Its Vital that the Census Include as Many Homeless as Possible

The census generally doesn't include nearly as many homeless as there really are. This is a very important for America's homeless. The more homeless people counted in the census, the more government funding will go towards programs that help them getting housing and food. Hopefully, more homeless will go to shelters to be counted, because if the government spends more to help them, then they will have a better chance of getting back on their feet. This isn't always possible for them to do on their own.

Opportunities for Underprivileged to go to College

Amazing news for kids who'll enter college starting 2014. When repaying student loans, students only have to pay 10% of their income per month. And after 20 years, if they paid 10% of their income every month toward the loan, then the remaining debt is dropped. This is great for families who can't afford to send their kids to college, because now more kids will be able to pay it off themselves. So even if parents don't have a job, their kids can have a future.

Using Marijuana Legally Can Still Cost You Your Job

Joseph Casias is a resident of Michigan, where marijuana is legal. He developed cancer of the nasal cavity and began using medical marijuana as a pain reliever. He was an employee at Wal-Mart, but when he was drug tested and he didn't pass, he was fired.

"I was angry they did this to me because I always tried my best," said Casias, who was employed at Wal-Mart for five years. He earned an Associate of the Year award in 2008. "I want my job back. I thought I was part of the Wal-Mart family."

Joseph also says that he had never come to work high. I understand why this would be the case if marijuana was illegal, but it isn't. To me this is equivalent to firing someone over 21 who drinks on the weekends. They never show up to work drunk, and it doesn't impair their performance, so what is the problem?

I believe that Wal-Mart has questionable morals in the first place, but this is something that should be changed. Now is not an appropriate time to be firing people. Being fired for using marijuana is also going to hinder their ability to get another job if they have to say why they were fired from their last one.

Part of Michigan's law, passed in 2008, does address employers, saying a patient carrying a medical marijuana card cannot be "denied any right or privilege" by a "business or occupational or professional licensing board."

It clearly states that it is not legitimate to fire someone for legally using marijuana. I believe that Wal-Mart should either give Joseph his job back, or be sued, end of story.

Recalls can Destroy Businesses

"Peanut Corporation of America, the company at the crux of the nationwide salmonella panic, filed for liquidation bankruptcy in February 2009, just a month after it first announced a recall of peanut butter products processed in its Blakely, Ga., plant. ...The salmonella outbreak sickened more than 700 people in 46 states and led to nine deaths."

It's things like this that make me scared to eat any processed food. Clearly there is a direct correlation between the outbreak and the company going bankrupt. With the number of outbreaks and recalls that happens, it seems that companies simply aren't cautious enough about the ingredients they use and the conditions in which they make their food. Not only was the outbreak responsible for nine deaths and many more sicknesses, but anyone who was employed at this corporation was out of work. That number is most likely in upwards of hundreds of people.

So, among a climate of people just getting back up on their feet, many more are put out of work. What's more, the plants closing affect local economies. It will be extremely difficult for people to get jobs in the town they live in because so many others are trying as well. In extreme cases, the crime rate in towns go up, and as a result, value of homes go down, and the cycle continues. But corporations are never held liable for the fates of the people that lose their jobs because of their irresponsibility. Corporations have nearly no liability, but they most definitely should.
Corporations need to be more responsible, because there is more at risk than the product they make being absent from store shelves.

This Cobbler Isn't Going Anywhere

In these hard economic times, those independent businesses that stay open seem to be the ones that offer unique services. For example, this man is a cobbler, that is he fixes shoes. Being as not many cobblers are around anymore, he doesn't have much competition. Also, as he explains, you can pay 12.50 to get a heel put on your shoe, or you can buy a new pair for 100. So, in a bit of a twisted way, the recession is actually giving him a few more customers who can't afford to buy new shoes. However, he does say that business this year is much better than last year, on the whole.

Chernoffs Stay Off the Street

The Chernoff's are all unemployed at the moment, but are managing to live on unemployment checks for the time being. It's very fortunate that this family had enough money before hand to be able to afford that. However, many people without jobs may have worked at part-time jobs, such as fast food restaurants, and they don't receive unemployment checks. Additionally, families may have 4 or 5 children to feed rather than just one. Being able to stick to a frugal life style without unnecessary spending is definitely a skill that American's, including myself, need to learn.

Can Borrowing Money be Dangerous?

Many are trying to hold their own during this recession and recovery.

"Unless it's a real emergency, lending money enforces dependency, rather than someone going out there and trying to do it on their own," Gurney said. "It reinforces someone feeling like a child again, that they have to come back to their family. That's not a good place to be in."

Says psychologist Kathleen Gurney. Amid these hard times in our economy, many may be tempted to lend money to family members in need. Initially, this would seem simply a selfless act, but there can be consequences for even the most generous lender.
Ruth Mantrell, in her article for marketwatch.com, points out that borrowing money can cause problems for some one too. If one borrows money, the lender many times will become too involved in the borrower's life, as a result of wanting to know what the money is being spent on. This would be quite a nuisance, and fosters dependence on the part of the borrower. Some may even lend out money just so they can have a sense of control over others, which isn't healthy.

