsize risks in hopes that their homes would continue to appreciate. Which is why Obamas announcement has drawn a howl of protest from renters and those people -- yes, they exist -- who bought cheaper, modest homes they could comfortably afford.

BuckNakedPolitics writes I have little sympathy in one sense with the moans of homeowners stuck with negative equity as a result of a gamble that the value of homes would always go up, up, up. One reason Im living in an apartment is that I recognized that this myth was a myth. Conservative blogger Michelle Malkin describes it as a new massive mortgage entitlement campaign. Housing bubble blog Patrick.net dubbed it a plan to reward debtors at the expense of savers. NewsRantsAndReviews saysObama has one word for those who didnt get in over their heads during the recent housing boom and have paid their mortgages on time Suckers

The administration says that using government funds to lower the mortgage payments for some homeowners is necessary to curb foreclosures foreclosures tend to depress nearby property prices, and banks generally lose significant sums when forced to repossess a property through foreclosure.

The American Bankers Association praised Obamas plan as a constructive, flexible and multifaceted initiative likely to have a positive effect. On the other hand, critics have said the Obama housing plan means that those who were prudent, saved their pennies, and chose not to take excessive risks will be taxed to bail out borrowers who were not as frugal.

Homeowners who wrote checks for a significant down payment wont benefit as much as those who took 100 percent financing. Homeowners in states without significant foreclosures will subsidize those in states like California, Arizona, and Florida. And borrowers who initially had affordable mortgages -- but then refinanced during the housing bubble and used their homes as ATMs -- stand to benefit.A reader post at the New York Times says I should have lied about my income and
refinanced in 2005 for the full value of the loan with a low, low teaser rate. Than I should have used the cash for new appliances, vacations, flat screen TVs. Oh and I could have financed all of my sons college instead of taking out all those loans. httpwww.cbsnews.com

Now that 2010 is officially here, its interesting to look back at the year of hope and change Barrack Obamas presidency was supposed to usher in.Call 2009 the year of the bailout. All the corporate giants seemed to have gotten one. AIGs bailout was so generous it provided multi-million dollar retention bonuses to the same group of employees that caused the companys collapse. The loophole allowing the bonuses to be paid was written into the bill courtesy of Sen. Chris Dodd.General Motors received a bailout only to wind up in bankruptcy court months later. Miraculously, the Unions wound up owning nearly half the company. Campaign promise   fulfilled.Then there were an endless succession of bailouts for the financial sector - and they havent stopped yet. Wasnt this guy supposed to clean up Wall Street The President seems hell bent on bailing out big business ever chance he gets. Creating and saving jobs seems to be a distant priority. As if people arent suffering enough right now.        httpwww.redcountry.com (Analyzing Obamas First Year By  HYPERLINK httpwww.redcounty.comuser1410 Nadia Naffe )

4. Taxes Cuts or lack of
Obama repeatedly vowed during the 2008 presidential election campaign that he would not raise taxes on individuals making less than 200,000 and households earning less than 250,000 a year. When senior White House economic adviser Lawrence H. Summers and Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner suggested in August that the administration might be open to going back on that pledge, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs quickly reiterated the presidents promise. In an interview, Obama said that putting preconditions on the agenda of a bipartisan advisory commission, which he said he would soon establish, would just undermine its purpose. What I cant do is to set the thing up where a whole bunch of things are off the table, Obama said. Some would say we cant look at entitlements. There are going to be some that say we cant look at taxes, and pretty soon, you just cant solve the problem.

The Obama administrations budget already takes that route with its proposed 970 billion tax increase over the next decade on Americans earning more than 200,000 a year, largely by not extending former President George W. Bushs tax cuts for the wealthy beyond 2010. Even with those revenues -- and a proposed three-year freeze on some discretionary spending by the government -- the administration still projects a deficit of 752 billion in 2015, equivalent to 3.9 percent of gross domestic product. Thats above the 3 percent mark that White House budget director Peter Orszag has said is necessary to stop the rise in government debt as a proportion of the economy. Analysts say that middle-class taxes will need to be increased because the government cant raise enough money from the wealthy alone to close the budget gap. Its just not possible to get the revenue you need only from this group, said Joel Slemrod, director of the Office of Tax Policy Research at the University of Michigan. Going back on his campaign pledge would be fraught with risks for Obama.

