Benefits of Marijuana Reform

The view Americans have on Marijuana have been lead astray ever since the large anti-marijuana campaigns of the 1930's. These campaigns made Americans believe that marijuana causes harsh lung damage, aggressive actions, hallucinations and other radical symptoms. Although many people see marijuana as a horrible drug, modern research speaks other wise. With that aside, what about economically? If the United states were to legalize marijuana for use by adults; would it help out our country? The answer may be clear within our life time.

With the taxes that could be set on marijuana-similarly to the tobacco taxes- the national government is predicted to gain over 778,000,000 dollars in revenue. This money alone would help bump our economy back up the totem pole. The government would also save money by not having to pay for thousands of people imprisoned on marijuana charges. In 2004 it was roughly $64 a day to keep someone incarcerated. Therefore, the government would profit by these people not being supported while in prison. Marijuana being legalized would offer the drug on the open market opening up new jobs for sales and production; also causing drug kingpins operating the black market to lose power. This would also cause the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to focus more on hard drugs like Heroine and cocaine. The federal government monitoring the production of this drug would also result in safer products for habitual uses and peace of mind knowing your marijuana has not been lased with a hard drug or other harmful chemicals.

Overall, I believe the legalization of marijuana would be good for our country. The predicted tax revenue and decrease in the black market both seem like major selling points. Until people open up their eyes and research the effects of this legalization this will never happen. One day when the propaganda wears out, this country may finally make a decision that could make our country prosperous once more.

Our view on balancing the budget: To help control the deficit, let the Bush tax cuts expire

This article, from USA Today(USA Today 7/21/10), argues against extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts set into place by president Bush and his administration. The author of this article seems to be directing his opinion toward the general public; not showing signs of bias toward conservative or liberal parties. He feels that the tax cuts set into action between 2001 and 2003 should be allowed to expire.

With the American economy falling and the country in a large amount of debt; the author believes that extending these tax cuts will be a waste of good tax dollars the government needs. Although many feel otherwise due to the shape of middle and lower class families in the post Bush economy; the artical offers ending the tax cuts for the upper class first, as a option. This would allow the government to receive better tax revenue until the economy levels out, and the middle and lower classes can better support themselves financially.

The author lays down a good argument that was successful in persuading this reader towards his point of view. The tax money that would be generated by the expiration of these taxes would help our government with its debt. Although citizens would feel the effects of a larger tax imposed on them; the plan, outlined by the author of this article, seems to be fruitful in putting off the tax increase for the economically unstable classes. This would give the lower classes time untill the taxes effect them. The effects of these bills expiring would help our country emerge from economic repression.

TARP, Roy, Robin and the Republicans

This is a post from the conservative blog called Redstate. In this posting Bill argues for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). In his argument he explains the financial standing of the country in 2008. He claims that during this time he read allot of articles and recieved E-mails that fore told the collapse of allot of financial institutions. Bill goes on to talk about senators from MO that are using the TARP programs as a part of their campain for re-election in November. In this he bashes Democratic candidate Robin Carnahan saying she "basically" stated she would have supported the program, but she opposed them due to support by the opposition. This statement shows bias toward the Conservative party and some-what ignorance due to the fact that many right winged representatives pull that very same trick in not supporting anything the opposing side supports. Although Bill seems to create a good argument toward the good that has come out of the passing of the TARP bill, he does not, however, bring up any of the down sides to the bills passing. For example, the bank bailout that was intended for the banks to use rebuilding their companies; Many of these companies, due to the government not tracking what these businesses were doing with the money, gave big bonuses to their CEO's as a gift for failing epically. This is just one example of how our tax money has been wasted by these government programs because the federal government does not intervene with these large corporate power houses.