"The relationship is the most important thing to guard here. Have an agreement; it can be a handwritten agreement. Help the family member come up with a game plan, how they are going to pay you back," Gurney said.

What is important is that all consequences are considered before borrowing or lending money. There should be a written agreement, and a plan should be set up on how the borrower will repay the lender. This way everything is secure.

Moderate Hiring for the Upcoming Quarter

Cautiously Optimistic. That's the term most everyone has been using for the state of the economy, and rightly so. But cautiously optimistic is still optimistic. Recent data has suggested some good things for the number of jobs in America today.

Around 6% of firms say they plan on hiring, as opposed to -2% last year. Better yet, over 70% of employers don't intend on firing any staff, which should put many at ease. So the job situation we have may not be getting better fast, but it isn't getting worse, and that is a start. The fact that employers aren't hiring rapidly is a good thing, because it could cause problems if the economy began shrinking quickly.

Ruth Mantell on marketwatch.com provides the figures for the employment outlook in the upcoming quarter, and they are definitely a reason to be hopeful.

"For each industry sector, here are the figures for the net employment outlook for the second quarter, not seasonally adjusted, in order of most positive first.

Leisure and hospitality, 17% in the second quarter, up from 4% in the first quarter

Professional and business services, 15%, up from 5%

Mining, 11%, up from -1%

Manufacturing, nondurable goods, 9%, up from 1%

Financial activities, 9%, up from 2%

Transportation and utilities, 8%, up from -6%

Manufacturing, durable goods, 8%, up from -3%

Information, 8%, up from 0% "

A restored economy may not be too far out of reach.

Save Some Extra Cash

There are some relatively easy ways that you can save some extra cash, which everyone could use nowadays.
When looking for good deals on travel, George Mannes from CNN writes:

For last-minute deals and extras such as free meals, sign up for all the airline and hotel-chain loyalty programs and newsletters you can, says George Hobica, founder of airfarewatchdog.com. And check kayak.com.

And Mannes also shows you how to fix the fact that you may be getting too much money deducted from your paycheck.

With the average federal tax refund around $2,700, chances are you've been giving the government an interest-free loan by having too much money pulled out of your paycheck. With your most recent pay stubs and tax return handy, go to irs.gov and use the withholding calculator to get specific instructions for filling out new W-4s. Your payroll department will adjust your withholding accordingly.

Also, Mannes says, Qualifying Expenses (aka things that your job will pay for) could include more than you might think, such as contact lenses solution or at-home pregnancy tests. These benefits should be taken advantage of.

So take advantage of these things! A little savings here and there can add up in the long run.

Obama Takes a Page Out of Jimmy Carter's Book

The ghost of Jimmy Carter's one-term presidency is hovering over President Obama as the Democrats try to pass a jobs bill in time for this year's elections. So why is the centerpiece of the measure -- a tax break for companies that make new hires -- a play straight from Carter's economic policy circa 1977?

Then, as now, the economy looked anemic and unemployment was high: 7.8% when Carter entered office, compared with 9.7% now. So just eleven days after his inauguration, the president proposed giving companies a temporary tax break if they hired new employees, calling it the New Jobs Tax Credit. The law went into effect for 1977 and 1978, over which time the unemployment rate fell 2%.

So, in theory, this tax break seems like a great idea. More money for companies that hire more employees, what could go wrong? Well one problem is that when this tax credit was initiated the first time, less than half of small businesses even knew about the tax credit. Many also argue it will cost more than it is worth.

A major flaw is that the bill "includes a requirement that in order to qualify for the tax break, an employer has to hire someone who has been out of work for at least 60 days". This seems unneccesary, employers should hire based on skill and what they need.
Well, all we can say is that hopefully, if this tax credit goes through, that it will be a success and enough people can get work to keep the economy recovering.

Jobs, please.

In Obama's State of the Union address, he made a lot of promises about rebuilding this economy and making jobs. I was nervous that this might be another empty promise, but it seems that it isn't the case. The Democrats don't have a bill, but they have an agenda for putting something through.

The Democrats' agenda includes: Renewing existing highway legislation for a year, which is expected to result in one million jobs, Reid said. Also, enacting small business and job creation tax credits. And extending Build America Bonds, a stimulus measure that helps states and municipalities fund capital construction projects.

I think that unemployment taxes have been hitting businesses hard, so it's fortunate that we may see job creation credits. I think the most logical way to go about fixing unemployment is for the government to create jobs. Sure, we will have to spend money for that, but more jobs mean citizens spending more, so in the long run it's a great thing.

A Slow Climb out of the Recession Has Begun?

8.4 million jobs have been vaporized since the recession began, and digging out won't be easy.

But on a slightly brighter side, the situation is moderating. The number of jobs isn't falling as fast anymore. Now, there may be another sharp decrease, but relatively soon I believe the nation will begin recovering.

