America's Next Top Model

America's Next Top Model. Ah, the epitome of what television has become. Constant bombardments of reality television shoving horrendous morals and values down the throats of Americans left and right. But the degenerate, entertainment lovers in this country sure do get what they want don't they? You have Rush Limbaugh writing an article and speaking about what shoes the First Lady wears out. You have the wonderful production, The Girls Next Door, which equates bimbo blonds as being some grouping of heroes, creating a part of the youth as snobbish ditzes who only worry about how they look and where the next party is so they can blackout. I would therefore have to agree with The New Jersey Volunteer, and say television and society's beliefs and values are going to hell in a hand basket and it does not look like anyone is willing to change it anytime soon.

Energy Resources

In the Environmental, an environment based blog, there was a recent post in regards to ocean floor energy. Apparently, there is an abundance of hydro methane, or as the author calls it "ice that burns". Gas hydrates would be drilled similarly to coal and oil and we would perhaps be seeing this within the next decade. Estimates claim that the gas hydrates could fuel all of America's cars and homes for 2000 years. Although there is such an optimistic view, scientists still need time to test the material to see if it presents any problems for the atmosphere or for humans in general.

Is it not great to see such a progress at a time like now? The economic downturn across the globe and the ever-increasing knowledge about our world has forced us to grow in all sectors at a quicker rate than in years past. It is an extremely exciting time in any science field, especially when dealing with the environment, as we have seen increases in efficiency and some crazy ideas in regards to our fight for energy independence. Hopefully, over the course of the next few decades, we can create a plethora of alternatives to fuel. If we are lucky, a renewable one.

Rush Limbaugh: Michelle's Shoes

Recently, Rush Limbaugh covered a story about Michelle Obama and her social work as she helped feed the poor in 500 dollar shoes. Yes, 500 dollar shoes may be a tad too expensive when working out in the streets in casual wear, but come on Mr. Limbaugh. Are there not more important topics to speak about then what Mrs.Obama wears?

Rush looks as if he is fallen down the same path our favorite cold-hearted person Miss Coulter went down as she fell from grace with all those educated remarks she makes. If you would like to be taken seriously Rush, by more than just the evangelicals and whatever it is you consider your group, I suggest you take a more serious approach in reporting the news. Credibility is gained through the focus on important topics and the continual push for objectivity. Rambling about a woman's shoes is definitely not one of the most important topics, and personally, I think reporters should be fined each and every time they report such garbage that has no educational value. You are just adding to the furtherance of the demise of the media and the educated public through adding entertainment as if it would pass as real news. Get a new focus and perhaps attempt to revive a sinking party. (like Mr. Kemp: too bad people like Rush Limbaugh could never make the impact that man has made)

Jack Kemp: Reinventing Party Platform

Over the weekend, the New York Times published a piece about Jack Kemp, a former football star who later on used his fame to begin a career in politics. He passed away at the age of 73 on Saturday due to complications from cancer. As a congressman for Buffalo, Kemp played a pivotal role in reshaping the Republican party's agenda with sharp rhetoric in regards to the idea of supply side economics and tax cuts to promote economic growth. Besides pushing a tax cut agenda that was accepted by the party and is still a strong part of the Republican platform till this day, Kemp advocated for more support for blacks and other minorities. He said after the 2008 election that, "the party of Lincoln needs to rethink and revisit its historic roots as a party of emancipation, liberation, civil rights and equality of opportunity for all.” (New York Times)

Jack Kemp represents progress, an individual who allowed his fervor for politics to open up new doors and opportunities that created enormous amounts of change for his party along with the constituents he represented. He embodies a sense of responsiblity and hard-work, that led to the foundation of Reagonomics and should be viewed as a role model for all those who aspire to make some sort of social impact during their lives here in the United States. He was a shining star among a world of greed and fight for votes that make politicians timid and irresponsive to change and he will be deeply missed.