Former President George H.W. Bush paid a steep political price when he abandoned his 1988 campaign promise not to raise taxes, losing out in his bid for a second term to Bill Clinton. (rmiller28bloomberg.net)It would be politically risky for Obama to abandon his promise not to increase taxes on the middle class. Only 26 percent of Americans surveyed in a December poll by Bloomberg News said they favored such a step as a way to reduce the budget shortfall. Many economists, including conservatives such as former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, argue that tax increases will be necessary as part of a broad package to control the deficit, which the White House projects will hit a record 1.6 trillion in the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30. Obama said the U.S. was faced with a structural deficit that was in place before the recession began and that was only made worse by the deepest drop in the economy since the 1930s.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer warned that America faces a Greek-style economic implosion if the U.S. doesnt get its debt under control soon.

It is enough to look across the Atlantic at Greeces extreme economic crisis and understand It can happen here, unthinkable as that may have been, Hoyer said, in an afternoon speech at the Brookings Institution. If we dont change our course, it will happen here. Hoyer said tax increases should be part of a balanced approach, arguing that relying on spending cuts alone could hurt seniors who depend on Medicare.

No one likes raising revenue, and understandably so, he said. But if youre going to buy, you need to pay.

Hoyer insisted, though, that Obama and Congress already take the deficit seriously. He said Obamas proposed budget would cut the deficit by more than half by 2013 and that health reform will eventually reduce the deficit. He said the recently enacted statutory pay-as-you-go prevents Congress from making the problem worse. Hoyer hopes the bipartisan fiscal commission, which is now forming, will come up with recommendations that force tough choices. Obama announced his picks last week, but congressional Democrats havent nominated anyone for the panel yet.

5. Health Care Reform
President Obama recently put health care reform back into the spotlight by putting forth his own plan, loosely based on the legislation drafted by the House and Senate over the past year. In order to pay for the high price of reform, Obamas proposal includes a number of tax increases.
                                                                   
Basics of the Legislation
Obamas plan would cost an estimated 950 billion over the next ten years, and according to WhiteHouse.gov it would extend coverage to 31 million Americans. It would end discrimination against Americans with pre-existing conditions, and bring greater accountability to the health care industry. The President even claims the plan would reduce the deficit by 100 billion in the next decade and 1 trillion during the second decade New Obama health plan moves hard in wrong direction.

 It costs 75 billion more than the Senate plan. It delays the one sure-fire cost-control measure, the tax on high-end plans. And it gives the federal government new authority to block insurers from increasing premiums. That last one is particularly wrong-headed.

The policy thrust of Obama Care was supposed to be to reduce costs by changing how healthcare was delivered, not through rationing. But price caps are nothing more than rationing. As Mike Cannon puts it artificially limiting premium growth allows the government to curtail spending while leaving the dirty work of withholding medical care to private insurers Premium caps, which Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick is currently threatening to impose, force private insurers to manage care more tightly  i.e., to deny coverage for more services. No doubt the Obama administration would lay the blame for coverage denials on private insurers and claim that such denials demonstrate the need for a so-called public option.

Who knows if this thing can actually pass, but using reconciliation to do it will only amp up the partisan and polarized nature of Congress. (httpblogs.reuters.com healthcare reformobamacare)
                                                             
Some progressive groups and Democratic congressmen are applauding President Obamas appeal for an up-or-down vote on his health care reform proposal, even though it falls far short of the goals they once had for reform. The president today said he has asked Congress to vote on his proposal within a matter of weeks because Congress owes that to the American people. The plan is for the House
 to pass the Senate bill and then for both chambers to take an up-or-down vote on a separate fix it reconciliation bill.

Some Democratic senators, including Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), have criticized the consideration of reconciliation. Landrieu today, however, signaled shes on board with the presidents plan. From the start, I have been clear that passing the entire bill using reconciliation was not something I could support, and it is not what President Obama is asking us to do, Landrieu said in a statement. With only a few tweaks to the Senate bill remaining to be approved, the American people deserve an up or down vote on health care legislation. Referring to reconciliation, Landrieu notes, This is a process that has been used 22 times before, 16 of which were led by Republicans. Along with the process of passing the bill, certain provisions are less than ideal for reform advocates. Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, released a statement decrying the provisions in the health care bills that restrict abortion coverage but praising the bills overall.  March 3, 2010 608 PM (httpwww.cbsnews.com)
 
Conclusion
We heed to rethink about our opinion on Mr. Obamas tax proposals, bail out measures for banks and to other financial institution for further falling or ending their business career and so on.For any troubled economical scenes and low cash flow to government funds, jobless situations in organized sectors, health reform, for day today expenditure to government servants, and lastly running the government, they need finance and by constant manner by some taxations to high income and high wealth groups, collecting some big amounts by taxes to rich, some concessions to workers, army personnel and to get things in order of the day of any government.

