The Federal Reserve recently said that more rate cuts might be necessary to fend off further problems in 2008. After having cut interest rates by 1.25% in the past month, the Fed's outlook on 2008 became a bit gloomier after a Labor Department report estimated than unemployment rates were going up about 0.5% compared to last year.
Interest rate cuts and unemployment aren't the only problems for the Fed in 2008. With housing prices steeply declining and the possibility for a recession growing, the Fed can now only hope for the best. Insiders also believe that another 0.25% rate cut is coming next March when the Fed meets to discuss their outlook on 2008.
Will the U.S. economy fall into a recession? Why or why not? Will inflation become a problem for the economy in the coming months? Why or why not?
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Clinton to Obama: "Shame on you"
With the March 4 elections getting closer and closer, Senator Hillary Clinton decided it was time to make her move. Sen. Clinton lashed out at her rival Senator Barack Obama over information he provided that Clinton called "blatantly false." Clinton claims that two fliers Obama's campaign mailed out to Ohio voters are incorrect and provide false information about her beliefs. The first flier pointed out that Sen. Clinton will forcibly have every citizen in the United States purchase health care, while the second called Clinton an avid endorser of the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
In response, Sen. Obama assured voters that all information in the fliers are 100% true. Obama also said, "The notion that somehow we're engaging in nefarious tactics I think is pretty hard to swallow." Obama is currently leading Clinton by 69 delegates, according to CNN estimates.
Are Sen. Clinton's new smear techniques going to sway voters in her direction? Can the hostility hurt Sen. Clinton's chances at becoming the nominee? Why or why not?
View the article here:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/23/clinton.mailings/index.html
In response, Sen. Obama assured voters that all information in the fliers are 100% true. Obama also said, "The notion that somehow we're engaging in nefarious tactics I think is pretty hard to swallow." Obama is currently leading Clinton by 69 delegates, according to CNN estimates.
Are Sen. Clinton's new smear techniques going to sway voters in her direction? Can the hostility hurt Sen. Clinton's chances at becoming the nominee? Why or why not?
View the article here:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/23/clinton.mailings/index.html
Friday, February 22, 2008
Iran Continues to Enrich Uranium
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has produced an eleven page report that proves Iran has tested new technologies to build a nuclear weapon. Iranian officials have consistently disregarded comments about nuclear weapons. Ever since Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office, the United States has questioned why he has scientists enriching uranium. When questioned, Ahmadinejad says Iran is building a peaceful nuclear program. Iran and the United States haven't had strong political connections since the overthrow of the Shah in 1979, and because of this many Iranian officials brush off verbal attacks from the United States. A November 2007 National Intelligence Estimate showed Iran had stopped its encrichment of uranium in the latter part of 2003 up until this past summer, due to increasing attacks from other countries.
If Iran develops a nuclear weapon, do you think it will be used harmfully or peacefully? Will the United States tighten sanctions on the Iranian economy before it is able to develop nuclear weapons?
If Iran develops a nuclear weapon, do you think it will be used harmfully or peacefully? Will the United States tighten sanctions on the Iranian economy before it is able to develop nuclear weapons?
U.S. Evacuates Embassy in Serbia
Last Sunday, Kosovo gained independence from Serbia. Ever since, there has been hostility between the two nations. Serbs have rioted across the country with their anger directed towards the United States and all other countries who have recognized Kosovo as an indendent nation. On Friday, the United States evacuated their embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. Protesters threw rocks and shattered windows, and set fires near the embassy. The United States has warned Serbia that it has to take care of the embassy, and that it is not the United States' fault if anything goes wrong. Serbs continue to protest across the country and will not recognize Kosovo as a country.
With these attacks heightening, will the United States regret recognizing Kosovo as an independent nation? Why or why not? What do you think should be done to stop the violence in Serbia?
With these attacks heightening, will the United States regret recognizing Kosovo as an independent nation? Why or why not? What do you think should be done to stop the violence in Serbia?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Castro Retires
Fidel Castro stated on Tuesday that he would not return to lead the Communist Cuba after his 49 year reign. Some factors to Castro's departure may be attributed to his current age of 81 and his ongoing stomach surgeries for the past year and a half.
Castro, who took power during a Cold War revolution, has been most remembered for his strict leadership characteristics, national censorship, and involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Castro has also been questioned about Cuba's policies of freedom and speech. He has even been seen as a 'tyrant who suppressed freedom'.
The US has had a constrained relationship with Cuba for the past several decades. There has been a tight economic embargo between the two, but due to this change in leadership, nations like the US hope this will lead to a change in direction for Cuba's people, policies and perspectives.
Do you think Castro's departure will lead to any big changes in Cuba, or will the next leader just continue his legacy? Will the US have any influence in Cuba? Why or why not? And in connection with our own elections, which candidate do you think, if any, could potentially be the best in creating better connections with Cuba.
Castro, who took power during a Cold War revolution, has been most remembered for his strict leadership characteristics, national censorship, and involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Castro has also been questioned about Cuba's policies of freedom and speech. He has even been seen as a 'tyrant who suppressed freedom'.
