NPR Project

1. NPR Project By: Maria Juarez and Osmin Guevara

2. What economic principles and what government policies are discussed in this article and what do they mean?

3. Unemployed Americans • Unemployment Americans can also be call the U-6 and the broader unemployment. Its stated that 22 million Americans are unemployed because of the lack of services needed. Over the years, the unemployment rate would increase or decrease. -October 2006, 11.8 million people were unemployed. -January 2010, 28 million people were unemployed -April 2012, 22 million people are unemployed. Article 1.

4. 7. Skills and knowledge influence income. There are many factors for being unemployed, and each person who’s unemployed affect the economy. For example, if the knowledge of a person is low, chances of a person finding a suitable jobs will be difficult. Also, if the person, skills are low, sustaining a job that he cannot work in will be difficult. The government would like for every person to have a job because the more people working, the best the economy would be so it could succeed and grow. – Scarcity, choice, personal responsibility, Human capital, Government failure, unemployment.

5. GOP plan protects Pentagon, cuts social programs Due to the budget cut occurring many changes have been made. Teachers being fired, college expensive has increased and importantly the military is going to be affected next year. A key house committee voted on Monday to cut food aid, health care, and social services. They believe reducing this 3 factors, will denied the incoming budget and restore a portion of the money to the military. Article 2.

6. 2. Every choice has a cost. • Money takes a huge part to keep a strong military and the coast of a military is very expensive. The military is not something we can choose to have or not but needed to fight for our country when needed. *Materials needed… - Weapons, workers, technology, shelter, health care, food, training, transportation etc. Weapons are needed to fight and keep a strong military Health care is very important for injure, or sick soldiers. If the military wishes to have a strong army, with healthy soldiers, then they must have a strong health care which can heal almost any injure. Social services are need in the military if they want to get stronger, and stay active. – Scarcity, choices, alternatives, resources, advantages, disadvantages, unintended consequences.

7. Americans Remain Split On Same-Sex Marriage • Vice President Biden's comment that heis "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex marriage and has nothing against the same-sex. Biden’s comment has made this problem come back to the news. 52% of Americans believe that same-sex marriage should be legal, and the other 48% believe that same-sex marriage should not be legalize. • Article 3

8. Benefit/cost analysis is useful. • There are many ideas why legalizing “same-sex” is good or bad. Bad 1. influence children to like their same sex and thinking its okay. 2. Decrease the population 3. Give the country a bad image Between In between all of this, at the end no group will end up satisfied with the decision of legalizing or illegalizing Same-Sex marriage. With such a high % of people on both sides, it will be better to attract more. Good 1. It will show others, the country is a “Free Country”. 2. Population can maintain stable, without growing or declining rate. – choice, goals, resources, public choice.

9. Minnesota House passes bonding bill • The Minnesota house has sign off a $496 million bounding bill that would help with construction and preservation across the state. It pass by 99-32 votes. • The money would help reconstruct places that have been flooded, and other such as buildings, bridges and road construction. • Article 4

10. 1. People Choose • People choose if they wanted to give $496 for construction, management, and preservation. – Scarcity, choice, personal responsibility, opportunity cost, goals, resources, alternatives, advantages, disadvantages,

11. In Fight Over Obama Health Law, a Front in Minnesota • Obama and the democrats are seeking to make Health Insurance more affordable, convenient, and reliablefor those with low income. • Americans, don’t want anything to do with “Obama care”. And since the republicans own both houses for the first time in 38 years, they are neglecting this. • http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/health/policy/in-fight-over-obama-health-law-a-front-in-minnesota.html?google_editors_picks=true • Article 5

12. 9. Gov policies have benefits and costs. If “Obama care” were to pass, it would help countless of Americans be able to gather health care, dentist care, and lower the prices of various operations & procedures. – opportunity cost, alternatives, choice, opportunity cost, goals, advantages, prices, efficiency.

13. Stung by gas prices, Obama seeks new oil market crackdown • Obama demanded to increase prices on civil and criminal penalties, as well as companies involve in manipulative practices. • Republicans stated that this acts will not help the gas lower its price. • Andrew Holland, an energy policy analyst at the American Security Project, a Washington think-tank stated that neither the democrats nor the republicans are giving good ideas to lower its price. • Article 6

14. 8. Monetary and fiscal policies affect people’s choices. Due to the high price on gasoline, many “Gas consumers” would prefer to buy a hybrid car, or walk, use bicycle, etc. If the gas price keeps going up, people will have no other choice but to use public buses, and/or sell their cars. – scarcity, alternatives, choice,

15. California budget hole deepens to $16 billion: governor • California stated that they owed 9.2 billion dollars in January 2012, but just last Sunday Brown stated that California will be owing not only 9.2 billion but 16 billion. This was due to weak tax revenue, and slow progress in cutting spending. • Article 7

16. 8. Monetary and fiscal policies affect people’s choices. Many Californians will have in mind, to leave the state because of the crisis it is facing. The prices will make people leave the country, making the country go into a bigger depression. – Alternatives, choice, personal responsibility, goals, disadvantages, efficiency, supply, gov failure.

17. Romney seeks evangelical votes; opposes gay marriage • “Marriage is a relationship between 1 man and 1 woman. When Obama said he supported same-sex marriage, many of its voters decided to back up Romney instead. The crowd then shouted “Beat Obama” • Although many didn’t agree with Romney. Romney would need Christians group’s votes that are against Obama and his “Gay/Lesbian Marriage”. • Article 8

18. 2.Every choice has a cost. Romney said that he is opposed to “same-sex marriage” if by any chance, he had people that wanted same-sex marriage, he is going to loose them. They will prefer to go with Obama who supports same-sex marriage. – Alternatives, choice, personal responsibility, opportunity cost, public choice, competition, demand, unintended consequences.