We can question and criticize governments policies by now and then we have to provide new solid proof system for new measures to tackle sudden, unexpected huge deficit in planning and its execution stages.

Mass media has evolved to acquire a significant degree of attention over time. The implications of mass media reflect on almost all aspects of society. One of these areas is the democratic political structure. This paper shall attempt to present a discussion on the role and relevance of mass media for democracy while shedding light on how the mass media has become an integral part of modern day life and how citizens have come to rely heavily upon it as a source of information in their everyday lives.

The term mass media is a collective referral to numerous channels of information. These include publications such as newspapers, books and magazines as well as other channels such as radio networks and the like. More recently developed forms of mass media include internet based channels such as blogs, discussion forums and focus groups (Lichtenberg). The mass media serves to provide a mix of information and entertainment to the public while allowing members of the public to come forth and express their opinions if they wish to do so. It provides a formal voice to body of citizens.

It is important to realize that democracy in itself is a system of government that is riddled with different flaws. These flaws, ironically, are created by the liberalism that democracy allows. As a result, the act of institution of democracy is the prequel to the rise of countless complexities (Woods). In order to ensure that a democracy remains safe of such complexities, it is essential for it to be subjected to continuance through preservation. The Mass Media plays a crucial role in the assurance of this preservation.

Democracy, recognized as a flawed but desirable system of government, relies ultimately on trusting the people, whose views are therefore of primary importance. Their views therefore need to be well informed if democracy is to work successfully (Line).

Not only have people become accustomed to consulting the mass media when making decisions and forming opinions, but it has become the most rapid form of communication between the state and the citizens. Any action or decision taken by the state is relayed almost immediately to the citizens. The presence of multiple channels in the mass media allows them to learn about the actiondecision from differing perspectives (Davis). As a result, the mass media serves to educate the citizens about the democratic government of the state and allows them to contribute to the evolution of the state in the process.

There is next to no doubt in the fact that people have become heavily reliant on the mass media as a channel from which to acquire information (Davis). Most people rarely take out the time to cross check on the information provided to them by the mass media and generally consider news feeds and statements to be authentic and therefore credible.

In this regard, the approach that the media adopts towards the state plays a vital role in shaping the perceptions of the citizens towards the state. In the case of a democracy in particular, the state has little or no right to place restrictions or limitations on the mass media, thereby giving the media liberty to portray the democratic state as it chooses. This gives the mass media a high degree of control over the citizens, which in worst case scenarios, can be exploited to shape public opinions and outlooks. An example of such instances can be found in the cases presented in the documentary film, Manufacturing Consent Noam Chomsky and the Media (Achbar and Chomsky).

When the mass media is considered to be a mediating body between the state and the citizen, the perspective in question does more than simply inform the citizens it allows them to take part in the working of the state and to ensure that the government does not function in any manner other than for which it has been put into place. It is perhaps because of the same reason that free media is one of the few things that comes as a threat to an unstable and shady government (The Guardian).

Governments are vulnerable to the agility with which the media reports on them (Pirzada). The vulnerability of the government can be surmised from the statement given by (Garner, Ferdinand and Lawson) when they state that In constitutional theory, states are sovereign but, in reality, states have always faced challenges from within and outside their borders, thereby, in practice, limiting their autonomy. In this sense, sovereignty has always been something of a myth (Garner, Ferdinand and Lawson 26).

Hence, it can be inferred that relying on the state to serve as an adequate monitoring mechanism for its own functioning would be equivalent to leaving the state to its fate as it is subjected to internal and external factors that threaten to destabilize it. The Mass Media plays the role of a monitoring mechanism in this regard by giving citizens the power to be the jury on the performance and organization of the state (Crick). This is through the fact that the information that the Mass Media allows them to make educated decisions on the support that they give to political leaders thereby denouncing those who are incapable of facilitating just functioning of the state and giving authority to those who are adequately capable in doing so.

