US Politics: Debt Debate 2011

Currently, in our country we are in a national crisis.  We have been able to raise the debt ceiling in the past 77 times.  President Obama is doing something to actually prevent this from happening again.  He said in his address to the people, that if we raise the debt ceiling we are only postponing it from happening again for six months.  He then commented, 

"Understand –- raising the debt ceiling does not allow Congress to spend more money.  It simply gives our country the ability to pay the bills that Congress has already racked up.  In the past, raising the debt ceiling was routine.  Since the 1950s, Congress has always passed it, and every President has signed it.  President Reagan did it 18 times.  George W. Bush did it seven times.  And we have to do it by next Tuesday, August 2nd, or else we won’t be able to pay all of our bills."    

President Obama told the nation what would happen if we didn't raise the debt ceiling.  The government would not be able to pay Social Security checks, veterans' benefits, and contracts that the government has signed with businesses.  If you do not receive Social Security checks, veterans' benefits, or have a contract with the government for your business you will still be affected.  Our country's credit rating would decrease and investors would second guess the United States.  Interest rates would heighten on mortgages, car loans and credit cards.  So it would become harder for us to pay for the mortgage on our houses because it would constantly be rising.  The same for car loans and credit cards.

There are two different approaches that have been suggested in order to raise the debt ceiling and prevent it from happening again.  

Approach One

President Obama believes that we should make "historic cuts in government spending."  He believes that these cuts involve thoroughly decreasing spending in the Pentagon, get rid of the waste in the Medicare program, and ask the wealthiest Americans to give up their tax breaks and tax deductions.  President Obama said that this approach was bipartisan.  Bipartisan means that both parties had a say in the approach and the ideas of both parties are combined into this approach.  Speaker of the House John Boehner and President Obama have worked together on this approach.  This approach is not being accepted because several Republicans disagree with one large piece in this approach.

Approach Two

The second approach is what the Republicans in Congress believe is the better way to solve the problem.  They believe that wealthier Americans should not give up any tax breaks or tax deductions.  This is a cuts-only approach.  President Obama believes that this approach would place a greater burden on American families because no one at the top of the "income level" would be contributing.  

President Obama told the leaders of both parties that they must reach a compromise and create an approach that will solve the problem that they will both agree on.  

To read President Obama's address: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/07/25/address-president-nation

My opinion is that I believe that the wealthy should give up their tax breaks and deductions.  They don't need deductions!  They don't need a break!  There is a majority of families in the United States that make under $250,000 a year and the majority needs the break.  We need the deductions!  If the wealthy are taxed the same amount that we are taxed they will still be wealthy.  If a standard working class family continues paying these taxes they will eventually hit a bump in the financial road of life and will struggle paying for college, food, housing and other necessities.  Republicans believe that the wealthy will invest in the expanding businesses (which they believe will eventually create jobs) if we give them these tax breaks and deductions.  They believe if we do tax them, then the wealthy will be discouraged in starting or expanding businesses.  Well, here is a little logic for you, is the amount of investments that they wealthy have made, worth the tax breaks and deductions?

Approach Three?

Speaker of the House, John Boehner, has created a plan called the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act.  On the website of this approach, this is what is states as this "act."

1. Cut - Substantial cuts in spending that will reduce the deficit next year and thereafter.
2. Cap - Enforceable spending caps that will put federal spending on a path to a balanced budget.
3. Balance - Congressional passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution -- but only if it includes both a spending limitation and a super-majority for raising taxes, in addition to balancing revenues and expenses. 

  Out of 100 senators, 40 sponsor this.  40%

115 house members, out of 435 sponsor this.  26.44%

183 groups support this,  80 of these are tea party advocates.  43.72%

Out of 37 presidential candidates, including interested candidates, 9 support it. 24.32%

Out of 56 governors, 5 support it.  8.92%

12 senators, support it. 12%

39 house members support it.  8.97%

28 of 33 candidates for the U.S. Senate support it 87.5%

240,804 U.S. citizens out of 311, 863,921 support it. .077%

If I have any more information or anything worth posting about this, I will post as soon as possible. 

