Just What is the Fiscal Cliff?

via Council on Foreign Relations

Turn on the TV, log into the Internet; whatever one does, they cannot escape the constant stream of 'up to the minute' news about the fiscal cliff. International websites such as MSN even have a disclaimer above their headlines that reads the date and news, for example, December 27, 2012 as of 4:19 PM. This is almost a way of saying that it is the latest news available and is likely to change at any given moment.

The Fiscal Cliff is certainly out there making headlines, but I wonder if everyone actually knows what it is or if it even exists. As seen in the timeline above, the Council on Foreign Relations has laid out what they believe led to the fiscal cliff- a term used describe a bundle of momentous U.S. federal tax increases and spending cuts that are due to take effect at the end of 2012 and early 2013 (CFR). Analysts everyone claim that in order to avoid certain 'deleterious economic effects' Congress and the president should enact legislation concerning the debt ceiling, tax revenue increases, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act.

I wonder if the fiscal cliff really will occur what the government will do to solve or abate it from happening. To what extent could nothing have been done previously because of  lame-duck legislators or a lack of bipartisanship in the United States government? Please leave your comments below.

Plausible Deniability

Fire safety 'precautions', such as this staircase
(via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images)

I was reading an article in the New York Times over the weekend which really opened my eyes to the downfalls of modern day global markets and the current Industrial Revolution. In Ashulia, Bangladesh, the Tazreen Fashions Factory had a horrific fire that killed over 112 people. Similar to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911, what started out as a small flame that could have been contained resulted in an astonishing example of lack of workers' rights and safety.

Going back to the Tazreen fire in Bangladesh, the factory, who mostly employs young men and women, which supplies clothing to many countries around the world, including to the United States company, Walmart, and apparel for the US Armed Forces. After reading the article, which featured "mounds of flammable yarn and fabric illegally stored on the ground floor near electrical generators and iron grilles blocking the windows," I first thought that despite the horrible conditions, they sounded like they were from another time (Yardley).  Didn't the United States and other countries in Europe (such as England) go through an industrial revolution over 200 years ago? Couldn't they have helped companies that they are partnered with go through their industrial 'growing pains'? Instead however, they have decided to deny all association.

According to the article, after the fire, "Walmart, Sears and other retailers made the same startling admission: They say they did not know that Tazreen Fashions was making their clothing" (Yardley). In an effort called, 'plausible deniability', the subject commits wrongdoing yet denies the act of ever considering to or actually implementing. I think these brands are committing this offence and not owning up to their mistake.

Walmart and Sears have since stopped subcontracting work to Tazreen Fashions. Some experts have wondered how a company like Walmart, one of the two biggest buyers in Bangladesh and renowned for its complex global supply system, could have been unaware of the connection. After all, the United States has been through an Industrial Revolution already, and could help their partners work through their struggles, but that would first require the United States brands to acknowledge their association with these new countries.

The DREAM Act- An Update

What is the US's role in the scope
of the whole world?

The Dream Act has been a subject of debate for a long time. What started out as a series of legislation discussed statewide and in National Congress ten years ago to give rights and citizenship to undocumented individuals has become a large group that hopes to expand its goals for the future.

In this week's Huffington Post, an article discussed how the group of 'illegal' immigrants now goes by a platform called 'United We Dream'. They hope that in the future, there will be "comprehensive immigration reform that would help the entire undocumented population, not just those who came to the United States as children," (Foley). The group states that they have been subject to extensive racial profiling and have had to jump through numerous, dangerous and expensive hoops to be considered for citizenship. The perspective legislation would also allow non-American born people to apply for a driver's license, access to health care, safe working conditions and equal protection under the law.

If the United States writes or even passes laws like this, they will be subject to a larger influx of people and the issues that come with them. However, I think the DREAM Act and associated legislation is a positive example of strengthening the economy and culture with new people and fresh ideas. In the same article, 'United We Dream' managing director Cristina Jimenez said that no matter what the United States government decides to do, they are going to have to accept the fact that Latinos are a growing majority in America, and political parties should not be taking this fact lightly. Any fluff legislation, like self-deportation or piecemeal immigration, are not part of the solution. The United States will have to take a bold stance either way and not try an interim solution that may be backless.

How do you think the United States should approach this issue? How does their decision impact the entire world?