It is important to highlight at this point that the role of the mass media is twofold in a democratic society. Firstly, it serves to educate the citizens about areas of relevance and points of concern about the state. Secondly, it helps the state in monitoring the condition of the citizens. The mass media, as an institution, has a far more expansive and in depth scope than agencies of the state. Therefore, the reports that the mass media communicates serve to provide a picture of the form that society has taken over time (Garner, Ferdinand and Lawson). This allows the state go gauge the body of citizens that it governs in order to identify what the populace is in need of and what measures are to be taken to improve the condition of the people of the state. This way, the media serves as a mediating channel between the citizens and the state.

A factor that merits highlighting is that the mass media, in the setup of a democratic society, cannot possibly function without influencing the mindset that the citizens develop over time (Line). It is for the same reason that the mass media, much like the state and the citizens, requires regulation and establishment of perimeter in order to ensure that it does not exceed its limits of authority and does not communicate prejudices when it should in fact be communicating unadulterated information.

The mass media, on account of the power that it holds in a democratic state, also holds a considerable degree of responsibility. It is responsible for ensuring that the right information is communicated to the citizens and there are no shortfalls or misstatements in the communicated information. The mass media can serve to motivate or de-motivate the people of the state in almost any direction, but has to function without doing so (Woods). The purpose of the mass media in a democratic society is to ensure complete un-biasness and absence of any form of prejudice in its reporting so that citizens are provided with information in its purest form. Only when the information provided is pure and unaltered can citizens be expected to make educated and relevant choices.

In a democracy, the mass media enjoys a considerable degree of liberty. This liberty is partly enjoyed on grounds of elements such as the freedom of speech and the right to object which are some of the fundamental pillars of a democratic government. In this regard, the mass media takes on a very important role in society since it has the power to communicate any side of the story that it desires (Lichtenberg). It has the liberty to be influenced and to influence others in turn. While the behavioral tendencies of the mass media are a separate topic of discussion altogether, there is no doubt that the mass media plays a highly influential role in shaping the perceptions that society follows.

It is apparent from the discussion presented above that the mass media plays a crucial role in a democratic society and should be regarded as a key player in the evolution of the state. It can also be judged that the mass media, in the case of a democracy, has the power to support or denounce a democratic government (Lichtenberg). In this particular perspective, the role of the mass media can be concluded to be somewhat indefinite. However, when considered for the fact that the mass media allows the citizens to make educated decisions and allows them to consider contributing elements when choosing which political position to support.

What did you learn about Interest Groups in this course that you did not know previously
During the course, three key things came out about interest groups.  To begin with, interest groups greatly influence policies formulation by keeping policy makers critical and focused.  From a pluralistic point of view, Caramani (2008) explains that pro-choice movement managed to inculcate the ideology of giving women greater autonomy on their fertility in relation to terminating or continuing with pregnancy.  Secondly, the critical role of the lobby groups towards democracy was further brought out.  Many interest groups strongly work against neo-corporatism theory to create a greater outline for peoples choice and ultimate democracy.  As Janda, Berry and Goldman (2006) found out, interest groups pressure and lobby at different levels of the society.  At the grassroots, they educate the public on the need for democracy it associated advantages and overall development.  At higher levels, they provide greater focus through analysis of leaders and their manifestos.  Thirdly, though interest groups are such critical elements in the society, their regulation is very critical to avoid negative actions that could act against their very noble tasks.  According to Caramani (2008), the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 created greater emphasis on the need for openness in the operations of interest groups. Though it was easier to agree with the interest groups on the need for their self regulation, the course effectively brought out the danger of compromising democratic ideals.  It is from this consideration that interest groups should be carefully coordinated and controlled to achieve their objectives.

Based upon our readings about Medias roles in Elections, what do you see as being an issue that will be important in the development of our country in the future Explain why you feel this way.
As Dye and Zeigler (2008) argue, medias roles have remained at the heart of promoting democracy during elections.  In bid to maintain this critical role, the following three issues will remain critical in the countrys future development.  To begin with, the ability of the US citizens outside the country to vote may be limited by availability of technology.  Due to poor availability of technology in different global regions, it might be hard for Americans working in such regions to exercise their democratic voting rights.  Following the fast rising numbers of Americans working outside the United States, Box-Steffensmeier and Schier (2009) explain that lack of an effective mechanism for their participation may compromise the ability to select the correct leaders.  Besides, the commercial element of the media will remain a major issue in administering their expected impartial roles of facilitating democratic ideals. 

