Current Event #9: Generic Drug Producers Are Paid Not to Produce

        The over pricing of brand name medications calls for generic brands of the same product. These generic brands are usually significantly cheaper than their expensive twins but because the selling of these products harms the demand rates of the more expensive companies, they are forced to resort to other measures. In order to prevent companies from producing generic drugs, larger companies have been paying them not to produce.
        According to the Associated Press, President Barack Obama says that these "pay to delays" harm the consumer by forcing them to pay a higher price. Having no option in who they buy medicines from, consumers can enc up paying hundreds of dollars more than they need to. It is not a surprise that the president is siding with the consumer in this case. One of the main roles of government is to help maintain the American economy. When these large companies pay the smaller companies not to produce, they are doing away with the competition and taking away the consumers choices. By stopping these illegal pay-offs, the government will be preventing the many negative externalities that they lead to.
photo from:: (http://ownthedollar.com/2009/11/understanding-generic-medicines-brand-names-save-real-money/) ::Accessed on April 29th, 2013

                                                           
                                                         --Arishonne Frye^_^

Current Event #8: Is there need for new voter fraud laws in North Carolina?

       A current issue in the Legislature of North Carolina is voter fraud. The law that was proposed to eliminate this concern was a law saying that voters must provide a photo ID when going to vote in state offices. This law would not be applied until the 2016 election but it would require a test run in the 2014 election. On one hand the enforcing of a stricter voting law is a good way for the state of North Carolina to take control of fraud and impersonations regarding to voting. Yet, on the other hand, a law like this may be difficult to pass without rising more concerns from the people. 

       A similar law was passed in Georgia resulting to those without drivers licenses demanding that ID be provided by the state. It would cost the state millions of dollars to provide proper identification to those who are eligible. It would cost millions more to hire people to advertise and make sure that voters know and understand the new law. 

       Another issue that may arise is the use of student IDs as proper identification. The state might have to also provide IDs to students. Because student IDs at private colleges are not government-issued, as public college IDs are, they would not be considered usable as ID to vote. Although fraud laws are needed, a law such as this should be thought out before being passed to ensure that it does not have a negative impact on North Carolina's budget.

Photo from:: (http://www.propublica.org/article/everything-youve-ever-wanted-to-know-about-voter-id-laws) ::Accessed on April 28th, 2013

 

                                                     --Arishonne Frye^_^

Current Event #7: North Korea South Korea War Revived!

        The new leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un (below), has vowed that he will end the 1953 cease fire between North and South Korea. This action was put in place in response to the joint military drills between South Korea and the United States.

      On February twelfth  North Korea launched its third nuclear test. Those of the US are worried that North Korea may be growing closer to attaining nuclear based weaponry that can reach the United States but North Korea insists that its nuclear program is in response to US hostility. The United States is a close ally of South Korea and Japan and for the past few weeks the US has been working on creating a new resolution with China. Although, there is much probable cause that another right be planning an attack, I believe that this entire issue is based on a misunderstanding and that it should be resolved before it leads to war.

Photo from : (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57572520/north-korea-vows-to-cancel-korean-war-cease-fire-amid-talk-of-new-sanctions-continued-u.s-military-drills/) : accessed on April 23, 2013                                                                                                          -                                                      --Arishonne Frye^_^

Current event #6: Venezuelan Ambassadors are Declared Personae Non Gratae

        In March of 2013 the state department announced that two Venezuelan Ambassadors were declared Personae Non Gratae. Personae Non Gratae is declared to express that a certain person (especially one that is a sort of official in another country) to be unwelcome. The two ambassadors that were expelled were Orlando Jose Montanez Olivares and Victor Camacaro Mata. This declaration was made in response to the two US officials that were previously kicked out of South America.
        A spokes woman for the State Department named Victoria Nuland (right) tells reporters a little bit of the story. She says, "Around the world when our people are thrown out unjustly, we're going to take reciprocal action." (Nuland, http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/11/us/venezuela-diplomats-expelled).
        The reason that these two US officials were expelled from South America because Venezuelan officials announced President Hugo Chavez's death and they were accusing the Two US officials of planning to destabilize the country by meeting with the Venezuelan militatry and encouraging them to pursue "destabilizing projects". http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/11/us/venezuela-diplomats-expelled
        The accusing were denied by US officials and the two expelled ambassadors have left the United States. Now people of both counrties are carfuly watching for signs of growing tension.
Photo from: (http://www.nato.int/multi/2007/071119c-arab-media/photos/pages/071119c-015.html) :Accessed on April 19th, 2013

                                                        --Arishonne Frye^_^

Current Event #5: "Argo" the oscar award winning movie

               Argo is a historical drama film that was released in 2012. It was based on the tragic events of 52 Americans being taken hostage when Iranians stormed the American Embassy. Six of these hostages were able to escape and were taken in by an ambassador of Canada. The CIA then brought in one of their top exfiltration specialists to rescue them. The film called Argo mirrors the events that took place in 1979 . (http://movies.about.com/od/argo/f/argo-true-story.htm) Through out the film, a CIA agent named Tony Mendez comes up with a plan to make a fictitious science fiction film and to disguise the six hostages that had escaped as the actors and film crew. Although there were other films and literature that were published to tell this successful story, Argo is by far the most informative and has been able to catch the eye of the most citizens.

Photo from: (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024648/) Accessed on April 12th, 2013


                                                       --Arishonne Frye^_^

Current Event #4: The Upcoming American Sequester

       With the USA in trillion dollars worth of debt, the issue of a sequester comes as no surprise. about $500 billion dollars are to be cut from the budget. These cuts are being made from domestic departments such as food inspection agencies, national park preservation, and housing aids. The sequester will also take money out of the Defense department and national security agencies. Although this holding of spending money is much needed, some are worried that these cuts in the Defense department will take a toll on military readiness. Congress has put the sequester off until March first as a part of the Fiscal Cliff deal and although there are plenty of doubts about the helpfulness of this decision, it will be the first step in illuminating American debt.

Statistics from: (http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/06/politics/cnn-explains-sequestration) Accessed on April 12th, 2013
Photo from: (http://www.resilience.org/stories/2012-03-05/debt-and-transition-economy) Accessed on April 12th, 2013
                                       
                                                                     --Arishonne Frye^_^

Current Event #3: Obama 2013 State of Union Adress

                 On Tuesday February 12, 2013, president Barrack Obama gave his state of union address at a session of congress. During this time, Obama presents many issues to the members of congress and proposes how they should be dealt with. He suggests eliminating poverty by raising the minimum wage. He also adresss the progress of the programs that are already in order such as the afordable care act. Ptesident Obama explains that the afordable care act is helping to slow the growth of healthcare costs.        
                Along with a report of progress, President obama also gives his proposal on tax code, saying that tax code must ensure that billionaires can not "work the system" and pay less money than someone who works under them. (m.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/remarks-president-state-union-adress)
                                      
Image from: (http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-250_162-10015748.html) accessed on April 12th, 2013
                                                        --Arishonne Frye