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.