...State of the Union Address President Barack Obama, seeking to restore confidence in his leadership, declared in his State of the Union address that he would use executive power to try to narrow the gap between rich and poor and speed the nation’s economic recovery. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), the House GOP’s highest-ranking woman, asserted that Obama was making it tougher for most Americans. “Right now, the President’s policies are making people’s lives harder; Republicans have plans to close the gap.” Costa and Kane (2014, January 29). Flurry of GOP responses to State of the Union address .WSJ, p. A1, A4. The President talks a lot about income inequality, but the real gap we face today is with this administration’s policies, that gap has become far too wide. The unemployment rate fell last month, but more Americans stopped looking for jobs than found one. The President also spoke about increasing the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10. House Speaker John Boehner said “Raising the minimum wage would result in less hiring and the loss of low-wage jobs.” Costa and Kane (2014, January 29). Flurry of GOP responses to State of the Union address .WSJ, p. A1, A4. I do support the increase of the minimum wage but it has to be done incrementally every year for the next six years. If it is not done incrementally the disadvantage of a minimum wage increase will be an additional cost to businesses that will lead to job cuts. The last thing the country needs right now is job reduction...
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...Throughout our history the Democratic and Republican parties have gone head to head in many social problems. With the amount of trouble our country has been in and the low rate of jobs, economy has become the most talked about social problem between parties. The second most talked about social problem is the military issues. While those two social problems being the most talked about the next one on the long list of problems in our country is gay rights and marriage. However, with no jobs and a hurting country economy is the biggest issue we face today. The economic ideas the Democratic Party has is favoring minimum wages and progressive taxation, which means higher tax rates for citizens that make more money. On the other hand, the Republican Party believes that taxes should not be increased for anyone, including the wealthy, and that wages should be set by the free market. The free market is a structure that takes into consideration the supply and demand of goods or services and bases the cost around that. The controlling of the cost is made by the government or monopolies. The Republican parties oppose interventionist policies that put the federal government in control of industry and allow it to pick winners and losers in the marketplace. During America’s last recession the Democratic Party has done its best to try and regain what our country use to be. The motto Democrats have followed is the problem didn’t occur in one night so it’s going to be fixed in one night....
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...RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $14 AN HOUR USING THIS ONE WEIRD TRICK! February 26, 2014 Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email Share on print More Sharing Services 1.1K Democrats believe they've hit on the perfect issue to distract from the horror of Obamacare in the 2014 elections: the minimum wage. Apparently, increasing the minimum wage was not important for American workers during the first five years of Obama's presidency -- least of all his first two years, when Democrats controlled Congress and could have passed anything. (And did!) No. The minimum wage did not become a pressing concern until an election year in which the public's hatred of Obamacare is expected to be the central issue. As The New York Times explained, Democrats see the minimum wage as an issue that "will place Republican candidates in a difficult position," and also as a tool "to enlarge the electorate in a nonpresidential election, when turnout among minorities and youths typically drops off." (Unlike Republicans, Democrats consider it important to win elections.) To most people, it seems as if the Democrats are giving workers something for nothing. But there are always tradeoffs. No serious economist denies that increasing the minimum wage will cost jobs. If it's not worth paying someone $10 an hour to do something, the job will be eliminated -- or it simply won't be created. The minimum wage is the perfect Democratic issue. It will screw the very people it claims to help, while making...
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...another word, they will be legally to work in United States but it offers no path to citizenship. This will open a path for many high skilled workers to the United States labor force. Another major change is that Obama’s action will end a program called Secure Communities, therefore Immigration and Custom Enforcement as well as other law enforcement agencies will begin to priority their focus on criminals and felons rather than working families and security on the border will be increased. While many Americans think this is a righteous move that should have been done long ago to fix our broken immigration policy, the plan is opposed strongly by the Republicans. President Obama has no option but to use his executive action. House Speaker John Boehner states that the president is acting like a king or emperor with his executive action on the new immigration reform. The plan is also facing lawsuit from many different states, but Obama administration believes that the policies could withstand any lawsuit. Obama says in his speech, “The actions I’m taking are not only lawful; they’re the kind of actions taken by every single Republican President and every Democratic President for the past half century.” Funding is not an issue for the new immigration reform as it is self-funded. As long as if they pass the background check, most of the people will benefit from this are unauthorized immigrants who are the parents of United States citizens. In return, they have to pay taxes if they choose...