The US has had a constrained relationship with Cuba for the past several decades. There has been a tight economic embargo between the two, but due to this change in leadership, nations like the US hope this will lead to a change in direction for Cuba's people, policies and perspectives.
Do you think Castro's departure will lead to any big changes in Cuba, or will the next leader just continue his legacy? Will the US have any influence in Cuba? Why or why not? And in connection with our own elections, which candidate do you think, if any, could potentially be the best in creating better connections with Cuba.
Change We Can Believe In
"Obamania, Barackracy, Barackstar, Obamanation". "Just words?" I think not. These are only a handful of words from "The Encyclopedia Baracktannica", as created by Slate.com writer Chris Wilson. After eleven straight victories, it does not come as a surprise that "Obamania" is in full swing.
Barack Obama's victories in Wisconsin and Hawaii this past week have helped cement his place as the front-runner to be the Democratic nominee for this November's elections. A day after being accused of plagiarism, Obama overcame these allegations that could have derailed his campaign. His victory in Wisconsin has proved to not only be benefitting his cause, but also severely hurting Senator Clinton's chances at winning the nomination. CNN's estimate of exit polls from Wisconsin show Obama recieving 56% of the vote from those aged 45-59, one of Senator Clinton's core constituencies in earlier voting. Senator Obama was expected to win easily in Hawaii because it is his home state. Obama has performed very well at caucuses this year because he is able to rally together large numbers of people. Since Senator Obama has been winning by such substantial margins, his lead over Senator Clinton is widening to a point where many insiders believe that it could be too late for Clinton to mount a comeback.
The next elections will be held on March 4, with the two big prizes being Ohio and Texas, which have a combined 389 delegates at stake. Clinton seems to have an early advantage in these two states, but a "Baracklamation" that sways voters in his direction is never out of the question.
With around 16 elections left to go, does Senator Clinton have a legitimate chance to mount a comeback? Why or why not? Do you see the plagiarism accusation being problematic for Senator Obama in later elections? Why or why not?
Barack Obama's victories in Wisconsin and Hawaii this past week have helped cement his place as the front-runner to be the Democratic nominee for this November's elections. A day after being accused of plagiarism, Obama overcame these allegations that could have derailed his campaign. His victory in Wisconsin has proved to not only be benefitting his cause, but also severely hurting Senator Clinton's chances at winning the nomination. CNN's estimate of exit polls from Wisconsin show Obama recieving 56% of the vote from those aged 45-59, one of Senator Clinton's core constituencies in earlier voting. Senator Obama was expected to win easily in Hawaii because it is his home state. Obama has performed very well at caucuses this year because he is able to rally together large numbers of people. Since Senator Obama has been winning by such substantial margins, his lead over Senator Clinton is widening to a point where many insiders believe that it could be too late for Clinton to mount a comeback.
The next elections will be held on March 4, with the two big prizes being Ohio and Texas, which have a combined 389 delegates at stake. Clinton seems to have an early advantage in these two states, but a "Baracklamation" that sways voters in his direction is never out of the question.
With around 16 elections left to go, does Senator Clinton have a legitimate chance to mount a comeback? Why or why not? Do you see the plagiarism accusation being problematic for Senator Obama in later elections? Why or why not?
Monday, February 18, 2008
Shooting down a Satellite
The U.S. Navy will attempt to shoot down a faulty spy satellite.
A Delta II rocket lifts off in December, carrying a reconnaissance satellite that failed hours later.
The 5,000-pound satellite malfunctioned immediately after launch in December of 2006. It would likely survive re-entry and disperse potentially deadly fumes over an area the size of two football fields, officials have said.
Pentagon officials have said they believe the satellite would come down on its own in early March.
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said there's nothing the military can do to make the outcome worse.
"If we miss, nothing changes. If we shoot and barely touch it, the satellite is just barely in orbit" and would still burn up somewhat in the atmosphere, Griffin said.
"If we shoot and get a direct hit, that's a clean kill and we're in good shape," he added.
After reading this do you have any worries about the efficiency of the government? Or how they carry out their jobs?
The satellite immediately malfunctioned, that seems a little ridiculous to me. And now they have to spend a large sum of money to make sure that "potentially deadly fumes" dont disperse if the satellite were to survive reentry into the Earth's atmposphere.
A Delta II rocket lifts off in December, carrying a reconnaissance satellite that failed hours later.
The 5,000-pound satellite malfunctioned immediately after launch in December of 2006. It would likely survive re-entry and disperse potentially deadly fumes over an area the size of two football fields, officials have said.
Pentagon officials have said they believe the satellite would come down on its own in early March.
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said there's nothing the military can do to make the outcome worse.
"If we miss, nothing changes. If we shoot and barely touch it, the satellite is just barely in orbit" and would still burn up somewhat in the atmosphere, Griffin said.
"If we shoot and get a direct hit, that's a clean kill and we're in good shape," he added.
After reading this do you have any worries about the efficiency of the government? Or how they carry out their jobs?
The satellite immediately malfunctioned, that seems a little ridiculous to me. And now they have to spend a large sum of money to make sure that "potentially deadly fumes" dont disperse if the satellite were to survive reentry into the Earth's atmposphere.
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