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Obama Urges Minimum Wage Increase and First-Ever Indexing
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HYPERLINK “http://www.thenation.com/blog/172859/obama-urges-minimum-wage-increase-and-first-ever-indexing” o “Obama Urges Minimum Wage Increase and First-Ever Indexing” Obama Urges Minimum Wage Increase and First-Ever Indexing
Summary of the article
The article calls for labor leaders and progressive economists to increase the minimum wage levels for workers in the United States. President Obama urges labor unions to ensure citizens get a reward of what they work for in a genuine manner. According to his views, Obama urges the Congress in the state of the Union to increase the federal minimum wage from 2.13$ to at least $9 per hour so that people could live above the poverty line. In so doing, the country’s economy would improve when more people become independent. In addition, the president disapproved comprehensive immigration reforms, and other pending trade deals whose purpose was to threaten the labor rights. Moreover, during his second term in office the president promised good jobs and right for workers in the United States (Eidelson, 2013).
How is the article relevant to this class?
The following article has a lot of significance to an economy class. First, it enlarges on gives an insight of the factors that contribute to the economic growth of a nation. When the minimum wage levels go up, the living standards of employees improve. According to the Eidelson, increase in the minimum wage levels of employees would bring about adjustment of the real inflation and increase Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Second, the article assists students in learning the labor rights and their applications. The president denied the comprehensive immigration reforms since they aimed at threatening labor rights. Moreover, the class gets an opportunity to learn how various wage levels affect the life of individual citizens and the whole nation at large.
List the most important facts/evidence the author uses to support the main idea
The author uses many evidences to support the idea that actually the president called for the labor leaders to increase the minimum wage levels in U.S. These are:
The federal minimum wage level should be $9 per hour,
High wages increase the strength of the country economy.
No one works full-time should live in poverty,
It is a shame for a family of two children to live below the poverty line, yet the parents are working full-time,
It is the right of the labor markets today.
What might be some of the broader implications of this issue on the U.S?
The United States is known as one of the wealthiest countries in the continent. It is extremely embarrassing if a person from a developing country in Africa finds beggars in the U.S. streets. In addition, the country has more than enough resources to cater for better salaries for their employees since it is involved with a lot of international trade. With the increase of the minimum wage levels, the normal people in the country would get an opportunity to live according to their needs and desires. On the other hand, the issue has an implication to other labor unions in the world. Most countries in the world aim at beating the U.S. economy. With low wages and high rate of unemployment, most countries might never trust U.S. governance and limit their interaction with the country. This has a serious implication since U.S. markets most of their products in these countries leading to reduced trade between international borders.
After reading this article, what additional two questions come to mind?
After reading the article, the following questions come to my mind. First, how will the president manage to create employment opportunities for everyone considering the U.S. unemployment rate is almost 10%? Second, the higher the wages the higher the taxes how will the government ensure that workers get enough to sustain them and still pay taxes? Third does the government have enough money in the treasury to cater for the increased wages taking into consideration U.S. experiences frequent financial crisis?
References
Eidelson, J. (2013). HYPERLINK “http://www.thenation.com/blog/172859/obama-urges-minimum-wage-increase-and-first-ever-indexing” o “Obama Urges Minimum Wage Increase and First-Ever Indexing” Obama Urges Minimum Wage Increase and First-Ever Indexing. Retrieved
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HYPERLINK “http://www.thenation.com/blog/172859/obama-urges-minimum-wage-increase-and-first-” http://www.thenation.com/blog/172859/obama-urges-minimum-wage-increase-and-first-ever-indexing
Obama Care
Obama Care
Introduction
The importance of healthcare services can never be underestimated as far as the health of the varied other sectors of the economy is concerned. This is especially considering that the productivity of individuals in any economy is essentially tied to their health as only healthy people would have the ability to produce. This comes as an explanation on exactly why individual governments have been paying intense attention on healthcare and making immense investments in the same (Murdock, 2012). Recent times have seen increased attention being given to the current government policy on healthcare, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 2010. While there exists numerous debates as to the nature and effects of the PPACA, it is evident that the care comes with positive impacts on the American populace.
