I was reading Stacey Pittman's article on Good Luck Retiring. I was shocked that the state of Rhode Island needs $7 billion to cover pension funds. So recently the state passed a bill to cover its budget. Rhode Island had a choice to increase taxes or pass this bill. Passing the bill made the residents of Rhode Island very angry but I can see how they would have been even angrier if they would have to pay higher taxes. I am glad to hear that a state is taking into their control and trying to fix their budget issue.
I thought that this article was very well written and very informative. I am shocked at how much this country and each individual state is in debt; also how fast the debt is rising. It seems very scary to think how much money is being spent and I'm seriously wondering what do we have to show for it.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
How is Rick Perry representing Texas?
I just read a blog written by Robert Becker called Will Perry's Epic Disgrace Washout Texas as Palin did Alaska. I was very shocked at its distastefulness. He was name calling and putting down politicians from Texas. I get that blogs are our own personal opinions but I believe they should also be done with respect. Becker states how Rick Perry was out-classed from the beginning and just went down hill from there. Becker believes Perry's attitude and action have over thrown the Herman Cain scandal. He calls Perry's performances in debates "Texas sized." Becker even adds a quote from Molly Ivins "Next time I tell you someone from Texas should not be President of the United States, please pay attention." I am feeling like this is more an attack of words on Texas. Becker continues to bash the state of Texas by bringing out only the negative happenings, for example, Tom Delay, the catastophy in Waco, and even goes as low to bring up that we are the state that JFK was murdered. I find that very appauling and disgusting. He continues to add on that GOP's from Texas should be called the "Great Texas Opps." I have a question for Robert Becker "Have you ever visited Texas?" and if you have not maybe you should give it a try. Texas is not as bad as you are making it off to be. I also felt his blog had nothing to do with its name. Texas is a state that can never be washout by any political issue or negative press that you are trying to give it. I have not read other blogs by Robert Becker and with this being my first, I am not sure I will waste my time on another.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Lets Review Rick Perry
I was interested in reading Yessica's blog about Rick Perry backing off in the televised debates. I thought good information was provided and it was very informative. I wasn't very into politics before taking this class but I am finding myself to be more interested and keeping up with what is going on in the news. I agree with Yessica about the debates just being a low blow game between the candidates and wish they would stick to the topics we would rather hear about like the economy and job creation. I, like most others, watched the video that has now gone viral of Rick Perry in New Hampshire; I was not sure what to take of it at first. I believe he was honestly just a man that was feeling the crowd and got excited. But no matter what these candidates do, they will be criticized and it will be used against them. I like Yessica's idea about bringing back the stump speeches that way we can get to know the candidates on a one on one level and they answer our questions personally. In my opinion politics is not going to change anytime soon. The debates are still going to be adults hitting each other below the belt; I just try my hardest to erase all of the negative and use the positive ways each one wants to change the country and vote for the one I think will do the best....
Thank you Yessica, I enjoyed reading your blog....
Thank you Yessica, I enjoyed reading your blog....