 

Dealing With Your Future (Meditation 2)

Currently, I do not know the age range of my readers.  You might be teenagers, like me.  You might be in your 20s, 30, 40s, and so on.  I have no idea really, who I am talking to.  So if there are people out there who wonder about their future, who read my blog posts, then we have something in common.  

I am always thinking about my future and how I could make my way in life.  I consider my characteristics, what I enjoy doing, and how I can leave a mark on the world.  I have thought about really working on this blog and making an impact on people as my job, architecture has been an idea, also singing or being an actress.  I am not able to make a decision though. 

We have all been asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  We are never sure of how to answer.  There is no direct answer.  Whenever I am asked this question, I give that person the whole list of what I would love to do.  The usual answer is, "Oh."  There are some smart people who tell me, "Well, it's good that you have many ideas of what you want to do.  You don't have to know right now what you want to do."  I do agree with that.  I don't have to know.  That doesn't stop me from wanting to, though.  

I am on Facebook and whenever there is the opportunity of taking a quiz which "tells" you what job you could do I don't hesitate in taking it.  I usually get the answer of teacher.  This is something I do not want to do.  I don't want to teach anyone.  I want to create, not teach what has been created.  

I keep telling myself that whatever classes I enjoy the most in high school might be a sign to what I could work with.  I went to a formal lunch with my parents and there was a woman there that I barely knew and she went up to me when we were leaving and gave me some advice that I think you should all know.  She told me that I would do well at whatever I did in life.  She saw in me that I would sometimes doubt myself and that I should never do that.  The advice she gave me was this: do things one day at a time.  Do not rush through things and thing too far ahead.  She said just approach each day and handle each challenge when it comes to you.  She meant don't think months ahead or years ahead.  So I try to stick to one week now, but its an old habit of mine to think ahead.   

What I Was Writing While on the Trip to Chicago

Well, I am currently on the train to Chicago and it has only been one hour and fifteen minutes since I took off from the train station.  I am in for a 17 or 18 hour train ride and while first thinking it was going to be a doozy it seems I will actually have time to rest comfortably.  When waiting for the train you can spend time by 1.) Watching the gap and 2.) Guessing where other people are headed.  That took up about half an hour of my time.  I am traveling with my dear companion, my Mama, and we have a grand total of seven bags.  Yes, we are two small people and we need seven bags.  My Papa is at fault for making us carry, basically, a small refrigerator with us.  So, only six bags for us, small people.  Whenever I am traveling I believe I get very sardonic and I write a lot, so please, give me this small favor.  We have to be at this station for forty-five minutes and it’s going to take a while.  This is a little glimpse of the scenery around me.   Breathtaking, isn’t it?

Someone is coughing up something in front of me.  Hope everything is okay.  I bless you. 

My Papa's magnificent Spice Cake.  Yummy!

When on a train, I recommend you bring something to read.  If you do not have any reading material with you, then you will have to deal with reading “Arrive.”  Really gripping material there.  Bring food.  Good food, that is.  You might think when you get on the train that you can last without eating any nasty train food.  Well trust me, you need food.    Something about this train is making me eat and eat and eat.  Is it a strange coincidence that I am listening to Two Pina Coladas while, here, in a dusty parking lot?  Yeah, I don’t know either.  For you bloggers and writers out there, make sure you have a computer with you.  Yes, a computer.  If you bring a notebook it will look like you were drunk while you were writing.  The computer is very neat and you can write much faster. Work on a new blog post on Microsoft Word or if you have no idea what to write about just write about any thought that comes into your head and about your surroundings too.  For example, earlier when I wrote about the Two Pina Coladas I just wanted to write something that had to do with it.  So I wrote that.  Very useful trick.  Random thoughts always work.  As soon as I wrote that, the song I’m listening to said Heaven Forbid. The world is against me.  So the next few hours will be made up of random thoughts.  You guys are very lucky people to have the random thoughts of a bored teenage girl traveling in your head. 

My father is actually going to be at home reading my blog so he can know what we are doing and such.  So Papa, IF you are reading this, then you should know that Mama is taking a second cigarette break.  Yeah, I’m giving her grief about it.  I know.  I’ll behave!  Love you too. 

