Educational Standards in America

"America Is Slipping In Their educational standards". Staff Writer. March 23, 2010.

The educational standards in America are descending comparing to all countries with only four countries falling behind. Some think that schools shouldn't be blamed but people that lack the importance of education and its value are the ones' to be blamed. While others also are blaming the budget cuts or the money issues that are leading for the downfall.

http://www.thecorsaironline.com/opinion/america-is-slipping-in-their-educational-standards-1.1277424

Increase in personal income and consumer spending

"Income of workers climbs 1.0% in January". Jeffry Bartash. February 28, 2011.

A highest increase in January of 2011 in the income rate has been shown comparing to the last year and a half. An increase of 1% in the workers' personal income was not expected. As for an increase of only 0.2% of buyers's spending rate was expected to be a little higher, in which it rose the saving rate to 5.8%.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/income-of-workers-climbs-10-in-january-2011-02-28

Education in the United States

"The State of Education in the United States". Mary Faler. November 26, 2008.

This article is showing and discussing how people and students view the value of education and how society plays a major role in influencing this issue relating to education.It also states some changes that took place in the United States regarding education over the past couple years. 

http://www.suite101.com/content/the-state-of-education-in-the-united-states-a80716

Increase in Consumer Confidence

"Consumer confidence jumps in February". Ruth Mantell. February 22, 2011.

An unexpected increase in consumer confidence had rose to its utmost in February comparing to the past 3 years. People are even more positive about the future for a better economy, despite the significant changes in the economy like higher gasoline prices and more, but people are still gaining the confidence needed to support the economy.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/consumer-confidence-jumps-in-february-2011-02-22

Reflection for Class Discussion 2

Based on the discussion we had in class, viewing different thoughts and opinions regarding this issue was an expected thing, especially when the topic is related to religions. Over all we don't have the right to stop the Islamic community to build the mosque. What happened on 9/11 was an extremest attack by a very small minority so for us to judge the whole Islamic community and prevent them from their freedom to practice their religion would be ignorant and unjust. Discussions about religion related topics are not meant to resolve any issues rather it is to give us more knowledge and eliminate any ignorance. 

SOTU Project

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Education is being put into new standards and more money is
going to be spent on improving the level of education, as for education is becoming one of America’s first priorities.

Jobs are being created as for the unemployment rate is
decreasing.

We all can make a change if we work together on solving the
issues that are related to all of us. We should all put our hands together and
aim on making a difference that would satisfy our desires.

Future is what we all should look ahead for and work hard on
meeting our needs without looking back with any regrets.

Hopes are what we all hold inside of us and in order to achieve
these hopes we should look forward on working for the country’s sake.

Dreams are to become reality if we focus on setting our
goals in the right path.

Both parties should be working as in one group to ensure the
protection and the suitable changes that would meet the public’s opinion.

The community is where all thoughts and feelings are expressed;
it is the place where people ought to have the ability on viewing and
experiencing the different attitudes toward any issue.

Families should be the main guide for their children and be
their role models by giving them the advises needed to create a better society
and to hold the responsibility of the following generations. 

Success is the main key that we all plan on reaching at some
point in life especially at this time in which we are all intending to gain the
success.

Hard work shouldn’t be an option for us if we have the
aspiration on making a change to what we think should be different.

Money is needed at every step we take further through accomplishing
our desires, since some issues are being given more importance, than money
would be a key point for making these hopes come true.

Achievement is to be obtained with the way we manage to take
the responsibility of our actions toward the country and how we play a great impact upon it with the decisions we take. We can achieve whatever we want if we put
our trust in what we think would be helpful for our country.

Teachers are our role models and should be appreciated and
treated with all the respect. They are unique in every way in which they play a
major role in our society in building generations.

Changes can be made if we set a goal in mind and make sure that
it would benefit all people in a certain society. These changes can be accomplished if we devote our time and effort in causing these changes. 

Careers can be one of people’s interests if we seek for more
education and never give up for any consequences.

Taxes are still one of people’s concerns regarding the
percentages and on what are they being taxed on. People should also take into
the consideration the work being done in return. 

Expectations should be higher and people should trust more
in themselves and allowing a chance in showing their abilities.

Goals are helpful at all times especially when different thoughts
and opinions are put together, so people should plan ahead for the changes needed
to satisfy them.

Effort is required at every step taken in life, with the
efforts needed, hardship can be overcame, and challenges can be eased out making
life more easy to deal with.

Internet is becoming an important factor for all businesses and
other things by creating more means of communication.

Businesses should gain their trust and courage again and aim
for rebuilding themselves from whatever has been lost.

Deficit is what all people are concerned about, with more
work expected; more spending is going to be an issue, so people should expect
the idea of paying more taxes.

Exporting is a major step forward on creating more jobs as
for relations around the world.

Health care is what everyone is looking forward for a change
that would be helpful for all people in owing a health care insurance that
would be affordable.

Credits are people’s interest in living beyond their means,
in which people are spending more than they earn, creating more debts and affecting the financial issue.

