Mandatory Health Insurance

This article discusses how Obama is making health insurance mandatory for every American. He stated that employers would have to share in the cost and that there would be a waiver for those who could not afford insurance. This relates to the legitimacy discussion we had in class, in that this type of government could be rejected as illegitimate. This also relates to the common themes about legitimation, especially money and knowledge are key influences. Officials think that this reform of the healthcare system will ultimately lower our federal deficit.

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/should-health-insurance-be-mandatory/?scp=1&sq=required%20health%20insurance&st=Search

-Kelly Neary

Outside of the spill, but still people want to be paid

The BP oil spill while physically only reaching Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama; have had adverse economic effects throughout the nation with many claims having be failed against BP from companies and people in all 50 U.S. states, looking for financial compensation for loses caused by the spill. This will soon become a large public issue, with the multiple parties needing to get involved including the U.S. government, to step in to help allocate these compensations. Because BP cannot physically provide this fiscal compensation for even a small percentage of the claims, a standard and or system needs to be put in place in order to provide the means of determining what percent of both the claims and the amount being asked for, are paid.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/business/24claim.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=us

Ben Rains

One-Note Tax Debate

This article discusses how Obama’s budget calls for making tax credits permanent along with the tax cuts on the middle class. These laws would ensure that people kept more of their earned income credits, which would help ensure that employed people do not fall below the poverty line. This relates to the tools of government lecture from class, specifically the tax expenditures since there is favored tax treatment for the middle class. It also relates to the two philosophies we discussed; those in favor of the classical liberalism approach would argue that they deserve to reap the benefits of their labors, and that the government doesn’t have a right to take their money. However those in favor of civic republicanism would argue the responsibility of philanthropy, and that we should be sharing our money more widely.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/opinion/21thu2.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=earned%20income%20tax%20credit&st=cse

-Kelly Neary

Will LED light bulbs be the "new hot topic?"

Jet engines are the inspiration for GE's new energy-saving light bulb. This stunning new technology was derived from the amount of over heating jet engines that do not have the proper cooling techniques similar to LED bulbs. LED bulbs are not as good as engines when it comes to staying cool, so scientists inserted a few jet engine cooling mechanisms inside LED bulbs. The outcome of this is a lightweight 1,500 lumen LED bulb that produces as much light as a 100 watt halogen bulb while using a third of the energy. GE's 1,500 lumen bulb is actually half the size and weight of the 600 lumen LED bulb available today. This new invention proves that technology is becoming more reliable and it is also taking away the number of jobs available to citizens.


http://www.fastcompany.com/1696953/ge-debuts-jet-engine-inspired-led-bulbs

Health Care Overhaul Depends on States’ Insurance Exchanges

Health Care policy enacted by President Obama and the Congressional Budget Office predict that 24 million people will be insured by 2019. In order to successfully insure the American people, "insurance exchanges" that act as a shopping entities that organize a variety of plans suitable to different families are necessary. States such as Utah and Massachusetts have been the first to act upon such insurance exchanges. In Utah, employees of small businesses can go to a state Web site and sign up for insurance over the Internet, searching for the the plan that is most suitable. In Massachusetts, people typically file paper applications for subsidized coverage offered by one of five state-approved insurers. Massachusetts has had a government-run "insurance marketplace" for four years. The states along with federal government are working toward similar systems so consumers and employers can make knowledgeable and realistic comparisons. The White House has provided $49 million to states to help them set up exchanges.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/health/policy/24exchange.html?_r=1&ref=us&pagewanted=print

No surprise: Democrats and Republicans differ on election predictions

The 2010 mid-term elections come down to campaign basics in the final nine days until vote counting begins. For now, the two parties agree that Republicans will win more seats than they currently hold, but they differ sharply on how many and whether a major power shift will occur.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele told NBC's "Meet the Press" program that an unprecedented GOP wave would win control of both chambers as well as state legislatures in a broad condemnation of President Barack Obama and Democratic policies.

The Delaware race is a prime example. Christine O'Donnell's primary win over nine-term Republican Rep. Mike Castle made a Senate seat once considered likely Republican now an apparent Democratic victory for previously little-known Chris Coons.

O'Donnell's campaign became a national joke over a long-ago comment that she once "dabbled in witchcraft" and other missteps. It also exposed a rift within the political right between the mainstream Republican establishment, which criticized O'Donnell and other Tea Party backed candidates, and the more conservative Tea Party movement.

Jobless topping 420,000

Since the start of October people filing for unemployment benefits rose 13,000 from October 2 until October 9. Since last November the level of unemployment claims has hovered around 400,000 (plus or minus). This provides evidence according to a PNC analyst that the job market is still hobbled and needs help. "Claims are going in the wrong direction again, but it's a one week move after several weeks of improvements" he said. Smoother sailing should be ahead as the last of the temporary workers hired by the Census work through the system. The U.S. has begun using the tools of government (employment services, ect) to help implement aid for those claiming for unemployment benefits

Hayden Wolf

http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/14/news/economy/jobless_claims/index.htm