Issue #2 Offshore Outsourcing

Outsourcing has become a hit among American factory owners. Many companies find that it is a lot cheaper to hire workers from other countries to make the products and then ship them back overseas to consumers. Workers get paid less and don't get the benefits American employees do, therefore, the products cost less for the consumers. More can be produced and sold, thus increasing productivity. The down side is that in doing this outsourcing many Americans lose work because factories in America close and new ones open in different countries. This causes the unemployment rate to increase even more.
Outsourcing is a huge issue in America. Many Americans have lost and will lose their jobs due to companies being able to pay foreign workers less. Yes, it makes the products a lot cheaper because employees will work for less money and don't get the benefits that some Americans expect, but what about unemployement in America? So many people have lost their jobs here due to outsourcing and are either working new jobs hopefully earning more than minimum wage or have no job at all. This isn't right. Besides, whenever tech support is called nobody can actually understand the person on the other side of the line. When Americans say that unemployement is at a high and we need to do something to fix it, we should in fact do something to fix it. Either offer companies benefits for producing in America, limit the companies that are outsourcing, or just don't allow it. Maybe for every factory that is outsourced, one should also be built in the U.S. Keep American jobs! I'm not the only one who is tired of outsourcing. So is President Obama. He has some reasonable ideas on how to keep jobs in America as well.



http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/human-rights-cartoon-87-corporations-and-human-rights/


Links to other important issues:
Issue #1- Reducing Taxes
Issue #3- The Budget Deficit and Social Security

02/28/11

2 officers, suspect killed in Miami shootout

In Miami, Florida two officers and a suspect were killed in a shootout while cops were trying to serve a murder warrant. The dead officers' names are Roger Castillo and Amanda Haworth. Castillo was shot once and died on the scene. Haworth had multiple gun shot wounds and died during surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital. A third officer had a knee injury and was treated at the hospital. Officers killed 23 year old suspect Johnny Simms. Simms was previously in prison on the charges of armed robbery and selling cocaine.

It serves this Johnny Simms right to be shot and killed by these police officers. He already murdered someone. Plus, he was already in prison for selling coke and armed robbery. I mean seriously, when do people ever learn? Obviously he was a dangerous man. It is a good thing that the police were wearing their protective gear and ready for anthing to happen. It may have saved many more lives than if they hadn't. It still really sucks that two officers had to lose their lives because of this jerk face who already murdered someone else. Stupid, twisted people in this world.

Link to article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41175703/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

1/20/11

Wife of deposed Tunisian leader despised by many

President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's twenty three year rule has finally ended in Tunisia. The former president's wife, Leila Trabelsi, was a very despised woman. Trabelsi and her ten siblings are said to have extorted money from shop owners, acting like a sort of mafia. The Trabelsi and Ban Ali's families were said to have stakes in airlines and banks, car dealerships, Internet providers, radio and television stations, industry and big retailers across Tunisia. Many of the villas and businesses of the Trabelsi's were burned to the ground in retribution.

I think that if this ruling family caused so much pain to the people that the people burned their houses and businesses, they probably deserved it. I know that many people like revenge and that a lot of times it is deserved. I feel that if this is what makes te people happy, let them do it. They need a new ruler that wont make their lives horrible. Living in bad conditions while the rulersget richer and the poor get poorer. Sometimes it takes many people to create one strong voice. This voice speaks the words of freedom and an unselfish leader. They need someone who is uncorrupted. Which, by the way, seems a rare commodity these days. I hope that all goes well for these people.

Link to article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41123021/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

1/17/11

Ex-dictator 'Baby Doc' Duvalier returns to Haiti

 Former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier returned to Haiti on Sunday. He says he wants to help in the rebuilding of the earthquake-shattered nation. This is the first time he has been back since he was forcedout in 1986 by his people and the pressure from the United States. Duvalier returns during a time of politica uncertainty. There were hundreds of supporters when he arrived, but standing along with them are those who don't support Duvalier. Many are filled with fear and afraid of the corruption that is bound to be riding with Duvalier. The Duvaliers had their own secret police force and killed of political opponents.

