http://netindian.in/news/2013/12/16/00027130/indias-annual-inflation-rate-rises-752-november-2013

 India's annual inflation rate rises to 7.52% in November 2013

This article talks about inflation rate and how prices change in India. Many good and services prices have gone up, but some goods and services have gone down. People now have to pay more compared to what they had to before inflation. People don't have enough money to purchase what they need/want which hurts the economy. This is the fifth consecutive month that inflation rate increased; it might continue to go up. India’s economy is hurt because India has to pay more for imports. India Rupee’s value isn’t that high comparing to other countries’ currency values. India had to fly tons of gold to Europe to get an emergency loan a few months ago. As we can see, India’s economy is collapsing quite quickly. At this rate, India might even have to revalue the Rupee.

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/On-Retirement/2013/11/26/how-inflation-affects-your-financial-future

How inflation affect your financial future

This article talks about inflation and prices in the next 30 years. It sounds pretty scary to me, to be honest. I’d never thought that prices could go up that high in the next 30 years. Assuming that inflation occurs in the next 30 year, many people will suffer. Prices would be so high, but will our incomes keep up with inflation? Retirees would be the ones who suffer the most from inflation, because they have fixed income.  Now, we can import goods from countries at a lower cost because our money’s value greater than some of the countries; for instance, Vietnam speaking in term of currency. Our economy would be hurt if we have to import goods at a much high cost because the value of our money is getting lower. There could be some day that many countries would stop exporting goods to the U.S. because of inflation. While inflation increases 500 or 600 percent at a time, our incomes only increase by a few percent. There’s no guarantee that we can keep up with inflation. On the other hand, we can’t be sure if inflation will occur.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/11/05/its-time-to-start-hoping-for-more-inflation

It's time to start hopping for more inflation

This article talks about how inflation helps boost the economy. Deflation can cause higher unemployment. In theory, I agree with this article, but looking at the economy right now, I don’t think we should hope for more inflation. Prices increased a lot in the past years, but incomes barely increase at all. We’re already making less money and have to pay more to get something that we could get at a lower price before. Things are already too expensive now, why ask for more inflation when there will be people suffering from it? What will people with fixed income going to do when they can’t afford their living? We shouldn't be too greedy.

Senate Democrats back automatic debt limit hikes

It is bad enough when the debt ceiling was lifted. Now, the government wants to have an automatic debt ceiling. They want the ceiling to go up automatically when they are borrowing more money. Unlike before, they will stop when they hit the limit and try to lift the ceiling. Having an automatic debt ceiling is a horrible idea because there is not an actual limit. The limit is supposed to prevent our nation from borrowing too much money. Without an actual limit on debt, our government would not refrain from borrowing money.

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2013/10/29/senate-democrats-back-automatic-debt-limit-hikes

Growing the Debt: US resumes $1.6B in aid to Pakistan

I just can't believe this! The debt ceiling was just lifted and the amount of debt is going up every day. I think it is not fair for us, because U.S. citizens are working hard and paying taxes to the government, but our government is spending on foreign aids. We are not getting much out of Pakistan, so why are we wasting our money? Pakistanis don't work for us and they don't pay taxes to the government. It is not much different from going to a restaurant and ask the employees to let you eat for free. I understand building relationships with other countries is good, but we also have to think about our citizens.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/21/growing-debt-us-resumes-16b-in-aid-to-pakistan/

Washington is already $300B over US debt limit

This article is similar to the other article, but we get some specific numbers here. The amount of debt per capita has tripled to $148,629 if we only count those who pay taxes. Otherwise, the amount of debt is $53,715 per U.S. citizen. According to the article, there isn't a debt limit yet. So the federal government can borrow as much they want . I don't think it's a good thing and that we should set a debt limit. On the second thought, it would not really make a difference because they can just eliminate the debt limit again!

