Re: U.S. & Australian Bonds are Looking to Strengthen

After reading Lauren's editorial (view here) regarding President Obama's recent visit to Australia, I was left wondering why the President felt that this trip was necessary. I understand that Australia is a strong ally to the U.S., but I was unsure of why President Obama felt that we needed a stronger military presence there. So as I did some research (see here: I & II), I found more than one answer to my question.

Since mid September there has been a slow reigniting of old territorial disputes in the South China Sea. This began with the detainment of Chinese fishing boats by Japan near the Senkaku Islands which later led to a standoff resulting in the release of the Chinese crewmen. China has also faced similar disputes with South Korea. With tensions mounting, President Obama hopes that with the U.S. and Australia showing solidarity, potential threats can be avoided.

The U.S. also hopes that the closer proximity to these South Pacific nations will allow us to respond more quickly to natural disasters that have recently plagued the region.

I found both reasons to be "acceptable," but I couldn't help agreeing with Lauren that it seems as though President Obama just wants to keep a closer eye on China, and wants our presence to be a tad bit more apparent to that booming nation across the way. I guess the best way to do that is to get as close to them as we possibly can.

Where Did All That $$ Go

I recently blogged about the now bankrupt solar panel making company Solyndra, and discussed why this meltdown occurred. Republican party members are now attacking the Obama administration saying that the $535 million loan guarantee was a decision made based on politics, and also a waste of taxpayer's money. A recent response from Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu (see here) was given were he defended the administration stating that Solyndra's collapse was unforeseeable. After reading Secretary Chu's response, I couldn't agree more with him. No one could have predicted the rapid fall in price of silicon allowing
China to develop more affordable solar panels. It is extremely unfortunate and somewhat frustrating that so much of the taxpayer's money was lost during this venture, but I think that people need to applaud the effort. That insanely steep loan guarantee was the first move made by any political figure-head to make America a greener nation for its citizens. These types of endeavors are vital to the longevity of our nation. Being green means taking risks. This is not an issue that can or will be solved over night. Too many people are stuck in traditional ideas and policies and are unable to realize that to produce the drastic overhaul this country needs to survive for centuries to come, our government must take steps, such as these, in the direction of green companies.

With that being said, after diving deeper into Solyndra's story I found it enormously disturbing that the administration improperly restructured the loan back in 2010 allowing private investors to get $75 million of their money back before the government sees a dime. I find this restructure to be somewhat unconstitutional. It seems to put a definite higher importance on these private investors, dwarfing the taxpayers and our hard earned money. This is where my opinion splits. Both sides make a compelling argument. Secretary Chu states that this was a necessary and sort of "last-ditch" effort to try and get the company back on its feet, but to no avail. With hopes high, and money falling from the sky Solyndra was still unable to compete with Chinese imports. Simply put, this is is sad day for taxpayers and a sad day for America.

Critiquing Presidential Debates

Yessica Martinez recently blogged about the current presidential debates and their relevance to presidential elections. View Here. I feel that debates are a vital aspect of every political campaign. Since the first televised debate in 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, the American people have been able to make tough decisions based upon who the most informed candidate is. Debates are not used to stump candidates, but rather to find out how informed possible presidential candidates are on important issues. If candidates simply spent their entire campaigns talking to the masses, the presidential election would be based solely on emotion. Debates allow citizens to judge their potential president on intelligence and poise. In this day and age some debates even allow citizens to send in questions of their own, somewhat solidifying our right to political participation.

Perry's performance in the last couple debates were terrifyingly awful. So much so that his "thoughts" on debates  ("Designed to tear down candidates"), I believe, are just a cover for his fear. He knows that he an not afford another poor performance. And he also knows, just like everyone else, that he is not the most informed. I for one want my president to be the more informed on each and every issue.

Is Herman Cain a Bad Judge of Character??

Herman Cain's political campaign has received a lot of flack in the media over the past few weeks. His "duck and dodge" routine on tough questions has gotten tired, and his self allocated nickname, Black Walnut, has made his  run for presidency seem more and more like a practical joke. The "Froot Loop Campaign", as some call it, has now gone from weird to weirder with the polarized web ads that have shown up online (See them here: http://youtu.be/S6VnTqpTqvQ , http://youtu.be/dSlC7BxmSqY).
As I recently took time to get a laugh from these videos I began to wonder who Cain's campaign manager is and why he thought these ads would be helpful to Cain's already hurting campaign. As I began to learn more of Mark Block, a supposed "ally" to Herman Cain's campaign, I found myself becoming increasingly baffled by Cain's choice to appoint someone like Block to be his campaign manager. His reputation precedes him, and to be honest with you, it is strikingly poor.

Block's political career began in 1977 working as an assistant to Rep. William Steiger. He then did some work for a Midwest telecom corporation, and started various companies of his own before his valiant return to politics as chairman of Jon Wilcox's successful 1997 campaign for Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice. During this time Block was accused of illegally coordinating a $200,000 hush hush campaign contribution, and was later sued in 2000 by Wisconsin's Election Board because of it. A $15,000 settlement was reached outside of court and Block agreed to stay away from politics for the next three years. Block has done little to help his name by being arrested twice for drunk driving, and receiving a tax warrant from the IRS.

Yet even with these setbacks he has still been able to maintain a political career. His current work for former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain has been (and I hate to say this) somewhat remarkable. Cain, who was only able to raise $2.8 million in the third quarter of the race has raised an astonishing $3 million since the start of October. His current donor base has also more than doubled from 30,000 to 65,000. This strange campaign manager who has had a lengthy record of bad luck in the past is now doing wonders for Cain's campaign, which leads me to think...maybe Block's appointment as Black Walnut's campaign manager was actually a decision of genius.

