Encouragement in Economic Hardship
The Wall Street Journal wrote: "The U.S. government spends while it can"; and that "federal outlays will reach $3.72 trillion in 2010." USA Today said that our planned deficit for 2010 of almost $1.6 trillion is "a recipe for financial disaster." The A.P. reported that the "number of newly laid-off workers filing initial claims for jobless benefits rose unexpectedly" by the end of January. CNN Money revealed that "Social Security will be $28 billion in the hole" in 2010. But even though the U.S. economic outlook is devastating, we would like to give you hope and encouragement on this program.
Current Events
This Week in the News
The state of the U.S. economy appears to be hopeless. No recovery is in sight, nor should we expect any substantial improvement. Instead, we are told that the latest U.S. budget is "a recipe for financial disaster" and that America's debt crisis can be associated with Third World countries.
The recent Afghan conference was a total and complete failure, and it is interesting how everything seems to work against the USA. Brussels is upset with Washington, and Europe is becoming painfully aware that it must do more to achieve influential and powerful unification. Tensions between the USA and Iran are heightening, in spite of empty words and "promises" from the Iranian government, and mixed signals from Washington show an ongoing policy of glaring inconsistencies and indecisiveness.
While Barack Obama's mentor goes public with his criticism of the President's performance, Republican challenger Scott Brown continues to make controversial remarks in an effort to distance himself from the Republican GOP, and Germans become increasingly dissatisfied with their current government.
In Haiti, survivors thank their voodoo gods and goddesses for protection, as, according to a Haitian saying, "people here are '60 per cent Catholic, 40 per cent Protestant and 100 per cent voodoo." At the same time, the U.S. Air Force "accommodates" cadets by setting aside an outdoor worship area for Pagans, Wiccans, Druids and other Earth-centered believers.
While the pope criticizes...
Economy on Road to Recovery?
The Associated Press reported on January 29:
"The economy boomed at the end of 2009, growing at the fastest rate in more than six years. Now if only it could keep it up. The economy expanded at an annual rate of 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter, the second straight quarter of growth. But analysts...
The U.S. Budget -- "A Recipe for Financial Disaster"
USA Today wrote on February 2:
"Since taking office last year, President Obama has been preaching fiscal restraint while practicing something else. Nothing shows this more than the budget he released Monday. His administration is planning a deficit for this year of almost $1.6 trillion.
"......
Unemployment on the Rise
The Associated Press wrote on February 4:
"The number of newly laid-off workers filing initial claims for jobless benefits rose unexpectedly last week, evidence that layoffs are continuing and jobs remain scarce. The rise is the fourth in the past five weeks. Most economists hoped that claims...
The Afghan Conference--Unrealistic and Doomed to Failure
Der Spiegel Online wrote on January 29:
"The Afghanistan conference on Thursday ended with a long list of plans and promises. But how realistic is NATO success in the war-torn country?... Still, will the conference really make much of a difference in Afghanistan? German papers on Friday aren't...
Everything Seems to Work Against the USA
The Times wrote on February 1:
"President Karzai announced a timetable for the first round of peace talks with the Taleban yesterday as US troops admitted that they may have bombed an Afghan army base by mistake... Speaking in Kabul for the first time since he returned from last week’s London...
Tensions Between USA and Iran Heighten Dramatically
The Guardian wrote on January 31:
"Tension between the US and Iran heightened dramatically today with the disclosure that Barack Obama is deploying a missile shield to protect American allies in the Gulf from attack by Tehran. The US is dispatching Patriot defensive missiles to four countries...
Iran Plays Cat and Mouse with the West
The Times wrote on February 4:
"President Ahmadinejad demonstrated yesterday that he has become a master of playing cat and mouse with the West — and this time the mouse was real. Once again, the Iranian leader offered a last-minute concession to head off the West’s drive for new sanctions against...
The U.S. Budget -- "Spend-While-You-Can"
The Wall Street Journal wrote on February 2:
"One rule of budget reporting is to watch what the politicians are spending this year, not the frugality they promise down the road. By that measure, the budget that President Obama released yesterday for fiscal 2011 is one of the greatest spend-while-you-can...
U.S. Budget Outlook "Bleak"
MoneyNews.com reported on January 29:
"Global equities are "vulnerable to correction" after rallying from their March lows and as governments around the world withdraw stimulus measures, says investor Jim Rogers.
"'We're overdue for a correction,' Rogers says... 'We have huge amounts...
Huge Bailout for Social Security?
CNNMoney wrote on February 4:
"... another huge bailout is starting, this time for the Social Security system. A report from the Congressional Budget Office shows that for the first time in 25 years, Social Security is taking in less in taxes than it is spending on benefits. Instead of helping...
The Difficult War in Afghanistan
AFP wrote on January 31:
"To force the Taliban leadership to the negotiating table... US military officials have said there needs to be greater success on the battlefield -- and this is where the Marines come in. But the challenges on the ground are immense. Fields are littered with improvised...
Brussels Disgruntled--Obama to Skip EU-US Summit
Deutsche Welle reported on February 2:
"Brussels is disgruntled by US President Barack Obama's decision not to attend the EU-US summit in May. Washington, however, insists the move is not meant as a snub against Brussels... Obama is increasingly facing challenges implementing his domestic reform...
Washington's and Iran's Mixed Signals
The Financial Times wrote on February 2:
"On a day when Washington sought to make sense of favourable comments from Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, president of Iran, about a compromise previously spurned by Tehran, Dennis Blair, US national intelligence director, said the final decision about nuclear...
Former Mentor Highly Critical of Obama
The Times wrote on February 1:
"President Obama’s self-confidence borders on complacency. He is ill served by senior staff, especially his Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel. He does not appear to be learning on the job as he did when campaigning for the White House. His Administration is too deferential...
