tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48299148962299342462024-03-13T10:46:10.062-04:00People for PolityTrying to generate conversations the nation actually needsPeople for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-16645761807096655602013-03-26T15:17:00.000-04:002013-03-26T15:18:56.754-04:00Synthesis Sketch Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.herbalmission.org/medical-marijuana/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/medical-marijuana-for-depression-300x202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://www.herbalmission.org/medical-marijuana/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/medical-marijuana-for-depression-300x202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For this post, I will write a
synthesis sketch report on the decision problem I have been discussing over the last
few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is as follows:</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Should you use marijuana to treat for
anxiety or depression?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In order to address this problem, I
have formed two hypotheses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two
hypotheses are as follows:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Marijuana is effective when treating
for anxiety and depression,</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Marijuana isn’t effective for
treating for anxiety and depression.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As marijuana is an illegal substance
in most of the world, the professional studies I will use will mostly focus on
the latter hypothesis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finding studies
for both of these hypotheses are difficult, but the studies I have found mostly
relate to proving the second hypothesis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I will use three studies to address this issue.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the former hypothesis, I will use
newspaper articles that support its claim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was decidedly easier to find articles that didn’t involve actual marijuana use in an experimental environment because of its illegality.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reports used after the break…</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a name='more'></a></span></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;">Hypothesis:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marijuana is effective when treating for
anxiety.</span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Medical Marijuana:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No Longer Just for Adults</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Source:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New York Times</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This article discusses the use of
medical marijuana in kids under 18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several
Bay Area doctors in California recommend medical marijuana for patients who
suffer from a number of illnesses such as adolescents with A.D.H.D.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They claim that it is safer than aspirin as
well as Ritalin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This article works with my claim,
because it shows that medical marijuana can treat for different mental
illnesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has many credible sources
to include those that refute the claim.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Anxiety and Marijuana:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New Studies Show it May be Beneficial</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Source:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anxiety Social Net</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This article claims that various
studies have established the benefits of using marijuana to treat various
illnesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also claim that medical
marijuana has been used in treatment of psychiatric conditions such as anxiety
and depression.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This works towards my claim, because
my claim directly uses marijuana to treat anxiety and depression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It shows the benefits of using marijuana for
these purposes which will help me support this claim.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Is medical marijuana an effective
treatment for depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety, and similar mood
disorders?</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Source:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ProCon.org</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a good article, because it is
two articles in one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It contains an
article discussing the pros of using marijuana for treatment of anxiety and
depression, and it shows the cons of using the plant for such purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The article claims that there seems to be an
effective treatment for depression and other mood disorders and a sharp decrease
in suicidal rates in 15-19 year old males.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This article supports the claim of my
first hypothesis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will prove useful, because
it also has the con argument as well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;">Hypothesis:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marijuana isn’t effective for treating for
anxiety and depression.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Marijuana Use and Depression</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Source:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Journal of Health and Social Behavior</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The study showed that people who use
marijuana to treat for depression actually have a higher depression index
score.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will be useful for the
second hypothesis, because the study supports its claim.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Substance abuse and posttraumatic
stress disorders: Symptom interplay and effects on outcome</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Source:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Journal of Addictive Behaviors</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The study found that the most common Substance
Abuse Disorder (SUD) in their sample to be alcohol use disorder at 69
percent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>34 percent met the criteria for
opioid use, 23 percent for cocaine abuse, 19 percent for cannabis use disorder,
15 percent for a sedative use disorder, 4 percent abusing hallucinogens, and 2
percent abusing stimulants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using these
substances showed that this could adversely affect people with PTSD.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This study is good to use, because it
shows that people that suffer from PTSD often suffer from SUD without any positive
effects for treatment.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Marijuana and driving in real-life situations</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Source:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Europe PubMed Central</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This study claimed that using
marijuana and driving to be dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It also claimed that the stresses from encountering these dangers could
have an adverse effect on anxiety and depression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a good article to prove the second
hypothesis, because the hypothesis shows that using marijuana could have an
adverse effect on depression and anxiety.</span></span></div>
People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-37055678144971069922013-03-19T08:53:00.000-04:002013-03-19T09:08:15.596-04:00Article Review 3<div align="center">
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<a href="http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2012/05/01/marijuana-driving-535x240.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2012/05/01/marijuana-driving-535x240.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Link:</span><br />
<a href="http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/4414573/reload=0;jsessionid=KhzBqR1O2O38tlEOnFm5.16" target="_blank">Marijuana and driving in real-life situations</a><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Summary</span></b><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The study that I used
for this review was an interventionist study to determine the effects of
marijuana on driving ability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The causal
hypothesis for this study is as follows:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>marijuana impedes driving ability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the
study, the smoking of marijuana by human subjects has a detrimental effect on
driving skills and performance in a restricted driving area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, this effect is greater under
normal driving conditions on city streets. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While the effect of
marijuana is not uniform in all subjects, the effect of smoking the substance
is bidirectional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether or not there
was a significant decline depended on the subject’s ability to compensate and
the dose of marijuana consumed.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The street portion of
this study tried to emulate regular driving conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the actual driving experience on
city streets was purely experimental.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The study provided for maximum safeguards which contained a dual control
vehicle and a driver observer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also,
subjects were professionally screened and were determined to be emotionally
stable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The study concluded
that driving under the influence of marijuana should be avoided as much as
driving under the influence of alcohol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Details of the study after the break…</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a name='more'></a></span><a href="http://www.cannabisnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/marijuana-car.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://www.cannabisnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/marijuana-car.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">64 volunteers (43 men
and 21 women) were assigned to three groups for the driving course portion of
the study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One group was given a high
dose of the drug (14 men and 8 women), another group was given a low dose of
the drug (13 men and 8 women), and a third group was given a placebo (16 men
and five women).</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of the volunteers, 38
(25 men and 13 women) participated in the street driving portion of the
study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were four groups:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a group given a low dose of marijuana before
and then a placebo prior to the second session (5 men and 4 women), a group
given a placebo first and then a low dose before the second session (7 men and
3 women), a group given a high dose first and a placebo second (6 men and 2
women), and a group given a placebo first followed by a high dose (7 men and
four women).</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The variable that constituted
the intervention was as follows:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Takes drug
[high dose, low dose, placebo].</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The variables on
which this intervention was acted upon were as follows:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sex [male, female] and Driving [street,
course, both].</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While learning was
likely to occur while driving on the course, taking the drug impeded this
learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scores after taking the drug
worsened on average by 29 percent with the group taking a low dose of the drug
and worsened by 54 percent by the people taking a high dose of the drug.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the street portion
of the study, the 38 volunteers recorded 8 emergent situations while on the
placebo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were 18 emergent
situations when taking the drug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
emergent situations that occured after smoking marijuana was unrelated to dose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As previously stated,
the study showed that smoking marijuana should be avoided before driving.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Discussion</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe this study
supported the causal hypothesis of smoking marijuana impedes driving
ability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The study took the necessary
measures to control driving conditions while giving their subjects varying
doses of the drug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The conclusions drawn
were concrete and clearly showed that consuming the drug has a devastating
effect on driving ability.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This study didn’t
really support or discredit my causal hypothesis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to its illegal nature, there are still
few interventionist studies that I could find that included marijuana intake as a
variable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, those self-medicating
with marijuana to treat for anxiety and depression will be more likely to drive
while on the substance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Encountering
these emergent situations could have a harmful effect on those already
suffering from depression and anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
will need to do a little more research to affect my opinion on my PIP topic.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some limitations from
this study include a lack of night driving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Night driving could provide for a more stressful environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, the doses of marijuana used were
within the normal range of social marijuana usage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A more “heroic” dosage might be taken before
driving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, the effect of
marijuana on reactions and decision making during high speeds was not<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>addressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-6262510145660675472013-02-12T12:36:00.001-05:002013-02-12T18:00:32.466-05:00Article Review 2<div align="center">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/uploadedImages/News/Chicago/Govt_Reporting/Summer_2008/VETS_and_PTSD/SoldierCrying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/uploadedImages/News/Chicago/Govt_Reporting/Summer_2008/VETS_and_PTSD/SoldierCrying.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Link:</div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#" target="_blank">Substance abuse and posttraumatic stress disorders: Symptom interplay and effects on outcome</a><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri;">Summary</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The above study examined the
association between substance abuse disorder (SUD) and posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) and symptoms and mechanisms underlying those associations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Participants of the study were assessed at
the beginning of the study and six months following inpatient SUD
treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Since</span> the treatment was
necessary to conduct this study, it can be classified as
interventionist.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because SUD and PTSD occur together
often, a more clear understanding of this dynamic may identify areas for
intervention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This also includes how
different substances may be related to different PTSD symptom clusters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, hyperarousal symptoms were
associated with alcohol problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Details of the study after the break…</span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><a href="http://www.phoenixhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/VetsPainkillers_PhoenixHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://www.phoenixhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/VetsPainkillers_PhoenixHouse.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the study’s onset, 133 participants received inpatient SUD treatment at a psychiatric hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>51 percent were women, and 90 percent were
white.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average age was 37 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Variables the study examined included sex [male,
female], age [18-55], PTSD [yes, no], and SUD [alcohol, opioids, cocaine,
cannabis, sedatives, stimulants].</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Interviews and self-reports were
conducted at the baseline and 6 months post-discharge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>90 percent of the participants completed
follow-up assessments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A PTSD Scale
assessed PTSD, while the Life Stressor Checklist-Revised assessed traumatic
exposure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The number of symptoms
endorsed indicated the PTSD and symptom cluster severity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After six months, these same procedures were
repeated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The study found that the most common
SUD in this sample to be alcohol use disorder at 69 percent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>34 percent met the criteria for opioid use,
23 percent for cocaine abuse, 19 percent for cannabis use disorder, 15 percent
for a sedative use disorder, 4 percent abusing hallucinogens, and 2 percent
abusing stimulants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the six month point, the majority
of participants had used alcohol or other drugs at least once (67
percent).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>38 patients were still suffering from PTSD,
while only 14 reported no longer suffering from the disorder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Individuals with PTSD were more
likely to meet the <em>Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders</em> criteria for mood disorder than those who were not
diagnosed as indicated on Table 1.</span></span></div>
</div>
<dd class="lblCap"><div class="caption">
<span class="label">_______________________________________________</span></div>
</dd><dd class="lblCap"><div class="caption">
<span class="label">Table 1. </span>Rates of comorbid diagnoses by current PTSD </div>
</dd><dd class="table"><table><colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup><thead>
<tr><th colspan="1" rowspan="2"></th><th colspan="2" rowspan="1">PTSD<br />
<hr />
</th><th colspan="2" rowspan="1">Non-PTSD<br />
<hr />
</th></tr>
<tr><th colspan="1" rowspan="1"><em>n</em>=55</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1">%</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1"><em>n</em>=78</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1">%</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Major depressive disorder (<em>n</em>=76)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">43</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">78</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">33</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">42</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Dysthymia (<em>n</em>=15)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">9</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">16</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">6</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">8</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Mania (<em>n</em>=9)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">8</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">15</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Panic disorder (<em>n</em>=41)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">27</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">49</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">14</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">18</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Agoraphobia without panic disorder (<em>n</em>=1)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Social phobia (<em>n</em>=18)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">8</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">15</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">10</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">13</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Simple phobia (<em>n</em>=10)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">5</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">9</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">5</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">6</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Obsessive-compulsive disorder (<em>n</em>=11)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">6</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">11</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">5</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">6</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Generalized anxiety disorder (<em>n</em>=25)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">12</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">22</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">13</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">17</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</dd><dd class="fullsizeTable"> ______________________________________________</dd><br />
<div class="fullsizeTable">
</div>
<div class="fullsizeTable" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those with unremitted PTSD reported
significantly more baseline re-experiencing symptoms than those with remitted
PTSD as shown on Table 2.</span></span></div>
<dd class="fullsizeTable"> ______________________________________________</dd><dd class="lblCap"><div class="caption">
<span class="label">Table 2. </span>Prediction of remission status</div>
</dd><dd class="table"><table><colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup><thead>
<tr><th colspan="1" rowspan="2"></th><th colspan="2" rowspan="1">PTSD status at follow-up<br />
<hr />
</th></tr>
<tr><th colspan="1" rowspan="1">PTSD remitted</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1">PTSD unremitted</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="3" rowspan="1"><em>Baseline variables</em></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="3" rowspan="1">Gender [no. (%)]</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Male</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">6 (30)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">14 (70)</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Female</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">8 (25)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">24 (75)</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="3" rowspan="1">Substance use [<em>M</em> (S.D.)]</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Percent days abstinent</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">41.0 (38.4)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">48.2 (37.4)</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Years of problematic use</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">18.9 (11.5)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">17 (10.5)</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="3" rowspan="1">PTSD severity [<em>M</em> (S.D.)]</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Number of PTSD symptoms<span id="bTBLFN1"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN1" id="ancbTBLFN1">*</a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">10.2 (1.6)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">11.5 (2.2)</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Criterion C symptoms</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">4.2 (1.2)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">4.7 (0.99)</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Criterion B symptoms<span id="bTBLFN1"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN1" id="ancbTBLFN1">*</a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2.8 (1.1)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">7 (0.99)</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Criterion D symptoms</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">3.2 (1.1)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">3.3 (0.96)</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">General psychiatric distress SCL-90-R<span id="bTBLFN1"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN1" id="ancbTBLFN1">*</a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">134.4 (50.7)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">181.6 (68.2)</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="3" rowspan="1"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="3" rowspan="1"><em>Follow-up variables</em></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Substance use percent days abstinent [<em>M</em> (S.D.)]<span id="bTBLFN2"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN2" id="ancbTBLFN2"><sup>†</sup></a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">90 (14.7)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">76 (31.1)</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">General psychiatric distress SCL-90-R [<em>M</em> (S.D.)]<span id="bTBLFN3"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN3" id="ancbTBLFN3">***</a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">58.3 (47.6)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">153.2 (77.6)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</dd><dd><div class="legend">
**<em>P</em><.01.Values for baseline and follow-up percent days abstinent represent the nontransformed variables.</div>
</dd><dd>
<dl class="tblFootnote" data-t="n" id="TBLFN1">
<dt> *</dt>
<dd><em>P</em><.05.</dd></dl>
<dl class="tblFootnote" data-t="n" id="TBLFN2">
<dt> †</dt>
<dd><em>P</em>=.08, marginally significant.</dd></dl>
<dl class="tblFootnote" data-t="n" id="TBLFN3">
<dt> ***</dt>
<dd><em>P</em><.001.</dd></dl>
</dd> ______________________________________________<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Table 3 examines the effect of
changes in PTSD status on substance use outcomes.</span></span></div>
______________________________________________<br />
<dd class="lblCap"><div class="caption">
<span class="label">Table 3. </span>Prediction of follow-Up Percent Days Abstinent</div>
</dd><dd class="table"><table><colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup><thead>
<tr><th colspan="1" rowspan="1">Predictor</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1"><em>B</em></th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1">SEB</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1">Beta</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1"><em>t</em>-value</th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1"><em>R</em><sup>2</sup></th></tr>
<tr><th colspan="1" rowspan="1"><em>Step 1</em></th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1"></th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1"></th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1"></th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1"></th><th colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.11</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Baseline percent days Abstinent</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.24</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.09</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.24</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2.77<span id="bTBLFN4"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN4" id="ancbTBLFN4">**</a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Sex</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.06</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.08</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.06</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.65</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Contrast: No PTSD vs. Ever PTSD (Remitted and Unremitted)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.02</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.05</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.05</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.52</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Contrast: Remitted vs. Unremitted</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.29</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.14</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.20</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2.08<span id="bTBLFN5"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN5" id="ancbTBLFN5">*</a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><em>Step 2</em></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.12</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Baseline percent days Abstinent</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.25</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.09</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.25</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2.78<span id="bTBLFN4"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN4" id="ancbTBLFN4">**</a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Sex</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.05</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.08</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.05</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.53</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Contrast: No PTSD vs.Ever PTSD</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.04</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.05</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.09</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.92</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Contrast: Remitted vs. Unremitted</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.33</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.14</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.23</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2.32<span id="bTBLFN5"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN5" id="ancbTBLFN5">*</a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Baseline SCL-90-R</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.01</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.01</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.13</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1.33</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><em>Step 3</em></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.13</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Baseline percent days abstinent</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.24</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.09</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.24</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2.74<span id="bTBLFN4"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN4" id="ancbTBLFN4">**</a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Sex</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.03</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.09</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.03</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.29</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Contrast: No PTSD vs. Ever PTSD</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.04</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.05</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.09</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.91</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Contrast: Remitted vs. Unremitted</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.32</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.14</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.22</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2.23<span id="bTBLFN5"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN5" id="ancbTBLFN5">*</a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Baseline SCL-90-R</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.01</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.01</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.12</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1.23</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Baseline PTSD symptoms</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.01</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.01</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.08</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.89</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"><em>Step 4</em></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.19</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Baseline percent days Abstinent</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.22</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.08</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.23</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2.68<span id="bTBLFN5"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN5" id="ancbTBLFN5">*</a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Sex</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.04</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.09</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.04</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.41</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Contrast: No PTSD vs. Ever PTSD</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.02</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.05</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.03</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.34</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Contrast: Remitted vs. Unremitted</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.16</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.15</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.11</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1.06</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Baseline SCL-90-R</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.01</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.01</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.25</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2.28<span id="bTBLFN5"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN5" id="ancbTBLFN5">*</a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Baseline PTSD symptoms</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.01</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.01</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.09</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−1.05</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Follow-up SCL-90-R</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.01</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.01</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−0.35</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">−2.90<span id="bTBLFN4"><a class="intra_ref" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460304000632#TBLFN4" id="ancbTBLFN4">**</a></span></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</dd><dd>
<dl class="tblFootnote" data-t="n" id="TBLFN4">
<dt> **</dt>
<dd><em>P</em><.01.</dd></dl>
<dl class="tblFootnote" data-t="n" id="TBLFN5">
<dt> *</dt>
<dd><em>P</em><.05.</dd></dl>
</dd><dd class="fullsizeTable"> ______________________________________________</dd><br />
<div align="center">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After examining all of the variables,
participants with alcohol use disorders reported a greater number of
re-experiencing symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The results
show that PTSD status did not predict substance abuse outcome, though a change in PTSD status after the
follow-up predicted use outcomes as Table 2 shows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These findings suggest that doctors should
assess PTSD among those with SUD as well as monitoring other psychological
symptoms that could become risk factors for relapse.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri;">Discussion</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This study wasn’t the best at
evaluating my causal hypothesis, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">using
cannabis helps to treat for stress and depression,</i> although examining the
effects of substance abuse and PTSD could be relevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am finding it difficult to find a clear-cut
interventionist study on the use of cannabis to treat stress and depression, however this study does give limited insight
on cannabis users with PTSD.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Using only this data and the data
from the previous article, my causal hypothesis would still not be
supported.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Nonetheless</span>, this is only to a
certain degree, because I have yet to find an actual study that actually
examines cannabis use in an experimental environment.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Limitations of the study include a
mostly white participation rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also,
if only for my own hypothesis, I would have liked to have seen the study examine the
actual effects of SUD and if any positive effects were noted.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because of the studies limitations, it
is increasingly apparent that I will need to find an interventionist study that
specifically addresses my causal hypothesis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-80027532814317952032013-01-22T17:20:00.001-05:002013-01-24T15:47:19.928-05:00Article Review 1<div align="center">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://donttouchthese.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/ways-to-cope-with-depression-full1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://donttouchthese.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/ways-to-cope-with-depression-full1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Link:</div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/2676359.pdf?acceptTC=true&" target="_blank">Marijuana Use and Depression</a><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Summary</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The study I will be using for my
first article review is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Marijuana
Use and Depression </i>which was conducted by Brian E. Green and Christian
Ritter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will use this study to help
test my hypothesis: Using marijuana helps to treat for stress and
depression.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The goal of the study was to find an
association between using marijuana and adult depressive symptomatology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Variables being examined included “age of
first marijuana initiation (values = age),” “frequency of current marijuana use
(values = low, medium, high),” “the use of other licit and illicit drugs
(values = yes and no),” and “whether marijuana was used to cope with problems
(values = yes and no).”</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because of the differing reports of
past studies on the effects of marijuana and depression – from showing that the
effects of marijuana have little to no effect on depression to showing that
marijuana users are more likely to experience symptoms of poor mental health –
this study attempts to resolve the differing findings by exploring numerous
aspects of marijuana usage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The variables used come from the
<em>Young Men and Drugs Survey</em> (n = 1,941).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Participants in the study were born between the years of 1944-1954.