Commonly called the Obama Care, the PPACA or Affordable Care Act marks a turning point in the United States public health policy (Turner, 2011). It establishes the fundamental legal protections that have been absent in the history of healthcare policy via a series of revisions to and extensions of varied laws that together make the federal legal framework in the healthcare system of the United States (Murdock, 2012). This law would see the achievement of near universal guarantee for access to affordable coverage by health insurance right from birth to retirement (Turner, 2011). It is worth noting that the full implementation of the policy will be achieved on January 1st 2014 at which time it is expected that the law will result in cutting the number of uninsured Americans by over 50% or 31 million with 94% of the entire United States population being covered by health insurance, while the enrolment in Medicaid will be increased by 15 million beneficiaries (Turner, 2011). It also requires that insurance companies do not levy a higher amount of premiums on clients simply because they have pre-existing medical conditions (Pipes, 2010).
ObamaCare is funded via taxes collected, penalties, reformations, as well as the spending cuts in the healthcare industry. While the estimations pertaining to the cost of ObamaCare change on a regular basis, the net cost of the same is estimated to go up to about $1.1 trillion within the next 10 years. This underlines the incredible savings in the rise of healthcare expenditure by tens of billions every year while reducing the cost of healthcare for many Americans (Tate, 2012). The functionality of ObamaCare revolves around its requirement that every American will need to be under a healthcare insurance plan or pay a penalty. These plans may be bought via online marketplace, privately or even through one’s employer (Pipes, 2010). The average American would spend between $4,500 and $5,800 on a basic “bronze” level insurance plan without cost assistance (Tate, 2012). Despite the high cost of ObamaCare, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that more than $200 billion will be saved in the first ten years, while $1 trillion will be saved in the next 20 years (Turner, 2011). In fact, scholars note that the $1 trillion expenditure from 2010 to 2019 is more than offset by curbs on expenditure on Medicaid and Medicare, new taxes on high-cost plans, as well as tax shelters that are mostly used by wealthy families (Tate, 2013).
One of the key benefits of ObamaCare revolves around its effects on small businesses. It goes without saying that small businesses are a fundamental part of the economy providing employment opportunities and income to a wide range of American citizens. These businesses have been facing an immense barrier as far as the provision of healthcare is concerned. Studies show that among the small businesses offering coverage, about 40% spend over 10% of their payroll on healthcare (McCaughey, 2012). One of the key ways in which small businesses will benefit is through the tax credits. The provision of healthcare insurance to employees ensures that between 1.4 and 4 million businesses that have less than 25 employees with an average salary of $50,000 or less would be eligible to tax credits of a maximum of 35%, increasing to 50% after 1st January 2014 to be obtained for any two consecutive years (Hill, 2012). On the same note, insurance companies since 2011 are required to use a minimum of 80 cents of every dollar on medical care rather than administrative costs, otherwise they should refund the difference (Hill, 2012). This is extremely beneficial to small businesses as seen, for example, in California where an insurance company named UnitedHealth refunded about $3.5 million to 4400 companies in June 2012 alone (McCaughey, 2012). Part of the downside for businesses is that ObamaCare is seen as hindering the growth of small businesses due to its requirement that businesses that have 50 or more workers should pay healthcare insurance for their workers. This has seen some companies reduce the working hours of their employees or even reduce the number of fulltime employees (Tate, 2013). However, it is worth noting that the companies that have up to 100 employees would benefit from purchasing low-cost health insurance plans via employer-only exchanges established by every state (Morton, 2011). This would essentially lower the cost of smaller firms when their employees are added to a larger pool of insurance customers.