Well, it has been about four hours and we have not left the state of New York.  We got stuck at Albany for the bulk of the time.  I now understand purgatory.  When the show South Park said that purgatory was like being on an airplane and everyone is boarded, but you can’t leave.  The same thing is understood if being on a train.  I mean, I am watching people walking next to the train and thinking they look like Justin Bieber.  Yeah, it’s gotten that bad.  So, another thing to add to the list of things to occupy your time on a ride on a train is look at people and think of what celebrity they look like.  If you are traveling at night on a train, it’s kind of pointless to look outside and talk about your surroundings.  You can look outside and summarize what’s outside by saying three little words.  It is dark.  I’m going to describe what’s outside in the longest descriptive paragraph that you can ever write about darkness. 

When looking at this dark window, it gives me a reflection of me typing away at this keyboard with a blank glassy stare.  The iridescent nail polish I’m wearing is standing out against this black mirror.  If I could compare this black mirror, this dark window, this pane of reflection to a soul, it would be a soul that never saw the light of day, that was broken, hurt, left behind.  I can faintly make out the silhouette of trees in this darkness called night.  “Night…” what a strange word.  It sounds slightly relaxing yet with a tablespoon of mysterious.  Who can compare that word with day.  Day is a slightly boring word to an overwhelming lightness.  This window makes me look into my soul whenever I stare at it.  It’s something to be remembered.  Something to never let go. 

This style of writing is called overbored.  It makes me reminisce of what my English teacher called “writing.”  Chills…

I wonder how I will fall asleep on this train.  They have these cushions that come out of the bottom of the chair and lift your legs up.  But with all of these bags clinging to my legs I will be surprised if I ever get up.  I have to flex my leg muscles and every muscle in order to keep writing and in order for me to keep all of my body parts.  At this rate, I’m going to go into paralysis.  Fun fun fun. 

The last time I kept up a steady writing like this was when I went to Seattle two years ago.  I was writing and writing and writing and then later in the trip I spilled water on the computer and I lost my brilliant writing, if I do say so myself.  Seriously, I did some really great writing on that trip and I lost it.  Oh the wonders of flash drives. 

When I think about it, I’m kind of a geek.  I am the one that my parents go to when there’s a problem with the TV or computer or whatever.  In order for me to go on this trip, I had to prepare my Papa with being alone by teaching him how to use the Wii System and the TV.  He understood it much faster than I thought it would take. I like being the geek though.  I’m not the standard geek.  I’m the one that loves to travel, write, read, watch TV, hang out with my friends kind of geek.  I’m not the just computers for me kind of geek.  So, yeah, I’m okay with being a geek. 

You know, some people think I’m in college.  I am always surprised whenever people say that to me.  My Mama works at a college and she got a free R.I.T. bag one day and I got the wonderful bag which I am using right now.  I was at the train station and the person said to me do you go to R.I.T?  And I said”Oh no.” I then explained how it was my Mama’s and it was given to me.  Also people at my Mama’s college think that too.  They are always surprised to hear what grade I’m in. 

My Mama went to get soda a while ago and I haven’t seen her for a while.  Hope everything is okay…  It was just soda!!!!  Hmmmm…

I’m gonna go play some minesweeper.  If anything interesting happens, just let me know. 

Well, it is now 7:00am Central Time and if I had to describe my night’s sleep I have to say it was painful.  Let me describe what it was like.  I was sitting next to my Mama and by this morning, I would have to say that we are contortionists.  There were times when I thought that I could never get out of the pretzel knot I was in.  Suffice to say, I barely slept.  The guy behind us came onto the train at 1:00am and he promptly started eating very noisily and listening to Aerosmith.  When I whispered something to my Mama he told me to “Shhh!”  The dialogue in my head was, “Did you just tell me to shhh?  Oh hell no.  You were the one that decided to listen to Aerosmith at 1:00am preventing anyone on this train to fall asleep and you think I am going to shut up for you?!”  Right now, he is dead to the world. 

A lot of the people on this train were able to fall asleep and I am very jealous.  It was impossible for me and my Mama to sleep.  So, to those of you who are like me and can’t sleep on trains count the number of passing cars, see how many ways you can contort into a slightly comfortable position, stare out the window, see how many warehouses you pass by, and send curses to the guy behind you for me. 