I think that this Duvalier guy is probably up to no good. What could come from someone who dissapeared from his own nation, only to return more than 20 years later? Does he want to steal more money from the people of Haiti? The nation is already in rubble. Why waste the effort? Or does he just wat to gain a dictatorship? Just to have power over thousands of people. To be able to control a nation could make him feel very powerful indeed. I don't undestand why they let him back. Especially if the people of the country are the ones who wnated him out in the first place. Is even more despair headed toward the nation of Haiti? How much relief can we really give them? Maybe they should put Duvalier on trial for the murders committed during any political elections. He should be brought to justice for what he did.

Link to article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41111720/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/

1/17/11

'Horror': Massive Australia floods spark panic

Australia's third largest city has had major flooding. People in Brisbane are in a panic. 43 people are missing in the flood waters, and at least 22 people have died in Queensland since the rain began in November. The water covers an area larger than France and Germany combined. A violent storm sent an "inland instant tsunami" through the city of Toowoomba and a few smaller towns. Around 20,000 homes could be flooded by the end of the storm. A lot of people are wading through shoulder deep water to rescue possessions. There has been a lot of loss.

I feel bad for the people in Australia that have to suffer through this flood. There has been a lot of destruction. I hope that the missing people are found and that they will be all right. Its a bummer that this will impact economic growth and the the prices of food are increasing so much. They all ready have lost so many of their belongings, now they have to pay more for the food that they need to survive when they need to worry about repairing their houses and paying for new furniture and things like that. Maybe there should be a relief fund for Australia since there is a relief fund for Haiti. People are going to need a lot of help recovering from this. I hope all goes well.

Link to article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41034411/ns/world_news-asiapacific

1/12/11

Kidney-swap sisters released from jail

In Pearl, Mississippi two sisters were released from prison. Jamie and Gladys Scott were in prison on the charge of armed robbery. They had been in prison for 16 years and Jamie Scott was on a dialysis machine for her kidneys. Officials say that her being on the machine costs the state around $200,000 a year. The condition they be released is that Gladys Scott will donate a kidney to Jamie therefore eliminating the need for the dialysis machine. The sisters have decided to move to the Florida Panhandle because their mother and grown children live there. The condition is that Gladys must donate the kidney within a year. They were in prison because of an armed robbery taking something between $11-$200. They had life sentences but they have been suspended on the condition of the kidney donation.

First of all, I don't believe that the sisters should even have life sentences because of this crime. Yes they did get charged for armed robbery but they did not kill anyone and they only stole $11 to $200. That is not very much stolen to earn a life sentence. Although I also don't think that they should get out of prison just because the state has to pay for dialysis. Maybe they could have just gotten a reduced sentence on the condition of the kidney donation. Is it really fair to the other inmates that have committed petty crimes and don't have the same opportunity of kidney failure to get out of prison early. I don't think it is setting a good example. Although the state may have sentenced them a little harshly I still don't believe that kidney failure but getting a replacement is a good enough reason to get out of jail.

Link to article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40963267/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Date: 1/07/11

No poison found in birds that fell on town

Between 4,000 and 5,000 black birds died in Beebe, Arkansas. It was originally estimated that only 1,000 birds had died but after the cleanup crews picked up all of the dead birds they tallied the numbers to be around 4 to 5 thousand. They have not found the exact cause of death yet but they diagnosed that the birds were dead before they hit the ground and did not in fact die from impact. The birds' stomachs were empty and other animals that consumed the deceased birds did not die so scientists are able to rule out poison. The birds that fell died of blunt trauma to their organs.

Now we as people have to speculate. What really caused the deaths of so many birds and all on one night? Was it perhaps a storm like scientists have suggested or a mid-air collision? Is it possibly a sign of the end of the world as many believe the Mayans have predicted? It gives off the feeling of a Stephen King novel. One full of terror and death, stepping into the world of Science Fiction. The only difference: this is not fiction. Birds falling out of the sky and littering the streets and back yards of the people in Beebe, Arkansas. What else could be the cause of this horror story? I don't have the slightest clue as to what has happened to all of these birds. Yes, they travel in flocks, but flocks the size of thousands and then crashing into each other in the air? It is definately freaky and I would love to know what they find out about the deaths or what caused them.

Link to article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40885546/ns/us_news-environment/

1/03/11