China lifts ban barring entry to foreigners with HIV and AIDS

The Chinese Government has lifted a 20 year old ban saying that foreigners who have HIV or AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, and leprosy from entering the country. China lifted the ban because they realized that it did little to help prevent the spread of diseases and prevented the country from hosting international events. the government had temporarily lifted that ban during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and other large-scale occasions. China's government has estimated that the number of people living with HIV in China had reached 740,000 people. The decision to lift the ban came several months after the Center of Disease Control and Prevention removed HIV infection from the list of diseases that prevent U.S. Citizens from entering the country. Until January, the U.S. was 1 of 7 countries that prevented entry of people with HIV.

I'm glad that China had lifted the ban because many people don't go to another country and have sexual relations with that countries people. This could help to stimulate China's economy. I'm also glad that the U.S. realized the same thing. This could boost our economy because now we can have more people come to the U.S. on vacations or for medical attention. If the come to the U.S., they'll have to spend money here. By spending money, our economy will grow and we'll be able to provide more jobs. I believe the foreigners aren't the reason to blame for the increase of HIV, AIDS, and many other sexually transmitted diseases. I believe that the ban being lifted can boost everyone's economy. I also believe that China will now hold many national events.

Issue #3- Putting Welfare to Work

How can the American economy be the strongest in the world, yet 1 out of 8 Americans fall below the poverty line, even when working. there is a growing gap between the American middle class and the wealthiest Americans. In America today, about 150 million workers are employed. The government regulates how businesses are run and sets many rules. The people that work, but still need government assistance are the people who only make minimum wage. A full-time fast food worker made about $11,000 for the year at minimum wage. Without taxes and fees taken out of the check, that would be about $917 per month to live on. In the 1980s, new technology and globalization changed the United States. The United States started to outsource jobs, leaving jobs harder to find. Currently outsourcing has lead the United States to a rate of 10% unemployment. Not everyone in the United States earns enough money to live comfortably. A family of 4 in 2006 with an annual income less than $20,444 was considered poor. That family would have about about $1704 to live on per month. In 2005, 12.6% of Americans lived below the poverty line and needed to get some government assistance. The United States government has created many programs to help out the poor. There is Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The government also has wage assistance, a Federal Minimum Wage, Food Stamps, and Welfare. More single mothers are working now more than ever. The amount of child support collected has increased, but that's not enough. Many people are now off welfare benefits because they have found work. The jobs that they found are very low paying jobs. These jobs are still not enough to cover the basic costs of living. People are now using food stamps and Medicaid more than ever since they don't qualify for all types of government assistance anymore. Critics say that the government needs to increase funding for job training, child care for working parents, and early childhood education programs for the poor.

I believe that the government should change how welfare programs are run. I believe that there are many people who are on welfare and don't spend money wisely. I see this everyday. These people are on welfare and yet they have the nicest cars, buy many lottery tickets, and buy cigarettes. I believe the government should offer programs on how to spend money wisely, like budgeting classes. I believe these people shouldn't be allowed to be on welfare if they spend their money on luxury goods and unnecessary products. John McCain has many of the same views that I have on welfare. He believes that people who get welfare should spend at least 40 hours a week on working or extra training. He also believe that in order to have food stamps, the stamps should say exactly what the people can spend them on. Click Here to read more about John McCain's opinion on welfare and what he supports.

Issue # 1

Issue #2

10-year-old's pregnancy fuels Mexican abortion debate

In Mexico City, Mexico, a 10-year-old girl was supposedly raped by her stepfather. This incident has heated up the abortion debate. The stepfather has been arrested, but he supports both sides of the issue. Abortion is legal in Mexico City, but it is prohibited or severely restricted in most of the country's provinces. The girls home state, Quintana Roo, on the Yucatan Peninsula, allows abortions in the first 90 day. She is 17 1/2 weeks along and is about one month past the legal limit. Federal Officials at the United Nations say that the officials didn't inform her about her abortion rights. The girl is in custody of state protective services and they are monitoring closely her physical and psychological status. The services reported that both the girl and the fetus are both in good condition. But officials say that continuing the pregnancy can cause both severe mental and physical health problems.Since 2007 when the abortion debate heated up, 17 states have passed a law saying, "protecting life beginning at conception."

I believe that the girl should still have a right to an abortion because of her age. I believe that she didn't choose to get pregnant at the age of 10 like some of the teenagers choose when they become pregnant. She didn't choose to have sex. She was supposedly raped and she has no way to take care of the child. This pregnancy can hurt her in many ways. Her body can have a baby, but it's not recommended. Her brain isn't fully developed and that could cause many psychological problems in the future. She also could have problems giving birth and carrying the baby to full term. She is past the legal limit of an abortion, but officials aren't sure that she was told about her abortion rights until too late because the Catholic Church plays such a big role in Mexico's society. The Catholic Church is against abortions. Even though she is past legal abortion limits, it might be beneficial to let her get an abortion because of all of the health problems that could occur. I'm glad that she has been taken away from her family and that her stepfather has been arrested. I believe that her stepfather should stay in jail for life. I would think that when he gets out, he would come and find the family and cause many more problems. I believe that the stepfather shouldn't have become part of the family. I believe it's a good thing that she's away from her mother and is getting the proper care that is needed.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/04/19/mexico.abortion/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29