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...Explaining Unemployment: An Analysis on State Unemployment Rates Rachel Schlesselman Creighton University Introduction and Research Question Mississippi has 48,434 square miles of land. The state flower is the magnolia. Hawaii has only 6, 423 square miles of land and the yellow hibiscus as the state flower. These states are very different in many aspects; their populations, products, and geography are all very different. States are very unique and while national averages can give a general understanding of these separate entities, how are we to be sure it is an accurate account. The national average for unemployment in August of 2006 was at 4.7 percent. This does not adequately represent the unemployment rates for Mississippi or Hawaii. Mississippi had the highest unemployment rate of all states at 7.1 percent. Hawaii on the other hand, had the lowest at 2.8 percent. If the national average does not accurately represent the unemployment rates of these states, is it not then important for us to look at those state rates and determine our own cause for the differences? It is because of this I ask the question, how do we explain the variation of unemployment rates among the individual states? It is important to clarify exactly what the question is asking and the unit of analysis that is going to be tested. According to the Bureau of Labor, unemployment is defined as “persons who did not work or have a job during the reference period, were actively looking for work during the...
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...July 29, 2006. Economic growth Mark Whitehouse and Greg Ip in their article on economic growth explain on the price rise as well as on growth slow. Explains that during economic expansion, prices and wages are increasing, a potentially noxious mix for a Federal Reserve will try to contain inflation without triggering a recession. According to an advance estimate made by the commerce department economic activity slowed as a result of builders putting up fewer homes and consumers cutting on spending. Economists explain that slowing growth and rising prices will continue to complicate Fed’s task of deciding what level of interest rates is high enough to contain inflation. However, it’s not so high to slay out economic growth. Between April and June inflation grew at a rate of 2.5% whereas the core personal consumption index rose at an annualized rate of 2.9% in the second quarter. More so the level of worker’s wages and benefits rose at 3.6%. Once the Friday report was released investors took up the vision that Fed would be more likely give the economy a break by holding the interests steadily at 5.25%. This report confirmed the predictions of the economists that cooling house market as well as the consumer spending will take a bite out of economic growth. However, some economists had the hopes that business investment as well as improving the foreign trade would offset declines in spending and construction. This only came partially. A different report indicated that people...
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...Minimum Wage and the Working Poor HD 403 Poverty Spring 2012 Introduction It is believed one way to help the working poor is to increase the minimum wage to elevate their yearly income. But surveys and studies have shown that raising the minimum wage has done very little to help poverty rate. What it has done is eliminate jobs that the working poor filled and increased inflation. It seems to be an ineffective way to help the poor, a combination of other anti-poverty tools together would produce better results. Issue Each president has wanted to help those in poverty and the working poor in America. President Clinton increased the federal minimum wage to bring up the wages of the working poor. Is that the answer? What will happen when the federal minimum wage is brought up to $9.50 an hour? This article is looking into possibilities of what may happen with poverty and the working poor if the minimum wage were increased. The working poor are people in the workforce but wages still fall below the poverty level. The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 has increased the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour (Rep. Miller, 2007). The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports in 2011, there were 73.9 million American workers age 16 and older were paid hourly wage. But only 1.7 million workers made minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and 2.2 million had wages below the minimum (USDL, 3/2012). The working poor looked like a person who had not graduated high school...