Improving the economy and by understanding the way
everything is functioning would be supportive in making people more conscious of
their own actions and what consequences the might be lead to.

Coverage is what most people are looking forward to have
form health insurance that would be affordable enough for all people to be able
to cover the costs. 

The country should be heading forward depending on the way people
are taking the responsibilities of their actions.

Expenditures is a conflict that is leading the country to
fall under more deficits and increasing the budget cuts on various things.

Expanding through businesses into out of borders is really useful
in giving people the chance of getting new jobs.

The progress being made might differ in the way people view it
depending on whether they are benefiting from the progress being made or not.

Medicare is helpful for all senior citizens in which the health
care expenses are covered by the government.

The past shouldn’t be a big deal anymore in which the
changes can only be made in the future, so the past should only be a memory. The
past is also helpful by making us learn from our mistakes and instead work hard
on avoiding the mistakes previously done.

Rebuilding the economy is what we all should hope for, and
especially by improving the education, in which leading for more careers and
further on job creations.

Challenges should give us the courage in taking issues
seriously and try solving such conflicts with the suitable ways.

Students should be the hope of a new change and should play
the role of representing the following generations.

The troops should be thanked at all times for sacrificing their
lives in order to provide us with the protection and the safety.

Competition can only be available with the creation of more
businesses.

Technology also has its major impact upon improving the quality of life and education, businesses, as for other factors.

The economy is improving in every way, but still people are
expecting more changes to occur.

Legal immigrants should have the same rights as any U.S.
citizen, but illegal immigrants’

The struggler that all people are facing from people losing
their jobs, businesses are shutting down and much more, people should still be
patient and work hard on solving such problems.

Purpose is to strive for a better economy which allows a
more comfortable life style.

Different ways and methods should be used in order to create
changes and allow better more convenient ways for solving the problems.

Skills are going to be required in building the higher
levels of education which is really helpful to compete with other nation’s
level of education.

Reform covers the changes made to the new health care reform
in which for some it might not be helpful regarding the high costs while at the
same time it might be helpful for teens in which they would be covered till the
age of 26.

America doesn’t stand in a very safe position at the moment considering
the economic state.

More innovation is required, even though it’s is really
advanced but still a lot more new modern technologies might also be helpful. 

Reinvent the products by making them better, more efficient and
supportive.

Credit Card Debt

"Consumers using credit cards again". Martin Crutsinger. February 7, 2011.

More credit card debts are increasing based on the month of December with an increase of 3.5% of more borrowing money through credit cards .Even though an increase in the borrowing or the loans was expected in December, but the increase in credit card debts was an expected rise.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2011-02-07-consumer-credit_N.htm

A New Program for Small Business to Export

"Being small shouldn't keep a business from exporting". Rhonda Abrams. February 3, 2011.

This article is suggesting an increase in the export sales, and especially small businesses in which they would play a big role if they would be a part of this plan. A new program,Global Access for Small Business, that would support small businesses and encourage them on exporting. This could be really helpful for the economy in which it would decrease the debt and create more jobs.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/abrams/2011-02-03-small-business-global-market_N.htm

Reflection for Class Discussion

The discussion we had in class on Friday was really helpful, in which it gave me the chance to understand how people felt toward an issue that we’re all facing. I was really interested in the different viewpoints that were shared and how questions were intellectually answered with all the sources needed to support the answers. With some actual experiences mentioned in the discussion concerning this issue, it made it even clearer and more understandable for me. There were several questions that were pointed out and got my attention, the type of questions that can’t really be answered easily, which even brought more excitement to the topic. I found out that the health care reform issue is also related to other topics in which starting with concerns upon the new health care reform, different issues or topics were brought out. Expenditures were also a part of the discussion, and viewing different opinions representing both perspectives of either supporting the act of spending more or preferring to save the money and not spend too much. In my opinion, spending is required at every step made especially when it comes to public opinion and to meet their requests. As we were taught in the economics class, nothing is really free, everything has a certain value to it, so people should expect more spending when more work is desired. For some concerns to be eased out and some questions to be answered, I found that discussions are useful and especially when it comes to issues that are related to all of us. As we all know “there is always something more to learn about”, so no matter what even when different thoughts are put together, some questions might not be answered until we actually live with these concerns.

Students Financial Aid

"For kids set for college, it's time to fill out FAFSA". Sandra Block. January 31, 2011.

With the issues concerning the economy and as the deficit is increasing, student loans are also being a part of the budget cuts. In this article it's advising students to apply for the FAFSA as soon as possible to have the chance in receiving money needed as a college student aid.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/block/2011-02-01-yourmoney01_ST_N.htm

Home Prices

"The home's changing financial role: It's no longer a piggy bank". Christine Dugas. January 31, 2011.

The American Dream of owning a home might not really be suitable for everyone willing to buy a home. With the lower home prices it might be an advantage for the buyers, but definitely a complete loss for homeowners who owe money more than the actual home value. With this concern people are preferring to rent rather than buying.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/basics/2011-01-30-life-stages-housing_N.htm