The unemployment rate fell unexpectedly in January to 9.7%. And businesses shed 20,000 jobs for the month, far fewer than the 150,000 jobs that were lost in December.

"Even as today's numbers contain signs of the beginning of recovery, they are also a reminder of how far we still have to go to return the economy to robust health and full employment," said White House economist Christina Romer in a statement.

Many temporary jobs have been created, showing that employers are hiring again. Also, many part time workers are being given their full time positions back.

So, not all is well. And economists are warning not to read too much into this improvement, for it may or may not be short-lived. Either way it's an improvement, and that means more jobs for the citizens of America. This means more disposable income, and more spending. Then, consequently more and more jobs created. I am hopeful for the economy of the United States.

Homeless citizens wait outside a homeless shelter

Having worked with many people who just left homeless shelters in my community service, I have noticed how hard it is for many who don't have a place to live.
This article on CNN advises readers on what to do if they see someone who appears to be homeless in a hostile situation, or if they clearly need medical attention. They say that most major cities such as San Francisco and New York have hotlines you can call. Otherwise to just call the police.
Also, when you see a homeless person asking for money:

"We don't really promote giving people cash money," said Deronda Metz, director of social services for the Salvation Army of Charlotte, North Carolina. "If you have a blanket, that would be great. If you have food to give, that would be double good. We don't promote giving people a ride."

For more information on what you should and shouldn't do, check out the full article.

Introduction to Community Service

This Christmas was undoubtedly really tough for a lot of families. Although many families are better off this year than they were last year, it is still a struggle. For my community service I wanted to help bring Christmas families who couldn't afford it. Every year, my parents and many of their friends help put on Operation E.L.F., an event that takes donated toys, clothing, appliances, and much more to give to families in need.

A couple days before Christmas, the event is held, usually in a highschool gymnasium. There are families of all sizes that sign up for this program, and a group of about two or more people will get presents for a particular family. After the event, you personally deliver the presents to the families houses.

The event this year was a huge success and I have always participated and will continue to do so.

Budget Deficit Hits Record

The budget deficit hit a record, but what do we do now?

The deficit for fiscal year 2009, which ended Sept. 30, came in at a record $1.42
trillion, more than triple the record set just last year. In addition, future deficits are currently projected to total $9.1 trillion in the coming decade.

As a result of the budget deficit hitting a record, many republicans are saying Obama's health care plan is spending money we don't have.

It is hard to say what Obama should do. It takes spending to keep an economy going, but how do we know when to stop spending and where to cut back?

Save Small Shops

I am someone who really loves shopping at small independent and thrift stores. However, their prices are usually much higher than "big-box" stores such as Wal-Mart and Target. In places like Target, you can find everything you need in one place, and therefore it is much more convenient to just go there. But, if I'm looking for good, hand-made merchandise for gifts or for myself I love little stores. I've recently been trying more than ever to shop small-business. It would be a sad world if all my shopping had to be done at "big-box" stores. Sure Target is cheaper, but is it worth it to sacrifice quality for price?

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

As I was driving home, I saw a sign that said "funded by the american recovery and reinvestment act". The above sign is actually in a different state, but it is the exact same one.
I was curious so decided to research it.

At the website for the American recovery reinvestment act, one can find what its all about.

• Save and create more than 3.5 million jobs over the next two years;
• Take a big step toward computerizing Americans’ health records, reducing medical errors, and saving billions in health care costs;
• Revive the renewable energy industry and provide the capital over the next three years to eventually double domestic renewable energy capacity;
• Undertake the largest weatherization program in history by modernizing 75 percent of federal building space and more than one million homes;
• Increase college affordability for seven million students by funding the shortfall in Pell Grants, increasing the maximum award level by $500, and providing a new higher education tax cut to nearly four million students;
• As part of the $150 billion investment in new infrastructure, enact the largest increase in funding of our nation’s roads, bridges, and mass transit systems since the creation of the national highway system in the 1950s;
• Provide an $800 Making Work Pay tax credit for 129 million working households, and cut taxes for the families of millions of children through an expansion of the Child Tax Credit;
• Require unprecedented levels of transparency, oversight, and accountability.

That all sounds like a pretty swell idea to me. However, I wonder if the funding might fall short before projects are finished. Will that money come out of our taxes in that event? I just hope that doesn't happen.

This seems like a good way to help the economy by giving more people jobs and saving money where we were over spending before. They predict that in the next to years, 396,000 jobs will be saved/ created.

so this picture shows where all the money goes. I pretty much understand it all, except for "protecting the vulnerable". What is that? I looked all over that page with no explanation because it doesn't have an asterisk over it. I am always suspicious of things with such ambiguous titles. But I shall investigate farther later.

This was something I thought was cool: You can zoom in on your town and see exactly which corporations are getting money, and exactly how much.

Well it all looks alright to me but I still have questions.

I suppose we shall see how this plays out.