Because the study relied on a survey, the observational method was used in lieu
of an interventionist one.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sample was selected by using a
“multistage stratified random sample of men” which was drawn from the Selective
Service System.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The data was then
collected using face-to-face interviews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Participants were roughly between the ages of 65 and 75.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Measures used in the study include marijuana
use, educational attainment, employment and marital status, other drug use, and
depression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Results were shown through tables.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/61/f0/61f06d654646752e005c092bc036f8e4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/61/f0/61f06d654646752e005c092bc036f8e4.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Table 1 showed that the mean number of
times participants used marijuana in the past month to be 1.35.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>37 percent never used marijuana, 8 percent
used it before the age of 17, 55 percent used the drug after the age of 16, and
7 percent used marijuana to cope with their problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>56 percent of the respondents used the drug
in the last year but not to cope with problems.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Table 2 uses a hierarchical
regression analysis using different models to intervene or control variables
that could affect the relationship between depression and marijuana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first model shows how early
marijuana use affects depression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
second and third models show the indirect effects of marijuana use on
depression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fourth model includes
current marijuana use to examine the effect it has on depression as well as
assessing the mediating effect it could have on the relationship of early usage
and depression, while the fifth and sixth models consider other drug use
measures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The final model controls for
the use of marijuana to self-medicate for depression.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the purpose of this assignment, I
will focus on the seventh model.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last model found that there was a
significant association between using marijuana to cope and depression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Users had an average of 3.33 higher on the
depression index score than those that did not use marijuana to cope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When using marijuana to treat for depression,
frequency of usage significantly associated with depression in a negative
direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the study found that
people who use marijuana to cope with depression are generally more depressed
than those who don’t.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 7.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TABLE<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1. <span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Descriptive<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>Statistics<span style="letter-spacing: 1.85pt;"> </span>for<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 110%;">Primary<span style="letter-spacing: -0.4pt;"> </span></span>Variables<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>Study<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>(n<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-width: 123%;">=<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 123%;">1,941)</span></span></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
<strong>_______________________________________________________________________</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-table-layout-alt: fixed;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><tbody>
<tr style="height: 14.15pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 14.15pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 136.7pt;" valign="top" width="182"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 3.4pt -1pt 0pt 2.25pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Variable</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 14.15pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 66.55pt;" valign="top" width="89"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 3.4pt -1pt 0pt 27.1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 103%;">Mean</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 14.15pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 60.8pt;" valign="top" width="81"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.95pt; margin: 0in 22.8pt 0pt 22.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 103%;">so</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 14.15pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 55.45pt;" valign="top" width="74"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 3.4pt -1pt 0pt 24.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 102%;">Min</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: black rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid none none; border-width: 1.5pt 0px 0px; height: 14.15pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 53.6pt;" valign="top" width="71"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 3.4pt -1pt 0pt 28.1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 102%;">Max</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></tr>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
<tr style="height: 20.25pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 20.25pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 136.7pt;" valign="top" width="182"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1.25pt -1pt 0pt 2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Marijuana <span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Use<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;">
</span><span style="mso-font-width: 104%;">Indicators</span></span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.5pt -1pt 0pt 8.25pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Marijuana<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>use<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">last<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 105%;">month</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 20.25pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 66.55pt;" valign="top" width="89"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10pt; margin: 0.4pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 21.55pt 0pt 26.95pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">1.35</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 20.25pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 60.8pt;" valign="top" width="81"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10pt; margin: 0.15pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 22.2pt 0pt 20.15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 109%;">5.23</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 20.25pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 55.45pt;" valign="top" width="74"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10pt; margin: 0.4pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 22.5pt 0pt 24.65pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 20.25pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 53.6pt;" valign="top" width="71"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10pt; margin: 0.4pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 30.95pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 103%;">31</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></tr>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 7.65pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 19.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 105%;">(frequenc<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">y</span></span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 105%;">; <span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">31<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">=<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">more<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span>than<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 107%;">30)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 9.5pt; margin: 0.1pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 13.95pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Early<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">marijuana<span style="letter-spacing: 1.7pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 105%;">use</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.25pt -1pt 0pt 25.25pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(three<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 106%;">dummies</span><span style="mso-font-width: 107%;">)</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.5pt -1pt 0pt 25.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Never<span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">used<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">.</span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">37<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.8pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>.48<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.5pt -1pt 0pt 25.25pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Used<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">16<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">or<span style="letter-spacing: 0.8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">before<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">:08<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">.28<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.25pt -1pt 0pt 25.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Used<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span>after<span style="letter-spacing: 1.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">16<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.35pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">.</span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">55<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">.</span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">50<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.8pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.25pt -1pt 0pt 13.95pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Using<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span>marijuana<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">to<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 108%;">cope</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin: auto auto auto 23.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-table-layout-alt: fixed; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><tbody>
<tr style="height: 9.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 109.45pt;" valign="top" width="146"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.4pt -1pt 0pt 2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(three<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 106%;">dummies</span><span style="mso-font-width: 107%;">)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td colspan="3" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 2.35in;" valign="top" width="226"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></tr>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
<tr style="height: 9.1pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.1pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 109.45pt;" valign="top" width="146"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Never<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 102%;">used</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.1pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 76.8pt;" valign="top" width="102"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 41.35pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 107%;">.37</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.1pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 60.75pt;" valign="top" width="81"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in 23pt 0pt 23.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">.48</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.1pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 31.65pt;" valign="top" width="42"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.05pt 1pt 0pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></tr>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
<tr style="height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 2;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 109.45pt;" valign="top" width="146"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 2.25pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Used<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">but<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"> </span>not<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">cope</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 76.8pt;" valign="top" width="102"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 41.35pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 109%;">.56</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 60.75pt;" valign="top" width="81"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.25pt; margin: 0in 23pt 0pt 23.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">.50</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 31.65pt;" valign="top" width="42"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in 1pt 0pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></tr>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
<tr style="height: 13.45pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 13.45pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 109.45pt;" valign="top" width="146"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.6pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Used<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 106%;">cope</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 13.45pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 76.8pt;" valign="top" width="102"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.6pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 41.6pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: 0.05pt; mso-font-width: 89%;">.</span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 108%;">07</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 13.45pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 60.75pt;" valign="top" width="81"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.35pt; margin: 0in 22.9pt 0pt 23.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 107%;">.26</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 13.45pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 31.65pt;" valign="top" width="42"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.6pt; margin: 0in 1pt 0pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></tr>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1.65pt -1pt 0pt 8.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Other<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Drug<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>Use<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 104%;">Indicators</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin: auto auto auto 11.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-table-layout-alt: fixed; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><tbody>
<tr style="height: 9.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 127.05pt;" valign="top" width="169"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.4pt -1pt 0pt 2.25pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Number<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>other<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">drugs
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-font-width: 102%;">used</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 67.65pt;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.4pt -1pt 0pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">.85</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 64.5pt;" valign="top" width="86"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.4pt 23.2pt 0pt 27.25pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #525252; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-font-width: 119%;">.</span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 107%;">95</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 55.45pt;" valign="top" width="74"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.65pt 23.4pt 0pt 23.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 40.45pt;" valign="top" width="54"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.4pt 1pt 0pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 115%;">6</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></tr>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
<tr style="height: 8.9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 8.9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 127.05pt;" valign="top" width="169"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.25pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 2.25pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Number<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">cigarettes
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">per<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 104%;">day</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 8.9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 67.65pt;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 31.65pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 108%;">8.38</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 8.9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 64.5pt;" valign="top" width="86"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.25pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 21.35pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">12.99</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 8.9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 55.45pt;" valign="top" width="74"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in 23.4pt 0pt 23.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 8.9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 40.45pt;" valign="top" width="54"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.25pt; margin: 0in 1.55pt 0pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 108%;">40</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></tr>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
<tr style="height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 2;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 127.05pt;" valign="top" width="169"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.25pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 2.25pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Average<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">days<span style="letter-spacing: 0.8pt;"> </span>drink<span style="letter-spacing: 1.45pt;">
</span>per<span style="letter-spacing: 0.9pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 102%;">week</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 67.65pt;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 0.45in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">1.15</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 64.5pt;" valign="top" width="86"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.25pt; margin: 0in 23.4pt 0pt 22.9pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 107%;">2.03</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 55.45pt;" valign="top" width="74"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in 23.4pt 0pt 23.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 40.45pt;" valign="top" width="54"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in 1.3pt 0pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 107%;">7</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></tr>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
<tr style="height: 18.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 18.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 127.05pt;" valign="top" width="169"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.35pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Number<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">days<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 104%;">used</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.25pt -1pt 0pt 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">stimulants <span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">in<span style="letter-spacing: 0.85pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.95pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">last<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 101%;">year</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 18.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 67.65pt;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8pt; margin: 0.1pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.44</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 18.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 64.5pt;" valign="top" width="86"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.5pt; margin: 0.1pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 23.7pt 0pt 22.9pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 105%;">5.61</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 18.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 55.45pt;" valign="top" width="74"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.5pt; margin: 0.35pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 23.4pt 0pt 23.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 18.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 40.45pt;" valign="top" width="54"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.5pt; margin: 0.1pt 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 26pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">200</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></tr>
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 7.65pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 13.25pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Number<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span>da<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">y</span></span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">s<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 104%;">used</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.5pt -1pt 0pt 19pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">sedatives<span style="letter-spacing: 1.6pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">in<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">the<span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">last<span style="letter-spacing: 0.8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">year<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">.41<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">9.18<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">0<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">365</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.25pt -1pt 0pt 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Number<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.7pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">days<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 104%;">used</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.7pt -1pt 0pt 18.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">opiates <span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">in<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span>last<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;"> </span>year<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">.16<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>3.22<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">0<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 1.1pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-font-width: 104%;">100</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.25pt -1pt 0pt 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Number<span style="letter-spacing: 1.55pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>days<span style="letter-spacing: 1pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 104%;">used</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin: auto auto auto 5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-table-layout-alt: fixed;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 12.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 12.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 138.4pt;" valign="top" width="185"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.25pt -1pt 0pt 13.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">cocaine<span style="letter-spacing: 1.8pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">in<span style="letter-spacing: 0.55pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"> </span>last<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 101%;">year</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 12.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 62.4pt;" valign="top" width="83"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.5pt 18.75pt 0pt 25.7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 105%;">1.43</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 12.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 64.65pt;" valign="top" width="86"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.25pt -1pt 0pt 21.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 107%;">13.16</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 12.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 55.55pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.5pt 23.55pt 0pt 23.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 12.7pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 52.6pt;" valign="top" width="70"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0.25pt -1pt 0pt 26.1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">365</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</tr>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<tr style="height: 11.8pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 11.8pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 138.4pt;" valign="top" width="185"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 2.65pt -1pt 0pt 2.25pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Educational<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span><span style="mso-font-width: 105%;">Attainment</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 11.8pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 62.4pt;" valign="top" width="83"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 2.65pt 18.75pt 0pt 0.3in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">13.88</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 11.8pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 64.65pt;" valign="top" width="86"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 2.65pt 23.65pt 0pt 23.1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 105%;">2.78</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 11.8pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 55.55pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 2.65pt 23.85pt 0pt 23.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 103%;">2</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 11.8pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 52.6pt;" valign="top" width="70"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 2.45pt -1pt 0pt 29.95pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 105%;">20</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</tr>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<tr style="height: 9.2pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 2;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.2pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 138.4pt;" valign="top" width="185"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.4pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 2.25pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Employment
