Priorities of Government

From Getfree.TV

My Way or The High Way: New Tax Package

As the new tax package moves foreword from the house to the senate, it has oddly been met with great hostility. Some of the Democratic leadership feels that a collaborated bill facilitated by the president is to "right wing" for them. Politically speaking the Democratic are trying to stop this bill to show there "true conviction" to taxing the rich, even if the bill would benefit the majority in the Americans.

"Rank-and-file Democrats passed a nonbinding resolution by voice vote that said the tax package should not come to the House floor for  consideration." (Washington Post)

I seems within politics today compromise is a dirty word, which is never a good sign. The President is getting on board to try to find the middle ground to help move our nation out of a recession. I hope that the political parties can get on board. If not its going to be a long lame duck session in congress. In a political climate like this who ever wins we lose.

Berkley Champions Wiki Leaks

Today a press release came out from Berkley in support the US soldier who helped the creator of wiki leaks obtain the information.

"If he did what he's accused of doing, he's a patriot and should get a medal," said Bob Meola, the Berkeley peace and justice commissioner who authored the resolution. "I think the war criminals should be the ones prosecuted, not the whistle-blowers." - Read More:

This coming from Berkley shouldn't surprise anyone but it highlights the disconnect between some of our higher education institutions with interested of the general people. For awhile now it seems that those in higher education have become very disconnect from how the worlds actual works.  From my experiences i have had teachers directly attack America and capitalism and even going as far to say that our nation deserves the attacks against it from terrorists over seas.With state budgets getting tighter and people reevaluation the money spent on grants for education. It will be interesting to see how these radical institutions fair when budgets get cut. Will tax payer wand to keep supplementing these forms of education. 

The Nanny State: The Art of Unemployment

Obama lately helped moderate a tax cut/spending deal between Republicans and Democrat. The package included tax cuts for the rich and the middle income and extended unemployment benefits an additional 13months. Obama has been getting a lot of flack from the left for the tax cuts. The right however have been viewing this deal as a win.

One question i would like to be address is why are we allowing people to be on unemployment benefits longer then lets say a month or two? Before the additional 13 months you could be on unemployment for 99 week. So you could be on unemployment for 46 months before you have to get a job...that's a little extensive i would think. It is sad to think you could be on unemployment longer then you have been employed. Programs like this are good in the short run, they help people that were injured at work, and assist help others in the time between jobs. But having the benefits last this long creates a dependency on the system and in fact motivates people to stay on the system.

In Washington State you have to work at least 20hour as week on average to qualify for unemployment, if you work to many hours however you lose your benefits. So why try to get a better job or work harder?  I know people that have worked at stores like Fred Meyer or Target and have told me some of their co-workers talk about this very topic. Then don't want to work more shifts because they could lose there unemployment....sound like the system needs work.

Wiki Leaks and Cyber Terrorism

"The first serious info war is now engaged. The field of battle is Wiki-Leaks. You are the troops." - Founder Julian Assange  


Wiki-Leaks is website created by Julian Assange an Austrian journalist and global activist. Wiki-leaks is a collection of classified Americans intel and military information that was obtained illegally.  Some people have classified Julian as a "cyber terrorist"  that is waging war on America. The United State has been working with Austria authorities to try and apprehend him. His lawyer recently released this comment when reached for more information.  

"He recently announced through his lawyer that if he is arrested, he will unleash a "thermonuclear device" of completely unexpurgated government files. Think about that: Assange has threatened America with the cyber equivalent of thermonuclear war."- Washington Post.

Others have stood up to defend Julian Assange, and argued that he is just a journalist and the people should be aware of whats going on in the American government and American's involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The long term impact of these leaks are still being research and debated. The U.S. military has banned service members from looking at the information for it might led to morale issues.  Also because of some of the information leaked some people feel that this might create a "hit list" for terrorists and others wishing to do harm to American relations and personnel abroad. The Wiki Leaks have also once again brought unwanted attention to the State Department and Hillary Clinton in regards to the war. It has made a lot of people reviewing the technological defenses we have against such illegal seizure of information. At this point it will be hard to see the long term consequences of Wiki Leaks, beside making the American Government look bad, which shouldn't me a shocker to most of the world. If anything big does come we should hear more about in news real soon.

Video Games Violence

 

A Diet Christmas

With Christmas around the corner sales are everywhere and stores are trying everything they can to get you to take advantage of the holiday deals. With the economy the way it is and with the government already cutting back on services, how will this effect the shopping season and more so the economy for the year to come? With the holidays making your wallet lighter and you belts tighter people have been saving more then spending this holiday season. With people worried about the future the number of gifts under the tree are diminishing. Being a college student and knowing that another student tuition hike is coming next year, I'm cutting back on the holidays and definitely spending less.


On the national level the federal government voted against extending unemployment benefits and voted for extending the tax cuts. So those with unemployment will also be looking to cut back on there spending this season. For there will not be government money coming there way anytime soon. Laws were passed in regard to debit and toxic loans so people will not be as able to pay for Christmas on credit as easily this year.

This Christmas season will allude to our economy in the years to come. Will people being forced to live with in their means start developing a more sustainable life style? Will the government be able to cut back on government programs and other stimulus programs?  One thing is for sure there will be some sweet sales closer to Christmas.