Nihilism is the Schism

"There's no point negotiating with people whose sole objectives are their own pursuit of power," said Richard Eskow, editorial writer for Smirking Chimp, about the modern day GOP that is threatening America and its citizens way of life.  Eskow views the current GOP front-runners as nothing more than undeserving nihilists. I know what you're thinking, and I also found this statement to be a tad bit extreme, that is until I continued to read his article.

Eskow points out that today's GOP has absolutely no core beliefs left, and that their ideologies are quickly becoming a thing of the past. The Republicans that once believed in state's rights, a smaller role for Federal Government, and in the importance of business as a part of society are now driven by the lust and need for power.  They are willing to denounce anything that isn't helpful to their main goal: winning.  Eskow also notes that back in the "all or nothing" days of George W. Bush, Republicans passed a $286 billion infrastructure spending bill. But now, when a bill of this type (which Democrats favor) is much needed, Republicans oppose it.

Compromise seems to be a fleeting concept for the GOP even though it was compromise that built this great country.  GOP front-runners Cain and Romney are proposing plans that will drop the 35% top marginal tax rate (compare 35% to 86% in 1947 and 75% in 1968) which would not only lower taxes for major corporations, but push everyone else's taxes up. This would accelerate the destruction of America's working middle class, which the educated Cain and Romney have to be aware of.

Cain's 9.9.9 plan is absolutely ridiculous.  His plan will drop the top marginal tax rate to 9%, add a 9% Federal tax rate, and impose a 9% tax rate on the poor working class.  Tax cuts for the wealthy cannot be offset by imposing taxes on the poor, and a 9% Federal tax rate will only further drive down our staggeringly levels of demand.

Romney's 59 step plan, which will also drive down the top marginal tax rate, would make it even easier for big corporations to outsource work and would remove certain regulations whose removal in 2008 led to our current economic situation.

When all is said and done, Republicans just want to win this election, and will do and say anything that they think will lead to a "W" over the Democrats.  Eskow makes several interesting points throughout his article which is obviously geared towards left-wing liberals,  but his arguments should not only hit home for them, but for American's in general.  The facts are right in front of our faces, and yet many people are blind to them.  We cannot allow our country to be lead by unconstitutional, conservative GOP Big Whigs who put their own, and their wealthy backing corporations well-being ahead of the majority.  It is time for us to stand and be heard. Time for us to demand change.

The Nihilist Party: Republicans Who Believe in Nothing

You Wanna vote..? Too Bad!

I find it utterly absurd to think that in this day and age, when Democracy is considered to be the social and moral standard of the world (as is shown by our constant forcing of Democracy on other countries) that it is possibly being limited by right wing Conservatives.  It has been proven time and time again that the lowest percentage of voters stem from the minority and lower class citizens of our nation.  And now, in 2001,  more than 220 years after men were given the right to vote, mandates and provisions have been adopted by a handful of states to make it even more difficult for the poor and minority voice to be heard.  It was recently published in the New York Times that 19 laws and 2 executive actions were passed in 14 states to be exact.  States that are largely dominated by Republicans.  "As a result, more than 5 million eligible voters will have a harder time participating in the 2012 election." The editorial's author (I have posted the editorial below) believes that the real purpose of these laws is to turn people, who are more likely to vote Democratic, away from the polls, and I for one agree whole-heartedly.  Why you ask? I'll tell you. 11% of the population, that's 21 million Americans, do not own government I.D. cards. Most of them are lower class citizens or minorities.  Still with me? Good.  Now there have been strict laws passed in the past year requiring photo I.D. to vote. I can remember when my mother just had to take a utility bill to the polls! I find this to be a huge breach of contract the Federal Government. No matter your social or economic status we all deserve the right to vote for our leader.


The Myth of Voter Fraud

The name of the game is Green Energy and China is winning...by a lot.

   Years ago when I first began to think of the overwhelming advantages solar and wind energy posed for the future of our nation I didn't understand why these tactics had not already been implemented.  Here I was, 18 years old, saying to myself - "How hard could it be?"  I didn't understand the complex bureaucracy and red tape surrounding the issue.  I figured you could just throw up a couple solar panels here, a few windmills there and voila, green energy!  But of course that couldn't be further from the truth.
   Solyndra, the first solar company approved for an energy department loan only two months into Obama's presidency, is now threatening the presidents entire green-energy agenda.  The $527 million venture was supposed to be the president's saving grace, proving that his administration could fund good projects quickly.  This was step one in making America a strong, green nation.  But now, three years later, Solyndra is bankrupt and out of business and people want answers.  But the story of Solyndra's collapse has more to do with a failing American green energy agenda than Solyndra's failed planning.
   Back in 2005 the then up and coming solar industry was having trouble growing because of the high costs of installation and the high prices of silicon (an essential ingredient in solar panels).  So Solyndra got creative and designed solar panels that were both silicon-free and easier to install.  A move that I'm sure seemed ingenious at the time.  But while the U.S. was slowly tackling this problem, China's government threw buckets of money into their growing solar industry.  In 2010 alone China invested twenty times more into their solar industry than the U.S.  Astonishing!  As a result global silicon prices soon dropped leaving Solyndra's non-silicon design out by the curb, and now China holds 54% of the global solar technology market.  Ouch!
   Solyndra's sudden collapse raises questions about the job promises that green energy was supposed to create.  When Solyndra closed its doors in late August 1,100 employees were laid off leaving many to ask - "How long before green energy pays off and how far behind China will we be?"


What you should grasp from this blog:
   While reading this and the subsequent article please understand the issue at hand.  Our country is falling behind.  Green energy is necessary for the future of our nation and our government is failing.  Green energy not only holds importance for us, but for future generations.

The Solyndra Syndrome