Obama details Afghan war plan, troop increases

In a report from MSNBC.com the associated press reports on a speech that President Obama gave on Tuesday night. In his speech The President ordered an additional 30,000 troops into Afghanistan. The troops will arrive as "fast as possible", with the first marines landing before Christmas. The increse in American troops is accompined by and increase of 5,000 to 10,000 more troops from NATO. A survey by the Gallup organization,reveals that only 35 percent of Americans approve of the way Obama is handling the war. The speech was triggered a three month review of the war, a request from the commanding general, Stanley McChrystal, for as many as 40,000 more troops. McChrystal warned "without the additional 40,000 troops the U.S. risked failure."

I believe it is a good to add the additonal troops, because the U.S. can not risk failure. Afganistan is where the attacks on 9/11 were planed ,and without intervention more of those kinds of attacks can be planned and carried out.

Botax? Nip/tuck levy to help fund health plan

On MSNBC.com, the associated press reports on a new proposal, that would tax plastic surgery, including breast implants, tummy tucks, wrinkle-smoothing injections and other procedures, to pay for a very expensive health plan overhaul. With this new tax, heath care would be spread to millions without insurance. The proposed tax would add an extra 5% to any cosmetic procedure, except those used to replace limbs to injured, or burn victims. While it is seen as a tax that will only hurt the wealthy, the majority of cosmetic patients earn from $30,000 to $90,000 a year. Although the new tax may put the price of cosmetic procedures too high for some people, that can't be a reason to not pass the proposed tax. As a society America can not put vanity over the well being of it's citizens, and by not passing this proposed tax, that is exactly what the United States will be doing.

Unemployment hits 10.2%

In an article on CNN. com Chris Isidore reports on, the report issued by the government on Friday. In the article Isidore gives the frightening figures of the recent report, but still says "There are signs of growth." The unemployment rate has risen to 10.2% and Americans lost 190,000 jobs in October. Despite these alarming rates Isidore reports that Congress has voted to extend the unemployment benefits by up to 20 weeks. Also Sung Won Sohn, economics professor at California State University Channel Islands, noted "that the biggest increase in temporary employees in two years took place in October." This is another sign of hope for the economy because temporary jobs lead to permanent ones. I think it is sad that the unemployment rate has reached such a staggering figure, but the signs of growth continue to give me and many other Americans hope, that the economy can bounce back.

Ethanol keeps Nebraska running in tough financial times CNN.com

In the article "Ethanol keeps Nebraska running in tough financial times" John King reports on the tough times in the Midwest. In the article King states statistics, such as their unemployment rate of 4.9 compared to the national average of 9.8. This low unemployment rate, king says, is due to the production of ethanol and the jobs created by ethanol plants. With ethanol plants offering 1000 jobs across the state. Although in Washington ethanol production is a source of controversy, many think it is "an industry unfairly propped up by generous federal subsidies", it provide the boost in the economy that Nebraska needs.

Origins of American Revolution

Many see the American revolution as a political and imtellectual event but the fact is, that it was a economic phenomenon. The colonists did want to be represented in the British parliament, but what most colonists wanted was to be untaxed, thus making the revolution a economic phenomenon. Arthur M. Schlesinger wrote that "the first many economic desires, many social aspirations were set from the political struggle, many aspects of society profoundly aultered by the forces thus let loose." he also maintained that colonial merchants, motivated by their own intrest in escaping the restrictive products of British mercantalism, aroused American resistance in the 1760's and 1770's. This proves that the colonists were motivated by economic benifits that a revolution would provide.  

The Origins of Slavery

The question of what initially caused slavery can be argued both ways. Some historians like Winthrop Jordan argue that the white Europeans enslaved Africans because of their race. Others like Oscar and Mary Handlin argue the idea that slavery was a way to increase economic productivity, not racism. While race was a way for the white Europeans to simply write off the inhumane treatment of African slaves, it was not the initial reason for slavery. White colonists needed servants to work their fields and while indentured servants worked for a short amount of time, the long term cheap solution were slaves.

Effect of European settlement in Western Hemisphere

The choice Columbus and many other Europeans made to conquer and almost exterminate the Native Americans would never be made by anyone today, but was it the right choice at the time? The answer is yes. While many Native Americans died from disease and from wars of conquest, without the technology and ideas brought over by the Europeans we would not have the same form of government or the luxuries that are now commonplace . The consequences of the European settlement on the western hemisphere were positive. There were many negatives but with out the settlement none of us would be here today.