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Status<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;"> </span></span></i><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-width: 152%;">(I<span style="letter-spacing: -0.95pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">=<span style="letter-spacing: 0.45pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 105%;">employed</span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.2pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 62.4pt;" valign="top" width="83"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 19pt 0pt 29.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #525252; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; mso-font-width: 119%;">.</span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 107%;">94</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.2pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 64.65pt;" valign="top" width="86"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.4pt; margin: 0in 23.15pt 0pt 27.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">.24</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.2pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 55.55pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 23.55pt 0pt 23.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9.2pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 52.6pt;" valign="top" width="70"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.5pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 34.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-width: 220%;">I</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</tr>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<tr style="height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 3;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 138.4pt;" valign="top" width="185"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.35pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Marital<span style="letter-spacing: 1.75pt;"> </span>Status<span style="letter-spacing: 1.05pt;">
</span></span></i><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-width: 152%;">(I<span style="letter-spacing: -0.95pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">=<span style="letter-spacing: 0.65pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 107%;">married</span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 108%;">)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 62.4pt;" valign="top" width="83"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.35pt; margin: 0in 19pt 0pt 29.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 106%;">.70</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 64.65pt;" valign="top" width="86"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.35pt; margin: 0in 23.05pt 0pt 27.4pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 107%;">.46</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 55.55pt;" valign="top" width="74"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.35pt; margin: 0in 23.55pt 0pt 23.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 9pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 52.6pt;" valign="top" width="70"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.05pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 34.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-font-width: 268%;">I</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</tr>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<tr style="height: 10.25pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-irow: 4; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) black; border-style: none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1pt; height: 10.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 138.4pt;" valign="top" width="185"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 2.25pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 104%;">Depression</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) black; border-style: none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1pt; height: 10.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 62.4pt;" valign="top" width="83"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in 19.1pt 0pt 24.95pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 108%;">8.64</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
</td><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) black; border-style: none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1pt; height: 10.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0in; width: 64.65pt;" valign="top" width="86"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in 23.4pt 0pt 23.1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 107%;">7.80</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.45pt; margin: 0in 23.55pt 0pt 23.75pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-font-width: 112%;">0</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8.2pt; margin: 0in -1pt 0pt 30.2pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">51</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Discussion</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This study gave way to some
interesting statistics about marijuana usage and depression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I will need to conduct a lot more research
to test my hypothesis:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using marijuana helps
to treat for stress and depression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
study showed that people who use marijuana to treat for depression actually
have a higher depression index score.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, the study didn’t adequately address the background information
of already depressed people, though they did find a link between early usage and
depression later on in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As of now – using only the data
collected in this study – my hypothesis would fail, although I am still
skeptical on the dismissal of background information in the study as well as other limitations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One limitation of the study is that
causal relationships could not be assessed because of the use of cross-sectional
data.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, only men were sampled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Third, cohort and period differences in these
processes cannot be examined using the survey.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The study provided a lot of incite on
the use of marijuana to cope with depression, but I need to do significantly
more research to test my hypothesis.</span></span></div>
</div>
People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-21475168475425267112013-01-15T15:23:00.001-05:002013-01-24T15:45:22.881-05:00Possible PIP Topics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://transglobeexports.com/wp-content/uploads/inquiry-banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="http://transglobeexports.com/wp-content/uploads/inquiry-banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Link:</span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://courseweb.pitt.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_3_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_108950_1%26url%3D" target="_blank">CourseWeb: Causal Reasoning</a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For this semester, I was asked to complete a Personal Inquiry Project (PIP). The goal of this project is to use formal theory about causation to enhance decision making abilities in real life situations. During the semester, I will conduct scientific research about a causal hypothesis that could be relevant to my future. I will then evaluate the hypothesis based on research and decide how to act based on its conclusion. After the break, I will begin the project by offering three decision problems that I might choose to investigate.</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://alangregerman.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83516c0ad53ef017c3329aba8970b-800wi" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://alangregerman.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83516c0ad53ef017c3329aba8970b-800wi" width="160" /></a> As stated earlier, the questions I will be focusing on will be decisions I might have to make in the future. After choosing a question, I will then offer two hypotheses for each one. There will be scientific research to address the causal hypothesis I choose to investigate. After offering three quesions, I will then select one in which to apply the semester project to.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #e06666;">Question 1:</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Should I purchase my next mountain bike with a steeper head tube angle in lieu of a slacker one?</u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Hypothesis 1a:</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Steeper head tube angles help you go faster.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Hypothesis 1b:</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Steeper head tube angles decrease stability.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #e06666;">Question 2:</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Should I purchase a PC over a Mac?</u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Hypothesis 2a:</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>PC's offer more functionality and a lower price level.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Hypothesis 2b:</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Mac's are less susceptible to viruses.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #e06666;">Question 3:</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Should I use marijuana to treat anxiety or other health problems?</u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Hypothesis 3a:</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Using marijuana can be used to treat anxiety as well as other ailments.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Hypothesis 3b:</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Using marijuana can be addictive and hazardous to your health.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em></em> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After further consideration, I will choose a topic that most interests me and has sufficient scientific research. By the project's conclusion, I hope to have better decision making skills by employing formal causation theory.</div>
People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-34724212816165946422012-08-04T12:46:00.000-04:002012-08-04T18:22:42.968-04:00Conservatives ramp up rhetoric to accuse Obama of reverse racism in schools<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0q_AnZ7WE4o/UB1OZtJRXLI/AAAAAAAAAKs/b8QJB9GBNZI/s1600/discipline1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0q_AnZ7WE4o/UB1OZtJRXLI/AAAAAAAAAKs/b8QJB9GBNZI/s400/discipline1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Link:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/27/obama-backs-race-based-school-discipline-policies/">The Daily Caller: Obama backs race-based school discipline policies</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The conservative “media” is at it again. They are blatantly espousing more
disinformation – yes, disinformation and not misinformation – about a campaign
to ensure students are punished fairly in our schools. The author, Neil Munro, would have you believe
that President Obama wants to punish white kids more, but a read through the above
link will show you only a fool could fall for such rhetoric i.e. the
conservative base.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The quote Munro uses from Obama states that he wants to
promote "a positive school climate that does not rely on methods that
result in disparate use of disciplinary tools." <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
If anything, the quote Munro uses <i>contradicts</i> his story. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Great journalism there. </div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UuJfgUfDeCo/UB1Ojcdlg4I/AAAAAAAAAK0/41hMhdmSCzo/s1600/discipline2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UuJfgUfDeCo/UB1Ojcdlg4I/AAAAAAAAAK0/41hMhdmSCzo/s200/discipline2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The only thing I got out of this article is that the author is
very ignorant…and very conservative. He
fails to mention the effects of the poverty cycle <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span> either on purpose or by
design <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">– </span>and uses obviously racist sources that make assumptions and
"predictions" that fit his agenda. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I am not saying Barry isn't trying to do this (nobody knows
any politicians true agenda anymore), but this piece doesn't even come close to
justifying outrage. This is just the media
attempting to poke the bear again. There
are no facts in this article…but that is to be expected from a conservative
pub. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Here is another gem that Munro uses to contradict himself:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>"[Maryland’s] 24 school systems track data to ensure
that minority and special education students are not unduly affected by
suspensions, expulsions and other disciplinary measures. [...] Disparities
would have to be reduced within a year and eliminated within three years."</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Again, this is just another quote used by Munro to rile up
the ignorant conservative base. The
quote, once again, fails to justify his argument; the quote merely shows that
Maryland is using data so that everyone is disciplined the <i>same</i> no matter what racial group. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The problem Maryland is addressing is not that racial groups should be
punished less, but that racial groups should be punished the <i>same</i> as white students. Essentially, that means if a white kid gets
one day of detention for skipping class, a black kid should get one day of
detention for skipping class...not three.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
This bigoted “journalist” will look for any reason to keep
whites on top – and they know white cons will eat this up – so he blatantly put
out disinformation to trick the base.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And one look at this house-of-cards-at-best argument shows
me that they don't even have to <i>try</i>
being good journalists anymore. Let's just ramp
up the rhetoric and put the bug zapper on high.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Munro then goes on to attack Judith Browne-Dianis, a
director of the D.C.-based Advancement Project.
You have to love this assumption by Munro asserting that her motivation
is money:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Dianis’ project is also a law firm that litigates
race-related questions, and it gains from laws and regulations that spur
race-related legal disputes."</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
It <i>must</i> be because
Dianis is a money-hungry whore who preys on the unfortunate. You have to love that mindset! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Progressives are progressives for a reason. They are the ones who <i>aren’t</i> money hungry. Cons
just love to assume, because they want to believe everyone is a greedy bastard like
them. This woman – if anything – could
be considered an expert witness as she <i>sees</i>
this stuff ALL THE TIME. She probably
understands that something needs to be changed.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
If one can't see that the system is broken, then I'm not
sure what else to tell them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I also like how Munro tries to throw in a little garbage at
the end to strengthen his argument citing that no "individual" was
singled out by Attorney General Eric Holder.
No shit. Pick a case. I’m sure if he did a little investigating (I
know this concept is foreign to conservative “journalists”), he would EASILY
find what he is looking for.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And who doesn’t love the red herring he throws out there in
the end pointing out hiring practices?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Brilliant. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He must feed his sheep the good corn.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
In short, I am not surprised this piece came from a site
founded by Tucker Carlson. <o:p></o:p></div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-30368468224850898002012-04-25T17:40:00.002-04:002012-04-25T18:11:17.005-04:00Theory v Fact: Analyzing austerity and stimulus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AMi638ABFpM/T5hrbX4v8uI/AAAAAAAAAIY/5PZVEbEsIF0/s1600/stimulus+austerity.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AMi638ABFpM/T5hrbX4v8uI/AAAAAAAAAIY/5PZVEbEsIF0/s400/stimulus+austerity.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Link:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/varying-impact-austerity-stimulus-120602935.html">Yahoo: The varying impact of austerity and stimulus</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i><span style="color: blue;"><b>"...the best way for a government to put austerity into effect is by cutting subsidies and raising taxes for low earners, and the best way to carry out stimulus is by cutting taxes for high earners."</b></span></i></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The article presented is ridiculous for no other reason than it only
addresses theory and not facts. This is a typical tactic by conservatives --
rhetoric -- as facts have a liberal bias. We have over seventy years of
historic policy that would -- and has -- refuted trickle-down
theory.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Three things:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
1.) Tax cuts do not create jobs. They never really have. Go
back to 2001, or go back to the eighties when Reagan was forced to raise taxes
after cutting them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
A similar fate awaited Bush I. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Unfortunately, Bush II made that same mistake TWICE while
sending us into TWO wars (not to mention Medicare Part D which holds the
country hostage to pharmaceutical companies) thus having to borrow from China
to fund them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Brilliant. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Oh yeah, no job creation from the tax cuts despite what the
article would have you believe. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
There's that liberal bias again...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
2.) The article does not address consumer spending...you
know...that little thing that attributes <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/consumer-spending-another-drag-killing-economy-2010-8">seventy
percent of GDP.</a> This is kind of
important when dealing with job creation as spending creates a demand; demand
creates jobs. Stimulus helps consumer
spending; it’s implicit. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
3.) Which brings us to the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009. In 2010 alone,
the nonpartisan CBO reported job growth from the stimulus at upwards of 3.6
million jobs and unemployment reduced upwards of two percent (despite more investor
and consumer confidence driving more people into "unemployed"
status). <br />
<br />
And I'm not sure what country the author is living in, but we have had
six-digit job growth almost every month for some time now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I haven't even touched the auto bailout.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Again, the bottom line is that the author only writes in
theory. I just don't understand why he ignores past policy...unless he just
doesn't like the facts being presented.<o:p></o:p></div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-80591174955697657892012-03-27T18:45:00.001-04:002012-03-27T22:38:40.484-04:00America’s ghost organization strikes again: Will the Trayvon Martin case shine a light on government’s puppet master?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Il86CORJ2p0/T3JBwEAl6OI/AAAAAAAAAIA/khUUz_1XFlY/s1600/kochbrothers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Il86CORJ2p0/T3JBwEAl6OI/AAAAAAAAAIA/khUUz_1XFlY/s400/kochbrothers.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">www.sodahead.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Link:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/opinion/krugman-lobbyists-guns-and-money.html" target="_blank">New York Times: Lobbyists, Guns, and Money</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul Krugman had an </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/opinion/krugman-lobbyists-guns-and-money.html" style="font-family: inherit;">interesting op-ed</a> the other day concerning America's little known ghost organization ran by the Koch brothers: the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For those of you unfamiliar with this
institution, the supposed "nonpartisan" ALEC is a steamroller for the American ultraconservative movement containing a lobbying arm, a corporate arm, and an arm made up of
legislators.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>People for the American Way</i> informs us that “in 2009,
of the 826 ‘model bills’ that were introduced in state legislatures [by ALEC],
115 of those bills were enacted into law.”
In some cases, these laws were written almost word-for-word by ALEC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Regardless of your opinion on the Trayvon Martin case – I am
of the opinion of letting the law handle it since neither of us were there and
neither of us are Floridian legal scholars – one can’t simply ignore ALEC’s
involvement with Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J0zzRVLPXMU/T3JCkW8dFrI/AAAAAAAAAII/wkxsGTYETLI/s1600/koch-brothers-manipulating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J0zzRVLPXMU/T3JCkW8dFrI/AAAAAAAAAII/wkxsGTYETLI/s200/koch-brothers-manipulating.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">www.theredpillnews.blogspot.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This post is not about my opinion of the law or of the case
but of ALEC’s involvement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You may or may not remember a <a href="http://peopleforpolity.blogspot.com/2011/05/who-writes-our-laws-alec-americas.html">PfP
post wondering on who wrote our laws, implicating ALEC in writing Arizona's
SB-1070.<span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></a> The law was put in place for corporations to
make over $5 BILLION in profits off of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison%E2%80%93industrial_complex">Prison-industrial
complex</a> by exploiting Hispanics whether they are documented or not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The “papers please” legislation requires an arrest of citizens
that cannot produce documents of their citizenship even if they are here legally, as long as they fill corporate prisons for days, months, or
even years funded by American tax dollars.
A wrongful arrest of a citizen without proper papers could cost
taxpayers $6,000 a week; $72,000 a year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, let me reiterate, this isn’t about whether I agree
with SB-1070 (I don’t) but ALEC’s involvement with the legislation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Similar to SB-1070 – which has copy-cat bills spreading
across the nation – Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law was written almost
word-for-word as ALEC’s proposed bill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wonder how many politicians profited from this bill…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As Krugman details in the article, many ALEC-drafted bills
pursue the same old conservative goals:
union-busting, undermining environmental protection, and tax breaks for
corporations and wealthy individuals all in the name of greed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because of ALEC’s goal of wanting to seemingly privatize everything
– advocating corporate control of everything from prisons to schools – Krugman came
to the conclusion that ALEC is, indeed, not for limited government and free
markets, but a large, privatized government in which the corporation gains their profits from the taxpayer’s dollars; dollars “steered” their way by the
very politicians they paid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--mWogrfklqg/T3JCyMNLEGI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/KW-4GYodW60/s1600/krugman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--mWogrfklqg/T3JCyMNLEGI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/KW-4GYodW60/s200/krugman.jpg" width="158" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">“ALEC isn’t so much about promoting free markets as it is
about expanding crony capitalism,” wrote Krugman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I ask if you have enough money to influence
legislation, these are the examples I highlight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“But where does the encouragement of vigilante (in)justice
fit into the picture,” asked Krugman. “In
part it’s the same old story — the long-standing exploitation of public fears,
especially those associated with racial tension, to promote a pro-corporate,
pro-wealthy agenda.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Krugman also noted that it isn't a surprise nor accident
that the National Rifle Association and ALEC are long allies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">ALEC isn’t just for the short term benefits of their
sponsors; as Krugman stated, they are in
it for the long haul. They’re in it to
change the political landscape by becoming the agenda-setters through
legislation, legislation that would enable more “corporation-friendly”
laws in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Think voter restriction bills, anti-immigration bills, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yeah; that’s ALEC...and not for the same reasons as the
average American conservative <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Think about that: we seem to be turning into a country
where crony capitalism doesn’t just waste taxpayer money but warps criminal
justice, in which growing incarceration reflects not the need to protect
law-abiding citizens but the profits corporations can reap from a larger prison
population,” said Krugman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, this post isn’t about whether I agree with
the “Stand Your Ground” law or the “paper’s please” legislation floating around
the conservative legislatures. It is
about who breathed life into these bills and why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Are you starting to understand the devastation of the
Citizens United decision which allows unlimited, undisclosed donations to
politicians?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Regardless of ideology, I think we can all agree
that the power belongs in the hands of The People and not in the hands of the
elite few.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/vuGE1VxVsYo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-79011984890875112182012-03-27T02:07:00.004-04:002012-03-27T02:15:59.587-04:00Changes to PfP: Introducing People for Polity Mobile!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5emVEC0Xv4/T3FXsAyFpkI/AAAAAAAAAGM/Lbwqqg77gr0/s1600/pfp+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5emVEC0Xv4/T3FXsAyFpkI/AAAAAAAAAGM/Lbwqqg77gr0/s1600/pfp+wall.jpg" /></a></div>
