Obama signs N. Korean human rights act
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2012/08/18/13/0200000000AEN20120818000100315F.HTML
Article from Yonhap News Agency
* A human rights act is a statute that sets out individual rights and freedoms under the law.
Summary:
On May 15, 2012, according to the White house, U.S President Barack Obama approved the reauthorization of the North Korean Human Rights Act until 2017. The North Korean Human Rights Act, which became law in October 2004, was previously reauthorized in 2008. The legislation addresses U.S policy on issues including radio broadcasting into North Korea, humanitarian assistance, and the appointment of a special envoy on the North's human rights issues. That is to say, the law put pressure on Pyongyang on the issues of human rights, democracy, refugee protection and freedom of information. Lawmakers emphasized the urgency of addressing human rights abuses by the secretive communist regime, armed with nuclear weapons and missiles. By promoting human rights and transparency, this law is an important part of addressing the North Korean security threat.
Opinion:
President Obama renewed North Korean human rights act until 2017. For past years, there have been a lot of issues regarding infringement upon North Koreans' rights. Because a regime that abuses its own people with impunity cannot be trusted to negotiate honestly with the outside world. United States and rest of the world need a reason to justify some limitations they put on North Korea. I wonder North Korea will continue to last forever. It surely must collapse because its government is doing a really bad job handling diplomacy with, such as, nuclear weapons.
Wisconsin Republican asks court to rule on voter ID before election
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/22/us-usa-campaign-wisconsin-voterid-idUSBRE87L01C20120822
Article from Reuters.com
* The Voter identification laws are the laws that require residents to show a photo ID to receive a ballot for an election.
Summary:
On August 21, a Wisconsin Republican, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, petitioned the state Supreme Court to reinstate a voter identification law before November, when Wisconsin could be one of the key states in the presidential election. Recently, the state's highest court has already declined once this year to intervene and overturn rulings by the two circuit court judges at an earlier stage in the cases. Now, the GOP attorney general is asking the court to reconsider. The Supreme Court is expected to eventually take these cases, but it is unclear if it will do so before an appeals court has ruled on them or in time for the November election. Republicans argue that it is needed to prevent fraud while Democrats say a higher proportion of minorities and the elderly do not have photo IDs and the laws could suppress voter turnout. Thirty states currently require voters to show some form of identification before voting, according to the National Council of State Legislatures. In 14 of those states, the identification must include a photo of the voter.
Opinion:
I heard the news that the photo ID requirement was in effect for Wisconsin's February primary and there were few reports of problems. I personally think that Republicans and Democrats need to stop wasting time opposing these measures. It makes them look like they are trying to abet fraud. I don't think the voter identification laws will benefit them or increase their chances. Since a higher proportion of minorities and the elderly do not photo IDs, the laws could suppress voter turnout. It will probably cause decreasing the number of voters.