One of the most commonly peddled myths about ObamaCare is that it would result in an increase in taxes and premiums for healthcare insurance plans. However, nothing could be further from the truth as the policy is shown to incorporate the largest cut in middle class tax on health insurance in the history of the United States (Morton, 2011). The only individuals that would be affected would be 3% of businesses, as well as 140,000 of Americas wealthiest families that earn more than $250,000 with capital gains amounting to more than $250,000. As much as there may exist some taxes that affect Americans above 133% of poverty level, tax penalty levied against individuals that do not purchase insurance is the only one that has a direct impact (McCaughey, 2012).
In conclusion, ObamaCare marks one of the most fundamental turning points of the federal laws pertaining to healthcare. It aims at ensuring that about 94% of Americans have access to affordable healthcare. This is achieved through requiring that all citizens to have a health insurance over, whether privately purchased, bought through the employer or from shop pools. While there may be different opinions on the utility of ObamaCare, the policy would be beneficial to Americans. First, it would ensure that a reduction in healthcare costs incurred by Americans thanks to the increased health insurance coverage (Murdock, 2012). Second, it would be beneficial to small businesses as it comes with immense tax credits from which the companies can benefit. In addition, it comes with immense savings on the healthcare cost by the government, through curbs on expenditure on Medicaid and Medicare, new taxes on high-cost plans, as well as tax shelters that are mostly used by wealthy families. As much as the policy may cause companies to reduce their fulltime workers to eliminate the additional cost of healthcare, states still have the option of coming up with health insurance pools from which the small businesses would benefit.
References
McCaughey, B (2012). Decoding the Obama Health Law: What You Need to Know. New York: Paperless Publishing LLC
Murdock, K (2012). Affordable Care Act: ObamaCare. New York: GRIN Verlag
Morton, G.T (2011). Passing Obamacare. New York: Taylor, Levi, and Associates LLC
Hill, J. W (2012). Obamacare – What’s In It. New York: Primedia E-launch LLC
Tate, N. (2013). Obamacare survival guide. West Palm Beach, FL: Humanix Books
Tate, N. J. (2012). ObamaCare survival guide. West Palm Beach, FL: Humanix Books.
Turner, G.-M. (2011). Why Obamacare is wrong for America: How the new health care law drives up costs, puts government in charge of your decisions, and threatens your constitutional rights. New York: Broadside.
Pipes, S. (2010). The truth about Obamacare. Washington, DC: Regnery Pub.
Hitlers Table Talk
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Hitler’s Table Talk
Hitler’s Table Talk is amongst the many crucial books and documents of history that are very relevant in understanding the account of the past. The contents of this book are essential personal soundtracks of Hitler who was undeniably very authoritative and had irrefutable influence in the western world between 1941 and 1944. Hitler’s Table Talk also contains informal conversations of Hitler even during the meals or tea and the official conversations that he had with his top officials in Berlin. This book provides very important information about the leadership styles, characters, behaviours and opinions of Hitler. This article sums up part four of the Hitler’s table talk between 13th June and 24th June 1943 as well as giving personal opinions about Hitler and his leadership style.
Hitler talks of dangers of over centralization of cultural life, the future of technology, and the French painters. Hitler was opposed to centralization of museums for the arty masterwork for military trophies and weapons as a representation of the scientific brilliance. He instead supported judicious decentralization of the museums where the initiator would not claim consistency with the late Fuhrer. He supports the existence of the Deutsches Museum in Munich with twenty three kilometres of exhibits instead of bringing it to Berlin. Hitler devoted a section of military museum he found in Linz for fortified science so that the young people could be attracted to the works of fortification (Cameron & Stevens 702-705).
Hitler believed that technical science was crucial for development and that because it took time before human energy was developed into animal energy, motorization would also take time before achieving excellence. Hitler did not like the French paints because he did not understand them. He further admitted that the French paints were just the same as even the German paints were also complicated. He said that although the German artists initially started well by painting pictures of great merits, they were further taken away by pride thus making them to do extra ordinary works that resulted into unpleasant paint which the Germans. He believed that the German artists followed the evil styles of Jews painters.
