Federal Reserve Blog

The Federal Reserve is a bad thing. Here is why: The Federal Reserve is a central bank that implements monetary policy. Monetary policy is how the Federal Reaerve creates and destroys money and the rate at which it is put into the system. The Federal Reserve controls inflation and deflation to help stabilize the economy. Initially, the Federal Reserve seems like a beneficial thing for the United States. This is not the case. The Federal Reserve has hindered the United States for all generations to come. Almost 200 years has passed after one of our founding fathers warned us against it. Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd president of the United States and one of this nation's founding fathers said this in 1816;"To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt." Jefferson knew that establishing a central bank would create these kinds of problems. The Federal Reaerve piles on the debt by printing money through the monetary policy, charges interest after the government loans it from the Reserve, which is why the government has to raise and lower taxes. This gives ghe Federal Reserve complete control over all issues dealing with money in the United States. Jefferson went on to say that it is vital that as each generation passes, they pay their debt off to ensure that the following generations are initially debt free. Because the Federal Reserve has cashed us into perpetual debt, paying it off is nearly impossible as the government's debt grows past $18 trillion this year. The last thing Jefferson warned us about is if we let the Federal Reserve, or any central bank for that matter, control the economy and the money it is fueled by, "(our) children will wake up homeless on the continent their Fathers conquered". The essential message that Jefferson is trying to say that if a central bank controls the flow of currency, the Federal Reserve will bound us by debt, depriving the citizens of the United States of their freedom. It is clear that the Federal Reserve does not operate to serve the public, but private corporations. This is why people believe corporations run the United States, a type of anti-capitalism. The Government needed to find a way to pay these private interests back. This is how the IRS was formed. The taxes put in place by the Governemnt are being payed to the IRS, a system put into place to pay back the Federal Reserve. They work hand in hand to increase inflation which allows the IRS to obtain more money. This is why the Federal Reserve needs to be stopped. In 1963 JFK signed the executive order 1110 to try and dismantle the Federal Reserve by allowing the government to print money. Six months later President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Texas. Though a conspiracy, it does raise some eyebrows about the Federal Reserve, especially because Lyndon B. Johnson threw out the executive order and no President since John F. Kennedy. This may be partly due to the fact that the Federal Reseve lends out derivatives so "exotic" the not even the congressmen trying to put restrictions on them understand what they are dealing with (Forbes.com). This is a method of the Federal Reserve to continue its rouse over the American people and more. Finally, the Federal Reserve must be ended because it hurts the middle-class the most because of its inflation, which is why most people in the middle class stay there (Freedomworks.com). Most information taken from the Exposing the Federal Reserve YouTube Video from class http://www.freedomworks.org/content/top-10-reasons-end-federal-reserve http://www.forbes.com/sites/billfrezza/2013/05/07/how-the-federal-reserve-became-historys-biggest-bad-bank/

The Underground Economy

The underground economy is a hidden, in the shadows economy composed of those who can't finda full-time job. These people working in the underground economy are desperate for money, which is why they opt into these illegal fraudulent working conditions. Since workers are payed under the table they don't have to report their income, therefore they do not have to pay taxes. There are pros and cons of the underground economy. The underground economy nettted roughly $2 trillion last year. This means $2 trillion is left untaxed with nothing going to the government. Also, the workers a part of this underground economy are not receiving social security or health benefits. The only pros of the underground economy are that it is fairly profitable, evident by the two trillion it netted last year, but also because it is another outlet for minimum wage workers to snag another job. Also, it is beneficial for the owners of the establishment because it is cheaper for them. Though both the pros and cons entail illegal activity.

Spoils vs. Merit

The federal bureaucracy, since the Pendleton act passed after the assassination of President Garfield, put into place a merit based system of election for offices in the government. This act requires potential office members to take a test to make sure they are actually qualified to take an exam to prove their merit. This was not always the case. During the early stages of our nation, Presidents took advantage of the spoils system. The victor did indeed reap the benefits, for they usually appointed members of their own party, friends, or relatives to office instead of those who were the most qualified. For example, when Washington was president, he appointed mostly federalists to office. When Jefferson took over, he dismissed many of the federalists in exchange for members of his respective party. This system of patronage assured people office jobs so long as the president had their support down the road. Jackson argued that the spoils system "brought a rotation" into the government, however, this rotation often featured corruption and was not productive. The assassination of President Garfield prompted the institution of the Merit System. There are certainly examples of the spoils system today. President Obama has dished out 47 administration jobs to those who raised a significant amount of money for his election(s). Although the spoils system is still alive today, it is not as bad as it was back in the late 18th-early 19th centuries. Sources: http://www.thewire.com/national/2012/03/obama-likes-spoils-system-much-any-president/49661/

Cell Phone Blog I believe that police should not be able to search one's phone without a warrant because it is an invasion of privacy. Just as police are not allowed to search one's house or car, the cell phone is a possession which properties solely belong to it's owner. Police should not be able to search the cell phone whenever they want because it is a clear disturbance to someone's privacy.The article stated that the Supreme Court's decision on the case of David Riley is an example of how the Supreme Court is trying to balance the antique properties of the constitution with the issues of modern day and the technology that has come with it (Article). This is true, the Supreme Court's role is to interpret the constitution, and with the constitution getting newer and the world everchanging, it is becoming difficult for them to make decisions like this. The article also raised the question about students and if they should be punished for discrediting their teachers on Facebook (Article). The answer to this question is no. The Internet is the most free thing in the world, a place where people can openly voice their opinions. Punishing students would be a violation of freedom of speech, which goes against the constitution. The Internet should be governed using the laisez-fairs method. Lastly,the article discusses how people have the right to tell authorities no if they ask you to pass up your house, car, phone, or anything for search (Article). This is just another testament as to why the government must have a warrant to search your phone.