Economy

"As Economy goes, So goes takeovers." New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct 2011. .
Summary

The recent economic crisis followed by a high employment rate has been the cause of discontent throughout the nation. However, mergers and takeovers of companies such as El Paso Corporation by Kinder Morgan has done little to improve to economy. Furthermore, evidence has been found that even takeovers has reduced as has the economic growth.

Connection
Wall Street movement is greatly influenced by American's discontent with the government buy-out of banks that have been claimed to be instrumental to the economy. However, as even the mergers and takeovers have be found to do little to improve the economy, the discontent and skeptism toward the value of Wall Street will be further questioned.


Reflection

I think that the correlation between takeovers and economic growth is an indication that major reform should be made as the present actions are doing very little to stimulate the economy. If we continue to rely on the current measures, few things will change.

Gun Control

"No Right to Bear Assault Weapons." New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct 2011. .
Summary
Last week in the Supreme Court, Washington D.C has been granted the permission to ban the right to bear assault weapons. Although in 2009 in District of Columbia vs Heller, the right to bear arms has been upheld through using the second amendment, it has been underscored by the decision last week because military-grade assault weapons have been deemed an exeption.
Connection
The second amendment protecting the rights of citizens to bear arms has been set restrictions in the past. For instance, schools have been given the right to ban the possession of weapons on school grounds in order to protect the well-being of the student body. This ruling is similar, as it allows the crime rate in the District area to be restricted through regulating the possesion of assault rifles.
Reflection
I find the the uphold of the possession of guns to be an anomaly for the U.S. While perhaps the right to bear arms might have been appropriate for people in the past, I think it's no longer a necessity and contributes to the high crime rates in U.S. Thus, I find the ruling that it's legal to regulate the possession of assault rifles as a progressive ruling.

Environment

"G.O.P. vs. the Environment." New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct 2011. .
Summary
The Republican party has been working increasingly to undermine environmental protection acts such as the Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection Agency. In the past year, Republicans have cast 168 votes to remove the authority of the EPA and reduce regulation on air and water pollutants. This trend has been consistent with the increasing support for the removal of regulations that is favored by the Republican party.
Connection
The Republican party have been notorious with their refusal to believe in global warming. Their attempts to undermine EPA and Clean Air Act are consisistent with their skeptism toward environmental issues, and their desire to remove regulations that restrict the usage of fossil fuels,which is a main source of funding for many politicans.
Reflection
I find it unsurprising that Republicans are voting to undermine the powers of environmental regulatory agencies due to their traditional opposition to environmental issues. For instance, the Republican party speaker have even denounced the credibility of global warming, however, he incorrectly attributed the cause of ozone depletion to global warming, clearly revealing his ignorance regarding to environmental issues.

Foreign Policy

Shear, Michael. "The Value of Foreign Policy Victories for Obama." New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct 2011. .
Summary
While President Obama has suffered a significant decrease in support, as seen in the decreases in approval ratings, his success in foreign policy has given him high marks in that area. In a recent survey, Americans have given Obama high marks for his successes in foreign policy, the basis for his support are based upon the capture of Bin Laden, as well as the reduction of troops in Iran and Afghanistan.
Connection
The Middle East, with its frequent conflicts has been an area in which a lot of American military intervention have taken place. As a result, many troops are sacrificed daily, and the retraction of troops have become a focus for many Americans. With Obama's success in foreign policy, it will become a focal point during the upcoming elections.
Reflection
I think that while Obama may have failed in other areas, his successes in foreign policy will definitely be a plus. However, when compared to the economic crisis and the lack of improvement in employment, even his successes in foreign policy might be overlooked.

Elections/Campaigns

Saliny, Susan. "On Taxes and Fences, Cain Stumbles a Bit." New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct 2011. .
Summary
Herman Cain, a first time candidate who has been increasingly gaining popularity as a Republican candidate has been admitting to some flaws in his plans. Known for his 9-9-9 tax plan, which has gained attention for setting a 9% tax for all Americans, regardless of their income, Cain has recently admitted that some will actually witness an increase in taxes through his plan. Moreover, Cain has also retracted his earlier comment on reducing illegal immigration by building an electrified fence that will kill all who attempt to cross it.
Connection
Cain, as a Republican candidate has gained a widespread popularity among Republicans for his tax plan. Because the majority of Republican supporters are wealthy, his 9-9-9 tax plan will actually decrease their taxes.
Reflection
I think that Cain, with his retrogressive tax plan and support of extreme immigration measures will unlikely become the final candidate. Despite the current support for him, I doubt that it will last long due to his inexperience and lack of funds to continue his campaign.

Political Parties

Zernike, Kate. "Poll Finds Tea Party Backers Wealthier and More Educated." New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/us/politics/15poll.html?ref=teapartymovement.