Broadcast News vs Jon Stewart

The Daily Show is somewhat of a new phenomenon, a comedic talk show based around the realm of politics and general news. As one would think, the show has become a hit with the youth and has been an ever-increasing source of political information for the younger voters in this country. One of the obvious questions floating around "The Daily Show" would be whether or not the show has enough quality content. According to Julia Fox it does. (Check out the article. Pretty interesting.) Anyway, the sprouting of shows like "The Daily Show" have added a new venue for politicians to reach their constituency, and a younger crowd. It is always a plus whenever a show can educate a part of the country that is not getting enough current and life-affecting news, like teenagers and young voters.

As compared with the network news, I believe you can take in more information as long as you catch the correct stories. As mentioned in a previous blog post, sometimes the network news has a tendency to forget what is truly important, especially the political issues. In all, there is no problem with watching "The Daily Show" as an extra piece or source of information, but I suggest to the young voters; to be fully educated, one must exhaust every side of the story and reach the entire scope of the issue. So look around, and read differing opinions because in today's globalized media world, it is important to open your mind to multiple sources in order to formulate the best opinion and theory.

Not Enough Politics?

One of the biggest questions of today's media world is whether or not the country is getting enough of their daily dose of political stories. More and more, the media is moving toward an entertainment focus, featuring more "tabloidish" stories and less stories focused on domestic and foreign policies and politics in general. But is it wrong of the media outlets to do so? If one views the media solely as a business, then what they are doing is genius. It is as if they have hypnotized the public and they have complete control over what we see and hear. The media is not just for profit, and they must assume a business platform that reflects that stated manner. Being a reporter carries with it a sense of duty and social responsibility to the people of this country to report the facts without a bias. Instead, we have greedy conglomerates who focus on buffing up their bottom lines.

The media needs to recognize the power they have and the inherent nature of their industry in order to provide the public with the information WE need. The media should not be solely focusing on obtaining higher viewership through entertainment because they have a duty to report on central and important issues that are affecting the nation. I believe it is too late to change the new nature of these companies, but we can focus our attention on getting public broadcasting stations funded by the government, such as BBC, and perhaps these outlets can provide a more objective look at the news and more of a focused attention on serious issues, not entertainment.

Fox News vs CNN

Fox News and CNN. News Corp and Time Warner. Obviously, they are currently in a war for ratings and they differ in style. Fox News tends to be more opinionated, always offering their conservative bias in regards to the topic at hand, whereas CNN focuses more on relaying the information in what I think is a more objective manner. Fox News tends to love the drama and keep the public interested by throwing out their opinions and telling people what to think, and yes, there are some people with party affiliation who feel that receiving their slanted news from reporters is fine so long as it falls in line with their beliefs.

From a personal standpoint, I tend to believe that in order to fully understand and grasp the nature and essence of any given situation, one must be able to formulate his/her opinion from the ground up with just the sheer facts and therefore, CNN does a much better job at "reporting". When it comes to reporting politics, the economy, or religion/war, it is extremely important to stay objective and cover the facts. The people of this country receive no benefit from being spoon fed ideas from REPORTERS, and having shows like Fox News only polarize the nation as a whole. It does not allow for personal development. It just continues the socialization process and does not promote an adult nature or open perspective when it comes to politics.

The Epidemics of the United States of America

The recent outbreak of swine flu has brought an abnormal influx of accusations and what Howard Markel and Sam Potts call "reflexive scapegoating" in their Op-Ed piece found in the New York Times in regards to the history of epidemics and our subsequent reaction to those epidemics.

Since the cholera outbreak in the late 19th century, public health/medical officials have been doing their best to control the disease and protect their constituency, but that ultimately does not protect the people from their own scramble in confusion and misinformation that new age media has brought to the globalized world. It is as easy as what I am doing right now. The ability for individuals to use the computer and Internet to reach almost anywhere and anyone in this country is revolutionary and it has been changing media vastly, through the addition of tools such as blogs, Twitter, and social networking sites that allow you to post your own version of what is going on. Markel and Potts go on to speak about recent reports involving advice from politicians to have "migrant mexican workers be turned away from hospitals", and "a rash of scurrilous posts on the Internet attributing the outbreak to their “dirty” ways of life". It is growing ever-important that we use reliable and efficient forms of information, but I will tell you, it is disheartening to hear that there are so many uneducated people making remarks absolutely uncalled for on the Internet and through blog sites. (Perhaps this is why we get the swine flu stories in the first minute of the News Broadcast. It is what the people are all talking about.)