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Link:</div>
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<a href="http://pfpmobile.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">People for Polity Mobile</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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You may have noticed that we made a few minor changes here at PfP. It you will look below the title banner, you will see three new tabs: Home, Images, and PfP Mobile respectively.</div>
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The "Home" tab is self-explanatory. Click it, and it takes you to PfP's home page. If you click on the "Images" tab, you will be able to view various images sent by our readers. If you would like to submit an image, email peopleforpolity@gmail.com.</div>
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Lastly, clicking on the "PfP Mobile" tab will take you to PfP's newest feature: <i>People for Polity Mobile.</i> </div>
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PfP Mobile allows our members to post to People for Polity on-the-go from their mobile phones! For more information, click on the above link.</div>
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As always, if you have any questions or submissions, please do not hesitate to contact us.</div>
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Solidarity! </div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-91945586786145085102012-03-26T11:51:00.001-04:002012-03-27T02:41:58.725-04:00The American Revolution and the American Counter-Revolution: Past, Present, and Future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cS3WYGO6HIE/T3COhAQ4knI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/kYp1oqcSiUg/s1600/Articles%2Bof%2Bcondederation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="242" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724231824045544050" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cS3WYGO6HIE/T3COhAQ4knI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/kYp1oqcSiUg/s400/Articles%2Bof%2Bcondederation.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>[Today, we </i><i>welcome back </i><i>SWR! PfP would like to thank him for his contribution! As always, if you would like to contribute to People for Polity, email peopleforpolity@gmail.com.]</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">I want, here, to try t</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">o speak of something that bothers me about American history and how it is presented to and understood by the common person that no one ever talks about and then how this relates to the contemporary United States.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Often, people like to speak about and present the current U.S. Constitution like it is the document that embodies the values and goals of the American Revolution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p>That, however, is not really true.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p>The true document of the revolution -- besides the Declaration of Independence -- was the Articles of Confederation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p>The current Constitution was largely a counter-revolutionary document that sought to minimize and thwart the democratic goals and impulses of the revolution. The current (second) Constitution was the document pushed by elitists like Alexander Hamilton and John Adams who sought to ensure that their kind of people would rule (i.e. the emergent capitalist class, including the bankers, the factory owners, etc).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p>In fact, they were very open about their view if you actually read their writings; they did not want normal people making decisions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As an aside -- for me -- that type of openness about one’s elitism is remarkable and is a fascinating contrast to our current media-driven political environment where the ideas of genuine elitism have not gone away; rather nowadays they have to be hidden behind the rhetoric of a kind of (faux) populism. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p>We should also not forget that it is thanks to Alexander Hamilton that we have such undemocratic institutions like the Electoral College, which was put in place to prevent the people from actually choosing who would be president. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p>Additionally, it was Alexander Hamilton and his banker friends who pushed for the creation of the first Bank of the United States, which was bitterly opposed by people like Thomas Jefferson and is comparable in function to our current Federal Reserve System that so many people rightfully hate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p>These counter-revolutionaries favored centralized power and aristocratic rule over decentralized power and democratic rule (i.e. what Thomas Jefferson wanted). We should also not forget that Alexander Hamilton basically wanted George Washington to be a monarch, serving a life-term as president.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p>The current Constitution -- as it was written by James Madison -- is perhaps best understood as a compromise document between the original liberal democratic revolutionaries (many of whom we would later call Anti-Federalists) and the more elitist counter-revolutionaries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p>For example, there was a reason that these people had to write the "Federalist Papers". Through the Federalist Papers these counter-revolutionaries had to try to convince The People to give back some of the liberty and power that they had won during the revolution and enjoyed under the Articles of Confederation. Part of their strategy of getting the people to accept this new powerful centralized government was to give them a national Bill of Rights. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p>We need to all understand that this did not exist in the initial version of the second Constitution. That's why the Bill of Rights exists in the Constitution as a series of "amendments" rather than "articles". It was an add-on at the end to get the people to swallow the document of the counter-revolution. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p>We should not think that the Bill of Rights exists because everyone wanted it to be there; and even today there are many people who do not want The People to have certain rights but have no problem giving even more rights to those in power. Rather, it exists because that was the minimum compromise required to get the necessary votes to pass in Congress and in the state legislatures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p>For me, this understanding of the early history of the United States is crucial to understanding our current situation. I see the same counter-revolutionary forces that existed in that period in our contemporary world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textexposedshow"><o:p> </o:p></span>These forces of the counter-revolution continually seek to expand their power and control over the American government and over all of American society, the main difference being that, as I said before, they are not as open about this as someone like Alexander Hamilton was. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textexposedshow"><o:p> </o:p></span>This counter-revolution did not end with the passage of the second Constitution, nor did it end with the creation of the national bank. Rather, corporate domination of our society continues and is worse today than it was then. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textexposedshow"><o:p> </o:p></span>Thomas Jefferson feared the rise of corporate power, and I think he would be appalled by the state of our current society in this regard -- to say nothing of him being appalled by our contemporary blurring of Church and State. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel that we need to return to the more radical principles of the revolution, including some of the core ideas of Jeffersonian democracy and a decentralized society (especially economically and politically).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, like Thomas Jefferson, I think we need to go through a rethinking and updating of our own political system to ensure that it promotes freedom, equality, and democracy for all people. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textexposedshow"><o:p> </o:p></span>To clarify, I'm not, in any way, saying that the Articles of Confederation were perfect; I'm just saying that people should really think about and question why they value our current Constitution, and, more broadly, why they value our current system.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textexposedshow"><o:p> </o:p></span>Personally, I'm in favor of a new Constitutional Convention.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="textexposedshow"><o:p> </o:p></span>I think we can do something better than what we have. We need a new document that will bring the issues and concerns of the contemporary world to the forefront and to make our positions on them -- in terms of securing liberty, democracy, and equality for all people -- clear and explicit.</span></div>SWRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04744301546867456481noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-49713413843120596902012-03-19T15:47:00.003-04:002012-03-19T15:54:42.979-04:00Myths, deception, and lies: Rhetoric and the conservative right [VIDEO]<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xFGz0ccZe9k/T2eCDCSTReI/AAAAAAAAAFI/kRDdxgcyD0U/s1600/political+rhetoric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xFGz0ccZe9k/T2eCDCSTReI/AAAAAAAAAFI/kRDdxgcyD0U/s400/political+rhetoric.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto; white-space: nowrap;">filipspagnoli.wordpress.com</span> </td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">Link:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DS8uf-ZXLABE%26feature%3Dyoutu.be&h=7AQE7oCDwAQF2aEqCzP9-iK--5a8GtgrKfwvBMU0S7aiunw" target="_blank">Robert Reich debunks 6 big GOP lies about the economy</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/UpTakeVideo" target="_blank">UpTakeVideo</a> recently posted a video on YouTube of former Secretary of Labor, professor, and author Robert Reich speaking at the "Summit For A Fair Economy" in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 10, 2011. In the video, Reich details 6 big GOP lies about the economy.<br />
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The lies as detailed by Reich and the video's description:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">1.) Tax cuts to the rich and corporations trickle down to the rest of us. <i><b><span style="color: cyan;">(No it doesn't, and it never has.)</span></b></i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">2.) If you shrink government you create jobs. <b><i><span style="color: cyan;">(No, you get rid of jobs that way.)</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">3.) High taxes on the rich hurts the economy. <b><i><span style="color: cyan;">(No, the economy grew when the US did this under Eisenhower.)</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">4.) Debt is to be avoided, and it is mostly caused by Medicare. <b><i><span style="color: cyan;">(No, if debt is properly used to grow the economy, it becomes a smaller part of the budget because of increased revenue, and Medicare has the lowest overhead of any health insurance plan out there.)</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">5.) Social Security is a Ponzi scheme.<span style="color: cyan;"><i><b> (No, it's solid for 26 years. Social Security is solid beyond that if the rich pay the same percentage in social security taxes as the rest of us do.)</b></i></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">6.) We need to tax the poor.<b><i><span style="color: cyan;"> (This is what Republicans have been proposing when they say any "tax reform" needs to involve all Americans, because poor people pay no income tax. The poor have no money, and taxing them will not solve our budget problems.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">More after the break...<br />
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</div><a name='more'></a><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mmWogeZmWE8/T2eNpyVyncI/AAAAAAAAAFY/fT4TUVJ_uIQ/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mmWogeZmWE8/T2eNpyVyncI/AAAAAAAAAFY/fT4TUVJ_uIQ/s200/images.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>These lies are just more of the same oppressive rhetoric employed by cons to cut taxes for the super-rich, which enables the super-rich to pay the puppets we call politicians to write legislation as the corporates seem fit; rinse, wash, repeat. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Conservatives just love to use the lazy American as an example to persuade the public on policy. <br />
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Yes. There are people that abuse the system, but statistically, they are the exceptions, not the rule. People generally want to work and feel good about themselves. And the people that abuse the system? Well, they are just spending that money anyway, and that money gets recycled right back into our GDP.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let's use this same logic -- the logic that there will always be people who abuse the system -- and apply it to the top.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is an incredibly more dangerous scenario. The people at the top control over forty percent of the nation's economy. This has the potential to be much more devastating than the "loser" receiving his check for a few hundred dollars every month which he spends anyway.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We are talking about millions...billions...TRILLIONS of dollars; the kind of money that has real influence. With the Citizen's United decision -- which enabled legalized money laundering for corporations and people like the Koch brothers to donate unlimited amounts of money to politicians -- the potential got exponentially scarier.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let me say something that liberals have been saying for over thirty years: Trickle-down economics does not work!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We need to employ a bottom up strategy just like everything else in life and nature that is sturdy and built for a strong time bias.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We need to put the power back into the hands of the people. We need people to start spending money again. If they don't spend money, there will be no demand and thus no jobs and thus a defeated people who are easy to manipulate. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">How many jobs do you think there would be if we shifted the wealth parity, i.e. the forty-two percent of the nation's wealth one or two percent control, and put it back into the hands of the people that created that wealth in the first place?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Imagine the spending that would occur. Imagine the catapulting demand and thus explosive need for jobs and thus creating more money to spend and more jobs...<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That is how you build a strong county -- not by oppressing its citizens with wage slavery -- but by empowering The People.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Of course, the people controlling legislation with their money do not want to empower the people. They want to remain in power.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ec_YPVjB29w/T2eJyCSJ1KI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/zmsnNinkxGI/s1600/mark+twain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ec_YPVjB29w/T2eJyCSJ1KI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/zmsnNinkxGI/s200/mark+twain.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Those in power use the aforementioned rhetoric against the worker. The corporates and bourgeoisie will lead you to this warped sense of the average American worker struggling to raise a family while the super rich hoard their money -- money that doesn't get spent back into the economy -- all in the name of maintaining their banana republic. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">We are near or at record production levels which correlates with the near record profits. The American producer is working longer and harder without proper pay and benefits. If you take care of the people, the people will take care of the nation.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It's not a question about them having enough money; it's a question on how they obtained it. And it's not a question about wealth redistribution. It's a question about what works.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/S8uf-ZXLABE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-66850494217270349882011-12-28T20:19:00.010-05:002011-12-28T21:11:21.298-05:00A Libertarian's Dream [VIDEO]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/37/Libertarian_Party.svg/200px-Libertarian_Party.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/37/Libertarian_Party.svg/200px-Libertarian_Party.svg.png" width="307" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>[If you would like to contribute to People for Polity, please email peopleforpolity@gmail.com.]</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Link:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/consumer-spending-another-drag-killing-economy-2010-8" target="_blank">Business Insider: Consumer spending is another drag killing this economy</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was deliberating with a few friends the other day over a recent article published at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theblaze.com%2Fstories%2Ffact-check-harry-reids-claim-that-millionaire-job-creators-dont-exist-thoroughly-debunked%2F&h=GAQFgXAKGAQGtO2LKK2P7RcKXLB_QWnL3Las1qJj67sXscA" target="_blank">The Blaze</a> (including AlwaysRight of PfP) which analyzed the following statement from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: cyan;"><i>"Millionaire job creators are like unicorns. They’re impossible to find, and they don’t exist…Only a tiny fraction of people making more than a million dollars, probably less than one percent, are small business owners. And only a tiny fraction of that tiny fraction are traditional job creators…Most of these businesses are hedge fund managers or wealthy lawyers. They don’t do much hiring and they don’t need tax breaks."<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: cyan;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">People for Polity is of the belief that millionaires are vital for job growth...they just aren't currently creating jobs despite the Bush Tax Cuts. <br />
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The debate took a turn, where I began to imagine a world where a zero percent corporate tax rate worked...and then explained why it could only exist in theory (aka dreamland). </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.wikia.com/liberapedia/images/2/2b/Libertarianism-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://images.wikia.com/liberapedia/images/2/2b/Libertarianism-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">The point (not necessarily Reid's point) is that they aren't giving anyone else an opportunity to do the same thing that they achieved; they aren't currently paying a fair wage. Average pay increase in 2010 was $0.58 a week…hardly keeping up with inflation despite record productivity. Meanwhile, CEO’s average pay increased to over $11 million. This severely limits the economy, because seventy percent of GDP is consisted of consumer spending. <o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Losing the ability to spend limits money that goes right back into the economy. Spending creates the demand and thus the jobs. On the investment side, it severely inhibits consumer confidence. <o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">If big business paid the wages that were due, they could have their zero percent tax rate. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Instead, they spend their money on lobbying and buying legislation. 94 percent of the 2010 elections were won by the candidate with the most money. They are able to do this, because money and politics have gotten out of control. This was further enhanced by the 2010 landmark Supreme Court decision of Citizens United v Federal Election Commission awarding corporations personhood. <o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Doing so has allowed corporations to donate UNLIMITED amounts of UNDISCLOSED donations through legalized money laundering called super PACs. <o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">I personally believe that a fair wage is one that keeps up with inflation (most Americans don’t realize that -- every year they don’t receive a raise -- they are actually making less money than the year before) and one where we can have a strong middle class with the purchasing power to jumpstart a failed economy…a failed economy due to policy that ONLY benefits the rich and big business (because they elect our policy makers with their money). <o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">If capitalism worked the way it should and wasn't controlled by greed, we could give business that zero percent tax rate. But the corporate model doesn't allow for it; the model is driven by profit maximization and greed which means paying the worker as little as possible (aka exploiting them). <o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Do you honestly think that the worker doesn't deserve a wage that at least keeps up with inflation? Do you honestly think the CEO deserves a bonus while their workers can't feed their families?<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Think about what would happen if they spent the money they used to influence policy on their employees’ salaries and health benefits every year. Suppose they decrease their salaries a little bit and did the same. What do you think would happen with all that new found disposable income in the pockets of well over 150,000,000 people (because that’s at least how many jobs we would have if the decision-makers did this)? <o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Then imagine -- since workers are being paid well – the spike of revenues that would be drawn from consumer spending. This would eliminate the need for a corporate tax rate (a Libertarian's dream). <o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">But no; the corporation is built around the short-term, profit maximizing model. Key concept: short-term. <o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">With a fair wage, Libertarians can achieve their dream, but corporate greed can't see past their short-term potential. They can't vision their long-term potential, because the corporate model doesn't allow for it. It can't allow for it, because another, even greedier, corporation will exploit them.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">That is the dilemma of capitalism in an advanced state. Until workers are being paid well, the economy – being driven by consumer spending – will continue to falter.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/90RzlUjE_Lo/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/90RzlUjE_Lo&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/90RzlUjE_Lo&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(H/T to Mike B. for the video.)</div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-84052262638634224992011-12-23T06:58:00.002-05:002012-02-06T15:04:14.358-05:00Dylan Ratigan: United Republic [VIDEO]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/dylan-ratigan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/dylan-ratigan.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>[Once again, welcome back to People for Polity. If you would like to contribute, please email peopleforpolity@gmail.com.]</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Link:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dylanratigan.com/signup/">Dylan Ratigan Newsletter</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>Today, I would like to post something which I believe to be the most important goal of restoring our great nation: eliminating money from politics. Until this is accomplished, big business will continue to buy elections and influence public policy with their money. <br />
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Dylan Ratigan is this movements champion with his organization called United Republic. He is leading the charge to eliminate the legalized money laundering also known as super-PACs. The first step is to reverse the Supreme Court's sell-out decision of the landmark case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission which ruled that corporations are people. The second step is a constitutional amendment eliminating money from politics. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The following is from an email sent by Ratigan to those who signed up for his newsletter. Please sign up for his newsletter and sign his petition to eliminate money from politics; this is a nonpartisan issue.<br />
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94 percent of elections in 2010 were decided by the candidate with the most money. Do you have enough money to influence legislation?<br />
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<a name='more'></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://dylanratigan.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/dylan-ratigan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://dylanratigan.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/dylan-ratigan.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Friend, </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Forthe past few years, in response to the topics I speak about on my televisionshow and write about on The Huffington Post, people have asked me how theycould contribute to help fight for what I call "Truth to Power." Previously there has been no mechanism to allow people to participate in this,but it is clear that we need to form an Alliance - a formation of like-mindedindividuals fighting for the same ideals. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Withthat, let me invite you to join The Alliance to help us all fight for thetruth. It is clear that our country is divided in two - not left andright, but those who wish to change the status quo for better, and those whowish to keep it to protect their interests.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Theproblem is that the Democratic and Republican parties have lost their focus.Instead of fighting to empower the people, they are now only fighting to keeptheir own power. Only through the full engagement of the people can we changethis. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ourvalues are based on the simple belief that opaque systems reward exploitationand that transparent ones reward altruism. That monopolies reward manipulation and exploitation - whilefair, open, rules-based competition - rewards greatness.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Weare not here to throw rocks at the system, but we are here, as a group, to facethat truth together with an eye towards solving it, not exploiting it. Weare here to force the politicians and leaders to face the truth with us. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Informing an Alliance, we are seeking to bring individuals together in effort toorganize ourselves to make these changes and create a coalition with thestrength to gird ourselves for the opposition any reformer faces. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Manyof the problems that plague our country are not new, but the information we cangather and distribute is far greater than at any point in the history of theworld. We are uniquely positioned to change these problems, with the helpof technological advancements and the many tools of communication at ourdisposal. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: cyan;"><b>"Reasonobeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it." <o:p></o:p></b></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p><i><span style="color: cyan;"> -</span></i></o:p><i><span style="color: cyan;">ThomasPaine</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Icannot do this alone. None of us can do this alone. However, we asa team, can speak truth to power, and choose to do so with a compassion forthose too fearful to make the same decision that you and I have made. Acting not as a force of destruction, but as a force in ending the abuse ofspecial interests and working together to solve our nation's problems.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wehave the tools - freedom of speech, the right to vote and the choice ofhow we spend our money after taxes, combined with our individual resources oftime and talent, to give us a path forward to solve these problems. I hope this Alliance will start a freeflow of information and ideas to that end.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thankyou for your considering investing your time and talent, and I look forward tohearing from you in the months ahead.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All my best, <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dylan Ratigan<br />
