MAGA Republicans in Congress are holding raising the debt ceiling hostage unless their demands are met and will not consider passing a seperate bill that would involve budget cuts.

Republican lawmakers on Wednesday unveiled their plan to raise the debt ceiling and cut government spending ahead of the looming summer deadline to avert a catastrophic and historic default by the U.S. on its debt obligations

To understand the potential consequences of a U.S. default, it is important to understand what the debt ceiling is and how it works. The debt ceiling is a limit on the amount of money that the U.S. government can borrow to fund its operations. This limit is set by Congress and is designed to prevent the government from spending more money than it takes in. If the debt ceiling is reached, the government cannot borrow any more money, and it is forced to rely on its existing revenues to pay for its expenses. If the debt ceiling is not lifted and the U.S. defaults on its bills, the consequences could be disastrous, both for the U.S. and for the global economy. Not raising the debt ceiling is like maxing out your credit card and then not pay the bill.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the MAGA Republicans have put forward their demands in order to raise the debt ceiling in the bill called the “Limit, Save, Grow, Act” that would lift the ceiling by 1.5 trillion dollars or by the end of March 2024.

The GOP bill limits increases in the federal budget to 1% per year, significantly slower than the rate of inflation and less than recent year-over-year budget increases, particularly since the pandemic.

The Republican plan would nix $80 million in additional IRS funding, including funding for thousands more agents, that was made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act. Republicans passed a bill to eliminate those additional positions before, but the bill died in the Senate, according to ABC News.

The GOP bill imposes stricter work requirements to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding, formerly known as food stamps, for childless adults. The bill also requires each state to collect and submit information to the federal government about the percentage of people enrolled in SNAP who are in unsubsidized employment, as well as the median earning of people who were work-eligible after they leave the program.

The Republicans’ bill would nullify Mr. Biden’s program forgiving student loan debt up to $20,000 per borrower. Under the plan, announced by the president last August, eligible borrowers can have up to $10,000 in student debt wiped clean, while qualifying Pell Grant recipients can have an additional $10,000 forgiven. The program has been on hold as legal challenges have made their way through the courts. Roughly 40 million Americans are eligible for the relief. President Biden extended a pause on federal student loan payments, first put in place by Trump in the early months of the pandemic, through June, according to ABC News.

Republicans now want to rescind key aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act that was signed into law that were designed to combat climate change, including provisions establishing a high-efficiency electric home rebate program and home energy efficiency contractor training grants.

If the debt ceiling is not lifted, the U.S. government will be unable to pay its bills, including interest payments on its debt. This could lead to a default on U.S. debt, which would have significant consequences for the U.S. and global economy.

The financial market would be in turmoil. The U.S. is the largest economy in the world and has the largest financial market. If the U.S. defaults on its debt, it will trigger a massive sell-off in the global financial markets. Investors would be spooked, and they would likely dump their U.S. assets, including U.S. Treasury bonds. This would lead to a sharp increase in interest rates, as investors demand a higher return on their investments to compensate for the increased risk. The stock market would likely crash, and investors would suffer huge losses.

Included in the debt limit package is H.R. 1, the “Lower Energy Costs Act.” The legislation aims to boost American energy production and decrease dependency on foreign oil. The plan seeks to quicken the permitting process for energy and infrastructure projects and increase oil and gas production and sales. It also includes a provision that prohibits the energy secretary from implementing any rules that would “directly or indirectly limit” consumer access to gas kitchen ranges and ovens, according to ABC News.

If the U.S. defaults on its debt, it will likely result in a downgrade of the U.S. credit rating. This would make it more expensive for the government to borrow money in the future, as investors would demand a higher return on their investments to compensate for the increased risk. The downgrade would also have ripple effects throughout the global economy, as other countries and companies that rely on U.S. debt as a benchmark would also see their credit ratings downgraded.

If the debt ceiling is not lifted, the U.S. government would be forced to shut down non-essential services, furlough employees, and suspend payments to contractors and suppliers. This would have a significant impact on the U.S. economy, as businesses and individuals that rely on government services and payments would be affected. For example, Social Security recipients would not receive their checks, and government contractors would not be paid, leading to a ripple effect throughout the economy.

If the U.S. defaults on its debt, it will become more expensive for the government to borrow money in the future. This would have a significant impact on the U.S. economy, as higher borrowing costs would mean that the government would have to pay more to service its debt. This could lead to higher taxes or cuts in government services, which would have a negative impact on economic growth and job creation.