Finally, Markel and Potts make a tremendous point in that the country can take heart that we have diligent and remarkable health officials and doctors working around the clock to minimize the effects of a new strain of disease, specifically flu, within the United States, and it will only get better in the future.

Get off the Road Old Man!

We all know that the second you get your driver’s license the road to freedom opens up but what happens when your motor skills start to decrease? Many elders argue that they are not ready to give up their ability to drive and feel that it maintains their independence. There is no reason for seniors to feel attacked, eventually we all turn into elders and face the same problem. Is the feeling of independence worth it when it is causing fatal accidents? Individuals over the age of 65 are considered to be high-risk drivers and in most states, the only requirement is an eye exam.
The driving test should be given to all individuals at the age of 65 as well as every few years following. “Right now 32 states have no additional requirements for seniors renewing their licenses, even though drivers 75 and older have higher rates of fatal accidents than any other group except teenagers.” (CBS, 2001) Driving is a huge responsibility and PRIVLEDGE that requires safety so let us think about this, do you really want your love ones driving on the same roads as those who do not have as much control or the capacity to drive? “While fatality rates are dropping in all other age groups including teens, older-driver deaths are on the rise.” (CBS, 2001) By not acting on this problem, we are just waiting for accidents to happen. Eventually something has to be done. There are many other forms of transportation that can be afforded to the elderly at a much cheaper cost than the lives of others. Let's be smart and reasonable senior citizens and not get in the car if you are incapable of driving safely. And perhaps more importantly, let's be smart politicians. It is fairly simple to set regulations, rules and guidelines for driving safety. Remember, YOU marked it as a privledge not a freedom.

Critique on Feminist Blog; Equal Pay

Women have been fighting a discrimination war since the beginning of time. In 1963 when the Equal Pay Act was passed women were relieved and assumed this inequitable prejudice was finally being put to rest. Apparently, U.S businesses did not receive the memo because they are still denying females the right to make equal wages as males who are doing the same job. Recently, Lilly Ledbetter, after 19 years of working for Goodyear in Alabama, was informed that males in her workplace were making 15-40% more income than her for doing equal work. According to the Associated Press, she lost more than “$200,000 in salary and even more in pension and Social Security benefits" (Allen, 2009). After a long battle with the courts, Ledbetter brought her case to the Supreme Court which lead Barack Obama to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This act will allow individuals with pay discrimination will to file a complaint to the government within 180 days of their most recent paycheck.
There have been many arguments about one’s salary and whether or not people are being paid based on their gender or on their work ability. Today, another argument could oppose this by saying more women are being promoted over males based on attractiveness rather than ones performance. When arguing about equal pay, many people say that there are reasons why women should be paid less. Some of these reasons are the frequent choice to drop out for a few years to raise children, the idea that men have a type A personality causing them to be workaholics, and lastly there are more males than females in physically strenuous or dangerous jobs. When two people are doing the same job but happen to be of different genders there is NO reason for unequal pay and Goodyear should be embarrassed by their act of discrimination. Lilly Ledbetter has taken a stand for what she believes in and has now made a difference. It is time for U.S. businesses to treat their employees with respect and realize that everyone, not just males are trying to make a living and most often trying to support families. The Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963 and it is finally being dealt with, although the problem will never be solved until companies decide transparency in regards to pay grades is an important and public figure.

Are We Equal Yet? Emily Allen, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices columnist 2009
Feminist Blog:
http://www.takepart.com/blog/2009/01/29/fair-pay-act-signed-into-law/

"Good Night and Good Luck" , a Classic in My Book.