Monday, October 24, 2011
Protection for Small Businesses
I was interested in finding out what kind of protection there was out there for small business owners from being computer hacked. I was shocked to find out that forty percent of criminal computer hacks are on a small business, that is with 500 or less employees, according to Symantec Corp. There is now a free online tool for small business owners to soup up their security and feel protected on the web. The Obama Administration is all in for protection against cyper crime but for some reason lawmakers are still at odds over this. I happen to agree with the Obama Administration on this one. It is very important to protect everyone in a business world. Yes there are some scandalous people in this world but with everyone being on the web and you being able to find someone with a click of a few buttons. It is scary to me to think of all my information being able to be seen and stolen. I am not sure why computer hackers set out to hack into someone ones computer, is it really to get information, to destroy a company that has had to fight its way through all of this big business world. I am involved in a small business and to be honest if someone hacked into our computer they would not find much. We have decided to keep a lot of stuff still on paper and continue the old fashion way. Also, with a country based on entrepreneurs, I was shocked to find out that only fifty-two percent of small business owners have some sort of major security on their computers. Last year alone $188,242 was lost in criminal cyper attacks on small businesses, according to Symantec and the National Cyber Security Alliance. I am glad that most parts of the government are backing up protecting the small businesses of this country. If you think about it that is the way this country started and it might just be the way it all ends up, with the simple way of life.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
The Comparison: Bush vs. Obama
Editorial : Now They're Blaming Bush for Obama's Campaign By Karl Rove
I chose to read an article in Fox News by Karl Rove called Now They're Blaming Bush for Obama's Campaign. I found it to be an interesting article because of the comparison between two totally different Presidents. Rove starts off by saying over the weekend that National Journals, Charlie Cook and New York Times John Harwood are comparing Obama's re-election campaign to Bush's re-election campaign of 2004. In 2004 independent voters viewed Bush as a skeptic, so Bush's campaign focused more on expanding its base than using huge resources on independents and undecided voters. In a quick overview Obama is coming across as a skeptic and is repeating this action, this is according to Charlie Cook. Rove agrues that Cook only described part of the Bush campaign. The 2004 campaign also focused on persuading independents and swing voters. Bush won out 48% of the independent voters and 11% of the Democratic voters. John Harwood suggest Bush expoited social and national security issues, to throw off economic vulnerablitlities. Rove questions Harwood's statement by stating the unemployment rate was 6% in 2003 and 5.5% in 2004 (unlike it is today standing at 9.1%). The economy also grew 4.7% in 2003 and 6.4% in 2004, per the Bureau of Economc Analysis. Rove states Obama is focusing on social issues to drive attention away from the economic one. Rove does suggest Harwood hit the nail on the head on Obama's current strategy; the President is declining with college graduates, independents and young people. Rove Believes President Obama's strategy is completely at odds with the re-election campaign strategy of President Bush.
I like this article comparing the two Presidents strategies. I was a supporter of President Bush and I supported President Obama on some to most issues. I believe if President Obama is changing his strategy to reach new voters good for him, it worked for President Bush. But I do believe that the people of this country are in need of change and are possibly going to find it in a different canidate whose action can support their campaign.
I chose to read an article in Fox News by Karl Rove called Now They're Blaming Bush for Obama's Campaign. I found it to be an interesting article because of the comparison between two totally different Presidents. Rove starts off by saying over the weekend that National Journals, Charlie Cook and New York Times John Harwood are comparing Obama's re-election campaign to Bush's re-election campaign of 2004. In 2004 independent voters viewed Bush as a skeptic, so Bush's campaign focused more on expanding its base than using huge resources on independents and undecided voters. In a quick overview Obama is coming across as a skeptic and is repeating this action, this is according to Charlie Cook. Rove agrues that Cook only described part of the Bush campaign. The 2004 campaign also focused on persuading independents and swing voters. Bush won out 48% of the independent voters and 11% of the Democratic voters. John Harwood suggest Bush expoited social and national security issues, to throw off economic vulnerablitlities. Rove questions Harwood's statement by stating the unemployment rate was 6% in 2003 and 5.5% in 2004 (unlike it is today standing at 9.1%). The economy also grew 4.7% in 2003 and 6.4% in 2004, per the Bureau of Economc Analysis. Rove states Obama is focusing on social issues to drive attention away from the economic one. Rove does suggest Harwood hit the nail on the head on Obama's current strategy; the President is declining with college graduates, independents and young people. Rove Believes President Obama's strategy is completely at odds with the re-election campaign strategy of President Bush.
I like this article comparing the two Presidents strategies. I was a supporter of President Bush and I supported President Obama on some to most issues. I believe if President Obama is changing his strategy to reach new voters good for him, it worked for President Bush. But I do believe that the people of this country are in need of change and are possibly going to find it in a different canidate whose action can support their campaign.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Does Being Poor Affect Your Political Views?
