"Selling quality, not quantity" is the current situation at Italy. Since 1980s, more and more Chinese immigrant began t settle in Prato while stated to make low-end clothes, shoes and accessories,which all those materials imported form China. The control of state tax and immigration authorities is one of the important reasons why Chinese can such easily copy the fashion label of Italy. as a matter of fact, it is a real risk for the Chinese industries since they don't know that they are already lost the creative thinking about the production and the future of China's industrial might be no longer created the fashion by themselves.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/world/europe/13prato.html?_r=1&hp
by yuxiazheng
Monday, September 13, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
G.O.P. Leader Boehner Is Tightly Bound to Lobbyists
John Boehner is the Republican Minority Leader in the U.S. House of Representatives. If republicans win big as expected this November then he becomes the Speaker of the House as Nancy Polosi is for the democrats. John Boehner is also the most heavily lobbied congressman in Washington. With ties dating back to the early 90's to big banks with unlimited funds like Citi-Group or large Tobacco conglomerates, Rep. Boehner wields enormous influence over Republicans eager to have their campaigns funded by corporate money.
The recent controversial supreme court decision that granted corporations the same campaign funding rights as a person further perpetuates the fascism in American politics. The article speaks of the some issues Rep. Boehner was recently lobbied at weekly meeting and they ranged from eliminating a debit card cap fee to preventing a cap on greenhouse gases. I believe the convergence of business and politics is undemocratic.
Posted by: Mark Brady
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/us/politics/12boehner.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp
The recent controversial supreme court decision that granted corporations the same campaign funding rights as a person further perpetuates the fascism in American politics. The article speaks of the some issues Rep. Boehner was recently lobbied at weekly meeting and they ranged from eliminating a debit card cap fee to preventing a cap on greenhouse gases. I believe the convergence of business and politics is undemocratic.
Posted by: Mark Brady
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/us/politics/12boehner.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp
Cigarette Taxes in a Big Brother State
In tough economic times the government often turn to taxing the nonessential goods, and this is certainly turn in our neighboring state Illinois. Recently an article appeared in the Chicago Tribune addressing one of the effects of this tax, people taking steps to avoid it. The current estimate states that the city of Chicago alone loses around 120 million dollars a year in untaxed cigarette money. The cause of this is people counterfeiting stamps, buying across state borders, or simply not buying stamps.
At root of this issue is a conflict between the market and the government sector on control. The tobacco industry is being limited by the massive tax imposed on its product. However this policy is allowed because of the idea of sin tax and government social intervention. The extremity of the nature of this tax can be seen in with comparison. The tax on cigarettes in Indiana adds about a dollar to the price of a pack, while in Illinois the tax adds on about 3.66$. A possible "solution" to this that is being tested involves an electronic id on the stamps, but the main problem so far has been the cost of the technology required for this to be effective. It will be intresting in the coming years to see whether or not the politcians realize that if they didn't place massive taxes on the cigarettes in the first place, they wouldn't have to spend so much money to make sure people pay.
At root of this issue is a conflict between the market and the government sector on control. The tobacco industry is being limited by the massive tax imposed on its product. However this policy is allowed because of the idea of sin tax and government social intervention. The extremity of the nature of this tax can be seen in with comparison. The tax on cigarettes in Indiana adds about a dollar to the price of a pack, while in Illinois the tax adds on about 3.66$. A possible "solution" to this that is being tested involves an electronic id on the stamps, but the main problem so far has been the cost of the technology required for this to be effective. It will be intresting in the coming years to see whether or not the politcians realize that if they didn't place massive taxes on the cigarettes in the first place, they wouldn't have to spend so much money to make sure people pay.
NY mosque investor declines Trump's buyout offer
The issue of building an Islamic cultural center and mosque near World Trade Center has caught the attention of many individuals. In this case, that individual would have to be no other but the real estate giant, Donald Trump. Mr.Trump offered to buy the location 25 percent more then what the original investors had paid. Unfortunately, this offer was rejected instantly.
Mr.Trump said, "I am making this offer as a resident of New York and citizen of the United States, not because I think the location is a spectacular one (because it is not), but because it will end a very serious, inflammatory, and highly divisive situation that is destined, in my opinion, to only get worse,"
There are supporters from both sides of the issue. Some believes that the plan of building an Islamic center near the World Trade Center is insensitive to families of the victims of the 9/11 attack. However, proponents support the project because it is a reflection of religious freedom and diversity.
Post by: Christina Cheng
The ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001
It is time to rift and mourn! Yesterday, Sept. 11 is a date when thousands of people was crying badly for their friends, all these innocent victim nice years ago. Let's see more about this rifting and mourning at this special day. Lets be quiet for a while ...
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/nyregion/12sept11.html?ref=us
yuxiazheng
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/nyregion/12sept11.html?ref=us
yuxiazheng
Terrorists still focused on hurting US, Brown says
This article is about the freshman senator, Scott Brown, and how he has learned over the past seven months that the United States is still a serious threat for terrorism. In chapter five of Birkland, he shows that the media attention towards terrorism took a major jump after the attacks on September 11th. Since then there have been no major successful attacks. However, based on what Senator Brown stated, there could have been plenty of attempts that were foiled. He points out that there have been recent attempts to hurt the United States, but none have worked. He also talks about how Iran is the biggest threat to harm the United States because their “tentacles are everywhere.” The Senator wants to warn the people that now nine years later, terrorist are still out to get the United States and all of his intelligence points towards Iran as the ones who are trying to build nuclear weapons which could lead to an almost Cold War type arms race.
-Will Kalish
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/09/12/terrorists_still_focused_on_hurting_us_brown_says/
UN: 24 dead, 70,000 homeless in Chad flooding
There was a major flood in Chad this week, causing many to leave their homes. Approximately 70,000, according to CNN, fled to find shelter elsewhere, 6,000 of which have been displaced. The flood led to sickness like cholera leaving an initial twenty-four dead, and a now updated seventy total. CNN distinctively notes that this area had a severe drought just last year as well, pointing out the unpredictability of the weather in that area. Another important point is that Chad's roads are flooded which will impede any progress for an extended period of time. One must wonder what Chad is able to do to prevent an incident like this from happening again.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/09/12/chad.flooding/index.html
Posted by: Sam Livingston
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