There would be international repercussions. The U.S. is the world’s largest economy and is closely tied to the global economy. If the U.S. defaults on its debt, it will have significant international repercussions. Other countries that hold U.S. debt would suffer losses, and the value of their holdings would decrease. This could lead to a global financial crisis, as investors around the world would suffer losses and become more risk averse. The resulting economic downturn could lead to job losses and reduced economic growth around the world.

There will be political fallout. If the debt ceiling is not lifted, it could have significant political consequences for the U.S. The political fallout of a U.S. default would be severe and could result in a loss of confidence in the government and its ability to manage the country’s finances. The government would likely face a backlash from the public, as well as from other countries and international organizations. This could lead to increased political instability, as the government struggles to regain credibility and regain the trust of its citizens.

Moreover, the failure to raise the debt ceiling could create a constitutional crisis. The government may have to choose which bills to pay and which ones to defer, as it would be impossible to pay all the bills at once. This could lead to a legal battle over the government’s obligations and could ultimately result in a Supreme Court ruling. .

During the Trump administration, the U.S. national debt increased by over $7 trillion, reaching a total of $27.8 trillion by the end of the administration in January 2021.

The Trump administration implemented a tax cut in 2017, which reduced tax rates for individuals and corporations. The tax cut was estimated to increase the national debt by $1.5 trillion over the next ten years, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. The Trump administration argued that the tax cut would stimulate economic growth and create jobs, but critics argued that it would primarily benefit the wealthy and increase income inequality.

In addition to the tax cut, the Trump administration increased government spending, particularly on defense and infrastructure. The administration argued that the increased spending was necessary to improve national security and modernize infrastructure, but critics argued that it would increase the national debt and be unsustainable in the long term.

The consequences of a U.S. default would be severe and far-reaching, both for the U.S. and for the global economy. It would trigger financial market turmoil, result in a credit rating downgrade, lead to a government shutdown, increase borrowing costs, have international repercussions, and result in political fallout. A U.S. default would also have a long-term impact on the U.S. economy, as investors would lose confidence in the government’s ability to manage its finances, leading to reduced investment and economic growth. Therefore, it is imperative that the U.S. government raises the debt ceiling and avoids a default, as failure to do so could have devastating consequences for the U.S. and the world.

This is MAGA Republicans way of “owning the libs!” They will let the American and global economy tank if their demands are not met because they know it would look bad for Biden. I wish they would grow up and act like responsible adults.

This week Federal Judge Mathew Kacsmaryk, the sole federal judge in Amarillo, Texas, ruled to ban the use of the abortion medication Mifepristone. A medication that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for over two decades, and you can thank the Republican Senator from Missouri Josh Hawley and his antiabortion activist wife Erin Hawley for influencing the judge.

Mifepristone was first developed in the 1980s by French pharmaceutical company Roussel Uclaf. It was approved for use in France in 1988 and has since been used in over 60 countries. In the United States, mifepristone was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000 and has been availableto women seeking abortions since then.

Mifepristone is typically used to terminate pregnancies that are less than 10 weeks along. The medication is taken orally in a doctor’s office or clinic and is usually followed by a second medication, misoprostol, which is taken at home, according to the U.S.Food and Drug Administration. The combination of the two medications causes the uterus to contract and expel the contents, similar to a miscarriage.

The use of mifepristone has been shown to be safe and effective in terminating early pregnancies.

According to Planned Parenthood, the medication is over 95% effective when used as directed.

Additionally, mifepristone has been shown to have a lower risk of complications than surgical abortion,particularly for pregnancies that are less than 8 weeks along.

Critics of mifepristone argue that it is a dangerous and unsafe medication that poses a threat to women’s health. However, these claims have been widely debunked by medical experts and scientific research. The use of mifepristone is supported by major medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the World Health Organization and has been categorized as an essential medication.

The hearing to ban the drug was not made public until late the night before to prevent the public from knowing about the hearing so they could prevent protesting outside the Texas courthouse.

Judge Kacsmyryk who ruled to ban the drug is known to strongly oppose a woman’s right to reproductive freedom, same sex and interracial marriages, LGTBQ+ rights, and access to contraceptive.

To put it plainly and simply, the MAGA Republican Party were not satisfied with its immorally stacked U.S. Supreme Court overturning the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson case, that established the legally protected right for women to have an abortion in the United States up to 24 weeks into a pregnancy, which was the law from 1973 until 2022, they want to make all options for women going through an unwanted pregnancy nonexistent.

