http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21632503-anyone-hoping-outbreak-good-government-likely-be-disappointed-face
The Democratic party had a terrible midterm election this year. Some people say that our government system works best when Congress is entirely one party while the President is another party. However, if you are in that state of mind, then when the House and the Senate are two different parties it makes it easier to blame each other for stubbornness.
At the end of the year, questionable choices are looked over. There is a possibility that Congress will give fast track authority for foreign trade to the President. Both the Democrats and the Republicans want to lower America’s high taxes on companies. Even though most Republican members of the House have signed a pledge to voters never to raise taxes, Congress is trying to cut rates and close loopholes for corporate tax. There is a good chance that a few adjustments will be made to Obamacare.
This article has a couple of things related to our class. First, it talks about the roles of Congress and the executive branch. Also, many controversial decisions such as Obamacare, immigration, taxes, and trade are discussed in this passage. Lastly, the impact of previous presidents and Congress members is talked about.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Friday, November 14, 2014
Midterm Elections
http://time.com/3547829/5-things-to-watch-for-in-the-midterm-elections/
In the midterm elections, there are a couple of things you should keep an eye on. One is the Democrats and women. The root of the idea that the Democrats are the "mommy" party comes from Alison Grimes in Kentucky, Michelle Nunn in Georgia and the incumbents Kay Hagan in North Carolina and Mary Landrieu in Louisiana. All of these women running for Senator have emphasized women’s issues such as equal pay, parental leave, and abortion rights. Another thing to look out for is Republicans and swing states. Iowa, New Hampshire, and Colorado are all swing states that usually lean toward Democrats, though that may change this year. Iowa has a lively Republican candidate against an appalling Democrat. New Hampshire and Colorado are both in tight races against honorable Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Mark Udall.
This relates to our class in a couple of different ways. It discusses the elections into Congress and how we will be affected if the Republicans win the Senate. If they do win the Senate, it would just make things even more difficult to agree on than it already is.This article also talks about political issues like Obamacare, abortion rights, equal pay, and tax cuts.
In the midterm elections, there are a couple of things you should keep an eye on. One is the Democrats and women. The root of the idea that the Democrats are the "mommy" party comes from Alison Grimes in Kentucky, Michelle Nunn in Georgia and the incumbents Kay Hagan in North Carolina and Mary Landrieu in Louisiana. All of these women running for Senator have emphasized women’s issues such as equal pay, parental leave, and abortion rights. Another thing to look out for is Republicans and swing states. Iowa, New Hampshire, and Colorado are all swing states that usually lean toward Democrats, though that may change this year. Iowa has a lively Republican candidate against an appalling Democrat. New Hampshire and Colorado are both in tight races against honorable Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Mark Udall.
This relates to our class in a couple of different ways. It discusses the elections into Congress and how we will be affected if the Republicans win the Senate. If they do win the Senate, it would just make things even more difficult to agree on than it already is.This article also talks about political issues like Obamacare, abortion rights, equal pay, and tax cuts.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Tax Cuts
http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21629457-voters-kansas-will-pass-judgment-bold-experiment-tax-cutting-brownbackonomics
Sam Brownback, governor of Kansas, has been applauding low taxes and high growth since 2011, the year he took office. In 2012, he did a very ambitious thing with tax cuts. People with strong tax views will be watching the election for the governor of Kansas. Now Kansas is a highly Republican state. In fact, they haven't voted for a Democratic president since LBJ. Being the Republican candidate, Brownback should be winning by a landslide. However, he is tied with the Democratic candidate Paul Davis because of Brownback's tax plan. At first, his plan seemed reasonable. He wanted to cut the marginal taxes and drop the top rate from 6.45% to 4.9%. It was supposed to go down to as low as 3.9%, but the legislative cut rates and eliminated taxes on "pass through" businesses entities. This made revenue take a big hit of 6% below plan.
Many other states have been changing their income taxes in the last couple of years because of Brownback's bold tax plan. For example, Ohio cut taxes for individuals in the years 2012 and 2014 and small businesses in 2014. Maine, Illinois, and Idaho cut income tax and California and Maryland increased income tax for the rich.
Sam Brownback, governor of Kansas, has been applauding low taxes and high growth since 2011, the year he took office. In 2012, he did a very ambitious thing with tax cuts. People with strong tax views will be watching the election for the governor of Kansas. Now Kansas is a highly Republican state. In fact, they haven't voted for a Democratic president since LBJ. Being the Republican candidate, Brownback should be winning by a landslide. However, he is tied with the Democratic candidate Paul Davis because of Brownback's tax plan. At first, his plan seemed reasonable. He wanted to cut the marginal taxes and drop the top rate from 6.45% to 4.9%. It was supposed to go down to as low as 3.9%, but the legislative cut rates and eliminated taxes on "pass through" businesses entities. This made revenue take a big hit of 6% below plan.
Many other states have been changing their income taxes in the last couple of years because of Brownback's bold tax plan. For example, Ohio cut taxes for individuals in the years 2012 and 2014 and small businesses in 2014. Maine, Illinois, and Idaho cut income tax and California and Maryland increased income tax for the rich.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Campaign Inflation
http://time.com/3533559/campaign-inflation/
The amount of money spent on elections by campaigns and outside groups has been growing at an incredible rate. It has even grown faster than the rate of health care and private college tuition. They have been using these unlimited bank accounts to get more airtime, mailings, and any other get-out-the-vote methods. The reason the cost of campaigns has increased so much is because of the national economy growth, the extremely tin margin that decides congressional control, and the revisions made to the campaign-finance rules. This growth should continue to increase over time.
