Although both Obama and McCain have criticized the No Child Left Behind Act, neither proposes scrapping it altogether. While Obama regularly bashes the landmark education law for being underfunded, he is not planning to drop the measure's reliance on standardized tests, which is its most controversial provision.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93004032
Education often gets overlooked in the polls. NPR has a very good layout for each candidate's views on a variety of education issues. I recommend reading through it.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Gas Prices...What Can Be Done?
The economics of extracting resources is quite simple and intuitive. If you own property that has oil in the ground, then you have to decide how rapidly you wish to deplete your resource. If prices are low today, and you expect them to be much higher in the future, then you will hold off pumping a lot.
http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.28383,filter.all/pub_detail.asp
With rising gas prices listed as the number one concern in the upcoming election, voters need to educate themselves about their options for attempting to lower fuel costs. While I personally agree with many Democrats that the U.S. needs to look into alternative fuel sources, that is not a solution to the current problem. The oil is eventually going to run out. At that time, we will need proven alternative methods in practice. For now, however, we should not let planning for the future blind us to our current situation.
The U.S. Department of the Interior claims that there are about 86 billion barrels of recoverable oil in the nation's outer continental shelf. That is roughly ten times our annual consumption of 7.5 billion barrels per year. Democrats argue that oil discoveries can't affect the current high price, because any newly discovered reserves take so long to deliver.
However, a recent study by economists Param Silvapulle and Imad Moosa of Monash University in Australia found strong evidence of what is called bidirectional causality. Future prices and spot prices are inextricably linked. This apparently an already widely known truth among economists, as noted in the quote above, that knowledge of prices in the future will certainly effect actions and prices today. So, while I am happy to learn that most economists understand the probable effects 86 billion barrels of oil will have on the current market, voters seem more then willing to remain blissfully ignorant.
http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.28383,filter.all/pub_detail.asp
With rising gas prices listed as the number one concern in the upcoming election, voters need to educate themselves about their options for attempting to lower fuel costs. While I personally agree with many Democrats that the U.S. needs to look into alternative fuel sources, that is not a solution to the current problem. The oil is eventually going to run out. At that time, we will need proven alternative methods in practice. For now, however, we should not let planning for the future blind us to our current situation.
The U.S. Department of the Interior claims that there are about 86 billion barrels of recoverable oil in the nation's outer continental shelf. That is roughly ten times our annual consumption of 7.5 billion barrels per year. Democrats argue that oil discoveries can't affect the current high price, because any newly discovered reserves take so long to deliver.
However, a recent study by economists Param Silvapulle and Imad Moosa of Monash University in Australia found strong evidence of what is called bidirectional causality. Future prices and spot prices are inextricably linked. This apparently an already widely known truth among economists, as noted in the quote above, that knowledge of prices in the future will certainly effect actions and prices today. So, while I am happy to learn that most economists understand the probable effects 86 billion barrels of oil will have on the current market, voters seem more then willing to remain blissfully ignorant.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Back...for a while anyway
So, you may notice that I have three posts in the last week, after more than a year of being absent from here. Well, a mixture of work, blogging apathy, and getting through my first year of law school led me to remain idle in my blogging. So, I am back now, though who can tell how long this will last. If it does, I hope you stay with me for the duration, thanks.
Media Again Blasts McCain
In the world of politics, it used to be a hard-and-fast rule: "Politics ends at the water's edge" — the old Washington practice that when politicians used to travel abroad, their political opponents often refrained from criticism, at least with regards to foreign policy
But as Barack Obama continues his trip throughout the Middle East, John McCain sharply criticized the Illinois senator Monday morning over his initial opposition to the surge policy in Iraq and his short resume in dealing with foreign affairs.
I was unaware that campaigning is supposed to stop when one candidate is out of the country. Considering that there is a small army of reporters following Obama around, do you think he is refraining from comparing and contrasting his foreign policy with John McCain's? But McCain is not supposed to say anything about Obama's foreign policy while Barack is abroad? Sorry, but Obama would not even be on this trip if he were not running for President. And the small brigade of reporters tagging along only further points to this being a political trip. As such, McCain should not be expected to sit and take it without issuing his own statements. One more bit of evidence of who the media is supporting this election year. Objectivity be damned, I guess.
But as Barack Obama continues his trip throughout the Middle East, John McCain sharply criticized the Illinois senator Monday morning over his initial opposition to the surge policy in Iraq and his short resume in dealing with foreign affairs.
I was unaware that campaigning is supposed to stop when one candidate is out of the country. Considering that there is a small army of reporters following Obama around, do you think he is refraining from comparing and contrasting his foreign policy with John McCain's? But McCain is not supposed to say anything about Obama's foreign policy while Barack is abroad? Sorry, but Obama would not even be on this trip if he were not running for President. And the small brigade of reporters tagging along only further points to this being a political trip. As such, McCain should not be expected to sit and take it without issuing his own statements. One more bit of evidence of who the media is supporting this election year. Objectivity be damned, I guess.
American Brewing Gaint Falters
As a native of the St. Louis metro area, people have been asking me what I think of the recent “merger” of Anheuser-Busch, the largest American brewing company, and InBev, a Belgian brewer. The fact is, I have two conflicting opinions. As a son of the St. Louis metro area, I am saddened by the fact that the brewing company that is the heart and soul of that region of the country will be owned by a foreign entity. The pride that I always felt knowing the number one American brewer had its head quarters in my neck of the woods is going to be greatly diminished. This is how my heart feels about this merger. My head, however, has a better appreciation for the work and planning that went into this deal.