http://nypost.com/2013/10/18/washington-is-already-300b-over-us-debt-limit/

US debt spikes to $17T after debt ceiling lifted

How did we manage to get from $16.747 trillion to $17.076 trillion in such a short time period? It is said that the reason is since May, the Treasury has been forced to use extraordinary measures such as deferring certain payments to avoid hitting the debt ceiling. So the Treasury was trying to avoid hitting the debt ceiling but in the end, the debt ceiling was lifted. As soon as it was lifted, we owe more money!!! Then the Treasury will try to do the same thing over again. Before we know, the debt ceiling will be lifted again and again. We are just walking in circle and owe more money. This is just ridiculous! Now, the Republicans are playing the blame game on President Obama and his Obamacare instead of solving the problem!

 

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/329385-us-debt-spikes-to-17-trillion-after-ceiling-lifted

 China's environment: An economic death sentence

http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2013/01/28/china-environment-economic-fallout/

The Chinese government should put the economic growth and political concern to one side. China needs to concentrate on saving and improving the environment. The article above says that 700,000 people die a year because of the poisonous air. China should try to save its people first. If all the workers die now, China will have no labor force, and they won't earn anything. So, why not try to save the people? China will continue to grow as long as there are human resources. The government should think farther ahead rather than concentrating on getting the benefit in front of them. The government can spend money cleaning up the environment and save the workers. It's true that China will be spending a lot of money on the environment, but it can gain more benefit later on. Workers need to be in good health conditions to work. This issue puts Chinese workers' life on the line. If the government doesn't take action soon, this problem could become a political problem.

America's greenest  airlines

http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2013/09/airline-fuel-efficiency?zid=313&ah=fe2aac0b11adef572d67aed9273b6e55

Burning less fuel is better for the environment, and it also increases the Airline's profit. An airline can make more money if it improves its technology that burns less fuel. It would also reduce the damage of the environment. Gases insulate the planet and could lead to big changed in earth's climate. It would be awesome if we can use fuel efficiently. We can save money and keep the earth green; we also save natural resources. It takes years for fuel to form; it's considered scare. With that being said, fuel companies would not be happy. They would be losing profit because they would be selling less fuel. The might try to rise the prices or do something in order to increase their profit.

 Trees of knowledge

http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21585096-how-brazil-using-education-technology-and-politics-save-its-rainforest-trees?zid=313&ah=fe2aac0b11adef572d67aed9273b6e55

Saving the rainforest is an awesome thing to do. I believe that trees are important to humans in producing oxygen and keep the air clean. Trees also keep the soil from being washed away during flood or natural disasters. Trees are what made the Earth the Green Planet. Seeing the deforestation decreasing is comforting. We also use trees in producing goods; for instance, paper is the first good we think of when talking about trees. I think having more trees at a time like this would make a big difference because they can help clean the polluted environment. There are tons of people who want to improve the environment but coming up with something is sometimes out of reach. After reading this article, I think people can put their hands together and clean the environment up by planting more trees and keep the planet green. Scientists should invent more technology to help reduce deforestation.

Smother my neighbor

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2013/09/interstate-pollution?zid=313&ah=fe2aac0b11adef572d67aed9273b6e55

I like the idea of cleaning and reducing emissions that could travel long distance and harm people from other states. Everyone likes to live in a clean environment but most people are damaging the environment without knowing. Companies often put their own benefits over the environment. I'm sure to a company profit comes first. Most of them would rather be making money than spending money cleaning the environment. When companies refuse to help clean the environment, the state governments would have to step in but would they really try to work it out? States get money from tax which is paid by companies. The country government can't control every single state or tell them what to do if they don't show the consequences of the actions. If we reduce the pollution then we don't have to spend as much to clean it up but for those companies that would be a bad idea. Now, they would have to try to reduce the pollution which can cause the ability to produce goods and services. Then deflation would occur and everyone would suffer. I would rather pay a little more to buy goods and services than paying thousands of dollars for hospital bills if I catch some kind of disease from the pollution. I think the companies and states should put another thought into this because for people who get healthcare from the government, the states pay the cost for them.