He believed that Italian painters were the greatest in between 14th century to the 17th century but relaxed in the 18th century thus deteriorating their work. He thought that it was the law of averages that might have made the Italian art degenerate. However he said that the French and German artists were very excellent in 19th century but later deteriorated. Hitler believed in perfection and he proposed an excellent opera house that was better than any other opera house ever built. He compared the 19th century Munich with the Berlin of Fredrick the Great’s days which he said could not develop because of insufficient funds. He described the houses built in Munich as shoddy but asserts that The palace of justice in Munich was the most beautiful building in Munich. He loved artistic work so much that he said that defending artistic and the heritage of a nation was an issue that would plunge a true citizen into war (Cameron & Stevens 702-705).
He also defended the actions of Metternich and Bismarck by describing them as great patriots. He said that their actions were the best remedies for the circumstances that prevailed. Both Bismarck and Metternich did not wait for parliament approval or solutions. On 15th June, Hitler talked about several issues including intellectual and artistic poverty, bric-a-brac and chromium plate, Teutonic nostalgia and the fact that only decadent art was harmful. Hitler felt that economic and industrialization growth corresponded with the period of creative uncertainty and poverty. It was also associated with urban migration that was not attracted by the artistic work. He described permanent depravity as something that would instil permanent injury. He said that Germans were romantics because they constantly appreciated nature compared to other regions (Cameron & Stevens 705-708).
On 17th June, Hitler talked of the fact that experts’ opinions on the various ages in history have been contributed by the fear of the unknown. He said that the inability of facing reality was as a result of fear of unknown engrained in them. On 19th evening he talked about big battleships and the infantry of the seas. He recognised the fact that he left to build the most powerful squadron of battleships in the world because he could have been forced to use it. He asserts that it could have been a very bad idea. He thought it wise and timely to have the infantry of the sea which he said was relevant in the current warfare. He cited example of Japan that were unable to use their powerful battleships because of irrelevancy (Cameron & Stevens 707-708).
On 24th June, he appreciated the Berlin workforce due to their tremendous job such as construction of Reich Chancellery. He further commended Vienna as the imperial city that was the centre of attraction for the whole world thus offering wonderful scope and opportunity to artists. He attributed German’s success in music is due to the race’s geniuses. He felt anxious to create cultural centre in Austria so that he could do away with cultural monopoly in Vienna. He argued that cultural monopoly in Vienna would bring serious political consequences which were intolerable. He admitted that he loved the Germans equally and therefore the fact that Berlin was to remain a capital city was not based on any sentimental preference. He claimed that the Germans made heavy sacrifices for their countries was their duty and therefore should not cause tears (Cameron & Stevens 709-712).
Hitler was very patriotic man who despite fighting for his country, he believed that German was very unique in different ways. He supported wars engaged in by Bismarck by saying that he was driven by patriotism. Hitler called the Germans his brothers and urged them not to fight over internal issues such as development and awarding of capital cities. He seemed racist especially when he said that the German race comprised of genius people who could do tremendous things especially in arts. Hitler was so much concerned with the German culture and heritage. From the table talk, it can be concluded that Hitler was aesthetic mania.
He talked about most of the architectural works such as buildings by even comparing different cities structural appearance. He had interest in drawings and paintings. He even understood the trend of painting in different countries such as France and Italy. Throughout the section of the book, Hitler seem intelligent and wise especially considering the way he interpreted issues and analysed different things such as towns and artistic work. Hitler seamed critical and undemocratic especially on his support for Metternich and Bismarck actions. He did not care about the public negative opinions and involvement in war without seeking the parliamentary approval.
Works Cited
Cameron, Norman, Stevens, R. H. Hitler’s Table Talk, 1941-1944: His Private Conversations. New York: Enigma Books, 2000. Print.