Keep in mind, I certainly do not have all of the details of this transaction, and I am certain even the press is not fully aware of everything going on behind the scenes. However, as I understand it, the only real loss here will be an emotional loss similar to the feeling I have already expressed. First, let’s look at what is actually transpiring, assuming the share holders and anti-trust officials approve the deal. The press is referring to this as a merger of two brewing companies. A merger is a statutory combination of two or more corporations by the transfer of the properties to one surviving corporation. In this case, the surviving corporation is InBev, though many aspects of Anheuser-Busch are likely to survive the merger.
The new company, currently branded as Anheuser-Busch InBev, will effectively become the largest brewing company in the world. Anheuser-Busch already accounts for 48% of the American market, and InBev will provide additional distribution through all of Europe and elsewhere. InBev and Anheuser-Busch already had various partnerships before this deal. InBev was the largest Anheuser-Busch distributor in Canada, I believe. So, in the end, it comes down to assessing the actual changes that will take place.
InBev has stated their intention to keep all twelve of the Anheuser-Busch breweries operating in the United States, and to keep their North American headquarters in St. Louis. Now, Anheuser-Busch was already planning to eliminate about 1200 jobs, mainly by offering early retirement and not filling open positions. Aside from this, InBev has not released any plans to layoff workers in the United States. Chances are, these layoffs will come sometime in the next year or so, but that may have happened regardless of who owned the company, that’s just business. Meanwhile, August Busch IV will maintain a position on the board of directors, but will not hold any executive position in the new company. While it is sad that a Busch will not be running this company, that is just the way business goes sometimes.
There are a lot of people out there who are trying to decide if they will continue to drink Anheuser-Busch products, now that it is no longer an American owned company. I find a slight flaw in this logic, as it now stands, since the beer is still going to be brewed in the United States. However, I am also the kind of person that does not base my consumer decisions on politics or other issues. If I like a product, I will buy it. Now, I grew up in an area that is greatly influenced by Anheuser-Busch products, which is why I buy their products. Personally, I do not drink much anymore, but when I do, rest assured that 75% of the time, it will be an Anheuser-Busch beverage.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/14/anheuser.inbev.ap/index.html
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/merger
Keep in mind, I certainly do not have all of the details of this transaction, and I am certain even the press is not fully aware of everything going on behind the scenes. However, as I understand it, the only real loss here will be an emotional loss similar to the feeling I have already expressed. First, let’s look at what is actually transpiring, assuming the share holders and anti-trust officials approve the deal. The press is referring to this as a merger of two brewing companies. A merger is a statutory combination of two or more corporations by the transfer of the properties to one surviving corporation. In this case, the surviving corporation is InBev, though many aspects of Anheuser-Busch are likely to survive the merger.
The new company, currently branded as Anheuser-Busch InBev, will effectively become the largest brewing company in the world. Anheuser-Busch already accounts for 48% of the American market, and InBev will provide additional distribution through all of Europe and elsewhere. InBev and Anheuser-Busch already had various partnerships before this deal. InBev was the largest Anheuser-Busch distributor in Canada, I believe. So, in the end, it comes down to assessing the actual changes that will take place.
InBev has stated their intention to keep all twelve of the Anheuser-Busch breweries operating in the United States, and to keep their North American headquarters in St. Louis. Now, Anheuser-Busch was already planning to eliminate about 1200 jobs, mainly by offering early retirement and not filling open positions. Aside from this, InBev has not released any plans to layoff workers in the United States. Chances are, these layoffs will come sometime in the next year or so, but that may have happened regardless of who owned the company, that’s just business. Meanwhile, August Busch IV will maintain a position on the board of directors, but will not hold any executive position in the new company. While it is sad that a Busch will not be running this company, that is just the way business goes sometimes.
There are a lot of people out there who are trying to decide if they will continue to drink Anheuser-Busch products, now that it is no longer an American owned company. I find a slight flaw in this logic, as it now stands, since the beer is still going to be brewed in the United States. However, I am also the kind of person that does not base my consumer decisions on politics or other issues. If I like a product, I will buy it. Now, I grew up in an area that is greatly influenced by Anheuser-Busch products, which is why I buy their products. Personally, I do not drink much anymore, but when I do, rest assured that 75% of the time, it will be an Anheuser-Busch beverage.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/14/anheuser.inbev.ap/index.html
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/merger
Thursday, July 17, 2008
"Objective" Media Strikes Again
The three broadcast network newscasts, which have 20 million viewers combined, spent about 114 minutes covering Obama since June, compared to 48 minutes for McCain. Obama has been on the cover of Time and Newsweek magazines 12 times in the last 3 years, compared with 5 for McCain. And in the last few weeks, Obama has also landed on the cover of Rolling Stone and US Weekly, along with interview of his family by “Access Hollywood.”
Cafferty File
I am glad to see the "liberal bias" in the media no longer exists. This is yet another case of the media trying to generate the news, rather than report it. Kevin Wuzzardo, an ABC News Anchor in Wilmington, North Carolina, has a more detailed post on this topic in his blog, which can be found here.
Cafferty File
I am glad to see the "liberal bias" in the media no longer exists. This is yet another case of the media trying to generate the news, rather than report it. Kevin Wuzzardo, an ABC News Anchor in Wilmington, North Carolina, has a more detailed post on this topic in his blog, which can be found here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
