Are Americans Overtaxed?

When comparing the United States to the rest of the world, no we are not overtaxed. The United States is about the 50th highest taxed country in the world. Compared to the top three taxed countries which are France, Belgium, and Italy we stand in an average position. Another indicator that Americans are not overtaxed is the progression of United States income tax. During the early to mid 20th century, U.S. income tax is the highest that it has ever been. Since that time, income tax rates have been slowly lowered by a margin of five percent.

The issue of taxes has long separated conservatives and democrats. Conservatives take a strong stance on lowering taxes, while liberals believe in a steady tax rate. This issue will probably never be solved as people will always have different opinions. Personally I believe that the tax program that we have now works, and if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.

5/12/16 Unit 4c

DEET Seen as Safe for Pregnant Women to Avoid Zika Despite Few Studies

Link - http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/05/health/zika-virus-deet-pregant-women-safety.html

Summary - As the Zika virus continues to ravish South and Central America, pregnant women are turning to controversial ways, such as the use of DEET, to protect their unborn children. DEET is used to repel the mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus, and while it is effective, the use of DEET may prove to be as harmful as the Zika virus to the unborn child. The EPA and the CDC are running tests to see if the use of DEET is harmful to the fetus. These tests are few and show few results yet pregnant women continue to protect themselves with DEET.

Analysis - The bureaucracies part in this crisis is extremely important. The more the EPA and CDC learn to prevent and control the Zika virus the safer we, as Americans will be when the virus comes to our shores. As these agencies run more tests we will learn safer ways to protect ourselves from the mosquitos that spread it. It would be highly recommended for Congress to increase the budget of these agencies.

5/4/2016 Unit 4d

Merrick Garland to Meet With More Republicans

Links - http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/04/01/merrick-garland-to-meet-with-more-republicans/?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FCourts%20and%20the%20Judiciary&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=7&pgtype=collection&_r=0

Summary - This article focuses on the nomination process of Judge Garland. He has been meeting with several Republican Senators such as Susan Collins of Maine and John Boozman from Arkansas. Garland is attempting to gain support from Republican Senators so that he will be appointed to SPOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States). Senator Collins believes that Garland deserves consideration, while Senator Boozman is skeptical. Garland is willing to meet with more Republican Senators willing to support him.

Analysis - This article is important because it shows the difficulty in gaining support to be approved for the Supreme Court. Judge Garland is the best choice President Obama has given the Republican Senators so far. They can either approve this centralist judge, or roll the dice and hope the Republicans win the next presidential election. Judge Garland is going to try to convince the Republicans that he’s the man they want.