Category Archives: National Issues

Is Our Income Tax System Fair?

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The debate over taxes in the United States seems to be ever raging. Some say the system is broken and unfair, and should be abolished. Others think reform is the answer.

No matter what your political leanings, it’s important to understand the issue of income tax and be vocal about the policies your government is enacting in regard to them. Income tax issues affect everyone. The number one way you set yourself up to be abused by government policies is by not paying attention to them in the first place. So today we ask: Is our income tax system fair? Let’s review the facts. Continue reading →

Fiscal Cliff: What The Deal Means for Americans

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You’ve probably heard of the “fiscal cliff” conundrum the U.S. government was facing at the very end of 2012.  Republicans and Democrats were gridlocked for weeks leading up to the deal, with disagreements on both sides as to how to best tackle the issues at hand. Furthermore, Congress waited until the very last minute to pass a deal, nearly pushing the U.S. over the cliff and into economic turmoil.

If the U.S. had gone off the cliff, many predicted the progress we’ve made over the past few years would reverse, and more Americans would have found themselves without work. The deal that was passed offers little consolation when it comes to fixing America’s widening cracks in the social safety net. Here’s a bit more about the deal and what it means for Americans. Continue reading →

How Americans Can Actually Save the U.S. Government Money

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According to a study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, many Americans do not collect unemployment benefits for which they are eligible. In fact, the unclaimed benefits on average are much larger than any overpayments. By not collecting unemployment benefits, Americans are essentially saving the U.S. government money.

Whether or not collecting unemployment benefits is good or bad is obviously based on the individual. However, the fact that Americans aren’t using the resources they are eligible for, despite bad times, generates an even bigger idea: What are some other ways Americans can pull the U.S. government out of a slump by seemingly small acts? Here are a few to note:  Continue reading →

Splitting America into Red & Blue Countries

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The day after President Obama won the election, I heard several Republicans say they had to take a day off because they “felt so sick.” Some even talked of seceding from the union. While they may not have been serious, I find it interesting to envision different futures. What would happen if we split America to form two countries, a red one and a blue one?

Let’s consider this question and see where it takes us. Continue reading →

Is Bipartisanship a Realistic Endeavor?

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We’ve heard the term “bipartisanship” thrown around quite a few times in the recent past. In short, bipartisanship is the act of working across party lines in order to reach a common goal. These goals can be anything from solving climate change, to working on women’s rights, to fixing an economic disaster.

The underlying idea of bipartisanship is simple: two ideas or outlooks are better than one. Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, or Independent, the concept of bipartisanship means  no matter what your party affiliation, you respect the ideas of others and work together. However, this does not always happen.  Continue reading →

Did Sandy Open Our Eyes to Climate Change?

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It’s been two months since Superstorm Sandy hit the east coast of the U.S. Along with the physical and emotional devastation, Sandy left us wondering how a natural disaster could leave such destruction to an area that, historically, has not seen anything like it.

In part due to Sandy, the climate change debate reignited.  Continue reading →

What’s Behind the STEM Jobs Act

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Earlier last month, the House approved the STEM Jobs Act. The act, which would give 55,000 visas to non-citizens, would help the U.S. compete with other countries in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) sectors.

Let’s explore some background on the STEM Jobs Act and why it’s important for America. Continue reading →

Do People Start Caring Less After Election Day?

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It’s been over a month since the presidential election, and by all accounts, Americans seemed to be highly passionate about their respective candidates. The election was this year’s most talked about event on Facebook. President Obama’s Twitter account saw unprecedented traffic, with his victory tweet becoming his most retweeted ever. Outside of social media, U.S. voters believed this election mattered more than most, with seven in 10 reporting the outcome was of more importance than four years ago.

In addition, both sides of the table had dedicated staffs and volunteers pulling for them, some working 14-hour days for months. Donations to each candidate were also high, with almost a billion dollars raised on both sides of the table.  Continue reading →

The Power of Online Petitions

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The beauty of democracy is the power of choice. We can choose to stand behind an issue, or we can stand in opposition. However, what happens when an issue arises that so moves us, we need to take action? How can we change the attitude of the opposing side, or of lawmakers, so our viewpoint prevails? Often, Americans use online petitions to state their wants and lobby for their preferred solution. Continue reading →

The PeopleCount Story, Part 3

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In Part 2 of the PeopleCount story, I told how we made a business plan, formed a partnership, built a first product, and prototyped the website. Next, we incorporated, polished it and got ready for a launch.

The first website was simple text and somewhat long-winded. Although the ideas were sound, the delivery lacked punch and aesthetics. Graphics and brevity are not my strong suits, but one of my board members, Ed, an expert in branding, and my friend Jackie, a graphic designer who designed my business cards, had impressed on me how important these are.

Toward the end of September, I read about a marketing team that could help, and was excited to see they had inexpensive packages for startups, starting with tailoring the messages and website.  We began working together at the beginning of October.

Ed, brainstormed some possible main messages. The marketing team and I chose a tagline that spoke not only of PeopleCount’s mission, but also one that would empower our users to create a difference: Make your Political Opinion Count! Continue reading →