Due to the great trust that Americans have on the media in making their decisions on the leaders they choose, the commercial orientation remains a key obstacle in selecting the correct leaders.  Dye and Zeigler (2008) add that greater coverage and emphasis on a given candidate may lead to election of leaders who lack the necessary developmental interests.  Finally, the fast and vast advancement of information technology creates an easy way to spread hate messages, encourage stereotypes and portray an opponent negatively.  This could lead to negative perception by the public about a given candidate and contribute to making of wrong choices.  Media should therefore be closely monitored during election periods to reduce such malpractices.

Rudolph  Rudy  Giuliani served as mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001.  As mayor of one of the largest cities in the world, and not to mention, cosmopolitan, Giuliani experienced a very tumultuous and challenging tenure as mayor as he handled many different problems in New York City ranging from crime to sanitation. But perhaps his  finest hour  as mayor came when he managed the crisis following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 (911).  It was here that Giulianis leadership mettle was tested his management of the disaster closely mirrored that of Winston Churchill during the Second World War.  He was not only there to help out but as the local chief executive, he inspired New Yorkers to rise up again.  He lifted their morale when it mattered the most.

If there is one leadership quality Giuliani is adept at and which made him worthy to be mayor was his communication skills. Critics of communication and leadership often use Giuliani as an example to state important ideas regarding the role of communication in being an ideal and effective leader, in the process, saying something about Giulianis brand of leadership. The focus of the discussion in this paper is regarding one of Rudy Giulianis leadership skills that is communication, how he applied it and its overall impact on his leadership abilities. The paper will also focus during the time he served as mayor of the city of New York, all the way to the September 11 attack which tested Giulianis abilities as a leader and as a communicator with charisma, persuasiveness and inspiration.

Rudy Giuliani has been considered by many analysts and critics as an excellent leader and a commendable communicator. An important aspect of Giulianis career that cemented him as an excellent leader and communicator is his stint as mayor of New York and his handling of the 911 crisis. Giuliani has rendered long years in public service which was characterized by his excellent leadership and communication skills. These were magnified when he served as mayor that coped with the 911 crisis that appalled the world. New York Citys amazing recovery from the attack was a testimony to his leadership and management skills.  During the 911 crisis, Giuliani was able to move people, to have people follow even when they appear to be immobilized by grief. When Giuliani he talks with emotion, his body language accentuates the feeling he tries to convey. He raises his hands, makes a fist, stares with fiery conviction to his audience and lets the words fall from his mouth with the same amount of conviction as seen in many occasions (Maxwell, 81). He addressed the United Nations a month after the attack, he spoke with a passion, promising a course of action for New York which included the pursuit of rehabilitation and recovery and their role in fighting terrorism in a national and global scale to the post 911 remembrance ceremony. During the first year anniversary which Giuliani graced after stepping down as mayor, he was still emotional in his words but is possessed that chasrisma.

Valente explained that Giuliani believes that being a good leader and a communicator is being a person who is born with such abilities and characteristics and able to consistently harness it and put it to good use every day (Valente, 15). Giuliani is not afraid to speak in front of a lot of people. Every time he does, he makes sure that what he has to say has substance, may it be the things on his mind or the things that he writes down. It is both an ability and talent because not everyone possesses and uses such a characteristic. Giuliani, fortunately, is gifted with leadership and communication skills that allowed him to effect positive resolution of any kind of situation that would be thrown at him.

Giulianis communication skills are characterized by charisma and persuasion. Through his words, he can persuade people to action without sounding too bossy or being overly domineering. People find his words as something that they can easily believe and rely on and are easily convinced to the point they would follow him willingly. Giuliani was able to effectively integrate his charismatic personality with his communication skills which made it him effective in getting his message across.

During the 911 crisis, the people were devastated but they were not leaderless. Giuliani made sure his people believed and relied on him. He made sure he was persnoally there at Ground Zero to lead in the disaster management efforts as his duty as the local chief executive demands it and to let people know he was one with them during these trying times (Giuliani, 4-5).  He wanted to see the situation with his own eyes rather than rely on his subordinates to feed him reports from the field.  Micromanaging is not his style, most especially during this crisis.  He persuaded them towards a particular attitude and mindset that was important in the start of the rebuilding process following the tragedy. In news videos where he was featured, Giuliani used both emotion as well as a sense of direction to provide a stable pillar from which the people can start rebuilding. If it was any other leader who was not as good as Giuliani in communicating, the outcome of the rebuilding of NYC after 911 would have gone on a different direction.  This would remind one of the contrast in New Orleans following the aftermath of the devastation brought by Hurricane Katrina where relief efforts were slow which indicated that there existed a failure in communication somewhere along the line.