Editorial:Feeling Poorer? You Have Plenty of Company
I decided to read an article in USA Today about the people of American and why they are feeling poorer and if it affects their political views. In reading the article I found myself agreeing with the views of the writer. I was informed that there is a higher number of people living in poverty since the Census started in 1959. Income percentages have dropped in the poor, middle, and wealthy classes; this was surprising to me. Economic discontent has political uprising all over the country. In 2007, the United States was ranked number 10 of 12 in countries of citizens living better lives than their parents (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). All this information collected, as depressing as it is, shows how American citizens are moving away from political Washington and are more concerned about economic reality. The economic decline was already taking place before the Obama Administration an will not be stimulated by another program. This Recession exposes the United States dependence on the Government. This problem can not have a quick fix. Today Health Care and Social Security are 45% of federal spending. Borrowing from the young to pay the elderly is not working. The elderly poverty percentage was barely changed at 9%, while the working age group was moved up to 14%. Our political system caters to certain influential insider and a tax code that rewards certain people. The Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street are looking like a promising turn, since all income classes are feeling the economic pressure.
In closing I do believe the elderly deserve to live the life they had before retirement and they should be able to afford nursing homes and assisted living, if that's where they end up, with good care with out being a financial burden on family members. I am glad to see that people of this country are worried about the economic part and not just if we elect a president to make history.
I decided to read an article in USA Today about the people of American and why they are feeling poorer and if it affects their political views. In reading the article I found myself agreeing with the views of the writer. I was informed that there is a higher number of people living in poverty since the Census started in 1959. Income percentages have dropped in the poor, middle, and wealthy classes; this was surprising to me. Economic discontent has political uprising all over the country. In 2007, the United States was ranked number 10 of 12 in countries of citizens living better lives than their parents (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). All this information collected, as depressing as it is, shows how American citizens are moving away from political Washington and are more concerned about economic reality. The economic decline was already taking place before the Obama Administration an will not be stimulated by another program. This Recession exposes the United States dependence on the Government. This problem can not have a quick fix. Today Health Care and Social Security are 45% of federal spending. Borrowing from the young to pay the elderly is not working. The elderly poverty percentage was barely changed at 9%, while the working age group was moved up to 14%. Our political system caters to certain influential insider and a tax code that rewards certain people. The Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street are looking like a promising turn, since all income classes are feeling the economic pressure.
In closing I do believe the elderly deserve to live the life they had before retirement and they should be able to afford nursing homes and assisted living, if that's where they end up, with good care with out being a financial burden on family members. I am glad to see that people of this country are worried about the economic part and not just if we elect a president to make history.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Presidential Campaign 2012
Obama Campaign Memo:Preview of a Highly Negative Campaign 2012?
I chose to read this article from The Christian Science Monitor because I haven't ever read a christian based newspaper. I wanted to see if it would be different from just your everyday newspaper and have more positive things to say. As I was reading the article I didn't see a whole lot of negative or picking sides but a straight forward and to the point. I liked what I read and the way it was written.
The article Obama Campaign Memo:Preview of a Highly Negative Campaign 2012 talks about a memo released by Press Secretary Ben LaBolt. LaBolt starts off accusing Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Mass. Gov Mitt Romney of embracing policies the American people oppose. LaBolt also mentions that Obama is trying to create jobs and put money back into the hands of the middle class, while the Republicans are trying to cater to the wealthy. Republican Strategist Ford O'Connell suggest Team Obama is n the attack and making the Tea Party is number one enemy. The Obama Campaign is also suffering a low approval rating.
We will just have to wait and see how ugly this election of 2012 really gets. I do wish that the candidates would keep to the facts and out of each others personal business.
I chose to read this article from The Christian Science Monitor because I haven't ever read a christian based newspaper. I wanted to see if it would be different from just your everyday newspaper and have more positive things to say. As I was reading the article I didn't see a whole lot of negative or picking sides but a straight forward and to the point. I liked what I read and the way it was written.
The article Obama Campaign Memo:Preview of a Highly Negative Campaign 2012 talks about a memo released by Press Secretary Ben LaBolt. LaBolt starts off accusing Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Mass. Gov Mitt Romney of embracing policies the American people oppose. LaBolt also mentions that Obama is trying to create jobs and put money back into the hands of the middle class, while the Republicans are trying to cater to the wealthy. Republican Strategist Ford O'Connell suggest Team Obama is n the attack and making the Tea Party is number one enemy. The Obama Campaign is also suffering a low approval rating.
We will just have to wait and see how ugly this election of 2012 really gets. I do wish that the candidates would keep to the facts and out of each others personal business.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)