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, […]
Supreme Court Hears Cases Regarding Same-Sex Marriage
Last month the Supreme Court heard two separate cases concerning same-sex marriage. The first was a challenge to Proposition 8, the state of California’s ban on same-sex marriage. Prop 8 was approved by California voters in a 2008 referendum. The second was the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that was signed into law in 1996. […]
Stuff You Should Know
New Premier of China On March 15, Li Keqiang became China’s new premier. Like in England, the premier acts as the head of the government, while the Chinese president functions mainly as a figurehead, similar to Great Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. Unlike Great Britain or other countries that have democratic elections, China has only one […]