There are other things that helped Giuliani become an effective communicator. For example, Giulianis appearance as a fatherly figure enhances the impact of the message that Giuliani is trying to send. When people see him speaking, his elderly father-like demeanor, strengthened by his physical features, gives him a warm aura. It gives people a reassuring and comforting feeling as though their father is talking to them in a consoling tone. The people are inclined to follow him because of the trust that they give to Giuliani similar to the trust they would give to their father. Giulianis mannerism - or lack of it - also helped him become an effective communicator because mannerisms often cause distraction in the part of the audience.

The September 11 was also an opportunity for Giuliani. The tragedy enabled him to display the ability and full extent of his communication skills, to direct and give direction to agencies and put order in the midst of the chaos, and more importantly, to console as well as to reassure the people (Valente, 5) who are devastated by the gravity of what was lost during the terrorist attack. Giuliani and his words gave the people hope after the traumatic experience. His helping hand somewhat alleviated the suffering of New Yorkers and urged them to stand up and help rebuild their city, both physically and emotionally. The importance of being able to share what is on the mind of the leaders, like Giuliani, to the people and vice versa is an important aspect of leadership. It is a conduit to the creation and undertaking of effective solutions. This is something that Valente talked about in his article (Valente, 5). Valente explained that during the 911 crisis, one of Giulianis strong characteristics as an effective leader was his ability to communicate with the people in different ways and in different situations, communicating with the people he was trying to console as well as the people he was trying to lead, pushing when the situation called for it (Valente, 5).

More than that, Giuliani was also credited for communicating to his underlings and subordinates during the crisis management. Even though he was the local chief executive, he cannot know everything. He admits he is not God.  He encouraged or urged his staffers and appointees to display initiative to put constructive ideas forward especially in times of crisis management when the problem that to be solved is overwhelming (Valente, 26). This is a positive leadership characteristic for Giuliani hinged on his communication abilities, being able to articulate what he wanted to say and what is necessary during the crisis which fostered positive action and reaction from people and agencies involved during the 911 crisis.

According to Adubato, Giulianis messages when he tries to communicate to the people are perceived by the receivers of the message as something genuine. The communicator in Giuliani is empowered by compassion since Giuliani approaches a situation by trying to feel what his people are feeling. This was seen during 911 and how he communicated his messages to the people. Responding to the crisis on September 11, 2001, New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was thinking with his heart as a human being involved with the American people and he came across as a strong and compassionate leader and communicator (Adubato 90).  What is so significant about it was Giuliani lived his messages, not simply say them (Maxwell, 29).

What is the significance of communication - and Giulianis ability for communication as a leader - during the immediate post 911 crisis management  For one, communication allowed Giuliani to lead the people forward, taking concrete steps so that they could be able to rise above the ashes. Communication was important because it acted as trigger for pro-active movement when the world seemed to stand still after the attack in panic and shock. 911 created a very big and complex problem for New York City and for the United States, but it does not mean that there is no solution to this problem. The problem is that without communication, any solution is useless.

As Turner explains it in his book tackling communication, its no use having the solution if we cant communicate it (Turner, ix). New York and the United States were able to recover after the 911 crisis because of solutions that were effectively laid out and executed, disseminated to the different agencies operating in and around ground zero and in other hotbeds during the 911 crisis. A large factor in this success is the effective leadership of Giuliani, whose leadership is characterized by his ability to communicate to the people. Action and re-action has to start somewhere. Giuliani believes that  People who live in freedom have more strength than those who live in oppression (Valente, 8).  The words of Giuliani were the beacon of light that pointed towards the direction that the people should take. In hindsight, no one could say that Giuliani or anyone could have done a better job than what was accomplished there. Giulianis manner of communicating during the 911 crisis galvanized him as a true effective leader. He communicated with the people with a sense of clarity and direction, and not just pure emotional babble which can only make things worse and are detrimental to the progress of rebuilding when the leaders are purely emotional. Adubato explained that in times of crisis or when under intense pressure, a leader must remain calm and be able to speak from the heart to gain the support and trust of others who rely on him or her for information, direction and inspiration (Adubato, 90).

