Issue #2- Spending What We Can Afford

In 2007, Congress passed the pay-as-you-go budgeting act. This requires that any tax cuts or increases in entitlement spending be offset with spending reductions. This shows the people that Congress knows that we have a deficit. This will hold Congress to the same standards that many people and businesses go by; They don't spend the money that they don't have. Congress can suspend this act in times of recession or crisis if need be. This would eliminate unnesessary spending and would collect unpaid taxes to keep the budget in balance. Some people worry that the deficit should be eliminated through economic growth rather than through the painful budget cuts and tax increases required by the paygo.

I believe that the paygo act should be passed. Our government is spending money that we don't have to bail out the auto industry and other countries. We need to realize that we have to help ourselves before we can help others. If we aren't able to support our own spending habits, than we can't give money away. We took money out of the social security fund to bail out the auto industry and now we don't plan on sticking it back into the fund. It's no wonder why we don't have enough money to pay people on social security. By 2017, we will be spending more money than we take in from social security. We spend a lot of money paying interest and yet we never save enough money to pay off the loans. All we do is take out more loans. If we would start to pay off the loans, than we would have less interest to pay and we wouldn't be spending so much money that isn't beneficial to our country. Jim Langevin, a Rhode Island Congressman, also agrees that we need to balance our nations budget.

Issue #1

Issue #3

American Airlines to stop offering free blankets on domestic flights

American Airlines are now going to charge their passengers $8 for a blanket and pillow set if your on a standard flight. The $8 will pay for a blue fleece blanket and an inflatable neck pillow that you may keep and use on future flights. They will began to charge for the blanket-pillow set on May 1. They will also charge for the blanket-pillow set going to and from Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Central America. If you are riding an international flight or in premium class, the blankets will still be complimentary. Jetblue Airlines stated to charge for blanket-pillow sets in 2008 and US Airways stated to charge for sleepkits last year.

I don't think that this is such a bad idea. I also don't think that the $8 is that much to pay for the blanket-pillow set. If you went to Walmart or Target and bought a blanket and pillow, it would cost about the same or even a little more. There is a few problems that I see with paying for the blanket-pillow sets. If you forget to bring it with you on the next flight, then you'll have to buy another one if you wanted one. Another problem that I see is that the only people that have to pay is the coach passengers. The first class don't have to pay. I'm glad that they don't make you have to pay for an international flight. Another problem is that they choose the most traveled international flights and still make you pay for the blanket-pillow sets. I have read on ABC News that the airline will throw in a $10 off of more than $30 and Bed, Bath, and Beyond. The airline is most likely getting a discount for their puchase of the blankets and pillows if they give out these coupons to try and get people to go and buy items at the store. Free advertising for Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/02/09/american.airlines.blankets/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

Casey Johnson died of natural causes

Casey Johnson, the heiress to Johnson and Johnson died of a natural cause related to diabetes. This was released on Thursday Feb. 2, 2010. She was found dead at the age of 30 at a friends house on Jan. 4, 2010. She died of diabetic ketoacidosis which is severe untreated diabetes. The Johnson Family, Tila Tequila, and the New York Jets Organization are all in mourning and are spending a moment of silence today to honor Casey Johnson.

I believe that many people have been giving this too much attention. I don't think that this is such an important event because many people have bad diabetes. Just because she has just gotten into a relationship with Tila Tequila, doesn't mean that she would've been murdered by Tila. Expressing how people feel towards the same sex is a very popular event right now in history. The only reason that I believe that they are giving Casey so much attention is that she is in a new relationship and that she's the heiress top Johnson and Johnson. I do like how the New York Jets have all taken a moment of silence because Casey's father owned the New York Jets. This is one of their family members in a since and they have taken a moment away to spend with the Johnson family. I believe that this should not be talked about anymore now since we know what she died from and that Tila didn't murder her for the money.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/02/04/casey.johnson.cause.death/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29