Right now, we are in Toledo, Ohio and the train is going to be two hours late because we were stuck in Albany yesterday for two and a half hours.  The positive outlook to this is that our hotel room will be ready.  That will be in another blog post.  The Hotel.  Oh and Union Station.  My father was telling me yesterday that I should take plenty of pictures of Union Station and look at the architecture of it.  I shall do that.  Supposedly, at the Art Institute of Chicago instead of the usual sculpture of a face on the bottom of stone, they have skulls of bulls sculpted.

You know, people smell weird.  I know weird thought.  It’s just one point someone passed by with major B.O. then someone passed by smelling of macaroni, now bananas.  Very very strange. 

Ghost like graffiti

Ooh!  Another thing you should when on the train is notice the graffiti of passing trains and railbeds.   The can range from words to pictures.  It’s all very interesting.

Seriously, Amtrak?

The train has stopped for some reason and it’s making me stare at the seat in front of me.  Why did Amtrak decide to use this fabric for the upholstery?  I get the whole idea of the blue, but triangles? 

Okay that’s enough fun for one day.   

iPod Shufflings: Part 4

Part 4 here we are!  I just had the perfect idea for a logo for this blog post.  I just want to say it's not my logo, it's LMFAO's but I think it fits the blog.  And yes, I did change the blog design!  I wanted you guys to know a little bit more about me and I wasn't happy with my last template. 

So, in "The iPod Shufflings" I will press shuffle on my iPod and will write a review on the first ten songs.  I have all different genres of music on my iPod including a few classical and several Latin songs. 

I will rate the songs from 1 to 5.  

5 music notes: Yelling the lyrics on the street at the top of your lungs!

4 music notes: Singing to yourself quietly on the street.

3 music notes: Worth listening to a few times, but not over and over again.

2 music notes: Good at first, but became annoying.

1 music note:   Not good at all.

The Shuffling 

1.) I Get Around by the Beach Boys (From the album: The Beach Boys: Twenty Good Vibrations)

This is a song that is the perfect summer song, along with their other song "Kokomo."  They always created the perfect sound that had original lyrics and music.  I was surprised that they could reach those notes at the "oooooooh!!!" parts.  This is a really great summer fun song!

4 music notes ****

2.)  Glitter in the Air by P!nk (From the album: Funhouse)

In all of P!nk's songs that incorporates the piano makes me feel very calm and peaceful.  This one is a beautiful song that really makes me stop.  Her voice is beautiful in this song and I get this sense of pain when she sings it.  It almost has a touch of confusion when she is singing this song.  I love this song. 

3 music notes ***

3.) Kiss N Tell by Ke$ha (From the album: Animal)

In my opinion, this is the perfect song for the girl who's boyfriend cheated on her.  She says in this song that it was surprising that he was the one that cheated and that he shouldn't have gone and told his friends about it because she found out.  It is a very good song to dance to and it really shows how angry a girl can get if a boy cheats on her.  So, guys, if you get any ideas listen to this song.  

4 music notes ****

4.) All Shook Up by Elvis Presley (From the album: Elvis: 30 #1 Hits)

This is a classic song of the 50s.  I was doing a Social Studies project with my friends on the 50s and this song and Hound Dog were competing for being in the project.  Hound Dog was chosen because of its popularity but I keep this song on my iPod because you can't get rid of one of the king's most memorable songs.  

4 music notes ****

5.) Give Me Everything by Pitbull (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, and Nayer) (Single)

This is a definite party song.  I love Ne-Yo's voice, it is one of the few voices that is actual singing and not being auto-tuned.  Some of today's songs are very fun and there's not much to say about them; just like this one.  

3 music notes ***

6.) You're Beautiful by James Blunt (From the album: Back to Bedlam)

I love this song!  You've heard me say this so many times before.  This is about a man who saw a girl who was dating someone else and he isn't going to give up loving her.  The music video clears up this song's meaning.  He doesn't believe he will ever be able to be with her so he gives up all of his worldly possesions for her and commits suicide to show how much he loves her.  He says, "I don't know what to do, cuz I'll never be with you."  "But it's time to face the truth, I will never be with you."  It is extremely sad and it makes me want to give him a hug and tell him everything is okay.  This is a song that I sing constantly.  


