Causes of the Great Depression

Historians have argues over the cause of the Great Depression, since the outset. Some say it was "lack of business confidence", others say it was caused by underconsumption and over production. I believe the answer can not be found in one cause. A multitude of factors came into effect, to cause the Great Depression. Over production led to the saturation of the market, and then led to underconsumption. This is compiled with the over speculating and the eventual crash of the market. With no one buying goods in a consumer centered society the economy started to fail.

Progressivism

In the article on Progressivism, historians have very conflicting views on the motives of the Progressives. In the 1950's felt that the progressives had the intention of curbing the power of the special interests. Later historian George Mowry considered the motives of the Progressives to be "people who considered themselves the natural leaders of society and who were trying to recover their fading influence from the new capitalist institutions that had displaced them." Richard Hofstadter called this "status anxiety". That was challenged by Gabriel Kolko, who said, " Progressive reform was not an effort to protect the people from corporations; it was, rather,a vehicle through which corporate leaders used the government to protect themselves from competition."

I believe the answer is somewhere in the middle. While some progressives did want to curb the power of special interests, many were only interested only in reform that benefited them. While many progressive were genuinely interested in bettering the American way of life, many more I believe were only interested in helping themselves.

Progressivism

Populism

In the article on populism, historians argue over whether or not populism was a movement that was anti-democratic and could lead to communism. Although historian Richard Hofstadter claimed that the populist movement had "soft and dark sides" the populists grievances were genuine and they had the right to advance reforms to help themselves. Although many historians will argue that the populist movement could be dangerous because it brought many people together, bringing people with common thoughts together is a good thing. When many people come together, they are expressing the will of the people, and it is the government's job to address that.

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.