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</div></div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-2462206133842295202011-12-23T06:39:00.001-05:002011-12-23T08:01:20.881-05:00We're back!: Relaunch of People for Polity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I would like to welcome everyone back to the relaunch of People for Polity. I apologize for the site being down for the past couple months, as I have been a bit busy. I hope you continue to read and offer your opinions! As always, everyone is welcome to write a post, and we continue to advocate fierce, but intelligent, deliberation. If you would like to contribute to the site, please feel free to email us at peopleforpolity@gmail.com!</div>
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Solidarity. </div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-3737050098542684352011-11-16T18:42:00.000-05:002011-12-23T06:13:54.406-05:00The Death of Capitalism: Is the United States the new Rome?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karl Marx and Ayn Rand</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/159929/how-socialists-built-america">The Nation: How Socialists Built America</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Has capitalism outlasted its worth? I thought the ultimate goal of capitalism was to make prices as cheap as possible for the consumer enshrouded in the magic of the American Dream. It seems that, at least at one point, we had that. But now, as huge corporations and pseudo-monopolies have emerged, competition has been limited and prices are taking off. Production is increasing and CEO pay is skyrocketing, yet worker’s wages remain stagnant. How else can we explain this but to maybe consider the possibility that capitalism is dying? The game has been rigged for far too long, and we are stagnating. Maybe it is time for an alternative, but what?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Socialism has long been capitalism’s main opponent. Unfortunately, because of populist fascists that use the people’s agenda to promote their own such as Hitler and Stalin, and because of unjustified propaganda machines like McCarthyism, socialism’s name has been tainted, and the very word strikes fear into many ignorant American’s hearts. These American’s are the ones who are incapable of understanding how Hitler and Stalin came to power by passing a populist people’s message that everyone wanted to hear and then advancing their own agenda. What other way could captivate a nation?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe socializing more things would make things cheaper for the consumer where the market is failing. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office seems to think so, as they stated that the Affordable Care Act will actually decrease deficits over ten years. Cheaper products put more money into more American’s pockets, therefore creating a larger demand, which creates more production, and thus, a stronger economy. I don’t see any reason why we can’t incorporate a hybrid economic system where we implement one policy where another one is failing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This type of system, which some may refer to as Keynesian Economics, has bailed out our economy time and time again since the Regan Administration. Every time, over the last thirty years, we have tried to incorporate a more laissez-faire economy, the Keynesian’s had to save the day. We saw it when Regan’s policies put us in a deficit and we saw it with Bush 1. Now we are seeing those policies eroding our economy again in the form of the Bush 2 tax cuts. Are we going to learn from our mistakes as we had in the eighties and early nineties?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The movie <em>Capitalism: A Love Story (CALS)</em> opens with a description of Rome. It showed how Rome was the largest, richest, most beautiful city in the western world. It went on to show how Rome eventually turned to an unhealthy dependence on slave labor in the economy and showed the high disparity between the rich and the poor. It showed crowded slums and the difficulty to escape such conditions because of the lack of jobs for unskilled citizens who were never properly educated. Rome held games to keep the citizens minds away from such worries, much like corporate giants like Fox shove American Idol down our throats. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Does this sound familiar? There is no in-between anymore. There are the haves and the have-nots. The right will tell you that the only people that work hard are the people at the top. This is simply incorrect. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Michael Moore points to the housing collapse where the poor were being evicted left and right and capitalist “vultures” swooped in to take every advantage they could over other’s misfortunes, much like capitalists do by taking out life insurance policies on their employees. Some may say that’s just the free market, but it isn’t that easy. To say that would be to say the banks had nothing to do with the housing collapse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moore also points to the 1960s where much of everyone was doing well for themselves. Capitalism was working and competition was alive and well before the game became rigged. We had a top tax rate of 90%, and the rich were still able to enjoy their bourgeois lifestyle. We used that money for dams, interstates, bridges, schools, hospitals, and science…we sent a man to the moon, Moore points out. Everyone could have a job, and the middle class only needed one income to survive. Union families had free health and dental care, and their kids could attend an institution of higher learning without applying for loans. Pensions were safe; workers enjoyed paid vacations; and most had the luxury of a savings account. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what happened?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reagan and his trickle-down theory infiltrated America’s tax policy -- a failed theory over 25 years in the making -- and a theory that even failed when the tax payers bailed out the banks and people were still being laid off while jobs weren’t being created. Why didn’t those banks put some of that money back into the people...the ones who bailed them out? Why haven’t those banks paid back the bailout money even though they are prospering at the tax-payer’s expense?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But I digress...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With Ronald Reagan, came Donald Regan. Don Regan was the chairman of Merrill Lynch, the largest, richest, brokerage firm in the world at that time. Donald Regan became Ronald Regan’s Treasury Secretary, which enabled him to enact the tax cuts the rich wanted. He soon became the White House Chief of Staff, and, as CALS points out, the country began to look more and more like a corporation. The industrial infrastructure had been dismantled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moore points out that this wasn’t even done to save money, as companies were posting record profits in the billions. He informed that it “was done for short-term profits.” He then illustrated how, after Reagan, corporations began posting even higher profits while they continually laid-off workers. GM made $23.1B while laying-off 100,000 workers. GE made $20.4B while laying-off 100,000, and AT&T made $9.6B while laying-off 40,000 workers. No, this wasn’t done to save the nation money, but to destroy unions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moore showed that millions of workers were thrown out, and those who remained had to work even harder. Productivity increased 45% while worker wages increased 1%. The top income tax rate was cut in half. Instead of having Americans live on a decent wage, they were being encouraged to live on borrowed money. This caused household debt to become almost 100% of our GDP. CALS showed that anti-depressant sales rocketed 305%, and greedy insurance and pharmaceutical companies pushed healthcare costs up 78%. CEO pay was 649% more than workers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is why they wanted to dissolve the unions. Life was good for them. They just wanted more. Greed dug its nasty claws in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is evident in three leaked Citigroup memos written in 2005-2006 as pointed out by CALS. The memos were meant for the company's most important investors. The memos stated that we were no longer living in a democracy, but a plutonomy, or “economies powered by the wealthy” for the benefit of “the top 1% of households” that had more wealth than “the bottom 95% of households put together.” The memos then gloated at how they were “the new managerial aristocracy.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The memos also stated that the “most potent and short-term threat would be societies demanding a more equitable share of wealth” and a “backlash” could be building. It stated that the people might not have as much economic power as the rich, but they “have equal voting power with the rich.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Heavens…whatever will they do? Their scariest plight is that they only have 1% of the vote.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Constitution doesn’t say we have to be capitalist, so why are we so hardwired to believe that? I have always believed that the preamble of The Constitution sounded a lot more like socialism than capitalism. “Provide for the common defense?” “Promote general welfare?” “Secure the blessing of liberty?” This is the very BEGINNING of The Constitution; these sound like securities. If the argument is freedom, and we love freedom so much, why do we give it up every day when we go to work? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine fame said, "America touts itself as the land of the free, but the number one freedom that you and I have is the freedom to enter into a subservient role in the workplace. Once you exercise this freedom you've lost all control over what you do, what is produced, and how it is produced. And in the end, the product doesn't belong to you. The only way you can avoid bosses and jobs is if you don't care about making a living…which leads to the second freedom: the freedom to starve.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Conservatives will point out and say socialism doesn’t work because it provides zero incentive. This is just more of the conservative rhetoric train advancing those agendas down the corporate express. In CALS, a fifteen million dollar a year company called Isthmus Engineering and Manufacturing co-op is showcased. The company is owned by its workers, and issues pertaining to the company are voted on by the workers: one person, one vote. One of their employees explained that “it takes the money out of the equation” when it comes to company matters, and as a result, profits increase. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shocking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moore then pondered what would happen if you extended democracy to the workplace. He stated that “you probably wouldn’t lay off your coworkers to increase the value of your stock, would you? Or give yourself a pay raise while making your coworkers take a pay cut.” Another worker added that employees wouldn’t do that, because their greed would be too obvious. He then stated the bottom line: “…you got plenty of people who roll up their sleeves every day and go to work, but if there is someone way up there on the chain that collects all the extra money, that’s not fair.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">CALS also showcased a bread company in California where the more hours you work, the more profits you enjoy. This even pertains to the CEO. An assembly line worker at their plant makes over $65,000 a year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a recent Rasmussen Poll among young people, only 37% of young people preferred capitalism to socialism’s 33%. Maybe the youth are starting to take notice. Maybe the youth are actually beginning to learn what socialism really is. Maybe the stain of McCarthyism is fading. Maybe it is time for something new…something like the Preamble of our Constitution and FDR’s Second Bill of Rights…rights that guarantee security. These rights include having a decent job, a livable wage, universal health care, a good education, an affordable home, and an adequate pension. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is wrong with these guarantees? We used to have them and it worked. Imagine that. A more prosperous nation and economy built on the middle class. How has something so obvious become so hazy? Parts of Europe and Asia get it, and their economies are taking off. Socialism has become such a bad word in this country that even good programs like the Affordable Care Act, and its cousin, Massachusetts’s Romneycare, have conservatives taking every chance they can get to demonize the word "socialism" even more. Romneycare is one of the most successful health care programs of all time, and its creator, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney (R-MA), is running from his own idea that the PEOPLE love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why can’t we just adhere to the old axiom “you can’t judge a book by its cover?” The Nation’s John Nichols has a few ideas:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="color: cyan;">“If there’s one constant in the elite national discourse of the moment, it is the claim that America was founded as a capitalist country and that socialism is a dangerous foreign import that, despite our unwarranted faith in free trade, must be barred at the border. This most conventional 'wisdom'—increasingly accepted at least until the recent grassroots mobilizations in Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and Maine—has held that everything public is inferior to everything private, that corporations are always good and unions always bad, that progressive taxation is inherently evil, and that the best economic model is the one that allows the wealthy to gobble up as much of the Republic as they choose before anything trickles down to the great mass of Americans.”</span></em></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But, as his article continues, we wouldn’t be the country today if it weren’t for socialist ideals. He stated that President Obama is no more a socialist than Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, F.D.R., or Dwight Eisenhower. He stated that all "these presidential predecessors sampled ideas from Marxist tracts or borrowed from Socialist Party platforms so frequently that the <em><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">New York Times</span></em> noted in a 1954 profile the faith of an aging Norman Thomas that he ‘had made a great contribution in pioneering ideas that have now won the support of both major parties’ —ideas like ‘Social Security, public housing, public power developments, legal protection for collective bargaining, and other attributes of the welfare state.’" This shows that presidents even before Obama didn’t avoid implementing social ideas for fear of putting themselves at odds with the American people and their Constitution.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nichol’s then goes on to say that “we have suffered fools so thoroughly that too many American’s believe Sarah Palin when she says socialism is antithetical to Americanism.” His point is not to defend socialism, but to defend history.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN">Nichol’s believes that the Republican Party is currently even more firm in its accusations towards socialism than it was during the McCarthy Red Scare in the 1950s. During this time, Senator Joe McCarthy (R-WI) accused President Truman of harboring Communist Party cells in the government. Conservatives were outraged at Truman’s anti-lynching proposals and national health care plan. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN">What really scared them was when Truman not only won the election he was supposed to lose in 1948, but won back congress as well. Truman didn’t run from the word “socialism,” which, in those days, was reflected to the people in the form of “Stalinism.” Truman joked, </span><span lang="EN">“Out of the great progress of this country, out of our great advances in achieving a better life for all, out of our rise to world leadership, the Republican leaders have learned nothing. Confronted by the great record of this country, and the tremendous promise of its future, all they do is croak, ‘socialism.’”</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nichols continues in saying that the “country would not be what it is today were it not for the positive influence of revolutionaries, socialists, and their fellow travelers.” </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nichol’s added:</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="color: cyan;">“If universal building codes and health protections for children can be successfully depicted by our debased media as assaults on American values and the rule of law, then the right has already won, no matter what the result is on election day. And a nation founded in revolt against empire, a nation that nurtured the radical Republican response to the sin of slavery, a nation that confronted economic collapse and injustice with a New Deal and a War on Poverty, a nation that spawned a civil rights movement and that still recites a Pledge of Allegiance (penned in 1892 by Christian socialist Francis Bellamy) to the ideal of an America ‘with liberty and justice for all’ is bereft of what has so often in our history been the essential element of progress.”</span></em></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nichol’s noted that if it weren’t for socialists like Michael Harrington, we wouldn’t have Medicare. Senator “Ted” Kennedy declared, “I see Michael Harrington as delivering the Sermon on the Mount to America.” Nichol’s added that the same was true when socialists immigrated to the United States in 1848 when they “energized” the movement against slavery and “helped give it political expression in the form of the Republican Party.” He goes on to state that the same was “true early in the twentieth century, when Socialist Party editors like Victor Berger battled attempts to destroy civil liberties and defined our modern understanding of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to petition for redress of grievances. The same was true when lifelong socialist A. Philip Randolph called the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and asked a young preacher named Martin Luther King Jr., who had many socialist counselors besides the venerable Randolph, to deliver what would come to be known as the 'I Have a Dream' speech.”</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Historian Patrick Alitt believes that “millions of Americans, including many of these critics [of the Obama administration], are ardent supporters of socialism, even if they don’t realize it, and even if they don’t actually use the word.” Programs “organized along socialist lines” do not make a state socialist. Nichols concluded by stating that we "live in complex times, when profound economic, social, and environmental challenges demand a range of responses. Socialists certainly don’t have all the answers, but without socialist ideas and advocacy, we will not have sufficient counterbalance to an anti-government impulse that has less to do with libertarianism than with manipulation of the debate by all-powerful corporations.”</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So here we are. There is no doubt that something needs to change in Washington. Hopefully the scars of McCarthyism have healed enough to where we The People, and our politicians, can once again succeed in using all of the tools available to us in a free society.</span></span></div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-65044185743904972812011-10-19T11:53:00.004-04:002011-12-23T06:02:41.113-05:00225,000 people tell Bank of America NO five dollar ATM fees <br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">[Jess over at <a href="http://www.change.org/">Change.org</a> recently sent this email to me in which I want to share. Be sure to check out their amazing site to sign and start your own petitions! If you would like to contribute to PfP, please email peopleforpolity@gmail.com</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-bank-of-america-no-5-debit-card-fees">Change.org petition: Tell Bank of America no five dollar debit card fees</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dear People for Polity,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When Molly Katchpole found out that Bank of America would
charge $5 a month to use a debit card, she was upset -- so she started a
petition on Change.org.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Since then, 225,000 Change.org members have signed her
petition. And now Bank of America is under enormous pressure to cancel its new
debit card fee. <b>A Bank of America executive even called Molly</b> and told her that
while cancelling the fee would be "premature," the bank was
"closely monitoring customer feedback."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/n8QhXwsh16FFju6fIecKadVJqkGj4RA2eOdSha-5eBaHJmQ6twnzARYgixsSP6BtrPpMfKlcdFauRCZYzHaqnrnmZgSTbrJU/ATM1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://api.ning.com/files/n8QhXwsh16FFju6fIecKadVJqkGj4RA2eOdSha-5eBaHJmQ6twnzARYgixsSP6BtrPpMfKlcdFauRCZYzHaqnrnmZgSTbrJU/ATM1.jpg" width="161" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">More public pressure could be enough to push the bank to
cancel its new $5 debit card fee. <span id="goog_341718278"></span><span id="goog_341718279"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In less than three weeks, Bank of America went from
announcing a new $5 monthly debit card fee, to reeling under huge pressure from
the media, Congress, and Change.org members.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_341718290"> </a></span><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-bank-of-america-no-5-debit-card-fees?utm_medium=email&alert_id=CHuXxznbBT_cYFKSXXTSY&utm_source=action_alert">Can you sign Molly's petition asking Bank of America tocancel its new debit card fee? Bank of America is listening to you -- and otherbanks are, too.</a><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here's a quick review of what
happened:</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">September 29:</span></b> Bank of America
announces a new $5 monthly debit card fee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">September 30:</span></b> Molly creates her
petition on Change.org; more than 150,000 people sign in the next 5 days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">October 5:</span> </b> The petition becomes a
major national story. ABC News interviews Molly, then tracks down Bank of
America's CEO Brian Moynihan and forces him to respond to it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">October 6:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></b> Molly delivers 153,000
petitions to Bank of America and closes her account. She appears on ABC World
News again to discuss the petition. Local media in Charlotte (where Bank of
America is based) openly speculate that the growing controversy could lead to
the firing of Moynihan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><b>October 9:</b> </span> Molly is featured in a
major article in the New York Times as an example of the public's frustration
with big banks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">October 10:</span> </b> Bank of America
executive Andrew Pepler calls Molly Katchpole to discuss her petition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><b>October 13:</b> </span> Molly meets with
Congressman Brad Miller to discuss a bill in Congress to make it easier to
switch banks. The two later appear on CNN together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><b>October 18:</b> </span> Molly's petition
reaches 225,000, as Bank of America reports a $6 billion profit. The outrage
continues to grow.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Other banks are paying attention to
the public reaction to Bank of America's new debit card fee. <b>Citibank even said
its "customers made it abundantly clear" that they wouldn't like a debit card fee.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">What's next in this campaign to cancel Bank of America's $5
debit card fees? It's up to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Please sign the petition demanding Bank of America cancel
