What About 7 Republicans

In his article “What 7 Republicans Could Do” Thomas L. Friedman from the New York Times makes the argument that that if only seven Republican senators could see past party politics, Congress could pass a serious energy bill that would not only make the world’s environment cleaner, but could also help bring the United States out of the serious depression it is currently in. Friedman’s argument is based on the facts that China in the near future will have almost complete control over clean tech industry, that a slight carbon tax could help bring down the nation deficit, and that the passage of this bill would help the United States become less dependent on foreign fossil fuels. Friedman, a previous Pulitzer Prize winner, bases his argument on basic logic and hard facts about the United States Economy. The passage of this bill would help the U.S. accelerate in the clean tech industry by providing higher standards to be met, which would in turn make us more apt to compete with China. By taxing carbon based fossil fuels it would not only help bring down the national deficit but also provide for more corporate tax cuts, something Republicans see in a favorable light. By becoming less dependent on foreign fossil fuels it would help to cease funding for nations that are not at this time U.S. friendly. Obviously, the passage of this bill would also make the environment cleaner, an issue that will become more and more important as world population continues to skyrocket. Friedman’s argument for the passage of this bill makes sense whether or not you are a Republican or a Democrat. If only those seven could see past party lines and see what is good for us all.

Unemployement Extension

In this article from the Huffington Post, it is clearly evident that Republican members of the Senate are trying to stall the passage of extended unemployment which puts more than 2.5 million unemployed Americans further down the drain they already are. Since the state of the American economoy is already suffering a major deppression it seems a bit ridiculous that this could happen. How could fellow Americans, who happen to be well situated in comfortably payed, powerful posistions, put their bretheren into a situtaion that makes their current unemployment benefits seem like a blessing. This article show's how the Republicans use their filibustering techniques to further delay the passage of this bill. As Judi Conti a lobbyist with the National Employment Law Project said, "It's a shame and the unemployed and all those who are suffering in this recession deserve better than partisan spite."