MAGA Republicans spew hypocrisy when say they are the party of freedom while at the same time taking away the freedom of women to make decisions for themselves about their own bodily autonomy.

MAGA Republicans will force women to keep their pregnancies but once that baby is born, they will turn their back on mothers and their children. MAGA Republicans are vehement “conservatives” in terms of fiscal dollars and cents when it comes to funding any social safety nets for low- and no-income mothers. These MAGA fundamentalists want to dictate to women how they are going to live, and not provide a cent for them to nurse or raise the forced pregnancy.

Last year, nine of MAGA’s darlings in the House of Representatives voted against a bill that aims to facilitate the purchase of baby formula for those on low-income federal support programs like Woman Infant and Children (WIC).

The nine pro-life lawmakers are the best of the best MAGA has to offer. Andy Biggs (Arizona), Lauren Boebert (Colorado), Matt Gaetz (Florida), Louie Gohmert (Texas), Paul Gosar (Arizona), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia), Clay Higgins (Louisiana), Thomas Massie (Kentucky), and Chip Roy (Texas) all voted no on a bill that would provide formula to babies in need.

MAGA Republican Senator Roger Marshall (Kansas) is considering blowing up a bipartisan deal that would extend school meal funding because of the Biden Administration’s policy banning discrimination against LGBTQ+ students who participate in lunch programs that receive the money.

The Republican Party, particularly the MAGA faction, has long been known for their stance on banning abortions for a long time. This hardline stance has been a controversial topic for years, with many people arguing that the right to choose is a fundamental right that should be protected.

However, despite the partys strong opinions on abortion, they have shown a lack of interest in addressing the social and economic factors that can lead to unwanted pregnancies.

Additionally, they have actively sought to cut social safety programs and affordable healthcare, while doing little to address the issue of gun violence in schools. In fact, the party platform has included a commitment to a”human life” amendment to the Constitution. “Human life” is not a concern when it comes to AR-15’s murdering children in schools.

The push to ban abortions has been driven by the belief that life begins at conception and that it is the governments responsibility to protect that life.

Many Republicans argue that abortion is a form of murder and that the government has a moral obligation to protect the unborn. They also believe that banning abortions would lead to a more moral and just society, as it would discourage what they see as immoral behavior.

Despite these beliefs, the Republican Party has shown little interest in addressing the social and economic factors that can lead to unwanted pregnancies. For example, access to affordable birth control can help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, but many Republicans have been hostile to efforts to make contraception more widely available. Similarly, the party has been resistant to expanding social safety net programs like SNAP, which provides food assistance to low-income families.

Without access to these programs, many women may struggle to provide for themselves and their families, making the decision to have an abortion all the more difficult.

Additionally, the Republican Party has been criticized for their lack of interest in providing healthcare for all Americans, which can also impact the decision to have an abortion. Without access to affordable health care, many women may struggle to receive the care they need during pregnancy and childbirth, making the decision to terminate a pregnancy more difficult. Furthermore, the party efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which has expanded access to healthcare for millions of Americans, would have a significant impact on womens health.

Critics of the Republican Party’s stance on abortion argue that banning abortions would violate a woman’s right to choose but also could lead to dangerous and potentially deadly outcomes. Many women who seek abortions do so for reasons such as health complications, financial hardship, or personal circumstances, and may resort to dangerous and unsafe methods if legal abortions are not available. Banning abortions would not eliminate the demand for them, but rather drive the practice underground, making it even more dangerous.

If you do have an unwanted pregnancy and are able to make it and raise your child to the age of entering grade school, MAGA Republicans are once again the most fundamentalist extreme political movement the United States has ever seen, with their criminally negligent dereliction of their elected duties to serve and protect their constituents, especially the most innocent among them, children that are gunned down at their school desk.

The Covenant School shooting in Nashville was just another day in America for the MAGA Republicans who on cue gave their endless “thoughts and prayers” that do nothing to protect children from the up to 45 bullets per minute dispense rate the AR-15 fires at.

MAGA Republicans can scream that they are pro-life all they want but anyone paying attention knows that they are only pro-life while a baby is in a mother’s uterus, but they honestly could care less what happens to that child once it is delivered. The hypocrisy in the MAGA party is undeniable. They really do not care at all if your baby has health care, has food to eat, or is safe in school.