Edward R. Murrow, a true American who did his best to warn us of the potential problems that could occur within the media industry. For all those who know and lived through the McCarthy era, I guess this blog is not really for you. For all of those who do not know who the man is and the important role he played during the time, please keep reading. The movie deals with the struggle between media and the government, as well as the idea of media responsibility. Mr. Murrow defied his corporation along with the sponsors in order to make an impact upon the current state of the nation, which was caught in a storm of fear due to McCarthy's blacklisting and anti-communist efforts. Edward Murrow stood up to the government because he realized his part in being socially responsible, especially since he was the face of CBS News at the time. He made it a point to be a man of the people, to criticize and point out the inconsistencies found within McCarthy's interrogation of many different American citizens. The movie is based around a speech made by Murrow, in which he warns the people about the plausibility of there being a loss of focus within the television era if "we"do not stand up and ask for what is truly important. He warned that the television will lose its ability to be a tool for learning, and will only become a bunch of lights flashing in our faces to keep us entertained. (The man was Nostradamus when it comes to what happened to television) His fight should act as a model for all reporters who are willing to do their job correctly and willing to risk it all for the people that they represent and report the news to each day. Edward Murrow is a hero of this country, and one of the truest Americans to be apart of this country. He was a man who loved his country enough to stand up for it appropriately. Watch the movie. It is definitely worth the time.

NBC: Importance of News Stories Order

Ah, the 6:30 news broadcast. A time when all Americans alike can sit down and learn about the day's events and the pressing issues facing the United States of America. A time when reporters are meant to "report" the news that affects their constituency, hopefully instilling some sense of knowledge about IMPORTANT issues to the general public. Perhaps the reason why this country has such an uneducated voting electorate is because of the lack of social responsibility on the parts of the editors and reporters alike found at these institutions like NBC. Order is always an important tool when trying to reach the public, especially on a big boring dying breed such as the 6:30 news. (Not to mention that I could not find a kid walking the streets who watched the news that day) The job of reporters is to enlighten the public on political, social,and economic matters of interest that pertain to the overall health and sustainability of the United States of America. They are supposed to act as watchdogs on our elected political and public officials. (They did a terrible job in pointing out how much of a wimp President Obama is for going to meet with Chavez. It is as if Obama needs the adulation, even from enemies who do not want us there. Add the fact that it makes this country look extremely weak and gives us no credibility in the foreign affairs field. I hope Obama got a copy of the picture he took pointing to a book that equates the United States with imperialists and pillagers.) Yet when they present the news, it always seems to be in the wrong order, playing to the fear of the general public instead of providing insight into the country's real and much more important problems. For example, NBC opened up with the Swine Flu (although there have been below 10 cases in the immediate area and were most likely mild) then went straight to another health concern: raccoon ringworm?!!? How about the economy or foreign policy or an in-depth look a t voting patterns of elected officials? How about a status update on the War on Terrorism and perhaps a look into how the soldiers are faring? No. All those things do not get played until after the announced possible storm affecting our Cinco de Mayo celebration because God help us if we cannot party while our economy continues to suffer. As a country, we should reach out and petition for reporters to be more socially responsible for what is shown on television and for what they dub to be the "most" important. What people fail to see is that ultimately, the news stations and anything media related is a business. Until our government decides it is important to have stations like PBS and help in funding those stations, and until reporters realize it is not always about what the people want and increasing viewership, the people of this country will continue to get the run around and will never fully understand the scope and depth of the problems we are facing today.

Medicinal Marijuana: What People Do Not Want You to Know

The saying goes “There is no hope in dope” but is this true? (Ha I had to do it) We have come a long way in the medical field and one of the latest laws passed has been the use of medicinal marijuana to attack particular diseases that do not have a specific way through which one can fight it. (i.e other drugs) Drug usage almost always requires a prescription, and distribution is done within a framework defined by local and state laws. Perhaps the best point to make about the idea and concept of medicinal cannabis being a treatment is the opinion of the Supreme Court,which is that they do not have one and are allowing the states to choose what they believe is the best road. The Supreme Court does not want to place a precedent upon the idea of certain drugs being used in order to help and cope with pain, which for the most time, is rather serious. In the United States, fourteen states have been able to recognize medicinal marijuana. The scientific evidence keeps piling up in favor of medicinal cannabis, and many patients are seeing enormous improvement in their symptoms with this treatment. For example, medicinal cannabis has been used in patients with severe MS disorders and has allowed people with that terrible and deadly disease to regain a part of their life that they would have never been able to get back without marijuana. Here is a quick video to peak those senses and hopefully, you will notice the importance of taking action and writing to your respective delegates in order to change our country's wrong perspective on marijuana.