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...A Compromised Solution to Illegal Immigration The issue of illegal immigration is certainly a very pertinent and current issue of today. Currently there are two resolutions to the issue being proposed by the Democrats and the Republican parts. The Democratic plan works to try and legalize all those who are here illegally, whereas the Republican backed plan seeks to enforce the laws that we all ready have in place. Although both plans have advantages and disadvantages, the Republican backed plan seems to be a superior plan. The illegal immigration problem that is occurring in the United States is a mass crossing of the Southern boarder by Mexican and other central American residents. The number of illegal crossings is estimated to be close to one million a year (State Laws Related to Immigration and Immigrants 1). This number is only an estimate though, and only around 500,000 aliens, or people caught illegally in other countries, are apprehended each year meaning that the number could be even larger(1). These large numbers of illegal aliens entering our country brings with it great risk and danger to us. Every year U.S. citizens living along the boarder are killed by illegals crossing into the U.S. , as well as many Boarder patrol agents who are killed and wounded in the line of duty (U.S. Immigration Policy 1). The illegals crossing also usually bring many illegal substances, such as drugs and guns, which are then sold on the black market in the U.S.. Fears are also mounting...
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...those polled disapprove of the current performance by Congress, and most blamed politicians for failure to take action (Cloud 3709). These accusations of failure to follow through come with historical proof that Congress and Clinton have failed to compromise and resolve the issue. After all, current budget plans are dependent on somewhat unrealistic predictions of avoiding such catastrophes as recession, national disasters, etc., and include minor loopholes. History has shown that every budget agreement that has failed was too lax. One might remember the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings bill that attempted to balance the budget, but left too many exemptions, and was finally abandoned in 1990 (Weinberger 33). So after a pain-staking trial for GOP Republicans to create, promote, and...
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...not originally in the constitution became a vehicle where like-minded people can congregate and discuss similar opinions. Political parties have been instrumental in shaping the United States. Lets go back to the year 1792 when the First Party system was created. Alexander Hamilton the newly appointed U.S treasury secretary believed in an America with a strong central government whose duty was to grow manufacturing to increase economic development. Meanwhile on the other side of the fence was Thomas Jefferson. His vision of America was different, he believed in an American government that allowed agriculture to thrive by limiting central government and allowing the states to handle local matters. By limiting the involvement of central government, farmers would be able to grow their crops in peace and, trade the fruits of their labors for manufactured goods with neighboring countries (Henretta, J. A., & Edwards, R. 2012 p.199). With these ideologies in mind, both men started campaigning for supporters. Those who sided with Thomas Jefferson became known as the Democratic-Republican Party and those who opposed Jefferson and embraced Hamilton’s views became the Federalist Party. Initially the Federalist Party had the advantage, their network of newspapers out numbered the Democratic-Republicans by 4 to 1 (Stewart, 1969, p.622). These newspapers were used to spread the word and ideas identifying political parties. However by 1816, the Federalist began...
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...Albert Einstein, is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. The Republican Party can relate. In the words of Reince Pribus, the RNC Chairman: “The way we communicate our principles isn’t resonating widely enough. Focus groups described our party as narrow-minded, out of touch and, quote, stuffy old men.” Pribus’ interpretation confounds me, along with the thought process behind “The American people have twice elected a liberal President because we didn’t communicate our conservative values enough!” I call into question Pribus’ sanity for literally assuming that the focus group didn’t take issue with the narrow-mindedness itself- but rather the method of delivering said narrow-mindedness. Alas, the GOP will persevere on its path of self-destruction by investing $10 million in a PR campaign directed at young, female, and minority voters about “what it means to be a Republican”. Good luck. As a young female, I know exactly what it would be like to be a Republican. Yikes. National Ratings for the party are at historic lows. In the long run, electoral success isn’t feasibly possible for the GOP without ditching 1950 for 2013, so to speak. That leaves us with the question of when this adapting will occur. In 2012, Republicans won the House majority despite Democrats receiving 1.4 million more votes than Republicans. This was due to gerrymandered districts in key states, along with Democrat’s high concentration in cities. As for the 2014 Midterm races, particularly...