its new $5 monthly debit card fee. </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Click here to </b></span><b>add your name:</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-bank-of-america-no-5-debit-card-fees">http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-bank-of-america-no-5-debit-card-fees</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for being a change-maker,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">- Jess and the Change.org team</span></div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-33827208532229240992011-09-21T12:10:00.008-04:002011-12-23T06:02:40.925-05:00A Socialist Memorandum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://vote-socialist.org/images/new_SP_logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://vote-socialist.org/images/new_SP_logo.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Date:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> 21 September 2011</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">From: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> People for Polity</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">To: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Public Sphere</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Subject:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Decline of Capitalism</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">The following memo is issued in response to the recent decline in job growth and economic development in the United States. The ideas here within will offer alternatives to the problem as well as address the need for reeducation of our nation’s public and youth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Issues facing our nation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Misinformation permeating our education system<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">The struggle of capitalism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Rapid decline in GDP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Stagnating Job growth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Failed concept of Supply-side Economics<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Wage growth slowest since Great Depression<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Revenues lowest since Eisenhower Administration</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Exigency of issue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Is the United States the new Rome?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Huge corporations limit competition<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Prices increase<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Makes it hard for new firms to enter market<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Worker’s wages stagnant<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Productivity at record levels<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">CEO salary and bonuses at record levels<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Rome’s dependence on slave labor caused demise<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Showed in high disparity between rich and poor<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Crowded slums made it difficult to escape conditions due to lack of skills and jobs for uneducated citizens<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Rome held games much like pop culture does for the U.S. to distract citizens from more important worries</span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">What happened?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Capitalism in the 1960s<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Capitalism thrived without confusing tax code<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Top tax rate was 90 percent<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Used revenue for dams, bridges, schools, hospitals, and science<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Low unemployment<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Union families had free health and dental for families<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Young adults could apply to institutions of higher learning without loans<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Regan and the advent of Supply-side Economics<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Regan Administration and Supply-side Economics<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Failed for Regan, Bush I, and Bush II<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Every time we cut taxes, revenues plummet and are forced to raise taxes again<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Former Merrill Lynch chair Donald Regan convinces Regan to cut taxes for rich and becomes the president’s Chief of Staff<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Industrial infrastructure dismantled<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Productivity increased 45 percent while wages increased 1 percent<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Top income tax rate cut in half<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Americans encouraged to live on borrowed money<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Household debt became almost 100 percent of GDP<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Healthcare costs increase 78%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">CEO pay was 649 percent more than workers</span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Alternatives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Socialism and Democratic Socialism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Issues<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">American still suffering from McCarthyism and containment policies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Average Americans relate Socialism with fascism and dictators like Hitler and Stalin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Lack of education on Socialism distorts public view <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Arguments for significant change in public policy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Socializing more things would make products cheaper where market is failing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Affordable Care Act (ACA) will decrease deficits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">ACA provides health care to millions more Americans<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Investing in the people puts more money in Americans’ pockets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Money in pockets creates a demand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Demand increases production<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Increased production forces job creation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Job creation broadens tax base and strengthens economy and increases disposable income<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Repeat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Constitution has Socialist agenda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Preamble</span><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">“Provide for the common defense”</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"> “Promote general welfare”</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">“Secure the blessings of liberty”</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Socialism has a history with the United States<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">FDR, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Dwight Eisenhower borrowed ideas from Socialism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Borrowed ideas from Marxist tracts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Borrowed ideas from Socialist platform<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> <b><i> </i></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>New York Time 1954 profile of Norman Thomas</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Wrote article in response to former presidents’ use of Socialist ideals <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><strong><span style="color: cyan;">He “had made a great contribution in pioneering ideas that have now won the support of both major parties” —ideas like “Social Security, public housing, public power developments, legal protection for collective bargaining, and other attributes of the welfare state."</span></strong></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Harry Truman</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Didn’t run from Socialism in McCarthy Era<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">“Out of the great progress of this country, out of our great advances in achieving a better life for all, out of our rise to world leadership, the Republican leaders have learned nothing. Confronted by the great record of this country, and the tremendous promise of its future, all they do is croak, ‘socialism.’”</span></em></strong><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt;">·</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>John Nichols</i></b></span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">“If there’s one constant in the elite national discourse of the moment, it is the claim that America was founded as a capitalist country and that socialism is a dangerous foreign import that, despite our unwarranted faith in free trade, must be barred at the border. This most conventional 'wisdom'—increasingly accepted at least until the recent grassroots mobilizations in Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and Maine—has held that everything public is inferior to everything private, that corporations are always good and unions always bad, that progressive taxation is inherently evil, and that the best economic model is the one that allows the wealthy to gobble up as much of the Republic as they choose before anything trickles down to the great mass of Americans.”<br />
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“If universal building codes and health protections for children can be successfully depicted by our debased media as assaults on American values and the rule of law, then the right has already won, no matter what the result is on election day. And a nation founded in revolt against empire, a nation that nurtured the radical Republican response to the sin of slavery, a nation that confronted economic collapse and injustice with a New Deal and a War on Poverty, a nation that spawned a civil rights movement and that still recites a Pledge of Allegiance (penned in 1892 by Christian socialist Francis Bellamy) to the ideal of an America ‘with liberty and justice for all’ is bereft of what has so often in our history been the essential element of progress.”</span></em></strong><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt;">o<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Democratic Party</span><br />
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</div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-81834226651581734582011-09-20T11:22:00.013-04:002011-12-23T06:02:41.206-05:00PfP News: DNC reaches out to collegiate journalists on conference call to defend "American Jobs Act" [VIDEO]<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: georgia; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/351931/thumbs/r-JOBS-ACT-large570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/351931/thumbs/r-JOBS-ACT-large570.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 22px; padding: 10px 0px; text-align: center;">Link:<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://pittnews.com/newsstory/democrat-leaders-push-proposed-american-jobs-act/"> TPN: Democrat leaders push proposed American Job Act</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Democratic leaders have taken to all corners of the country to stump President Barack Obama’s newly proposed jobs bill, including college campuses</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Democratic National Committee Chair, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and White House staffer Kalpen Modi (Kal Penn) hosted a conference call for collegiate journalists Monday afternoon to discuss Obama’s proposed American Jobs Act and how it may benefit students across the nation. The two officials in the call focused mostly on explaining the merits of the bill and its aims, rather than the specifics of how it will accomplish them.</span></div></div><a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://nation.foxnews.com/sites/nation.foxnews.com/files/styles/dv1/public/636_Obama_jobs_bill_close_AP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="77" src="http://nation.foxnews.com/sites/nation.foxnews.com/files/styles/dv1/public/636_Obama_jobs_bill_close_AP.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p>Obama began the push for the bill with a speech two weeks ago, which he is intended to jump-start the nation’s economy. While he emphasized that “nothing in this bill should be controversial,” Republicans in both chambers of Congress have criticized the bill and its proposal to increase taxes on the rich.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Schultz stressed in the call the difficulties for college graduates and made clear that the president’s bill would facilitate a faster transition from college to the workforce, but she didn’t expound upon how exactly the bill would accomplish this.</span></div><div style="line-height: 22px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> “Right now there is a struggle coming right out of college. There are certainly no automatic opportunities, so this bill would be more hospitable to college graduates,” Schultz said. “For young Americans in particular, the American Jobs Act will really make a difference in the short-term and long-term employment.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The White House website states that the president’s act would cut taxes for America’s small businesses so that they can hire employees and grow. The first $5 million in payroll tax would be cut in half for 98 percent of businesses, and the payroll tax would be eliminated for firms that add new workers to their payroll or increase preexisting wages.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“Small business is the engine of economic development,” Schultz said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">According to the act, tax cuts will be expanded to 160 million workers who will receive a 50 percent cut in payroll taxes in 2012. This will provide a $1,500 tax cut for the “typical family.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The act lays out two programs to put workers back to work. A “Returning Heroes” hiring tax credit has been proposed that would provide tax credit to encourage the hiring of veterans. “Project Rebuild” would focus on hiring people to work renovating homes and businesses.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“We are at our strongest when everyone does their fair share and everyone gets a fair shake,” Schultz said of the $500 billion bill. “This bill is fully paid for in a fair way, including closing corporate loopholes and asking America’s wealthiest to pay their fair share.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The White House website said Obama will call on a Joint Committee to come up with additional deficit reductions to pay for the plan. A detailed plan will be released in the next week.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://storyballoon.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Fight-For-It-American-Jobs-Act1-517x267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="103" src="http://storyballoon.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Fight-For-It-American-Jobs-Act1-517x267.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Schultz advocated for the act and stressed that it will create more jobs and expand the economy instantly as well as create thousands of construction jobs to fix American infrastructure.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“It would make it easier for workers to remain connected to the workforce as well as give them skills for the future,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">During the half-hour conference call, Modi also discussed the president’s full repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“[The president has initiated] a full repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ so our friends that are serving can [do so] without discharge from that unfair policy,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Schultz expressed adamantly her desire for young adults to have a voice in the political arena through the bill.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“Young people have always been an important voice in the Democratic party,” she said. “I got my own start in youth politics with the College Democrats. I decided it was important that a voice for young people was heard in our political discussions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">During the first part of the call, Modi pointed to the Affordable Care Act as an example of Obama’s past achievements.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“The Affordable Care Act led to health care becoming more affordable and accessible for young people,” Modi said. “A lot of folks in college are benefiting from that, especially folks that are graduating.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Under the act, dependents can stay on their parents’ plans until they turn 26.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The act now provides 12 million young adults with coverage. But 30 percent of that demographic is still uninsured — a rate that Modi said is higher than that of any other group’s across the board.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Modi said that Obama’s main goal is to provide jobs and student aid for young adults.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“[It’s] the pinnacle of what the president wants to do, from how student loans work, to predatory lending."</span><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/N5f-FwN2ZJs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></span></div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-31650100327325698412011-09-19T12:46:00.007-04:002011-12-23T06:02:40.882-05:00Half of Congress millionaires: Get the money out of politics! [VIDEO]<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://griid.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/money-in-politics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="http://griid.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/money-in-politics.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Links:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20023147-503544.html">CBS News: Number of millionaires in Congres -- 261</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://www.dylanratigan.com/2011/08/19/our-constitutional-amendment-get-money-out-of-politics/">Dylan Ratigan: Our Constitutional Amendment -- Get money out of politics</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you ever wonder who your politicians really work for? That candidate you cast your ballot for, who are they working for?<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">I know I have. I have asked myself that question MANY times. I can conjecture…and it would lead me to believe “not me.”<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">So if they aren’t working for me, you, your neighbor etc., who are they working for?<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Well if we take a look at the number of millionaires in Congress, I think we can come up with a pretty solid answer.<br />
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</div><a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://priceofoil.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/lobbyist_money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://priceofoil.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/lobbyist_money.jpg" width="133" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Is it a wonder why? Their world is plagued by avarice. <a href="http://www.econ.yale.edu/faculty1/tsyvinski/students/egorov.pdf">Studies</a> have shown that a politician’s main goal is to get reelected under special interest politics. This fuels their greed and lust for power.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">It’s no secret special interests and lobbies line the finest wares of your friendly, local politician. So, naturally, they use this as their engine to advance their bank acco…er…agenda…same thing?<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Let’s look at some numbers:<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">The base pay for a member of Congress is $174,000. Now, 261 of those members, nearly HALF, are millionaires according to <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/11/congressional-members-personal-weal.html">analysis</a> done in 2009 by the Center for Responsive Politics. I’m willing to bet that number is greater now.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">To put it in perspective, 1% of American’s are millionaires; half of Congress are millionaires. Does this seem right to you? Do these sound like people that work for you…or do they sound like the kind of people that work for special interests and Big Business?<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">While everyone was suffering through the recession, including the economy, congressional members saw their wealth increase by more than 16 percent between 2008 and 2009.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">55 members had an average calculated wealth of $10 million or more in 2009, according to the study.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Check out this graph and statistic:<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://veracitystew.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Super-Comm_WealthChart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://veracitystew.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Super-Comm_WealthChart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">The MEDIAN wealth of a House member in 2009 was $765,010…nearly a million dollars in itself. The Senate? $2.38 million! <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bilerico.com/2010/06/greedy-politicians-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://www.bilerico.com/2010/06/greedy-politicians-small.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>These are the people that govern us. Are you still convinced that politician is working for you?</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Stephanie Condon of CBS News had some interesting info to add on this topic.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">“Members of the House and Senate made investments last year in a number of companies that have a strong presence on Capitol Hill, spending large sums on lobbying efforts and political donations,” wrote Condon. “The most popular company among members of Congress, CRP found, was General Electric, in which 82 current members invested. The second most popular company was Bank of America, which 63 members invested in.”<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Are you starting to get a clearer picture of who these people work for?<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">This is why I LOVE Dylan Ratigan’s <a href="http://www.dylanratigan.com/2011/08/19/our-constitutional-amendment-get-money-out-of-politics/">idea to get money out of politics.</a> <o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">To properly govern, we need to take the money out of the game. Everyone knows greed is inevitable when dealing with such a large group of people. And after Citizen’s United, the Supreme Court’s sell-out decision to allow unlimited campaign donations from corporations by declaring them people, the game radically changed for the worse.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Aristotle would shake his head at their lack of virtue. This is not how man was meant to be governed.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">We also need to get rid of the career politician. I don’t understand why this is such a difficult concept…oh wait…yes I do…it’s because the legislators are the ones benefitting from this corrupt system.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Ratigan, along with Jimmy Williams, is preparing a Constitutional amendment to get big money from special interests out of our political system.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dylanratigan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Screen-shot-2011-08-19-at-2.47.07-PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="http://www.dylanratigan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Screen-shot-2011-08-19-at-2.47.07-PM.png" width="200" /></a>“We all know that they buy access and influence through campaign contributions, and benefit from the big payoffs (examples: Wall Street, health care, banking) and, of course, provide a lucrative revolving door to soften the blow when elected officials leave office,” wrote Ratigan.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Ratigan has already taken steps to make this happen. Big names like Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz are urging their fellow CEO’s and campaign donors to boycott campaign contributions until the parties actually do something.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Former PA Governor Ed Rendell also supports the amendment:<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>“There are so many legislators who have said to me, gosh, if I could vote in secret, I could vote for your proposal Governor because I know it’s the right thing to do. But I can’t do it. The other side will raise money on it and kill me. And that’s what’s so important — it is so important to get the influence of money out of politics. Because if you get the influence of money out of politics, we will get people who will actually vote their conscience. And I think that’s extraordinarily important. You’re right to say it’s not the lobbyists… but it is the money that perverts the entire process…. I would be interested in Jimmy’s drafting the amendment.”<o:p></o:p></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Williams has already completed a draft of the amendment but still has a long way to go. I would like to see this bill at least make it to committee, but I doubt that will happen.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">The only way we can combat this rigged system designed to benefit only a certain few, is to voice your opinion. Write your legislators, tell you friends, spread the word. This is a nonpartisan issues, and the only people against it are the small percentage of the people benefitting.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Be sure to send your ideas to <a href="mailto:peopleforpolity@gmail.com">peopleforpolity@gmail.com</a>, follow Jimmy Williams on Twitter for the latest on the amendment @Jimmyspolitics, and email Dylan Ratigan at <a href="mailto:MadAsHell@DylanRatigan.com">MadAsHell@DylanRatigan.com</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">We need 100 million signatures.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0" height="245" id="msnbc482d19" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" /><param name="FlashVars" value="launch=44179985^244313^590424&width=420&height=245" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed name="msnbc482d19" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" width="420" height="245" FlashVars="launch=44179985^244313^590424&width=420&height=245" allowscriptaccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></div></div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-41498923945516366402011-09-15T11:39:00.005-04:002011-12-23T06:02:40.977-05:00PfP News: City Council votes to roll back parking meter enforcement times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5DQCsAY69ME/TarTzbAO0wI/AAAAAAAAXMM/cPt0NqgngfQ/s1600/parking-meters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5DQCsAY69ME/TarTzbAO0wI/AAAAAAAAXMM/cPt0NqgngfQ/s400/parking-meters.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Link:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://pittnews.com/newsstory/city-to-roll-back-meter-hours/">TPN: Council to stop nighttime meter parking</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The parking meter enforcement hours might roll back to their previous hour of 6 p.m. depending on the outcome of a final City Council vote next week.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Pittsburgh has once again expanded parking meter hours and increased rates this summer in neighborhoods throughout the city, including Oakland.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mywallpaperhd.com/wallpaperpic/pittsburgh-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://mywallpaperhd.com/wallpaperpic/pittsburgh-11.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The changes, which took effect June 1, are part of Pittsburgh’s bailout plan to prevent its pension fund from being taken over by the state. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">City Council enacted a five-year series of rate schedules that extended the hours of parking meters around Oakland by four in a last minute vote on New Year's Eve. However, City Council voted Wednesday to roll back the enforcement times.<br />
<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Mayor Luke Ravenstahl supports City Council’s decision to roll back hours<b> </b>but is still concerned with their plan to increase rates and enforcement hours as a way to save the city’s pension fund from state takeover.<br />
<br />
“The real issue is what does that action do to the pension fund and the potential takeover of our pension fund so if we can figure out a way to avert state takeover and control the pension fund and rollback enforcement hours to 6p.m., I would be a supporter of that,” Ravenstahl said.<br />
<br />
Council members cited public outcry — and lack of understanding on why the city increased prices and enforcement hours — as their reasons to rollback the enforcement from 10p.m. to the original time of 6p.m.<br />
<br />
The vote passed 8-1 to suspend the extended enforcement hours approved in June for Oakland, Shadyside, the North Shore, South Side, Downtown, the Strip District and Squirrel Hill. The final vote will be on Tuesday, and if passed, will keep the suspension until Jan. 1, 2012.<br />
<br />
The plan increased rates from $.70, $.50 and $.50 to $1.50, $1.00 and $.75, respectively, throughout Oakland’s districts.<br />
<br />
