More Great News!

Early last week Congress voted to lift the ban on horse slaughter in the United States. But people think that its ok for them to eat horse meat rather than eat foie gras. People try to argue that ducks are forced to suffer their entire lives. Horses, some will say, have it easy. They have an opportunity to live a happy good life. It's crazy because none of us speak horse. So we have no idea on whats going on inside their minds.

 

1. What was happening to horses in America destined for slaughter anyway?

 They were being sent to Mexico

2. What do you personally think about people who boycott foods because they think they are unethical?

 I honestly think they are doing what they are doing for nothing. Our nation is full of stubborn people who will do whatever they want despite what others want or care about....sad face

3. What do you think Rakestraw thinks about people who protest foods because they think they are unethical? 

 lol I dont think he gaf about them and he would be green and eat horse fingers in their faces

4. Why do people get so upset about foie gras?

 Ducks suffer when tubes get shoved down their throats to swell the liver.

5. What is different about people's relationship with ducks and horses?

 People think that horses have it better because they have an opportunity to live a happy life and they never see their deaths coming, but ducks have it hard.

6. Explain why this is silly.

 We are unable to know what goes on in a ducks mind as well as a horses.

Pork Barrel Legislation!

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor flutters the hearts of the government-bashing, budget-slicing faithful with his relentless attacks on runaway federal spending. To Cantor, an $8 billion high-speed rail connecting Las Vegas to Disneyland is wasteful “pork-barrel spending. But away from the cameras, Cantor is guilty of using pork barrel too. He says that in his home state of Virginia, it "will demonstrate that this historic investment in rail will create jobs, reduce congestion, spur economic growth and improve our environment."

1. If Eric Cantor is the House Majority Leader, what is he supposed to do?

 He is responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes in behalf of the party's legislative positions

2. Why would Cantor recommend cutting a high speed rail program in Nevada, but not similar programs in Virginia?

 Virginia is his home state

3. Why would voters be disappointed in these Tea Party members?
 the budget isn't being cut

4. What evidence do you have that even House leadership asks for pork projects?
 Boehner and Issa havwe asked for them

5. Why would Congressmen call out members of their own party for asking for pork projects?
pork projects dont benefit the party only a Congressman's constituency.

6. Ron Paul is a Libertarian. Why is it surprising to find him asking for pork?
he believes that all spending should be cut but he is asking for money

7. What did Republicans say publicly about Obama's stimulus package? What are they doing privately?
 they were against it, but they are able to use it for their constituency

8. How do you think these Congressmen's constituency would feel about them for their actions?
 they wouldnt care as long as it helped them

Great News for America!!!!

Obama legalized horse slaughterhouses. The House version of the bill retained the de-funding language and the Senate version did not. Him signing the bill cut the funding, resulting in horsy patties!!

1. Is this awesome?
YES!! FREAKING AWESOME! I wonder how will the meat taste.....I guess i'll find out soon!

Balanced Budget Amendment FAIL

1. What is required for Congress to propose amendments?

 2/3 majority

2. Why are Democrats against a balanced budget amendment?

 it would cause some social programs to be cut

3. If this bill passed the House, would it be sent to the states for ratification?

 no. it would be sent to the senate

4. What is the national debt? (NOT how much is it)

 the money that America borrows from other countries

5. Why would programs be at risk during economic downturns if there was an amendment that forced the budget to be balanced?

 spending would be cut

6. David Drier is the Chairman of the House Rules committee. Why is he so important?

he has to schedule all bills for review, set a limit on debate and he also decides whether or not the bill is open or closed

7. What important costs mentioned at the end of the article need to be considered when thinking about an amendment forcing a balanced budget?

national security and defense costs

8. What type of spending is characteristic of the government in the last 50 years?

 the gov't has been spending a lot on defense costs

Blog Post 2.5

1. What is a financial - disclosure record?

it is a history of what type of investments legislators make.

2. Why do we need those?

 to keep track of them

3. Which one of John Kerry's jobs in the Senate is mentioned? What does that mean he is responsible for?

chairman of the heath subcommittee. he is responsible for the drug legislation

4. What was John Boehner doing during health care reform debates?

he was the house majority leader and was investing tens of thousands of dollars in health-insurance-company stocks

5. What is insider trading?

insider trading of a corporations stocks by individuals with potential access to non-public information about the company

6. What do the House and Senate ethics rules say about congressmen's stock ownership?

it states that a member’s recusal from a vote affecting his or her stock portfolio “might be denying a voice” in the process.

7. What suspicious activity did former Speaker Nancy Pelosi take part in?

Her husband invested between $1 and $5 million on Visa when she was Speaker of the House

8. How will the Tea Party and Occupy movements likely respond to this book?

 The book arrived at a moment when the populist anger and resentment of the Tea Party and Occupy movements have melded into a kind of generalized outrage toward a system that seems geared to protect the interests of the few.

9. What does the author (of the book) say is his main problem with politicians?

 the political elite dont have to really abide by the rules that the average person does

Congress: Trading Stock on inside info?

 There are many perks to being a Congressman besides the salary. The biggest challenge of a congressman is resisting temptation. Some congressmen and senators manage to accumulate significant wealth beyond their salaries and are adept at buying and selling stocks. The rules are conveniently written so that they don't have to worry about them. It is illegal for normal people to do so, but congressmen are exempt from these rules. Backus says that he never trades stocks for non-public info but his financial disclosure report indicates otherwise.

What counts as inside info?

Congressional hearings are pre-staged. Most work gets done in off the record meetings, telephone calls, and behind closed doors. Knowing how something is going to affect a company and knowing whats going to happen to a certain section of the economy before everyone else is essential. Tha'ts why people turn to lobbyists. 

 Keeping Congress clean 

Congressmen must hold themselves to a higher standard. We're holding everyone to a standard that we refuse to hold ourselves to. This opens up room for abuse. The invitation for abuse opens up disdain for the government. Even though people tend to say that they don't trust Congress, it can be a beautiful institution.