Federal Budget-2011

The President has proposed a new Federal Budget for the fiscal year 2011 which is a new record with record money (which we don’t have) to be spent. The deficit is projected to be more than US 1 trillion Dollars and raising the taxes also US1 trillion. It is a massive budget with mind boggling numbers. The President will be having a hard time passing the budget as is with both the Republicans and the Democrats (mindful of the voters’ anger) against the big budget deficit and they should be.

Even with record increase in taxes, the deficit will remain in the trillions. This cannot go on forever. Who will pay for all this? With this record debt, there won’t be much money left for domestic programs for the foreseeable future. And along with less money for domestic programs, out clout in the world affairs will diminish further since we will be hampered by our inability to pursue or persuade other countries to follow our policies and defend our interests. Even with increasing taxes on the so called wealthy and corporations, in the future the Middle class will not be immune to a tax increase.

We cannot spend our way out of this deficit even when some economists are saying that we should not be worried about the Federal debt right now.I am not an economist but I know this for sure, we cannot wait for the economy to get better, because the world out there is not going to wait for us to grow again at the expense of their money. Sooner or later our foreign creditors will start demanding higher interests rates on our securities, which will lead to more long term interests on every thing and we will become hostage to outside influences and money just like we are now on the foreign oil.

Terror trials Controversies:-2

Furthermore nobody has thought about the costs. In these economic times, when everybody (including the states and Federal Government) are hurting and trying to save money, why should we be spending hundreds of millions of dollars on something that is quite obvious, these terrorists don’t want any sympathy, they just want to die at the hands of the Americans and gain martyrdom. That is their only agenda.

It will not only incur huge expenses but also logistic nightmare for every body. A media circus will be created unless it is behind some military installation. We should also not forget the psyche of these people. They will be laughing their butt off seeing us trying these terrorists in courts (which they don’t least bit care about) who have attempted to harm the American people and have free publicity about their views in all the top media outlets in the world.

The best way to try these people is to not try them at all anywhere. And if some misguided people think that it is cool idea to try them anyway (just to show the world that we are fair), then they should be tried in a Military court (since remember they have been designated enemy combatants) and behind closed doors and outside the United States territory.

Terror trials Controversies:

After much hue and cry, the U.S. has decided not to hold the terror trials in New York City after all. Why it was selected in the first place is a Mystery. It was said that since the 9/11 attacks happened in New York, then the trials should be held there right near the World Trade Center site. The U.S. has decided to provide USD 200 million for the trial.

There is a huge controversy going on about these trials. There are as many arguments against it as there are for it. Some argue that these terrorists should be tried in Military courts because they are enemy combatants, some say they should be tried in Civilian courts since they killed Civilians. Then there is this controversy about whether it should be held in the U.S. or outside the U.S.

Regardless of what one thinks about these trials, the question is why to have this trial in the first place. In this economy when we are so much in debt, do we really have extra 200 million to set aside for these people to put them on trial and for what. They have already shown their hatred of the U.S. and if given a chance they will do it again. What will this trial accomplish in the first place that we are a law abiding nation and we believe in dealing with these terrorists in a civilized manner. They don’t care about our justice system or for that matter our civilized ways. They have vowed to destroy us in the first place and this will be an excellent venue for them to vent their extremist propaganda for the whole world to see.

The French Disconnection:-4

I have been to France before (specifically Paris) and I enjoyed walking through champs de Elyse. I was unfortunate enough not to see the Eiffel tower since the line was very long and temperature was very hot. Further more I went to the Louvre museum and also the tomb of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. French nation has given the world their culture, language, fashion, perfumes, luxury goods and the famous French legionnaires. They would not want to be the first one to be associated for banning some harmless clothing I believe.

Now this disease is spreading to Italy, where they want to ban the burqa and burqinis. What is going on here is the threat that the major European countries perceive to be an attack on their culture and religion. Even for example if the bans are successful, do they believe it will help the cause of the women who will still wear it elsewhere. There could be more backlash against this kind of clothing and unnecessarily more violence.

As I said before instead of enacting a law, why not let the public handle it their way so that it is not perceived by the outside world that the governments are behind this kind of ridiculous ban. And further more have they solved all the problems of their citizens that they have the time to do this kind of wasteful legislation which has the sole purpose of targeting one religion alone.

Then this entire notion about being a free society in Europe is just a façade to show to the outside world but inside they are inherently xenophobic and scared and intolerant about other religions and cultures.