The Brics nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) have been discussing the idea of deplatforming the U.S dollar as the world’s reserve currency for several years now. This concept has gained a lot of attention in recent times, with the increasing tensions between the United States and China, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the global economy.
Chinese President Xi Jinping was warmly hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin during late March in Moscow for the second of three Belt and Road Summits. These three summit meetings of the Chinese and Russian leaders is laying the foundation for the Brics nations currency block. At a joint press conference Xi and Putin both stated, “the Brics nations will bring a new world order to the global financial market.” Vladimir Putin will travel to Beijing sometime during the Summer of 2023 for the third and final Road and Belt Summit.

The US dollar has been the dominant global reserve currency for over 70 years since the Bretton Woods agreement in 1944. The currency is used for international trade, investments, and as a reserve currency by central banks around the world. The US dollar’s dominance in the international financial system has allowed the United States to have an outsized influence on the global economy and international politics.

However, the Brics nations have been challenging the U.S. dollar’s dominance for years. They argue that the U.S. dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency has given the United States too much power over the global financial system, and that it is time for a more balanced and diversified system.

There are several reasons why the Brics nations are considering deplatforming the US dollar.

Firstly, they argue that the U.S. dollar’s dominance has allowed the United States to pursue an aggressive foreign policy that has destabilized many parts of the world. They also point to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, which has led to a long period of low interest rates and easy money, which has created asset bubbles and financial instability.

The Brics nations are also concerned about the U.S. dollar’s vulnerability to geopolitical risk.

The United States has a history of using economic sanctions as a tool of foreign policy, which can have a devastating impact on countries that rely on the U.S. dollar for international trade. For example, the U.S. sanctions on Iran have severely impacted the country’s economy, despite efforts to circumvent the sanctions.

Another factor driving the Brics nations’ push to deplatform the U.S. dollar is the increasing economic and political power of China. China has been aggressively promoting its currency, the yuan, as an alternative to the US dollar. The country has signed currency swap agreements with over 30 countries, allowing them to bypass the US dollar in international trade. China is also investing heavily in its Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to increase trade and economic integration between China and other countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted the risks of relying on a single currency for international trade and finance.

The pandemic has caused significant disruptions to global supply chains and has led to a sharp decline in international trade.
Countries that rely heavily on the U.S. dollar have been particularly vulnerable to these disruptions, as they have struggled to access U.S. dollars to pay for imports and service their debt.

Given these factors, it is not surprising that the Brics nations are looking for alternatives to the US dollar. However, deplatforming the US dollar is not an easy task.

The U.S. dollar’s dominance is deeply entrenched in the global financial system, and any attempt to replace it would require significant coordination and cooperation between countries.

The Brics nations have taken several steps towards deplatforming the U.S. dollar.

For example, they have established the New Development Bank, which provides financing for infrastructure projects in developing countries.

The bank is funded in the currencies of the member countries, rather than the US dollar. The Brics nations have also been promoting the use of their own currencies in international trade, rather than the U.S. dollar.

However, these efforts have been largely symbolic so far. The U.S. dollar remains the dominant. currency in international trade and finance, and it will likely remain so for the foreseeable future. The Brics nations will need to take more concrete steps to deplatform the U.S. dollar if they want to challenge its dominance.

One possible step that the Brics nations could take is to diversify their foreign exchange reserves away from the U.S. dollar.

Many central banks hold a significant amount of US dollar reserves, but diversifying these reserves into other currencies could help reduce their dependence on the U.S. dollar.

This would require the development of deeper and more liquid markets for other currencies, particularly the yuan, which remains a relatively small player in the international financial system.

Another possible step is for the Brics nations to create their own international payment system, similar to the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), which is currently dominated by the U.S. Such a system would allow the Brics nations to bypass the US-dominated financial system and conduct international transactions in their own currencies. This would require significant investment in the development of the necessary infrastructure, but it could help reduce the Brics nations’ dependence on the U.S. dollar.

However, deplatforming the U.S. dollar is not without risks. The US dollar’s dominance has helped to provide stability to the global financial system, and any significant disruption to this system could have far-reaching consequences. It is also unclear whether the Brics nations would be able to coordinate their efforts effectively, given their differing political and economic interests.

Furthermore, any attempt to deplatform the US dollar could lead to a backlash from the United States.

The U.S. government could use economic sanctions or other measures to try to undermine the Brics nations’ efforts to reduce their dependence on the US dollar.