City Council’s plan will also replace some of the old meters around the city with multi-space meters capable of accepting credit cards similar to those around Schenley Plaza. The job has already been bid on and the revenues are in place to have these installed sometime in the fall, according to John Fournier, a spokesman for councilwoman and parking authority board member Natalia Rudiak.<br />
<br />
City Council voted on Dec. 31 to raise revenue for the city’s pension fund by increasing meter rates and expanding enforcement hours without the support of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and the Parking Authority. <br />
<br />
“Mayor Ravenstahl agrees with students’ concerns, which is why he did challenge, and eventually veto, Council’s proposal to raise rates and increase enforcement times,” said Marissa Doyle, spokeswoman for Ravenstahl, in a statement.<br />
<br />
The mayor’s plan, which was to privatize city parking and lease out the meter system to J.P. Morgan & Chase, was quickly rejected by City Council back in December. His 50-year plan included a $452 million lease of parking garages and meters to the private investors.<br />
<br />
The city does not have the authority to raise local taxes, so all the solutions for the pension fund centered around parking. Any tax increase would have to be approved by the state legislature.<br />
<br />
Detractors of the mayors plan fear privatizing this resource could raise parking rates 300-400 percent, citing Chicago’s actions as an example. Chicago recently privatized its parking to Chicago Parking Meters, LLC, a division of Morgan Stanley.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
The mayor, however, has said privatizing the meters is off the table. <br />
<br />
“That issue has been vetted thoroughly and council sent a message that they didn’t want to do that, and while I don’t agree with that — it’s part of the reason we are having the problems we are now — that issue is over, and we’ll deal with the situation as is now, and we need to find a way to fund our pension,” Ravenstahl said over the weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 115%;"> Since the city owns the meters, the authority was required to increase the rates and expand the hours as City Council dictated. But because of a previous agreement, the authority gets to keep most of the meter revenue.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"> If an agreement isn’t renegotiated, the city will have at least a $3 million deficit this year and a $10 million structural deficit next year that will continue to grow.<br />
<br />
Ravenstahl said he will continue to work with City Council to fix the problem.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“It’s not ideal in the first place to increase the enforcement hours or the rates, but we did so because we had a pension problem, and we’re trying to solve it, and so if there is a way to avoid it, we want to be supportive of that, and we will work with council to try and figure it out."</span></span>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-12592887718135313672011-09-11T13:54:00.001-04:002011-12-23T06:02:40.790-05:00PfP News: Western PA firefighters climb Pitt's Cathedral of Learning to commemorate 9/11's First Responders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mediaite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/9_11_firemen2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://www.mediaite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/9_11_firemen2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Link:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pittnews.com/newsstory/climb-honors-sept-11-first-responders/">TPN: Climb honors Sept. 11 First Responders</a></div><br />
Firefighters from all over Western Pennsylvania congregated at the Cathedral of Learning Sunday to participate in the city’s first fire climb commemorating the First Responders of 9/11.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Climb organizer Sam Huey was crucial to bringing the event to the Cathedral and reached out to the Chancellor’s Office for approval after contacting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to sponsor the challenge at Pitt.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation was sponsoring a series of [climbs] nationwide. I volunteered down there for the National Memorial Weekend, but I went here,” Huey said. “I contacted the Chancellor’s Office, and they put it through to the council and the in-house attorneys, and they said yes within a week; they approved it right away.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The firefighters were charged with climbing the Cathedral stairs to the 22nd floor five times, symbolizing the 110 flights of the World Trade Center Towers. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl was there to participate.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.getting-to-the-point.com/graphics/photos/economy_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.getting-to-the-point.com/graphics/photos/economy_4.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">“The symbolic climbing of the stairs is important. When you consider that day, so many First Responders went into that building knowing they would never come out. It’s an awesome sacrifice and one thousands of people made,” Ravenstahl said. “We are going to run up those stairs today knowing that we are going to come out, and as we do it, we’ll remember what the morning was like and make sure that we never forget.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">An Honor Guard lead the opening procession as bagpipes played in the background. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited followed by an opening prayer. Later, the pipes played Amazing Grace, and the Mayor gave his remarks.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“We remember the lives that so many gave that day, whether they were firefighters, paramedics, police officers, or even ordinary citizens from New York or across the country, Washington D.C., [and] of course, closer to home, Shanksville, Pennsylvania,” said the mayor. ““It is tragic, and it is painful, but we must remember. We must appreciate and thank those First Responders who gave so much…on that horrific, horrific day. It was a day that changed America, and we will never forget the sacrifices that so many made.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was clear that firefighters participating in the climb were honored to do so. Almost every firefighter at the event said those five letters – honor -- at least once. The 25 registered participants came from all over Western,PA -- some as far as Wesleyville, Stancliff and Kuhl. Ryan Rutkowski, a member of Stancliff Hose, echoed those sentiments.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I feel good honoring them the right way. I’ve got the wings of angels helping me up the stairs,” Rutkowski said. “It’s important because we are honoring the firefighters for the sacrifices they made, but we are also honoring the civilians that died, not just in New York, but in Pennsylvania and D.C. as well.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pittsburgh’s Fire Chief Darryl Jones was also on hand at the event. Chief Jones relayed how rare it is for firefighters to fight a fire in a high-rise, conveying the challenges they had to face. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“It’s a time for us to pay homage to those who sacrificed and gave the ultimate sacrifice ten years ago today. Very seldom do you get the chance to fight fire above your head in such a unique situation as a high-rise, and being the highest rise of them all, the World Trade Center, is awesome in itself, but the situation was devastating,” Chief Jones said. “This right here is a simulation of what these men and women had to go through in New York during 9/11.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Lieutenant and Pitt Alum Steven Jones said 9/11 brought things to light, making clear how his firefighters, and all of the First Responders, need to be ready at a moment’s notice.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kk6v2t96mTU/Ti_JxY9-_OI/AAAAAAAABX4/lRm25oQ9bPk/s1600/iwo-9-11-final2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kk6v2t96mTU/Ti_JxY9-_OI/AAAAAAAABX4/lRm25oQ9bPk/s200/iwo-9-11-final2.jpg" width="171" /></a>“It just keeps it in perspective that someday, whenever the alarm rings, you never know what the call is going to be, so you just have to be prepared for it,” Lt. Jones said. “<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As the firefighters prepared to enter the building, the respectable crowd at the Cathedral began to clap in encouragement. About a half an hour later, a sweaty Ravenstahl emerged. The mayor reflected on how difficult a job the firefighters of 9/11 must have had with all of their equipment and the chaos around them.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“It was great; it was good. I didn’t have the gear on like everybody else, so it was a little bit easier for me,” Ravenstahl said. “We went 22 floors, and they were talking on the way up, and one of the firefighters the day of September 11 made it up to 75 or something like that. And to think that he was able to get that high is pretty incredible, and it’s definitely not easy to do, but those guys are dedicated folks.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ravenstahl warned that we all need to be prepared and championed the First Responders for the individual and team effort they put in each-and-every day.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“You never know when September 11 is going to come again. You never know when that fire is going to break out; when you’re going to have to run into a dark alley not knowing what you’re going to encounter,” Ravenstahl said. “That’s what they face every day. So we remember it today in a special way and a specific way, but we also need to recognize that these men and women do this on a daily basis for us.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bailoutmainstreetnow.com/home/images/stories/news/world/firefighters_america.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://www.bailoutmainstreetnow.com/home/images/stories/news/world/firefighters_america.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-70857843671336099292011-09-11T00:17:00.009-04:002011-12-23T06:02:41.124-05:00Remembering 9/11: Never Forget<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/250205_153897601352343_146387582103345_320309_6385240_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/250205_153897601352343_146387582103345_320309_6385240_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>[This post in remembrance of 9/11 is brought to you from Andy Smith over at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Americas-Progressive-Voice/146387582103345">American's Progressive Voice.</a> APV has a thousand activists ready to deliberate with you on the issues; be sure to check them out! For your opinion and contributions, email peopleforpolity@gmail.com.]</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Never Forget...</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Link:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/notes/americas-progressive-voice/americas-progressive-voice-andy-smith-never-forget/174719529270150">America's Progressive Voice: Andy Smith -- NEVER FORGET</a><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b></b></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">NEVER FORGET September 11, 2001</span></u><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br />
</b></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/293270_174720405936729_146387582103345_379403_1146692639_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/293270_174720405936729_146387582103345_379403_1146692639_a.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Bush reading "My Pet Goat"<br />
at the moment he learned about the<br />
attacks</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Never forget Bush at that instant:</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">seven minutes of dumbfounded silence.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297915_174721172603319_146387582103345_379405_309282268_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297915_174721172603319_146387582103345_379405_309282268_a.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five days after the attacks, EPA Chief<br />
Christie Todd Whitman:<br />
"The good news continues to be<br />
that air samples we have taken have<br />
all been at levels that cause no concern."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Never forget the next-day words of Bush:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">"Go shopping."</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">And the EPA director Whitman:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">"The air is safe."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/302339_174722919269811_146387582103345_379414_1294313507_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/302339_174722919269811_146387582103345_379414_1294313507_a.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President George W. Bush's<br />
Daily Brief, 8/6/2001: <br />
"Bin Laden Determined <br />
to Strike in U.S."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Never forget "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US;"</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">the 8/6/2001 memo </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">of actionable intelligence</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">that Bush didn't act on, allowing thousands of deaths.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/316100_174729275935842_146387582103345_379428_2117972619_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/316100_174729275935842_146387582103345_379428_2117972619_a.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President George W. Bush addresses<br />
sailors during the<br />
"Mission Accomplished"<br />
speech, May 1, 2003</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Never forget where Bush invaded in response:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Iraq, where Saddam truthfully denied WMD's</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">and not Afghanistan, (where Osama then went </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">and al-Qaeda is still training) killing twice the </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Americans Bin Laden did.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/299328_174731555935614_146387582103345_379430_2013338108_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/299328_174731555935614_146387582103345_379430_2013338108_a.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">:By expanding the government's<br />
authority to secretly search private<br />
records and monitor communications,<br />
often without any evidence of<br />
wrongdoing, the Patriot Act has<br />
violated our most basic right -<br />
the freedome from unwarranted<br />
government intrusion into our<br />
private lives - and thwarted<br />
constitutional checks and<br />
balances," said Michael<br />
German, ACLU Senior<br />
Policy Counsel and former<br />
FBI Special Agent.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Never forget the PATRIOT ACT</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">trampling the Constitution:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">warrantless wire-tapping, torture, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> detaining people without charges, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> etc., etc....</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297085_174733655935404_146387582103345_379434_1317129125_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297085_174733655935404_146387582103345_379434_1317129125_a.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vice-President Dick Cheney sits<br />
with former New York mayor Rudolph<br />
Giuliani at the Republican National<br />
Convention</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Never forget two no-bid contracts:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Cheney's with his KBR and Halliburton </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">to get Iraq's oil, and Giuliani's with his </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Motorola buddies for the </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> FDNY's and EMS' </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> bad radios.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/223826_154042971337806_146387582103345_320631_6958026_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/223826_154042971337806_146387582103345_320631_6958026_a.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Barack Hussein Obama</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Never forget on Election Day:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">these and other Republicans never got Osama; </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Democrat Obama did.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br />
<i></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
<i>-Andy Smith</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Never forget the thousands of American's that lost their lives that day and the heroes that emerged...</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>...never forget...</i><br />
<i><br />
</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gettincarriedaway.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/9-11-01-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://gettincarriedaway.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/9-11-01-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>America's Progressive Voicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16120364234273836448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-91251817468365719652011-09-10T12:12:00.008-04:002011-12-23T06:02:41.243-05:00Anti-Flag: Protest song<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images2.layoutsparks.com/1/142525/anti-flag-black-red-31000.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="http://images2.layoutsparks.com/1/142525/anti-flag-black-red-31000.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>[Easy Saturday morning post with a good message. Enjoy! If you have a song you would like to feature, or would like to contribute an opinion, email peopleforpolity@gmail.com.]</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TxMUZZ3jx-g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And so the time has finally come.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The bourgeoisie has signed the war decree with proletariat blood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><i>And that blood which flows from their pen</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"> is the closest that they've ever been to the people.</span></i></b></span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">You've been to our shows.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You've sung our songs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Now we're asking you to add to each chorus you've sung and...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Protest!... Against!... Injustice!... State terror!...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On the streets of the world for the disempowered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You've sung at our shows;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">cheered right over wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Now it's time to hit the streets;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">back up those words you've sung!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Because our voices alone this time will not get it done...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Looking to stop a rogue regime?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Well the first one that we must confront is Washington, D.C.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Bush "terror war;" unconstitutional, unconscionable!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We refuse to let him kill, in our name, for oil!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We know their game;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">know they're corrupt!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It's up to us to hit the streets -- time to take our rights back!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Protest!... Against!... Injustice!... State terror!...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On the streets of the world for the disempowered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You've sung at our shows;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">cheered right over wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Now it's time to hit the streets;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">back up those words you've sung.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Because our voices alone this time will not get it done...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Because the people, united will get it done!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Protest!... Against!... Injustice!... State terror!...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On the streets of the world for the disempowered!</span><o:p></o:p></div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-10134682231955000612011-09-09T09:12:00.006-04:002011-12-23T06:02:40.780-05:00Transcript of President Obama's "American Jobs Act" speech [VIDEO]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2011/09/09/alg_obama_sotua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2011/09/09/alg_obama_sotua.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>[President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress yesterday. His plan is called the "American Jobs Act." The speech was excellent; let's see what happens next.]</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="374" id="ep" width="416"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=politics/2011/09/09/obama-jobs-speech.cnn" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=politics/2011/09/09/obama-jobs-speech.cnn" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="416" wmode="transparent" height="374"></embed></object></div><br />
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, and fellow Americans:<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tonight we meet at an urgent time for our country. We continue to face an economic crisis that has left millions of our neighbors jobless, and a political crisis that has made things worse.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/related_video_thumbnail/audio-video/video_thumbnail/jointsession-graphics-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/related_video_thumbnail/audio-video/video_thumbnail/jointsession-graphics-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">This past week, reporters have been asking "What will this speech mean for the President? What will it mean for Congress? How will it affect their polls, and the next election?"<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But the millions of Americans who are watching right now: they don't care about politics. They have real life concerns. Many have spent months looking for work. Others are doing their best just to scrape by — giving up nights out with the family to save on gas or make the mortgage; postponing retirement to send a kid to college.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">These men and women grew up with faith in an America where hard work and responsibility paid off. They believed in a country where everyone gets a fair shake and does their fair share -– where if you stepped up, did your job, and were loyal to your company, that loyalty would be rewarded with a decent salary and good benefits; maybe a raise once in awhile. If you did the right thing, you could make it in America. Anybody could make it in America.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But for decades now, Americans have watched that compact erode. They have seen the deck too often stacked against them. And they know that Washington has not always put their interests first.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The people of this country work hard to meet their responsibilities. The question tonight is whether we'll meet ours. The question is whether, in the face of an ongoing national crisis, we can stop the political circus and actually do something to help the economy. The question is whether we can restore some of the fairness and security that has defined this nation since our beginning.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Those of us here tonight can't solve all our nation's woes. Ultimately, our recovery will be driven not by Washington, but by our businesses and our workers. But we can help. We can make a difference. There are steps we can take right now to improve people's lives.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am sending this Congress a plan that you should pass right away. It's called the American Jobs Act. There should be nothing controversial about this piece of legislation. Everything in here is the kind of proposal that's been supported by both Democrats and Republicans -– including many who sit here tonight. And everything in this bill will be paid for. Everything.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The purpose of the American Jobs Act is simple: to put more people back to work and more money in the pockets of those who are working. It will create more jobs for construction workers, more jobs for teachers, more jobs for veterans, and more jobs for the long-term unemployed. It will provide a tax break for companies who hire new workers, and it will cut payroll taxes in half for every working American and every small business. It will provide a jolt to an economy that has stalled, and give companies confidence that if they invest and if they hire, there will be customers for their products and services. You should pass this jobs plan right away.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Everyone here knows that small businesses are where most new jobs begin. And you know that while corporate profits have come roaring back, smaller companies haven't. So for everyone who speaks so passionately about making life easier for "job creators," this plan is for you.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pass this jobs bill, and starting tomorrow, small businesses will get a tax cut if they hire new workers or if they raise workers' wages. Pass this jobs bill, and all small business owners will also see their payroll taxes cut in half next year. If you have 50 employees making an average salary, that's an $80,000 tax cut. And all businesses will be able to continue writing off the investments they make in 2012.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It's not just Democrats who have supported this kind of proposal. Fifty House Republicans have proposed the same payroll tax cut that's in this plan. You should pass it right away.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pass this jobs bill, and we can put people to work rebuilding America. Everyone here knows that we have badly decaying roads and bridges all over this country. Our highways are clogged with traffic. Our skies are the most congested in the world.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is inexcusable. Building a world-class transportation system is part of what made us an economic superpower. And now we're going to sit back and watch China build newer airports and faster railroads? At a time when millions of unemployed construction workers could build them right here in America?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There are private construction companies all across America just waiting to get to work. There's a bridge that needs repair between Ohio and Kentucky that's on one of the busiest trucking routes in North America. A public transit project in Houston that will help clear up one of the worst areas of traffic in the country. And there are schools throughout this country that desperately need renovating. How can we expect our kids to do their best in places that are literally falling apart? This is America. Every child deserves a great school -– and we can give it to them, if we act now.