Social Insecurity

1. As the "baby boomers" prepare to retire, the Social Security Program will soon be spending more money than it takes in, and our generation will be paying taxes for Social Security that we will never even get the benefits from. The Social Security Program is going bankrupt. This needs to be fixed. President Bush proposed having Americans direct their Social Security payroll contributions to private investment accounts, or Privatization of the system and cutting benefits for everyone but the Americans who are truly in need, however others are not willing to take those drastic measures. Some think that the Social Security program currently runs a surplus and satisfies many people. On the others think that Social Security can be saved by raising the cap on earning that can be taxed for Social Security(90,000 currently) and raising the retirement age over time.

2. I believe that the Americans should direct their Social Security payroll contributions to private investment accounts. With Private Investment accounts or personal retirement accounts, people would be guaranteed that they would receive the money that they invested when they retire . "Those beneficiaries whose PRAs have a higher return can share in that return, which reduces the burden on the SSI fund, and the principal balance is fully inheritable", says Alexander. I also think that some of the Social Security benefits should be cut from the people that don't need it. There are many wealthy people that don't need Social Security and that can live just fine without it. This could be a step in trying to save some of the Social Security money for our generation. I also think that our generation shouldn't depend on government alone to give us Social Security. It is not guarenteed to be there for us. We need to start investing our money now so that we can retire at a decent age with enough money without relieing on government decisions.

Article link:
http://patriotpost.us/alexander/2005/02/11/what-social-security-crisis

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Issue #1 War Dollars- http://felicia01.blogspot.com/2010/02/issue-1-war-dollars_18.html

Issue #2 Spending What We Can Afford- http://mayaseverson.blogspot.com/2010/02/issue-2-spendin-what-we-can-afford.html

In women's hockey, domination is cause for concern

As the Canadian and U.S. women' s hockey team dominate the Winter Olympic games with scores like 18-0, 10-1, 13-1, people are concerned that women's hockey will soon no longer exist as an Olympic sport. There reasoning for this; why should national hockey teams compete with each other if two teams continue to dominate the games. The U.S. and Canada are so far ahead and much more advanced than the other countries and also have many more player to choose from. Hockey journalists are concerned that the other nations will never catch up to the level that the U.S. and Canada play at. Despite the blowouts, U.S. coach Mark Johnson says that they are just living the Olympic dream. Canadian coach Melody Davidson said, "We didn't come here to put on a second-class show. We came here to play our best."

I think that the U.S. and Canadian teams are major powerhouses, and will probably always dominate the Olympics, but I think that over time, the other nations will catch up as their girls' programs develop. I don't think that they should take womens hockey out of the Olympics because womens hockey has been growing and I think that the other nations will catch on and really try to advance their programs by playing year round and having elite leagues so that they can develop good players to represent their counry. I could see womens hockey being taken out for a few Winter Olympics, but then I think that they would just put it back in after other countries developed more, but I think there is really no point of them taking it out.

U.S. team members celebrate a goal during a preliminary game.

Can Olympic skiing be made safer?

Although downhill skiing may be entertaining to watch at the Olympics, the sport is actually very dangerous and has caused many injuries. It has even caused death to 2009 downhill champ Canadian John Kucera and French slalom star Jean-Baptiste Grange. With the newest technology in ski gear, the racers have been able to go faster that ever before, causing even more injuries. The International Ski Federation is trying to make downhill skiing safer by making smaller jumps and new gates with flags that rip way upon contact.

I think that it is good that the International Ski Federation is trying to make downhill skiing a little safer to try and prevent more injuries and deaths. I think that they shouldn't change too much about it because it would take away from the sport dramatically. Obviously the athletes that compete in this sport know that it is super dangerous, and yet they are still willing to sacrifice their bodies for the sport. If the athletes did not want to risk injury, then they would not participate in the sport. Therefore, I think that it is okay to make some minor changes in the sport of downhill skiing so that not as many injuries happen that could cost someone their whole season, but I think it is important that some of the same traditions of downhill skiing should stay in tact so that it is still enjoyable for the world to watch at the Olympics.


Lindsey Vonn crashes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Giant Slalom in December.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/02/15/skiing.safer/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+(RSS%3A+Top+Stories)