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...Lesia Johnson February 19,2013 State of the Union Speech American National Government The President discussed 5 important points in his 2013State of the Union Speech and they were: Immigration Reform: Minimum Wage Increase: Tax Reform & Debt Ceiling: Climate Change and Gun Control. At a time when Republicans are insisting on spending cuts, Obama pushed more public spending on universal preschool, construction work on bridges and schools and a jobs program rebuilding vacant homes in rundown neighborhoods. He pushed for an increase in the minimum wage to $9 an hour, with future increases tied to the cost of living. And he continued to push in support of left-leaning social issues including gun control, immigration reform, climate change and advancing equal rights for gays. President Obama stated how the American people does not expect government to solve every problem nor agree on every issue, but we do expect for the government to put the nation’s interests before party. He stated that their work must begin by making some basic decisions about the budget, decisions that will have a huge impact on the strength of American recovery. Over the last few years, both parties have been working together to reduce the deficit and has done so by more than $2.5 trillion, mostly through spending cuts, but also by raising tax rates on the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. As a result, we are more than halfway towards the goal of $4 trillion...
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...United States has held the value for quite some time, from it’s founding in fact, that its citizens have certain rights that should be upheld in every way. One of those is the right to health. Whether or not a person is able to pay the bill should not be the deciding factor in deciding if that person receives the care and treatment they need to be healthy, or alive. Churches and other charitable organizations had always been at the forefront of helping those who were going through hard times. Doctors were either recruited to volunteer their time and services or paid by donations of the better off. In the 1800s, the army developed one of the first government health care programs for veterans and active service members by introducing government run hospitals for the purpose. These were consolidated in 1930 to form a network of Veterans Affairs. In 1965-1966 the government amended the social security act to form Medicare and Medicaid for the elderly and those who were below a certain income level for the provision of funds to help those who couldn’t pay their own medical costs. And in 1997 congress started CHIP, which was a program designed to help with the costs of children’s medical bills for qualified families. Democrats in particular have always favored and voted for government giving to the poor, following the philosophy of taking from those who have, and giving to those who have not. While this socialist structure sounds good in theory it can lead to some issues...
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...allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands: one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” These words are uttered in elementary schools, high schools, and various events and meetings throughout the nation everyday. We usually do not associate the image of welfare with the American flag or think about it as we recite the allegiance. We, however, associate it with images of prosperity and freedom. As I look closely at the last words of this allegiance: “…with liberty and justice for all.” I remember the number of homeless who beg in the streets, those who for one reason or another await assistance in the social services office, and those who because of the color of their skin or gender association have yet to receive their share of benefits. According to Webster’s dictionary, welfare means “Well-doing or well-being in any respect; the enjoyment of health and the common blessings of life; exemption from any evil or calamity; prosperity; happiness.” Before taking classes such as this, my connotation of welfare was totally opposite. Welfare always meant something bad. When I heard the word ‘welfare’ I pictured a homeless person or an immigrant who’s only dream was a better life, but found it was not as easy as it seemed. When I heard about someone on welfare I was quick to jump to conclusions. I’d assume he or she was lazy and just didn’t want to work or that he or she was in some sort of trouble. Looking at Webster’s...
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...Rhetorical Strategies: Minimum Wage Whether an opinion piece is effective depends on the expertise of rhetorical strategy of an author. This can either make a written piece convincing or unconvincing to the target audience. A clear example of how rhetorical strategies make a piece more convincing is the comparison of David Laska’s, “Minimum Need for a Minimum Wage Increase”, and Shamus Khan’s, “The Promise of More: Why We Should Raise the Minimum Wage”. By using rhetorical analysis on both opinion pieces Laska clearly makes a better argument. He makes use of logos by including statistics, an expert’s research in the field of minimum wage, and historical data to attack Obama’s decision to raising the minimum wage. He includes pathos to create a sense of disappointment and hopelessness in Obama’s decision effectively to convince his mainly conservative audience. In comparison, Khan also makes use of logos by mainly focusing on historical and some statistical data to convince his more liberal target audience. He also makes use of pathos to instill a sense of remorse for minimum wage workers, and also to call the readers to action. His evidence seems a little weak though, because in one case he forces the reader to open a link for another article for evidence and it seems that his claim relies too much on pathos. First, it is important to note how the author’s ethos affects the basic effectiveness of the article since credibility of writers is vital to convince the target audience...
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