Critical Thinking 2

For this assignment I chose to compare an article from MSNBC.COM with an article from FOXNEWS.COM both articles deal with Gov. Perry's tax plan.

Perry’s Flat Tax Plan Seeks Major Tax, Spending Overhaul
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10/25/perrys-flat-tax-plan-seeks-major-tax-spending-overhaul/#ixzz1bqwtfQMs

and

Perry pitches his 20-20 optional flat-tax economic plan

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/25/8481131-perry-pitches-his-20-20-optional-flat-tax-economic-plan

 

Firstly, without reading anything MSNBC published a much smaller article than FOXNEWS did. Both sources give the basic information of Perry's proposal. Both articles also compare Perry's plan with the other GOP candidates, FOXNEWS however goes on to include a comment made by the Obama campaign. The MSNBC site promotes liberal or leftist politics and appears to cover the article because they have to. Where as the FOXNEWS site promotes conservative or rightist politics and because of this, Fox felt the need to include the inflamatory comment made by the Obama campaign. The nature and relevence of this article require that all news sources run the story, however, how much space and what is included in the article can tell an educated reader alot about the source of the article. Everybody has a bias, whether its across political party lines, or preparing to try to swing one primary candidate or another into a better light all come into play in the publishing of any article.

Mangano's Credibility

Nassau County is facing a $310 million budget gap. County Executive Mangano is threatening to lay off hundreds of county workers to close this gap. In response to this threat thousands of unionized county workers gathered outside the County Executive's office in mineola on Monday October 17th. The workers' rallied in protest to how Mangano handles the county's finances.
Mangano claims that the union bosses are refusing to negotiate their contracts. What the County Executive is refusing to admit is that many of these contracts are in effect for years to come. The Police Officers' contract is in effect until 2015, yet their salaries were already frozen this past January. Now Mangano is pushing for legislation to void the current contract and force his terms on the Cops here mid-contract. What are Mangano's terms? 1-Open contract until the county is out of fiscal trouble; 2-Close 2 precincts; 3-Eliminate minimum manning (which means that there would be no minimum amount of Cops on duty at any time); 4-Restructure salaries; 5- Reduce vacation days; 6-Reduce sick days; 7-Contibute 25% to all insurance this year; 8-Force Cops to work extra days without pay. During their last contract negotiations under Suozzi, the PBA already conceded approximately $15,000.00 per year, costing them their uniform allowance, several vacation days, and 2 weeks pay.
It seems that Mangano is trying to tighten the belt all around the county, but that is not the case. The county has recently spent $100 million on ball fields, Mangano continues to hold an extravagent car show, and he has created many unnecessary $100 thousand per year patronage jobs.

Blog 2

Everybody suffers through out their life. Some more than others. I am one of the many who battle  depression. Through out my life,
I have experienced long recurring periods of nearly debillitating depression. For me, these depressive periods started at a young age. They have no rhyme or reason and nothing in particular brings them on, but when I fall into one it lasts weeks to months. I have come to accept these melancholy periods as part of my life. I do my best to hold my depression at bay and to carry on pretending that everything is ok, but sometimes it is simply not possible. There are too many times that I feel helpless, worthless, and insignificant. At times the feelings are even much darker then those. No matter what, nothing seems to be able to prevent or end these terrifying and crippling periods of self-loathing and despair. I know there are medications available to treat depression, but I know that these lows do eventually end. With that in mind I choose to experience and endure my natural and real feelings. I don't ever want my hapiness  to rely on a drug. It is my opinion that it is better to go through the ups and downs of my depression.

CRITICAL THINKING

You are investigating a story about illegal dumping near an elementary school.  A person comes up to you and offers to provide you with documents that will definitively prove that the dumping has been going on, who is responsible, and the toxins that have been dumped.  This is obviously a huge story. Only catch is, the individual wants you to pay him for those documents.

Question:  Are you willing to pay for the information?  Support your answer with substantive arguments.



             For me, the answer is without hesitation no. This is the type of situation that I feel is not negotiable. I would never pay anyone for information. No matter how huge a story is, it can be broken without buying information. After all, Woodward and Bernstein were able to take down President Nixon without buying information. Besides my ethical reservations about paying a source, I feel that any person who needs to make a financial gain to release information is not a reliable and trustworthy individual. Also, the documents could be falsified, and the same offer can be made to other reporters as well. In my heart and mind some things are simply black and white.