Studies have shown that medical marijuana can aid in reducing symptoms of terminal illnesses such as AIDS and cancer, by helping reduce pain and nausea from treatment and increasing appetite. Some doctors and researchers also believe that cannabis can help anxiety, glaucoma, depression, arthritis, convulsion and inflammation. Each new study that comes out finds new possible ways medicinal cannabis can help those who need it. Just read this:

"In 2006, Donald Tashkin, M.D., of the University of California in Los Angeles, presented the results of his study, Marijuana Use and Lung Cancer: Results of a Case-Control Study. Tashkin found that smoking marijuana does not appear to increase the risk of lung cancer or head-and-neck malignancies, even among heavy users. The more tobacco a person smoked, the greater their risk of developing lung cancer and other cancers of the head and neck. But people who smoked more marijuana were not at increased risk compared with people who smoked less and people who didn’t smoke at all. Marijuana use was associated with cancer risk ratios below 1.0, indicating that a history of pot smoking had no effect on the risk for respiratory cancers. In contrast, tobacco smoking had a 21-fold risk for cancer. Tashkin concluded, "It's possible that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana smoke may encourage apoptosis, or programmed cell death, causing cells to die off before they have a chance to undergo malignant transformation".

To me, that is truly astonishing. An individual can inhale smoke from marijuana plants, yet it does not cause more respiratory risk factors, it actually helps in reducing them. Finally, the American Medical Association, the largest group of physicians in the country, has been supporting the use of marijuana for medical purposes. And who are we to tell the largest group of doctors that they are wrong?

Heavy Petting: Girls Next Door Impact on the Socialization of Girls

In the episode “Heavy Petting “ the Girls Next Door prepare for an Easter Party in only the way Playboy playmates can. Shows such as these are amazing pieces of television, aimed and shown for only one reason I can think of: sex and fake breasts sell. (The show is almost as bad as Real Housewives) Bridget’s character gets a new dog and when the dog refuses to let her put bows in its hair Bridget refers to the dog as a “Tom boy.” Besides having no direction or meaning, the show constantly allows these "adults" to speak incorrectly, further dumbing the population that actually sits down and believes they enjoy the show. (The people who feel that way should not have a right to vote or let alone be considered an adult in society.) Bridget moves on to talk about the last party she threw for her dogs and how it went “really good.” The incorrect grammar used seems to be “dumbed” down for television considering Bridget has several master degrees. Later on at the Easter Egg party, the girls are asked to wear uncomfortable bunny costumes. Bridget’s response to the situation is “sometimes you have to pay a price.” In past episodes Bridget has struggled with her weight and instead of showing her losing weight in a healthy manner, the media fails to explain that many of these women have had plastic surgery. Research indicates “exposure to images of thin, young, air-brushed female bodies is linked to depression, loss of self-esteem and the development of unhealthy eating habits in women and girls.” (Beauty and Body Image In the Media, 2009)
On to the next genius, Kendra. Kendra states that she’s “not a girly girl” and that she would have never sat there painting eggs before living in the mansion. Kendra does not want to participate, but does so in order to fit in with the other girls. On Easter Sunday, Kendra wears a very short, pastel colored dress, just like Holly and Bridget. Feminine clothes such as this are constraining and hard to move around in but it does not seem to stop Kendra because she realizes her place at the mansion is to look sexually attractive and that is all. At the Easter egg decorating party, Holly uses her mouth to literally blow the yolk out of an egg and jokingly says, “Finally I found something I’m good at!” Holly only sees herself talented at one task that is similar to a very sexual act. There is never any mention of career or education ambition. Females do get educated and go to college, but that is never depicted in the show. Holly has the potential for intelligence but only sees her talent as what she is expected to do and be, which is to wear skimpy clothing and act like she does not understand the world around her. These women choose to act this way, and in doing so, are setting a terrible example for women and young girls around the country. (Let us hope this show does not air elsewhere)
Not only are women watching this show but young girls are as well. The media should be aware of what they are exposing to our young population. Television and movies reinforce the importance of a thin body as a measure of a woman’s worth. “Twenty years ago, the average model weighed 8 per cent less than the average woman—but today’s models weigh 23 per cent less.” (Beauty and Body Image In the Media, 2009) Women do not comprehend that the media images of women are sometimes unfeasible. In a study conducted by regenerating a computer model of a women with Barbie doll proportions found “that her back would be too weak to support the weight of her upper body, and her body would be too narrow to contain more than half a liver and a few centimeters of bowel. A real woman built that way would suffer from chronic diarrhea and eventually die from malnutrition.” (Beauty and Body Image In the Media, 2009) Barbie is one of the top sold toys to girls ages 3-10.
While women are depicted in a world of thinness and beauty, “The Girls Next Door” depict Hugh Hefner as living the dream for all men. The women in this show receive their power from Hefner instead of their own goals or accomplishments from themselves. This show is just another one of the Medias brilliant ideas to reinforce gender expectations instead of adding to the epidemic of real life women and girls who seek a similar lifestyle as their so-called role models.