This article is related to our class for a couple of reasons. First, it talks about how money is spent for election campaigning. It also discusses the growth rate of issues like health care and private college tuition. Lastly, it talks about the effects that the increasing rate will have on the election campaigning. For example, the NBC affiliate in Iowa decided to add an hour to the nightly newscast to get money from all the political ads.
The amount of money spent on elections by campaigns and outside groups has been growing at an incredible rate. It has even grown faster than the rate of health care and private college tuition. They have been using these unlimited bank accounts to get more airtime, mailings, and any other get-out-the-vote methods. The reason the cost of campaigns has increased so much is because of the national economy growth, the extremely tin margin that decides congressional control, and the revisions made to the campaign-finance rules. This growth should continue to increase over time.
This article is related to our class for a couple of reasons. First, it talks about how money is spent for election campaigning. It also discusses the growth rate of issues like health care and private college tuition. Lastly, it talks about the effects that the increasing rate will have on the election campaigning. For example, the NBC affiliate in Iowa decided to add an hour to the nightly newscast to get money from all the political ads.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Alabama Literacy Test
The Alabama literacy test was used to see whether or not you could vote if you were African American before 1965. I thought the test would be pretty easy and that I would do good on it. When I took it though, I discovered how hard it was and I think it was unfair to judge if you can vote or not with this test. I did not do nearly as well as I thought I would on this test. I am surprised by how hard the test was and I thought I would to better on it then I did.
Friday, October 24, 2014
What Will Happen If the Republicans Win the Senate
http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21625788-two-scenarios-next-two-years-if-republicans-win-senate
According to most polls, the Republicans will most likely take a slim lead in November’s mid-term elections for the Senate. If this happens, the result will either be political paralysis or finding common ground between the Republicans and the Democrats. The pessimistic view of this scenario is saying that there will be no important laws passed while there is a Republican Senate because the two parties are so antithetical that they never agree on anything. The optimistic view counters this by saying that the Republicans and the president will have to work together to keep both their legacies alive. For example, Republicans are stating that they believe if the Republicans win the Senate, they will see advancement in policies such as free trade, corporate-tax reform, deficit reduction, federal highway funding, and revising the legal basis for the war in Iraq and Syria.
I do not think having a majority of the Senate being Republicans would be a good thing. I believe it would just make it even more difficult to agree on things than it already is. Many Republicans believe Obama is a hazard whom Americans should oppose. On the other hand, many Democrats think there is no point trying to reason with Republicans on the matter of making deals. Because of this, they will never cut a deal if there is a Republican Senate.
According to most polls, the Republicans will most likely take a slim lead in November’s mid-term elections for the Senate. If this happens, the result will either be political paralysis or finding common ground between the Republicans and the Democrats. The pessimistic view of this scenario is saying that there will be no important laws passed while there is a Republican Senate because the two parties are so antithetical that they never agree on anything. The optimistic view counters this by saying that the Republicans and the president will have to work together to keep both their legacies alive. For example, Republicans are stating that they believe if the Republicans win the Senate, they will see advancement in policies such as free trade, corporate-tax reform, deficit reduction, federal highway funding, and revising the legal basis for the war in Iraq and Syria.
I do not think having a majority of the Senate being Republicans would be a good thing. I believe it would just make it even more difficult to agree on things than it already is. Many Republicans believe Obama is a hazard whom Americans should oppose. On the other hand, many Democrats think there is no point trying to reason with Republicans on the matter of making deals. Because of this, they will never cut a deal if there is a Republican Senate.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
American Oil
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/18/business/energy-environment/us-oil-boom-shows-no-signs-of-slowing-down.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpSum&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=1
Even after the falling gas and oil prices, oil experts are saying the American energy explosion is not going to slow down. To even moderately slow this process down, the price of a barrel of oil would have to decline $10 to $20 more. Lower oil prices also means lower gas prices. The national gas price has gone down 10 cents in the last week and 22 cents in the last year. The problem is, states like Texas, Alaska, Oklahoma, and North Dakota that produced oil are having their finances being cut into. This is because taxes and royalties are declining. As long as this keeps happening, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will put pressure on these state to cut output to support these prices.
This article relates to our class in a couple of ways. It discusses the role oil plays in the economy. It also talks about the tax decline and how it affects oil-producing states. Lastly, the government requires a certain amount of money producers pay them in taxes and royalties.
Even after the falling gas and oil prices, oil experts are saying the American energy explosion is not going to slow down. To even moderately slow this process down, the price of a barrel of oil would have to decline $10 to $20 more. Lower oil prices also means lower gas prices. The national gas price has gone down 10 cents in the last week and 22 cents in the last year. The problem is, states like Texas, Alaska, Oklahoma, and North Dakota that produced oil are having their finances being cut into. This is because taxes and royalties are declining. As long as this keeps happening, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will put pressure on these state to cut output to support these prices.
This article relates to our class in a couple of ways. It discusses the role oil plays in the economy. It also talks about the tax decline and how it affects oil-producing states. Lastly, the government requires a certain amount of money producers pay them in taxes and royalties.
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