1. National economic situation: The stimulus package passed in early 2009 undoubtedly salvaged the economy from the brink of collapse.
However, need to work on policies to produce quick results in job growth and economic recovery. The legislative actions are encouraging and the public satisfaction is dependent upon their experience in job search and security as well as the overall economy.
The Democrats’ determination and diligence in passing several life- saving legislations deserve attention and re-election in November 2010.
Congratulations! To President Barack Obama, the Democratic Congress and the three Republican members on the financial regulations. Continuous monitoring to improve the housing market and the credit crunch would expedite the economic revival.
The Central Asian nation, Kyrgyzstan bordering Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and China is home to 5.2 million ethnically diverse population with the Kyrgyz being the majority followed by the Uzbeks and other distinct groups in the society.
Recent ethnic violence where an estimated 400,000 is reportedly displaced having fled their homes with the Uzbek men, women and children targeted primarily between the two communities in the clashes that erupted from a political unrest back in April 2010.
Reflecting on the events then, the economic crisis and the energy prices combined with political corruption contributed to the massive public protest initially centered at the nation’s capital, Bishkek. It seemingly became widespread with casualties rising among the protesters and the riot police.
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s crackdown on independent news network, print press and websites information about the former administration’s alleged corruption scandal had angered the people and created more tension.
The Thai government’s political crackdown through military might against the Red-Shirt protesters representing the rural poor and the urban working class population is autocratic than democratic.
Thailand is a nation with a history of military coups and a constitutional monarchy as the ceremonial head of the state.
Accordingly, democracy finds itself between a rock and a hard place.
The National United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship aka UDD and their supporters known as the Red Shirts are the discontent mainstream population in the rural and urban areas of the country marginalized by the current government whose representatives are regarded the elitist least concerned about the populist plight.
Having experienced the effective economic policies that:
Reduced poverty by half within four years,
The country’s first universal health care program,
Education, energy and a controversial yet seemingly popular anti-drug campaign under the deposed Premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the political crisis has been looming since 2005.
People who are frustrated with ‘business as usual’ atmosphere - where necessary tax increases, reforms are voted against to the detriment of their loved ones’ health, economic and social well being, should speak their mind fearlessly to their representatives and make informed decisions on whether to retain or reject the official in office.
The country cannot afford to function on the idiosyncrasies exhibited by the ‘Nay’ Sayers for ideological purpose and win elections by pledging to strengthen the destructive element -the ‘filibuster,’ a weapon used by the anti-populist legislators.
Conservative and moderate democrats have their own style in blocking legislations and not surprisingly, it’s carried out at the industry lobbyists’ behest.
Mother Nature has never been more vulnerable than now with the human power in industries and government targeting every available land on planet earth for profits. With the active space exploration for possible inhabitation on Mars and the Moon, earth’s natural resources depleted to the ultimate under the guise of ‘Clean Energy Act,’ by the yet another indomitable force in the corporate world, the ‘Energy Cartel.’
Should they trail behind in the Herculean contest of crushing democracy and the people it represents?
‘Profit’ revered more than the “Prophet” spares none in its sinister cannibalism revealed in the legislative matters concerning health, housing, finance, wars and even the planet they exist. It is no longer the Darwinian ‘survival of the fittest’ with a subtle hope for efforts to survive if not thrive in the sharks-infested waters.
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April 19, 2009
The recent developments to combat climate change in the State of California and nationwide is commendable. The Supreme Court granting authority to EPA to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions under the Clean Air Act eliminates obstacles on the path to a clean environment. It is significant since according to the reports the projected levels of greenhouse gases “endanger the public health and welfare of current and future generations.”
With the time lapse of inaction on this important matter threatening the mere existence of life on the planet, the new administration under President Obama is seeking the right course of action by having the choice to either legislate or regulate carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases resisted in the past on the notion of negative economic impact.
Further, EPA consideration to reduce emissions including rigorous tailpipe emissions standard also previously blocked in the past eight years is a step in the right direction. This particular issue like others has been subject to criticism and opposition from sectors focused on personal short term gains over long-term future of humanity. Again, the Obama administration’s gesture to proceed toward a national standard on vehicle emissions that will be as strong as California’s is right on target.
It would be appropriate to embrace California’s standard as the national requirement, rather than maintaining individual regional measure and finalize the pending EPA decision over the controversial tailpipe carbon emissions by the automobile industry. The national standard would be beneficial to the struggling auto industry in marketing their fleet in other parts of the country without the burden of meeting the regional expectations.
In a democracy, active participation in public discourse and dissent whenever justified is honorable. However, protest against progress and life sustenance is detrimental to the source contributing to such disruptions. The opposing legislators’ argument on any environmental regulation is weak for it dismissed global warming as a ‘myth’ up until now. Their defense of businesses potentially affected by stringent measures is hypothetical. It fails to recognize that the planet in peril is a hard-core fact with abundance evidence in rising temperatures and several disasters no longer natural because of the none other than greenhouse gases causing ozone depletion in the earth’s atmosphere.
According to the recent article on this topic - Industry representatives voiced a variety of concerns over the prospect of mandatory emissions controls. The National Association of Manufacturers warned that the Clean Air Act was designed to focus on local and regional pollution, and that greenhouse gases “are global in nature and require a new framework.”
The industry demand to distinguish the Clean Air Act to curtail domestic pollution from greenhouse gases produced globally is worth clarification. In the latest G-20 summit, it is not clear if the United States sought any guarantee from the participants with respect to individual and consolidated global effort in greenhouse gases reduction. Even though the G-20 gathering predominantly focused on global economic rescue plan, the equally challenging environmental issue deserves universal commitment in achieving the desired goals.