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The American Jobs Act will repair and modernize at least 35,000 schools. It will put people to work right now fixing roofs and windows; installing science labs and high-speed internet in classrooms all across this country. It will rehabilitate homes and businesses in communities hit hardest by foreclosures. It will jumpstart thousands of transportation projects all across the country. And to make sure the money is properly spent, we're building on reforms we've already put in place. No more earmarks. No more boondoggles. No more bridges to nowhere. We're cutting the red tape that prevents some of these projects from getting started as quickly as possible. And we'll set up an independent fund to attract private dollars and issue loans based on two criteria: how badly a construction project is needed and how much good it would do for the economy.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This idea came from a bill written by a Texas Republican and a Massachusetts Democrat. The idea for a big boost in construction is supported by America's largest business organization and America's largest labor organization. It's the kind of proposal that's been supported in the past by Democrats and Republicans alike. You should pass it right away.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pass this jobs bill, and thousands of teachers in every state will go back to work. These are the men and women charged with preparing our children for a world where the competition has never been tougher. But while they're adding teachers in places like South Korea, we're laying them off in droves. It's unfair to our kids. It undermines their future and ours. And it has to stop. Pass this bill, and put our teachers back in the classroom where they belong.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pass this jobs bill, and companies will get extra tax credits if they hire America's veterans. We ask these men and women to leave their careers, leave their families, risk their lives to fight for our country. The last thing they should have to do is fight for a job when they come home.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pass this bill, and hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged young people will have the hope and the dignity of a summer job next year. And their parents, low-income Americans who desperately want to work, will have more ladders out of poverty.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pass this jobs bill, and companies will get a $4,000 tax credit if they hire anyone who has spent more than six months looking for a job. We have to do more to help the long-term unemployed in their search for work. This jobs plan builds on a program in Georgia that several Republican leaders have highlighted, where people who collect unemployment insurance participate in temporary work as a way to build their skills while they look for a permanent job. The plan also extends unemployment insurance for another year. If the millions of unemployed Americans stopped getting this insurance, and stopped using that money for basic necessities, it would be a devastating blow to this economy. Democrats and Republicans in this Chamber have supported unemployment insurance plenty of times in the past. In this time of prolonged hardship, you should pass it again — right away.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pass this jobs bill, and the typical working family will get a fifteen hundred dollar tax cut next year. Fifteen hundred dollars that would have been taken out of your pocket will go into your pocket. This expands on the tax cut that Democrats and Republicans already passed for this year. If we allow that tax cut to expire -– if we refuse to act -– middle-class families will get hit with a tax increase at the worst possible time. We can't let that happen. I know some of you have sworn oaths to never raise any taxes on anyone for as long as you live. Now is not the time to carve out an exception and raise middle-class taxes, which is why you should pass this bill right away.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is the American Jobs Act. It will lead to new jobs for construction workers, for teachers, for veterans, for first responders, young people and the long-term unemployed. It will provide tax credits to companies that hire new workers, tax relief to small business owners, and tax cuts for the middle-class. And here's the other thing I want the American people to know: the American Jobs Act will not add to the deficit. It will be paid for. And here's how:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The agreement we passed in July will cut government spending by about a trillion dollars over the next ten years. It also charges this Congress to come up with an additional $1.5 trillion in savings by Christmas. Tonight, I'm asking you to increase that amount so that it covers the full cost of the American Jobs Act. And a week from Monday, I'll be releasing a more ambitious deficit plan -– a plan that will not only cover the cost of this jobs bill, but stabilize our debt in the long run.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This approach is basically the one I've been advocating for months. In addition to the trillion dollars of spending cuts I've already signed into law, it's a balanced plan that would reduce the deficit by making additional spending cuts; by making modest adjustments to health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid; and by reforming our tax code in a way that asks the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share. What's more, the spending cuts wouldn't happen so abruptly that they'd be a drag on our economy, or prevent us from helping small business and middle-class families get back on their feet right away.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now, I realize there are some in my party who don't think we should make any changes at all to Medicare and Medicaid, and I understand their concerns. But here's the truth. Millions of Americans rely on Medicare in their retirement. And millions more will do so in the future. They pay for this benefit during their working years. They earn it. But with an aging population and rising health care costs, we are spending too fast to sustain the program. And if we don't gradually reform the system while protecting current beneficiaries, it won't be there when future retirees need it. We have to reform Medicare to strengthen it.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I'm also well aware that there are many Republicans who don't believe we should raise taxes on those who are most fortunate and can best afford it. But here is what every American knows. While most people in this country struggle to make ends meet, a few of the most affluent citizens and most profitable corporations enjoy tax breaks and loopholes that nobody else gets. Right now, Warren Buffet pays a lower tax rate than his secretary –- an outrage he has asked us to fix. We need a tax code where everyone gets a fair shake, and where everybody pays their fair share. And by the way I believe the vast majority of wealthy Americans and CEOs are willing to do just that, if it helps the economy grow and gets our fiscal house in order.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I'll also offer ideas to reform a corporate tax code that stands as a monument to special interest influence in Washington. By eliminating pages of loopholes and deductions, we can lower one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. Our tax code shouldn't give an advantage to companies that can afford the best-connected lobbyists. It should give an advantage to companies that invest and create jobs here in America.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So we can reduce this deficit, pay down our debt, and pay for this jobs plan in the process. But in order to do this, we have to decide what our priorities are. We have to ask ourselves, "What's the best way to grow the economy and create jobs?"<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Should we keep tax loopholes for oil companies? Or should we use that money to give small business owners a tax credit when they hire new workers? Because we can't afford to do both. Should we keep tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires? Or should we put teachers back to work so our kids can graduate ready for college and good jobs? Right now, we can't afford to do both.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This isn't political grandstanding. This isn't class warfare. This is simple math. This is simple math. This is simple math. These are real choices that we have to make. And I'm pretty sure I know what most Americans would choose. It's not even close. And it's time for us to do what's right for our future.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The American Jobs Act answers the urgent need to create jobs right away. But we can't stop there. As I've argued since I ran for this office, we have to look beyond the immediate crisis and start building an economy that lasts into the future -– an economy that creates good, middle-class jobs that pay well and offer security. We now live in a world where technology has made it possible for companies to take their business anywhere. If we want them to start here and stay here and hire here, we have to be able to out-build, out-educate, and out-innovate every other country on Earth.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This task, of making America more competitive for the long haul, is a job for all of us. For government and for private companies. For states and for local communities –- and for every American citizen. All of us will have to up our game. All of us will have to change the way we do business.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My administration can and will take some steps to improve our competitiveness on our own. For example, if you're a small business owner who has a contract with the federal government, we're going to make sure you get paid a lot faster than you do now. We're also planning to cut away the red tape that prevents too many rapidly-growing start-up companies from raising capital and going public. And to help responsible homeowners, we're going to work with Federal housing agencies to help more people refinance their mortgages at interest rates that are now near 4 percent. I know you guys must be for this because that's a step that can put more than $2,000 a year in a family's pocket, and give a lift to an economy still burdened by the drop in housing prices.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Some things we can do on our own. Other steps will require Congressional action. Today you passed reform that will speed up the outdated patent process, so that entrepreneurs can turn a new idea into a new business as quickly as possible. That's the kind of action we need. Now it's time to clear the way for a series of trade agreements that would make it easier for American companies to sell their products in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea -– while also helping the workers whose jobs have been affected by global competition. If Americans can buy Kias and Hyundais, I want to see folks in South Korea driving Fords and Chevys and Chryslers. I want to see more products sold around the world stamped with the three proud words: "Made in America."<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And on all of our efforts to strengthen competitiveness, we need to look for ways to work side-by-side with America's businesses. That's why I've brought together a Jobs Council of leaders from different industries who are developing a wide range of new ideas to help companies grow and create jobs.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Already, we've mobilized business leaders to train 10,000 American engineers a year, by providing company internships and training. Other businesses are covering tuition for workers who learn new skills at community colleges. And we're going to make sure the next generation of manufacturing takes root not in China or Europe, but right here, in the United States of America. If we provide the right incentives and support -– and if we make sure our trading partners play by the rules -– we can be the ones to build everything from fuel-efficient cars to advanced biofuels to semiconductors that we sell all over the world. That's how America can be number one again. That's how America will be number one again.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now, I realize that some of you have a different theory on how to grow the economy. Some of you sincerely believe that the only solution to our economic challenges is to simply cut most government spending and eliminate most government regulations.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, I agree that we can't afford wasteful spending, and I will work with you, with Congress to root it out. And I agree that there are some rules and regulations that put an unnecessary burden on businesses at a time when they can least afford it. That's why I ordered a review of all government regulations. So far, we've identified over 500 reforms, which will save billions of dollars over the next few years. We should have no more regulation than the health, safety, and security of the American people require. Every rule should meet that common sense test.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But what we can't do -– what I will not do -– is let this economic crisis be used as an excuse to wipe out the basic protections that Americans have counted on for decades. I reject the idea that we need to ask people to choose between their jobs and their safety. I reject the argument that says for the economy to grow, we have to roll back protections that ban hidden fees by credit card companies, or rules that keep our kids from being exposed to mercury, or laws that prevent the health insurance industry from shortchanging patients. I reject the idea that we have to strip away collective bargaining rights to compete in a global economy. We shouldn't be in a race to the bottom, where we try to offer the cheapest labor and the worst pollution standards. America should be in a race to the top. And I believe we can win that race.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In fact, this larger notion that the only thing we can do to restore prosperity is just dismantle government, refund everyone's money, let everyone write their own rules, and tell everyone they're on their own -– that's not who we are. That's not the story of America.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yes, we are rugged individualists. Yes, we are strong and self-reliant. And it has been the drive and initiative of our workers and entrepreneurs that has made this economy the engine and the envy of the world.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But there has always been another thread running throughout our history –- a belief that we are all connected; and that there are some things we can only do together, as a nation.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We all remember Abraham Lincoln as the leader who saved our Union — founder of the Republican Party. But in the middle of a Civil War, he was also a leader who looked to the future -– a Republican president who mobilized government to build the transcontinental railroad; launch the National Academy of Sciences; and set up the first land grant colleges. And leaders of both parties have followed the example he set.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ask yourselves –- where would we be right now if the people who sat here before us decided not to build our highways; not to build our bridges; our dams and our airports? What would this country be like if we had chosen not to spend money on public high schools, or research universities, or community colleges? Millions of returning heroes, including my grandfather, had the opportunity to go to school because of the GI Bill. Where would we be if they hadn't had that chance?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">How many jobs would it have cost us if past Congresses decided not to support the basic research that led to the Internet and the computer chip? What kind of country would this be if this Chamber had voted down Social Security or Medicare just because it violated some rigid idea about what government could or could not do? How many Americans would have suffered as a result?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">No single individual built America on their own. We built it together. We have been, and always will be, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all; a nation with responsibilities to ourselves and with responsibilities to one another. And Members of Congress, it is time for us to meet our responsibilities.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Every proposal I've laid out tonight is the kind that's been supported by Democrats and Republicans in the past. Every proposal I've laid out tonight will be paid for. And every proposal is designed to meet the urgent needs of our people and our communities.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I know there's been a lot of skepticism about whether the politics of the moment will allow us to pass this jobs plan -– or any jobs plan. Already, we're seeing the same old press releases and tweets flying back and forth. Already, the media has proclaimed that it's impossible to bridge our differences. And maybe some of you have decided that those differences are so great that we can only resolve them at the ballot box.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But know this: the next election is fourteen months away. And the people who sent us here -– the people who hired us to work for them -– they don't have the luxury of waiting fourteen months. Some of them are living week to week; paycheck to paycheck; even day to day. They need help, and they need it now.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I don't pretend that this plan will solve all our problems. It should not be, nor will it be, the last plan of action we propose. What's guided us from the start of this crisis hasn't been the search for a silver bullet. It's been a commitment to stay at it -– to be persistent -– to keep trying every new idea that works, and listen to every good proposal, no matter which party comes up with it.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Regardless of the arguments we've had in the past, regardless of the arguments we'll have in the future, this plan is the right thing to do right now. You should pass it. And I intend to take that message to every corner of this country. I also ask every American who agrees to lift your voice and tell the people who are gathered here tonight that you want action now. Tell Washington that doing nothing is not an option. Remind us that if we act as one nation, and one people, we have it within our power to meet this challenge.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">President Kennedy once said, "Our problems are man-made -– therefore they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants."<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">These are difficult years for our country. But we are Americans. We are tougher than the times we live in, and we are bigger than our politics have been. So let's meet the moment. Let's get to work, and let's show the world once again why the United States of America remains the greatest nation on Earth. Thank you very much, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/symbols/presidentialseal/color.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/symbols/presidentialseal/color.GIF" width="200" /></a></div><br />
</div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829914896229934246.post-57490560827075035742011-09-08T19:39:00.006-04:002011-12-23T06:02:41.077-05:00Welcome to the (civilian) life, soldier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Veterans-and-Benefits1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Veterans-and-Benefits1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>[Recently I was asked to write a feature on assimilating back into civilian and college life. The original will be published in the upcoming issue of Pitt Magazine.]</i><br />
<br />
Link:<br />
<a href="http://pittnews.com/newsstory/a-veteran-gives-advice-on-assimilation/">TPN: A veteran gives advice on assimilation </a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">So there you are. You’ve had this feeling before, this feeling of...anxiety — only this time, it’s different.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">This time it’s not about waking up on time, making sure your boots are shined, uniform pressed, and haircut squared away. For us combat veterans, it’s not worrying if your weapon is clean and will fire or if the security team cleared the route properly. This is not that feeling you get right before you leave the wire — that feeling of excitement churned with a dash of worry and a dab of doubt.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div style="text-align: center;">But it’s there — different, but there.</div><a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.surfersam.com/articles/how-to-pay-for-college/veterans-education-benefits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.surfersam.com/articles/how-to-pay-for-college/veterans-education-benefits.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p>There are thousands of us veterans making the transition from soldier to student every year. Thousands of confused, anxious, and excited former soldiers ready to take the leap…ready to, once again, enjoy civilian life.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Be excited; be confused. Enjoy these emotions as you prepare to take that next step in life — your next great adventure. Trust me, you’re prepared.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">When I am asked to describe the biggest challenge in assimilating back into civilian life, I never really hesitate to say, “The people.” It just seemed like everyone was apathetic to what was going on in the world.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">I’ve learned over the years that this isn’t necessarily true. But, at the same time, it sometimes is.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">People still have their agendas, and they go about their business, but I never saw that sense of urgency we were trained to have in the military. I also noticed that kids my age — I was 23 when I left the service — seemed to be the worst offenders of this apathy.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">I couldn’t wrap my mind around this.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">I am sure by now you’ve caught yourself saying, “This never would have flown in the military. How do these soup-sandwiches make it through the day?”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">But that question probably isn’t fair.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">In the military, we had a different mission — one that required that sense of urgency I am sure you are feeling right now. The mission of protecting America and her values depends on this.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">To be fair, we all signed the dotted line and had a fairly good idea of what we volunteered for.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">This is a trait you should embrace, as it is a trait we veterans have ingrained in our skulls. I have found it far more beneficial to embrace this proficiency than to harbor resentment toward our newly acquired compatriots.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">This tool, discipline, is perhaps one we took for granted while serving because most everyone had it. Now you find yourself surrounded by young adults who haven’t yet had the benefit of attaining such a skill.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Use this to your advantage.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">You might also find that some don’t appreciate your service as much you would like: Key in the Westboro Baptist Church.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Again, I have to bring up that word “volunteer.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">You see, some people will never get it. They will never understand what you had to endure; they will never have to see or do what you have seen and done; they will never have the <i>honor</i> of serving this country.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Perhaps they are too scared; perhaps they feel like they are too good; perhaps they are even jealous because you were able to accomplish something they could never dream of doing — or perhaps they don’t possess that feeling of obligation we felt to protect this great nation. One might never know the military dissenter’s motivation for feeling the way they do.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">One thing we know for sure:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">They can never take away that honor or that sense of camaraderie we have all come to know and love. They can never take back what we have done, no matter how they feel. I’ve learned that getting a free steak once a year at Applebee’s really isn’t that bad when you have the life-long friends you gained in the greatest fraternity (and sorority) on Earth.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">I am not saying it’s just you and your military buddies against the world, because that isn’t the case.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">For the rest of your life you will run into people who will always feel indebted to you for the service you have performed. My advice: Surround yourself with these people and not the people that will never respect you no matter what you’ve done or have on your chest.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">When you feel that anxiety of not knowing, know that you’ve been here before, and the threat of small-arms fire will always trump the threat of whether your financial aid comes in on time. So pick up your ruck and keep moving.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Know that you will always have people around you to help.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Take advantage of the many programs Veterans Affairs has available. I guarantee some of the anxiety will be quelled after you know how much assistance the office can provide for a number of problems you might encounter — you just have to take the time to learn about them.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">If you are struggling with issues from past deployments or assignments, get help at the VA hospital. There are caring people who are waiting to help you.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Take advantage of the GI Bill!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">You paid for it, and it’s a terrific program — especially since its transition from the Montgomery GI Bill to the Post 9/11 GI Bill. This program alone should more than help usher in a smoother transition to becoming a college student.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Most importantly, know that you aren’t alone.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.speedskate.org/images/photo_gallery/77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://www.speedskate.org/images/photo_gallery/77.jpg" width="200" /></a>There will always be somebody there to help you. If all else fails, you know you can always call on your military pals and that they will be there for you no matter what — whether it’s to help you move, be your best man, or rescue your drunk ass from the bar at 3 a.m.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">You know you can always count on them.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">If you take advantage of these programs and the tools you have acquired — and if you concentrate on what you have and not on what you don’t — your training will kick in and do the rest.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">At ease, soldier. We aren’t in Fallujah anymore.<o:p></o:p></div>People for Polityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11142226049247005745noreply@blogger.com5