What a joke!

Ok so this blog is going to be extremely off topic but I think it is important to recognize. Sports play a great role in the American society. From baseball to tennis, each and every sport evokes feelings of grandeur and creates dreams for each fan, while at the same time, developing young men and women into all-around individuals. The New York/Metro Area and basketball almost go hand in hand. The area has developed so many talented athletes, particularly in basketball, that it is mind-boggling to look at. I would like to spend the next blog speaking about perhaps the best high school basketball coach to ever walk this earth, Bob Hurley.
Over the course of the past week, the Naismith Hall of Fame announced this year's nominees and finally made a decision on who would be going into the '09 class. Although the class had a list of heralded athletes, of which includes inductees David Robinson and Michael Jordan, the selection committee made a gigantic mistake in not choosing Coach Hurley. The Hall of Fame is not just an institution of great players and winning shots, it is a temple of the game of basketball, one that should honor the games greatest both on the court as well as off the court. The impact that a coach can have on a player or a situation is enormous, and for the selection committee to snub one of its own best all-around men, speaks volumes to the committee's lack of understanding. Maybe the committee has a problem with putting a coach in who "decided" on his own to stay at the high school level. Or maybe the committee is having trouble seeing what a great and self-righteous choice Mr. Hurley made to stay at the high school level.
Coach Hurley gave up the extra money and he gave up the fame because he knew in his heart that coaching in Jersey City, where many kids are disadvantaged and use the game to get out, was the best way to make an impact upon this world as well as the game. He used his LOVE of the game to change the lives of those around him for the better. Mr. Hurley has had a hand in getting hundreds of kids into colleges, and without him, many of those kids probably would not have had the chance to go to college at all. Terry Dehere said the other day comparing Jordan and Hurley, " I don't know if Michael Jordan had a role in getting over 200 kids into college. He never had to be part psychologist, part father, part protector to all those kids for four years."

Terry Dehere went on to say that "he knew" the committee made a mistake, and that his success can be credited to how Coach Hurley instilled a sense of discipline into him. Is that story alone not enough? He has made a profound impact on the lives of hundreds of young teenagers searching for themselves as well as the game. I personally had the chance to experience playing against a Coach Hurley St. Anthony's basketball team, and it is amazing the work he does at the school. The respect between player and coach and vice versa can be seen through the discipline of the players both on the court and off the court. When he is speaking to a player, the player is quiet, listening and always making eye contact. What's amazing is that I do not even need to mention that he has won nearly 1000 games, has 24 state championships in the toughest division in the state (Parochial) and has a winning percentage over 90. That is not what truly matters. Where I am going with this is that Coach Hurley develops young kids into respectable and honored men and that he deserves fully to be in the Hall of Fame, and without him, it will never be complete.

