I-1000

I believe each person should be able to decide for themselves if they want to live or not to live. I also believe in the quote, “The right to live is also the right to a peaceful and dignified passing.” I believe in that because it really should be the persons’ choice if they live or not. They lived their entire life how they wanted to so why should they not choose to end it? This initiative is offering people a choice; no one is being forced to kill themselves. I do not see anything wrong with improving pain management with a patient. The Initiative will also provide patients with a sense of control and peace of mind. For example, I-1000 mirrors the Oregon Death with Dignity Act. Even after ten years the Oregon law has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and approved twice by voters. The most significant impact of the Death with Dignity Act in Oregon has been to improve the care for all dying patients who have the choice to live or die. I like the law and rules that will take place with I-1000, also known as, Washington’s Death with Dignity. “There are multiple safeguards in Washington’s death with dignity law. These safeguards include independently witnessed oral and written requests, two waiting periods, mental competency and prognosis confirmed by two physicians, and self-administration of the medication. Only the patient – and no one else – may administer the medication.”


“Washington’s Death with Dignity safeguards:

The patient must be at least 18 years old

The patient must be a resident of the state of Washington

The patient must be terminally ill - not disabled, but diagnosed as terminally ill

The terminally ill patient must have 6 months or less to live, as verified by two physicians

Three requests for Death with Dignity must be made (two verbal and one written)

Two physicians must verify the mental competence of the terminally ill patient

The request must be made voluntarily, without coercion, as verified by two physicians

The terminally ill patient must be informed of all other options, including palliative care, pain management and hospice care

There is a 15 day waiting period between the first oral request and the written request

There is a 48 hour waiting period between the written request and the writing of the prescription

The terminally ill patient's written request must be independently witnessed, by two people, at least one of whom is not related to the patient or employed by the health care facility

The terminally ill patient is encouraged to discuss their decision with family (not required because of confidentiality laws)

Only the terminally ill patient may self-administer the medication

The patient may change their mind at any time”

With the I-1000 safeguards it lets the ill patient make a decision for themselves. One important difference I find very interesting is that the term “assisted suicide” is different than the scientific term euthanasia. Euthanasia is when a person is in a vegetable state and another agent, or loved one, gives the authority for a doctor to “pull the plug.” I also believe in euthanasia. I believe that every person should talk to their loved ones or even their lawyers so that just in case if anything happens they can be ready. No place in the United States supports Euthanasia. Two countries, Netherlands and Belgium are the only two in the world that support Euthanasia. Since Oregon is the only state in the United States I believe that people should look at the statistics to make legislation in each state. I do not believe that this bill will ever get to the Supreme Court and be made a law passed by the President. I believe that it should be passed by the President because every state in our country should have similar laws. In most cases people are moving to Oregon so they can fall under the Death with Dignity Act. I think that it would be beneficial for Washington State to pass this as a law so that we can be supportive to the people who decide their life should be over.


I understand that some people, mostly religious groups, believe “we are mortal, so from the moment we are conceived, we are journeying towards eventual death and any purposeful actions we take to end our lives early is categorically suicide.” Which means that if you are living, no matter what your conditions are, and you kill yourself, or use drugs to kill yourself, you are committing suicide. Part of me does believe. But, if you fully believe in that good for you, you can. That doesn’t mean other people can’t be pro-choice and choose for themselves. Being religious and believing in God you are supposed to be worshiping God and helping him. Helping him is helping other people. Voting yes for I-1000 would help other people end their life that they are not enjoying because they are terminally ill.


http://www.itsmydecision.org/
http://www.wallywonderswhy.com/?p=1208
seattle.craigslist.org/see/pol/878433174.html

Department Speech

Alyse Henkel
Education
As your President in 2008 I will assure you our education will be at the highest it has ever been. With other countries trying to produce a higher education outcome then what the United States has brought forth I believe that we need to raise our education to format to the working class. I will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. Recipients of the credit will be required to conduct 100 hours of community service. I believe that everyone should work for their own education to make our country a better place. I believe that living in America gives people the freedom and chances that they need. I believe that children should not have to worry about the expense. They should just be able to find themselves not fighting for a spot in the global economy.

I agree with public education and believe it is the family’s choice to put their children in public or private school. I will give an equal amount of funding to both public and private schools.

The U.S. used to rank first in the world in the number of young people with a postsecondary degree; now we have fallen to seventh. This is not because our young people do not try, but because too many do not graduate. I believe we need to prepare our high school students to take college level classes. We cannot ensure we’re ready for the economic challenges of the 21st century if our schools and learning systems are firmly planted in the 20th century. Today, the information economy is revolutionizing every area of our lives, but too many schools do not have access to these critical resources. I believe we must put together technology and its range of applications into all our nation’s schools so that we go beyond the start that educational technology just means specialization in technology.

I also like The Obama-Biden education plan and I know it will prepare and reward our teachers by creating a Career Ladder Initiative that will offer federal dollars to states and districts that design innovative recruitment and reward systems that line up with the following principles:
• More pay for expert veteran teachers who serve as mentors and coaches.
• More incentives and opportunities for teachers to improve knowledge and skills.
• More pay for excellent classroom teaching that supports student learning and achievement.
• More pay for highly-qualified teachers who teach in underserved schools and underserved subjects like math, science and special education.