California has finally started to build large scale solar systems. These systems, that companies such as BrightSource Energy out of Oakland, provide reliable, and renewable energy to the state of California, while reducing our reliance on foreign oil. The Ivanpah project, started by BrightSource Energy, will provide enough energy to power 140,000 homes.
"Projects like this one are helping us meet our long-term energy and environmental goals, while creating jobs and moving us toward a cleaner, more sustainable future - a future where California leads the nation and the world in a clean energy revolution," said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who attended the groundbreaking." Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/27/BUS91G2T46.DTL&type=business#ixzz13d28XZnB
The project has already received investments from companies such NRG Energy, as well as grants from the federal government. Companies must continue to develop new, more efficient ways of supplying clean energy. The government must do its part as well to support clean reliable energy that will reduce our reliance on foreign oils.
Bill Gates has made a $700,000 donation against proposition 23, which would cut back state requirements on green energy as well as continue California's reliance on oil. Gates made this donation from money out of his own pocket in an effort to end our reliance on foreign oil.
"Prop 23 opponents, like Gates, have given nearly $30 million to defeat the proposal, outraising supporters by almost three to one, according to Bloomberg.Prop 23 would freeze California’s stringent requirements that aim to reduce carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, until the state’s unemployment rate is at or below 5.5 percent for four consecutive quarters. The state’s unemployment rate now stands at about 12 percent".
It is becomes more and more important to cut our reliance on limited foreign oil as we continue to see the devastating effects greenhouse gases have on our environment. Prop. 23, and the Texas oil companies supporting it, threatens to set back all of the regulations California has imposed to stop our reliance on oil, and invest in renewable energy.
Meg Whitman refused to withdraw her attack campaign commercials in a debate last week with Jerry Brown in Long Beach. After Jerry Brown agreed that he would remove his attack commercials as long as Whitman agreed to do the same, the audience booed Whitman for reusing to agree. Whitman claims that voters must see the truth of Jerry Browns campaign, and continued to attack Jerry Brown's work as mayor of the city of Oakland. It will be interesting to see the effects this has on both candidates campaigns. Voters will decide on November 2 which candidate is better suited for Governor of California.
On November 2, California voters will have the opportunity to legalize marijuana for people 21 or older. Proposition 19 divides voters, some believing legalizing it is against Federal Law and will do no good for our state, while others believe it could hold answers to California's budget crisis.
Many prop. 19 supporters emphasize how legalizing marijuana in California will greatly reduce the amount of drug crimes related to marijuana, as well as take power out of the hands of the Mexican rug cartels. In addition, taxes imposed on marijuana will create an enormous amount of money that will help lift our state out of debt.
"It's impossible to predict how much Prop 19 could really change things, but perhaps the best test case would be the city of Oakland. There, commercial pot production has been taxed since 2005, sold among four licensed dispensaries operating downtown. But crime hasn't gone up in Oakland as a result; there aren't glassy-eyed potheads asleep on benches around every bend. In fact, regulation has done something of the opposite: licensed "coffee shops" have lured new business to the area, and the $2 million in taxes that's expected to come in this year, according to the city's tax administrator, will go toward things like filling potholes, renovating parks, and funding recreation centers. "The reality," says Richard Lee, a local entrepreneur (and Prop 19's primary sponsor), "is [that] we're creating jobs, improving the city, filling empty store spaces, and when people come down here to Oakland, they can see that."
Meg Whitman, the Republican nominee for the Governor of California, does have a lot of experience running a huge corporation, as the CEO of Ebay, but is she capable of governing California? Whitman presents herself as an expert in financials, who can lift California out of its budget crisis. Running one of the most successful large corporations, Meg Whitman is capable of this task, but she also does receive some criticism. In contrast to her opposing candidate, Jerry Brown, Meg Whitman has spent millions of dollars on her campaign and is often criticized for it, some saying she is trying to buy her way into office. Only time will tell if her efforts will pay off.
As our country has fallen in to recession during the previous few years, business strategies have changed and layoffs have increased. When in times of recession, managers of companies are put in tough situations where they must always do what's best for the survival of the company. Businesses are forced to make safe choices in contrast to the uncontrolled spending of the previous years.
"It’s no surprise that business confidence has been shaken over the last few years. Executives are unwilling to take on new risks, and people in all walks of life are nervous about trusting in one another"
Mass layoffs in corporate companies that must eliminate jobs in order to stay competitive only continue the downward spiral of our economy. While firing workers does reduce costs for companies, it also puts a huge burden on the rest of the workforce that receives their additional work.
As we near the mid-term elections, it is more and more evident that the Tea Party could win itself a greater influence in our government. The Tea Party intends to rebuild our government by cutting taxes and spending as well as repealing the healthcare legislation and financial regulations passed this year during the Democratic majority of the house and senate. Many Americans are turning to the Tea Party looking for government leaders that will act in the interest of the people.
"With a little more than two weeks till Election Day, 33 Tea Party-backed candidates are in tossup races or running in House districts that are solidly or leaning Republican, and 8 stand a good or better chance of winning Senate seats."http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/15/us/politics/15teaparty.html?_r=1&hp
Although many Americans are turning to the Tea Party, the majority seem to be coming from the Republican party. The divide between the Tea Party and Republican party has enabled the Democratic party to take a majority control. The Tea Party has already performed better than many have expected, and continues to grow. Only the future will tell if the Tea Party will continue to rise as a governing party.
The following are your scores. They are based on a gradual range of 0 to 12. For instance, a Conservative/Progressive score of 3 and 0 will both yield a result of social conservative, yet 0 would be an extreme conservative and 3 a moderate conservative
Conservative/Progressive score: 9
You are a social progressive. You generally consider yourself a humanist first. You probably think that religion and patriotism go too far in society. You probably consider yourself to be a citizen of Earth first rather than a citizen of your country.
Capitalist Purist/Social Capitalist score: 10
You're a Social Capitalist, you think that, left to its own, Capitalism leaves a lot of people behind. You think that Health Care should be free to all, that the minimum wage should be raised, and that the government should provide jobs to all that are capable of having them. You likely hated the Bush tax cuts, and believe that the middle class has gotten poorer, and the rich have gotten richer over the past several years. The far extreme of social capitalism is socialism.
Libertarian/Authoritarian score: 4
You're a Moderate. You think that we all have certain inalienable rights that must be protected, but that sometimes laws need to be made to protect the majority's lives or quality of lives. You might think that the 2nd amendment isn't necessary anymore because letting everyone a gun is extremely dangerous to the community. You might also be against illegal drug use or public pornography because of its possible harmful effects to society.
Pacifist/Militarist score: 1
You're a Pacifist. You are angered that the United States thinks it should dominate the world through its military force. You think that the only time war is necessary is when we are in direct danger of being attacked. You also believe the US spends way too much of its money on defense, as we can practically cut it in half and still easily defend ourselves, and use that money to fix all our economic problems.
Overall, you would most likely fit into the category of Democrat