It is imperative for the inhabitants of planet earth to pay serious attention to the environmental degradation arising from industrial pollution, population explosion, poor waste management and revolutionary demographic shifts among the population of the emerging economic powers in the world.
In the United States, the bipartisan consensus is paramount if legislation required to promote healthy and safe environment for the well-being of the present and future generations of the nation. To reiterate any partisanship during legislation combined with industry objection in compliance of regulation would lead to dire consequences and irreversible state of earth’s natural resources due to ecological imbalance.
Mankind best interest lies in the protection and preservation of the habitat, the planet earth.
Congress moves to adjourn with no deal on AMT - Thank you.
By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer 25 minutes ago -
WASHINGTON - The House prepared to adjourn for the year Monday with no deal on a major tax relief package, increasing the odds that businesses will lose out on critical tax breaks and millions could get hit by the alternative minimum tax this year.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., suggested that it might be next year before consensus can be reached on a tax initiative that includes adjusting the AMT, providing tax relief to disaster victims and extending tax credits for renewable energy development, business investment and individual education and child care costs.
Lawmakers in both the House and Senate stressed that the bill would create tens of thousands of jobs and contribute to the nation's energy independence. But House Democrats insisted that more of the package, totaling $138 billion in House bills, be paid for so as not to increase the deficit. Senate Republicans, averse to new taxes, said any changes in the Senate-passed tax bill would kill the entire package.
The House "has taken the morally and fiscally responsible position," said Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., a leader of the 49-member Blue Dogs, a group of fiscally conservative Democrats. Meanwhile, "Republicans in the Senate continue to hold up this important legislation," he said.
As Ross spoke, across the Capitol Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., tried to bring up a House-passed bill dealing with renewable energy and extension of business and individual tax breaks that expired last year or will lapse at the end of this year. Republicans objected to consideration of the bill.
Reid acknowledged that "we can't get it done" because Senate Democrats don't have the votes to move the bill without GOP cooperation. He said he hoped the Blue Dogs "would understand we are not trying to embarrass them or anyone else."
Hoyer, joining the Blue Dogs at a news conference, said "there's not an intention" to return to Washington after the House votes on the financial bailout bill and adjourns Monday afternoon."I'm going to continue to work with Sen. Reid to see what can be done even if it is next year," he said.
That delay would be a blow, at least temporarily, to a wide group of business and individual taxpayers.Without congressional action, those affected by the AMT, originally aimed at just a few very rich tax dodgers, would grow from around 4 million to up to 26 million. Those hit by the tax, most earning less than $200,000, would pay an average extra tax of $2,000.
The solar industry alone has estimated that it could create more than 400,000 jobs if it receives an eight-year extension of its investment tax credit.
"With hundreds of thousands of American jobs and billions of dollars in clean energy investment at risk, we urge congressional leaders not to leave for the election recess" until reaching an agreement, the CEOs of national hydropower, geothermal, solar and wind energy associations said in a statement.
Business groups have warned of serious repercussions if Congress does not renew the R&D credit, which expired at the end of last year, and various advocacy groups have pleaded for renewals of individual tax breaks affecting those paying college tuition, those from states with state and local sales taxes and teachers with out-of-pocket expenses.
The Senate last week, on a 93-2 vote, passed a massive package that included AMT relief, $8 billion in tax relief for those hit by natural disasters in the Midwest, Texas and Louisiana, and some $78 billion in renewal energy incentives and extensions of expiring tax breaks. In a compromise worked out with Republicans, the bill does not pay for the AMT and disaster provisions but does have revenue offsets for part of the energy and extension measures.
That wasn't enough for the House, which insisted that there be complete offsets for the energy and extension part of the package.
Fiscal irresponsibility was a major factor in Wall Street's meltdown and the need for Congress to step in with a bailout plan, said Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif. "It's time for us to say no more."
The House included steps to boost tax revenues from the oil and gas industries and close loopholes used by hedge fund managers and corporations to avoid taxes on their overseas incomes.
Senators also included in their bill a far-reaching measure to ensure parity in insurance benefits for mental health problems.
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Review and Analysis: The democratic society exercise voting rights to elect a representative in Congress and Senate to address issues affecting their daily lives and pass necessary legislation to primarily benefit the people through businesses and other economic infrastructure.
The legislators’ “priorities” from the above article should be of concern to the constituents. Their decision to leave for the election recess “after having returned from a long recess in August”, without reaching an agreement on issues like energy independence, tax relief to millions in small businesses, education and childcare costs reflects minimal importance to major economic crisis.
With election around the corner, it is important for legislators to recognize their obligations to the electorate and fulfill the commitments in restoring the nation back on track. In a gloomy economic climate, that is saddled with multi-trillion dollar debt conveniently passed on to the hard workinglower and middle income groups struggling to meet ends, vacation should be the last thing on the mind of the lawmakers.
The electorate should demand that their elected officials resolve all of the above issues related to tax initiative that includes adjusting the AMT, providing tax relief to disaster victims and extending tax credits for renewable energy development, business investment and individual education and childcare costs with no further procrastination.
To quote the House Speaker “Nancy Pelosi” at the announcement of bailout deal “The Party is over” not just for the “Wall Street” but the entire “Power” specifically elected for policymaking and solving problems confronting the nation at all fronts.
When the “Presidential candidates” are advocating “performance based” salaries for “teachers” and others , the same principle should apply to “Washington” and “Wall Street” that areprimarily responsible for the current economic mess.
The voter frustration and disappointment with “Washington” and “Wall Street” should be clearly demonstratedin the forthcoming electoral process.