Communication as integral to leadership is not just about barking orders decisively. While this is important, this is not always the case. It is also important that the messages also carry with it a message of inspiration. In the 911 crisis, Giuliani was active in giving important orders, while at the same time, he too was heard by people speaking inspirational words to comfort them and motivate them. Flynn believes that one of the brightest stars in Giulianis 911 crisis communication was how Giuliani tapped into the New York spirit and used it to inspire and motivate the people. In the aftermath of the 911 terrorist attacks, the world watched mayor Rudolph Giuliani, brilliantly rediscover the spirit and resilience of  The New Yorker  and articulate it in a new and compelling way that helped to rally the city at a time of great uncertainty and distress (Flynn, 108).

Turner further explains that we see the communicator as a great leader (Turner, ix). Because of this, the assessment of Giulianis extent of ability for effective leadership depends largely on his ability to be a communicator and in his skill set affecting communication. The leader is expected to connect with the people he or she wants to lead. Without this, effective leadership is impossible. Because of this, professional analysts always point the primeval tendency, instinct and characteristic most basic to every individual - communication. The leader should be able to communicate with the people so that the direction is enjoyed and appreciated by the group. Communication is one of the most fundamental actions that link one human being to another (Turner, ix).

If this is true, the leader should be able to communicate to each and every one of his subordinates or the people so that he or she can send the message, and at the same time, receive the message that is important in effectively leading a group. In the effort to assess Giulianis characteristic as a leader and a communicator, it is important to explore and look at the aspect of how he reaches and touches the base with the people he served, and if he has been successfully doing that or otherwise. In times of crisis, one of the most important immediate tasks of the leader is to be able to re-organize the group or society. Crisis and catastrophe have an effect of breaking people down, because of loss lives and property, which triggers a psychological backlash in feelings of desperation, depression and hopelessness. Professionals believe that leadership in times of crisis starts with being able to unify the people again immediately after the crisis so that the collective course of action is better approached. There is a better chance of recovering if it is a collective effort.

The 911 tragedy is a real life example of this condition. Giuliani is expected to be the leader to unify the people and get them back on their feet towards reconstruction and recovery.  He was able to do this, humbly , through communication, considering the fact that communication is one of the most fundamental actions that links one human being to another (Montalbano, 2). It is the fiber that binds together social relationships  and it is the basis of progress in our society (Turner, ix).

Giuliani himself admitted that communication is an important aspect of his leadership style. This means Giuliani is not only cognizant of the importance of communication but is also consciously integrating communication as part of his successful leadership strategy. However, his abilities as a communicator are not merely something that Giuliani talks about. More importantly, professionals who tackle the importance of communication in leadership cite Giuliani and his leadership and communication skills and commend it - a proof and testament to the ability of Giuliani to lead and to communicate. If qualified, competent and credible people are the ones who are talking about ones characteristics, like Giulianis leadership and communication skills. Giuliani once uttered,  Leaders are made, though they are born first (Valente, 7).  It means that there is more than a grain of truth to this scenario. Giuliani is a terrific public communicator (Adubato, 50). For Valente, Giuliani is a master communicator (Valente, 32) who, especially during the 911 crisis, utilized his ability as a communicator to help heal a city trying to stand up after a devastating blow. Adubato describes his speaking skills as something that is powerful and engaging (Adubato, 50).

Giulianis communication style is diverse. Sometimes he uses passionate language to stir emotions. In other occasions, he speaks his minds in simple wordings. When he led the prayer in lieu of 911, he used strong emotional words like  darkest days  and  finest hours  (On September 11th, New York City suffered the darkest day in our history. It is now up to us to make this our finest hour). He described people in bold, brave adjectives, like  heroes  (All of them were heroes). When he left office he was content in using simple words and phrases, opening up with Thank you very much instead of the poignant or smart one-liners. This style of communication shows how Giuliani is aware of the power of communication and the importance in knowing how to communicate using the most suitable approach from the very diverse and complex collection of possible communication styles. This makes him an effective communicator, and in the process, an effective leader.

What people say is important, more importantly, if it determines the fate of a whole city. What Giuliani has to say to the people after the 911 attack has displayed itself in all its gore and grim. It was important because Giuliani was their leader. They look to him for direction. Giuliani relied on his ability to communicate to reach people in different levels. He empowered them, inspired them, consoled them, and made them believe in the presence of hope, justice and a better tomorrow. If a leader can do that, his leadership is unquestionable. Giuliani cemented his legacy as a leader through his communication skills he displayed, most importantly, in the aftermath of the 911 crisis.