Summary
In a recent poll, 18% of Americans have identified themselves as supporting the tea party with a majority of them being White,middle-aged, conservative and wealthy. Tea Party started accruing popularity after the stimulus package was made to stimulate the economy. Tea Party members tend to be extremely conservative, identifying Obama as “very liberal” and advocate for a smaller government.
Connection
Tea Party members have played a main role in the Republican's take over of the Congress last year. With the majority of members being conservative and wealthy, Tea Party is extremely against the Obama administration's policies that they view as favoring the poor.
Reflection
I think that the Tea Party member's agenda is very retrogressive, especially as their goal to have a smaller central government. With the majority being White, male, middle-aged, and extremely conservative, I'm not surprised at their push for the Republican party to purge the more moderate members as well as their aversion to the Obama administration.

Social Security

Pear, Robert. "U.S. Benefits for Retirees to Rise 3.6% Next Year." New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct 2011. .
Summary
Recipients of social security, senior citizens of sixty-five years or older will be finding a increase of 3.6% in their social security checks. This increase has been made in order to adjust to the greater cost of living. Proponents state that such as an increase is offset by increasing the purchasing power of senior citizens.
Connection
Social security and its benefits are closely tied to the elderly generation. Thus, with the presidential election soon arriving, how each party candidate proposes to tackle the issue of social security will directly influence their popularity among the elderly generation.
Reflection
I think that this increase in social security check is necessary to keep up with the rising cost of living. I think that while the national debt is an issue, social security should not be cut as it remains the primary source of financial support for the elderly generation. Cutting monetary resources to the elderly generation after they have contributed to the nation by paying taxes would be extremely unfair.

Federal Budget

Shear, Micheal. "Campaign Ad Barrage Begins With Paul." New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct 2011. .

Summary
Ron Paul, in his bid for presidency, has released a video of his ad targeted against audiences in four states, using the federal budget as his main focus. Targeting the enormous debt accrued from previous administration, Ron Paul proposed a plan to cut federal debt by 1 trillion by removing five federal bureaucracies, cutting taxes to create jobs, retracting military involvements in foreign wars and nation-building as well as reducing the powers of the federal reserve.
Connection
With the numerous crisis suffered under the Obama administration due to the debt ceiling, reducing the federal debt will become a prominent issue that many presidential candidates must address. An effective method of reducing the federal debt will help the candidates gain a broad base of support from voters.
Reflection
While to some, Ron Paul's plan of cutting one trillion may sound attractive, I think that when under examination of what bureaucracies that he intends to cut, it might lose some of its attraction. When funds are cut, it directly influences the types of services people will have access to. If the government blindly cuts spending for the sake of reducing the debt, it might also jeopardize numerous services such as education.

Health Care

Pear, Robert. "Health Law to Be Revised by Ending a Program." New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct 2011. .
Summary
A newly passed health care law, named Community Living Assistance Services and Supports, or Class, had recently been retracted by the Obama Administration. Due to its costliness, the act, that intended to provide people with chronic diseases and severe disabilities with health care, has been criticized by many opponents. After realizing that few healthy would sign up for such an expensive plan, the decision to cancel it was eventually passed.
Connection
Health care reform has been central to the election of the the Democratic president, Barack Obama. However, due to the opposition from Republican politcian against a government-issued health care, the law has repeatedly failed to pass. The inefficiency and costliness of a governmental health care program, such as CLASS is central to its failure.
Reflection
While I think that a national health care would offer a greater number of people access to medical care, I think that it would be difficult to enact without also enacting a great increase in taxes. Health care is expensive, and it has traditionally been left to employers and citizens themselves to decide whether they needed a plan. Due to it being left traditionally for the citizens themselves to decide, I think that it will take a long time for people to accept one provided by the government that will significantly increase their taxes.

Taxes

"Perry Says He Supports a Flat Tax, Drawing a Contrast with Romney." New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct 2011. Summary
In an effort to distinguish himself from fellow Republican competitor, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry has proposed a flat-tax system to make tax easier to understand and equal for all. Mitt Romney, who has taken a stance against a flat tax system, advocates a tax system with greater tax breaks for the middle class. However, Perry's flat tax system aims to emulate Herman Cain's 9-9-9 tax system, that advocates for all to pay the same amount of tax and gain the support that has been growing for a flat tax system.
Connection
The Republican party has been known to offer greater tax breaks for the wealthy and powerful. Herman Cain's 9-9-9 system and Rick Perry's flat-tax system both advocates a system which evenly distributes the burden of taxes on the citizens. Thus, both of their systems essentially favors the wealthy because although their wages are higher, the amount they will need to pay will be less in comparison to the present tax system.
Reflection
I believe that both Cain's 9-9-9 and Perry's flat-tax system are retrogressive. Because the wealthy make significantly more than the average citizen, the taxes they have to pay should be a bit higher. If everyone had the pay the same amount of taxes, the burden of taxes will fall upon the shoulders of the middle and lower classes, who may not be able to afford such high taxes.