American Update

This is urgent. You now have a chance to stand up for your constitutional rights. It is a basic truth of politics that rights are not self-enforcing, and that sometimes you have tot take action.

Now before you try to overthrow the US government yourself, know that I'm simply talking about an online petition. But it's a really important online petition, trust me. You now have the chance to stop the extension of the worst infringement upon the fourth amendment since WW2, the Patriot Act.

This isn't a partisan issue, this is about the rights of the individual. Note that democrats in congress are attempting to form an alliance with tea party and libertarian candidates to block the extension of the bill.

Through the ACLU

Through the Electronics Frontier Foundation

Note: the ACLU and the EFF are working to block the bill. They're the good guys.

I've already contacted my senator after my idiot of a congressman voted in favor of the bill. I hope you will do the same.

Edit: If you'd like to call or email your senator, HERE's a list. I'll be calling mine as soon as my law and politics class is over.

Please, everyone take the short amount of time needed to write out a simple email regarding this rights-infringing bill. If you'd like me to write a quick copy-paste message here just let me know.

Dueling Budgets

Earlier this Week, US Republicans unveiled their budget plan which is projected to cut $61 billion off this year's budget. Their proposed cuts include limiting or ending funding to the Department of Education and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Obama this morning has unveiled his own budget which would cut $1.1 trillion over the next 10 years, or ~$110 billion per year. Cuts in this plan come from placing a spending freeze on domestic projects. Unfortunately, even this plan falls short of the $4 trillion in domestic cuts that would be needed to rectify the deficit.

Neither plan addresses the three biggest contributors to the US budget: Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security, and Defense spending. However the lesser of the two evils would have to be Obama's plan. The republicans' is filled with impulsive reactions to programs that would actually save money if they were left alone.

Other Updates:

-Iran protests began earlier today as young university students met riot police in the streets. Continuity is not assured but hopeful. The US State Dept has launched a twitter account in Farsi in order to show support for the protesters.

-Protests in Yemen and Algeria are still going on but only Algeria seems to be picking up steam. Al Jazeera is now giving them equal time as Egypt's aftermath.

-The Grammys are going on. Maybe. I'm actively trying not to pay attention.

-Vlad Putin is still a badass.