Net-Zero Tax on Gas

What does the average American do when they see the word "tax"? Well, it seems that we as a country have a completely negative tone when it comes to taxes and it does not feel as if it was going to change anytime soon. The sad thing about this picture is that our country has the opportunity to embark on a new (new in the United States at least) promising mission in the energy field that would help stabilize the sector as well as put the country on the correct road to energy independence. The idea is simple: the terms net zero refer to the true action that is taking place. Essentially, it is a situation created through the negation of both actions from one side and the other, or easily put, zeroing out the particular equation or situation at hand. Now, as for a course of action. Simultaneously, the government would enact a $1 increase in the federal gasoline tax along with a $14 reduction of the FICA tax. The numbers, in particular the $14 return, come from U.S based averages of gas consumption on a weekly basis. Now it is simple math from here on out. The average American would therefore spend $14 dollars out of his/her pocket per week and would receive a refund for the $14 dollars through a return on their respective FICA tax every week as well. Makes sense, right.

Here are the better parts. Besides helping out the average consumer immediately, it would also have a great effect in lessening the pains of a turbulent market, which as it stands now, allows gas to wander and fluctuate its price enormously. It would create a situation in which the price of gas can be stabilized to a controlled level by lowering the demand for oil. In addition, countries such as Russia will be dealt substantial economic damage due to their high investment in energy exporting, which is crucial at this point in time in terms of politics because of China's threat to both Russia as well as the United States in the future. Right now, China is on a path to becoming a regional hegemon, and with their economic strength and growing quick strike and attack first capabilities, they pose a huge risk to stability in the region, but that is a whole different story. (One that this country needs to answer quickly. We cannot expect China to be docile forever) Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the levying of a tax on gas would allow the United States to keep more liquid assets in the country, which is extremely important in the current economic climate as well as for the future, knowing that last year alone the United States sent over a trillion dollars abroad through oil trades.

If we take this one step further, perhaps take a glance into the future in regards to our push for energy cleanliness and efficiency, we notice that a tax on gas would allow for total market take over in the energy sector. THE MARKET WOULD DO EVERYTHING! Instead of creating confusion and passing new laws for gas mileage, we could lower the demand for oil, which would then push the market toward new, cleaner, and more efficient energy measures without too much government regulation besides the gas tax itself. The only problem is that people cannot see past the simple word "tax" and understand that everything about this plan makes sense, especially in a downturn like today's. We only get a few chances here or there when the gas prices get low, and personally I think we may have missed our shot. Let us just hope and pray that maybe ten or fifteen years from now we get another chance at taxing gas and we as a people make the correct choice.

MORE INFO CAN BE FOUND AT http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/949rsrgi.asp

The article was published by Charles Krauthammer, and offers in-depth analysis of his proposal and idea. Check it out if you get the time. Like me, you will read his article and will be continually saying the word "yes".

Welcome!

Welcome. As we all know, the country is facing an economic epidemic, one that has the ability to force this country into realms of debt, social anxiety, and perhaps a downfall from its' superpower status in world politics to just another player around the globe. As our country slips into a deep recession, (some feel the effects will last nearly ten years) it is important for the country to voice its opinion and make it clear to our political leaders what we exactly need and offer input on how it can be solved. The underlying issue is that the majority of the public is misinformed when it comes to politics. In a world of ever-growing globalization, people, our country in particular, are falling prey to self-socialization. People now have the ability to choose exactly what they want to see and what they want to hear. The FCC helped in the downfall by loosening the ties and restrictions on media conglomerates and allowing them to grow their media outlets to a point where it is polarizing and dividing the country, in most parts through the idea of political parties and affiliation. It is just one of the many topics that will be covered over the next few months in my blog, and let us hope once I return, there are not any more problems to add to the growing list in this country.