5 music notes *****


7.) Animal by Ke$ha (From the album: Animal)

Wow, double hit of Ke$ha today!  This song is probably her best song yet.  I love the lyrics to this song and the way it starts is extremely different than her other songs.  "I am in love with what we are.  Not what we should be."  It is a song about letting your animal out and she believes in being what we are because we are most beautiful then. 

5 music notes *****


8.) Goodnight Goodnight by Maroon 5 (From the album: It Won't Be Soon Before Long)

This is about a fight between a boyfriend and girlfriend.  He apologizes for hurting her and he says that there are so many fights that they are loosing the connection they once had.  He wishes that they could fix it.  The lead singer sounds so apologetic and tired when he's singing this song.  It really impresses me.  


4 music notes ****


9.) Judas by Lady Gaga (Single)

This is a fantastic song which talks about Mary Magdalene having Jesus as a virtue, but she is slightly attracted to Judas, the demon she clings to.  She then ends of being stoned to death for committing blasphemy, I think...  I love songs that make me want to dance and this song is definitely one of them.   


5 music notes *****


10.) In the Next Room by Neon Trees (Single)

Neon Trees always sings without auto-tune and it is genuine singing.  It's about a guy who loves a girl so much that he wants to be with her so much that he wants to break through to the next room.  I sing it out loud whenever I hear it, at least in my head.  ;)

5 music notes ***** 




 

Trusting Your Friends

A small blurb on trust.  

Have you ever trusted your friends with a really important secret?  Or you asked them to do something for you and they promised they would?  I think you know where this is going.  

If you find out that they betrayed your trust or anything like that your reaction will be something like this, "I thought you were my friend!  What the heck!  How can I trust you with anything else?"  Here's some advice from me about what to do.  I trusted my friends with something and I freaked out when I found out that they broke their promise.  I was literally shaking when I found out.  I had no idea what to do.  They had an explanation that proved that they were true friends.   Here are a few tips from me when you find out that they broke a promise. 

Levels of being concerned:

How concerned you should be about it:

* level one = Should not be that concerned about it.  Example: Told someone you peed your pants in the second grade.  This is the past.  Doesn't matter.  You were a little kid.  Whatever!

** level two = Mildly concerned.  Example: Spread a rumor about you.  Sensible people know that most rumors are false.  Not many people will go crazy about it.

*** level three = Concerned.  Example: Told your crush you like her.  The girl will probably think 1.) No he doesn't. 2.) If he does, he won't like me after someone said he does.  3.) Just a dumb rumor.  So chances are, guys, everything will turn out ok.  

**** level four = Very concerned.  Example: Told your crush you like him.  Since I'm a girl, I would be very concerned.   

1.)  DO NOT FREAK OUT.

Four simple little words, right?  When I say freak, I mean do not go crying in a corner or shaking in front of the computer screen like you are freezing.  Just act very calmly and assess the situation.  It's a probably a very trivial matter that does not even matter.  

2.)  What's up?

 Ask your friend why they broke the promise they made.  It could be a very sweet reason: I just wanted you to be happy!  Since they wanted you to be happy, they were doing a real nice thing.  They weren't trying to make you upset.  They were only seeing a good outcome not a bad outcome.  If they were mad at you about something.  Talk it through with them.  It could end up being just one big misunderstanding. 

3.)  Think it over.

I said in tip number one, "Assess the situation."  This means: what could that person/people think about it?  Why did they do it?  Why did they break their promise?  Will this affect me that greatly?  Is the world going to end?  What am I going to do after this?  Will this affect my friendship?

4.)  Piece of advice.

If it's a level one thing and you freak out about it.  You will be affecting your friendship with that person more than this thing is affecting you.  Just calm down.  This will not affect you that much!

Basically:  The world is not going to end.  Relax.  You may leave the fallout shelter.  Get a glass of water and go to the movies with your friends.    

My friends:  It was sweet that you guys did that and understand my feelings.  Just next time, please respect my wishes!  ;)