Category: government

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Outsourcing

It seems that the news today is all about the economy and how bad it is doing. One thing that comes to mind is the fact that so many American jobs are being transferred overseas. I read an article today about how many things are no longer produced in the U.S. it was amazing to me and it’s no wonder our economy is doing poorly.

Many major industries have shipped their jobs overseas. It’s hard to believe that there are no TV’s made in America as well as no cell phones. We also buy nearly all of our shoes from overseas as well as our toys, steel, and baseballs. I hope our congress will realize that we need these jobs back and will work to get them back in the U.S. where they belong!

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Obama and Taxes

Since the republicans made major gains in the recent election, president Obama has decided to start making a few deals with the other side. The latest deal that could be in the works is taxes. The Bush administrations tax cuts will expire soon and many want to extend the cuts for years to come.

The tax cuts are scheduled to end in January. The cuts will affect nearly every American including the richest Americans. Republicans have argued that the tax hike will hurt small businesses and put a damper on the struggling economy. We’ll have to wait to see the outcome of this important issue.

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Fakes

One thing that has many companies worried is the illegal production of fake merchandise. It is a problem for many around the world and the problem seems to be growing with the advent of the internet. Law enforcement is trying to combat the problem but is overwhelmed by the shear numbers.

The illegal trade is costing legitimate companies a bundle. The trade is estimated to be worth about $250 billion dollars a year. China seems to be behind most of the counterfeit goods and the Obama administration is tying to address the problem by talking it over with them. I hope the illegal sale of these goods will soon be stopped.

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Resume the drilling

Ever since the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. government has had a ban on deep sea drilling. After much agitation by oil companies and workers on the coast, the Obama administration is lifting the ban. The move comes after worries that the ban will hurt the democrats during the next election.

The Obama administration says that the new safety rules that were put in place will be adequate to keep drilling operations safe. They also say the move will bring back much needed jobs to the region. I hope the oil companies will be extra careful in their operations.

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European travel

Terrorists around the world have been busy. They are constantly working to find ways to make our world less free. Their latest move has been to begin making plans to use their terror tactics on people who travel in Europe. Several countries have announced warnings about European travel.

The warnings have been given as new evidence from the Pakistani intelligence service has indicated that terror attacks on civilians are forthcoming. People are being warned to be more careful about their personal security. I hope everyone takes heed of the warnings.

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Mid-Term Elections

The mid-term elections will be rolling around in about five weeks from now. Most of the polls show that the republicans will be making gains in the house and the senate. President Obama is making his rounds to different states campaigning for some of the key democratic positions.

The president has strong feelings on the issue of voters. He wants all his democratic supporters to make sure they get out to vote. The republicans are energized and democrats will need every vote if they hope to hold on to their advantage in the house and senate. I just feel that it’s good for everyone to vote no matter whose side their on!

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Trade wars

The U.S. and China have been battling for the leadership in world trade over the last decade. Many American congressmen and women believe that china has not been acting fairly because of their money policies that undervalue the Yen. This is costing American jobs and is unfair to Chinas own workforce.

Though America has long resisted imposing duties on foreign goods, this is currently being considered as an option. I think our country should have the right to impose duties on Chinese goods to even out the playing field.

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Medicare fraud

Since the Obama administration has been working hard to fix the Medicare program, they have come up with many ideas on how to save money. One way they have identified was to eliminate fraud. It is estimated that millions of dollars are wasted every year on fraudulent payments. The problem is being made worse by investigators who are not doing their job.

A recent investigation showed that contractors hired to find fraudulent claims are doing a poor job. Some senators are looking into the situation and are shocked by the low number of prosecutions. The good news is that the whole program is being revamped and officials hope that fraudulent claims will diminish as a result.

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Some Peace

After many years of strife, the Israelis and Palestinians are once again talking peace. While there is a lot of skepticism about the results of such talks, some are hopeful just because they are talking. Several issues are being discussed and some small headway has been made already.

The United States is doing their part by supporting efforts on both sides. The ultimate goal is to achieve a permanent peace settlement. Each side will have to make some painful decisions and make concessions to the other side. I hope the people of each country will encourage their leaders to make peace.

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The powerhouse

For many decades, the U.S. has been the world’s economic leader. Our economy is the largest and most robust. One country that has been steadily catching up in that area is China. China now has the second largest economy in the world. It seems that we will be in competition with China for a long time to come.

One thing that is good for us is that China has its own problems as its growth expands. Their banks hold a number of loans, but many of these loans may fail. They also have problems with the environment that will cost them billions of dollars to fix. All in all, we will lead the world for a time to come in economics, but we must take measures to stay in the lead.