Stuff YOU Should Know
First Aid for New Health Care System Now that it’s up and running again, the most recent challenge facing the U.S. government is rolling out the new health care system created by the Obama administration. To make sure all citizens who were eligible have access to health insurance, the government set up a website called […]
UPDATED!! Debt Ceiling Squabble
Last night, the president and Congress overcame their disagreements to end the government shutdown and avoid the possible debt ceiling (also called the debt limit) crisis. Today was the deadline announced by the United States Treasury that the government would have lost its ability to borrow money, relying only on incoming taxes for revenue. The […]
Shutdown Showdown
For the first time in seventeen years, the U.S. government is in the midst of a shutdown. This means that a number of federally-funded programs and services have been suspended and its workers “furloughed.” Furloughted workers are not allowed to work or get paid until the shutdown has been resolved and the continuing resolution that […]
So What’s the Deal with Obamacare?
You are probably well aware by now that the federal government has shut down temporarily. This is largely over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, sometimes called Obamacare. Congress already passed this law in 2010, which has been going into affect in stages. However, last Sunday night, Congress could not overcome political and financial […]
Shutdown!
Last night, time ran out for the federal government. The House of Representatives and the Senate could not agree on the wording of a temporary funding bill that would help pay the federal government’s financial obligations and was forced at midnight to declare a shutdown of some parts of the federal government. This shutdown will […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
International Response to Syria The conflict in Syria has been going on for more than two-and-a-half years. The United States has tried to avoid military intervention. However, the president made a statement last year that use of chemical weapons would change the nation’s position. Even though Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denies having used sarin nerve […]
Is Another Government Shutdown Possible?
Congress is about to return from its month-long summer recess. They will be faced with the major task of passing a continuing resolution to fund the government for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1. Failure to reach an agreement could result in a government shutdown, which is what happens when a legislative body […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Edward Snowden Awaits Fate in Russia Last month, btw reported on Edward Snowden, a former defense contractor for both the CIA and the National Security Association (NSA) who exposed questionable surveillance practices by the U.S. government by telling a British newspaper. Shortly after the story was published, Snowden fled to Hong Kong in order to […]
Detroit Declares Bankruptcy
Back in the 1950s, Detroit, Michigan was a thriving city, the fourth largest in the United States. This success was due, in part, to the strength of the American automobile companies–Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. These multinational companies placed their headquarters and assembly plants there. But, the expansion of the auto industry into other cities, […]