This could lead to further tensions and instability in the global financial system.

The deplatforming of the U.S. dollar by the Brics nations is a complex and challenging issue. While the Brics nations have taken some symbolic steps towards reducing their dependence on the U.S. dollar, any significant attempt to deplatform the currency would require significant coordination and cooperation between countries. It is also unclear whether the benefits of deplatforming the U.S. dollar would outweigh the risks and potential costs.

However, given the changing global economic and political landscape, it is likely that the debate over the future of the international financial system will continue for some time.

It’s almost been a year since I wrote my first editorial story in the NECC Observer, where I touched on gun violence in the United States. On Monday March 27th, 2023, another mass school shooting happened.

I think it’s important to touch back on this subject. This time we are going to focus primarily on school shootings.

The shooting that took place Monday in Nashville Tennessee occurred at the Covenant School, a K through sixth grade private Presbyterian school found in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville.

Three students and three staff were senselessly gunned down and lost their lives, because in America, if you’re under 18 years old you are more likely to be murdered by a gunman than pass away in a car accident. A statistic that has been rising rapidly the last 25 years.

From January 2009 to May 2018 the United States has had a total of 289 school shootings, the entirety of all other countries in the world during the same time had a grand total of 40.

If all gun violence in schools in the USA stopped this moment, it would take the combined other 194 countries in the world seven years and three months to catch up with the United States.

The K through 12 database states the USA saw more shootings on school grounds with more victims wounded or killed in 2022 than any other year.

School shootings in the United States have become all too common over the past few decades. These devastating events have taken the lives of countless innocent students, teachers and staff members, leaving communities shattered and forever changed.

It is time for our society to take a hard look at the underlying causes of these tragedies and to take action to prevent them from occurring in the future.

One of the most shocking aspects of school shootings in the U.S. is their frequency.

According to data compiled by Everytown for Gun Safety, there have been at least 306 school shootings in America since 2013, which averages to nearly one per week. In contrast, many other developed countries have not experienced any school shootings in recent years.

For example, in Japan, where gun ownership is strictly regulated, there have been zero school shootings since at least 2002.

So, what makes the U.S. so different? The answer lies in our unique gun culture and lax gun laws.

Despite widespread public support for common-sense gun control measures like universal background checks and red flag laws, politicians and special interest groups have effectively blocked any meaningful progress on this issue. As a result, it is all too easy for individuals with dangerous intentions to obtain firearms, often legally.

We only need to look at past school shootings to see the devastating consequences of this lack of action.

In 1999, the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado shocked the nation and led to calls for stricter gun control measures. However, little progress was made, and subsequent shootings at Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary School, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, among others, have demonstrated that our society has failed to learn from these tragedies.

The consequences of these shootings go beyond the immediate loss of life and trauma. School shootings also have long-term effects on students’ mental health and academic performance. A study by researchers at Georgia State University found that students who attend schools where a shooting has occurred are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Additionally, students may miss school or have difficulty concentrating in the aftermath of a shooting, leading to poorer academic outcomes.

It is clear that something needs to be done to prevent future school shootings in the U.S.
One solution could be to adopt policies like those in other developed countries that have successfully prevented these tragedies.

For example, Australia implemented strict gun control measures after a mass shooting in 1996, and there have been no mass shootings in the country since. Other countries like Japan, Canada, and the UK have also implemented gun control measures that have led to a dramatic decrease in gun violence.

Another solution could be to invest in mental health resources for students and to create a culture of support and empathy in schools. Many school shooters have had a history of mental health issues or have been victims of bullying or social isolation. By providing students with resources to address these issues and promoting an inclusive school culture, we can help prevent students from turning to violence as a solution.

Lastly, we must prioritize the safety of our students by investing in school security measures such as metal detectors, security cameras, and active shooter drills. While these measures may not prevent all school shootings, they can reduce the likelihood of an attack and provide students and staff with the tools they need to respond quickly and effectively in the event of an emergency.

School shootings in the U.S. are a tragedy that must be addressed. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, we must take action to prevent these events from occurring in the future. By adopting common-sense gun control measures, investing in mental health resources, and prioritizing school safety, we can create a safer and more inclusive learning environment for all students. We owe it to the victims of past school shootings and to future generations to act now.
Thoughts and prayers by our lawmakers are not helping anyone. Lawmakers need to DO SOMETHING! Because the guns our killing our kids.