Upcoming Events

Queens County Young Democrats will be having their November meeting tomorrow the 16th at Mezzo Mezzo in Astoria.  There will be light refreshments served and we’ll be recapping the elections, talking about healthcare reform and more!  If you come please bring a canned good to go to a local food pantry for the holiday season.  If you’re interested in going please contact me (via Facebook) and I’ll make sure you get there.  Mezzo Mezzo is at  31-29 Ditmars Blvd and the meeting starts at 7pm.

Our Grant’s Tomb visit is scheduled for this Saturday, stay tuned for more details in the next few days.

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St. John’s Alumni Assistance Program

(New York) – St. John’s University recently launched, without much fanfare, a new program aimed at helping its alumni. The program is aimed an any alumnus from the University who has been laid off in the last six months. The program will allow all alumni to attend graduate school at discounted rate of 50%.

This programed is aimed at alumni who are hurting during this economic recession and allowing them a chance to reevaluate their career path. The law school however is not included in the package. The program is set to debut in Spring 2009 and last through the fall after which it will be reevaluated. Once in the program, one will have two years of the discount rate.

Gov. Paterson Unveils 2009 NY Budget

Recently, NY Gov. David Paterson unveiled his 2009 Budget Proposal.

From the Daily News:

Trying to close a $15.4 billion budget gap, Paterson called for 88 new fees and a host of other taxes, including an “iPod tax” that taxes the sale of downloaded music and other “digitally delivered entertainment services.”…Movie tickets, taxi rides, soda, beer, wine, cigars and massages would be taxed under Paterson’s proposal. It also extends sales taxes to cable and satellite TV services and removes the tax exemption for clothes costing less than $110.

In these hard times it is obvious that the Governor would need to increase taxes to balance the state budget. In a state like New York, home to one of the most populous and active cities in the world, balancing the budget is no easy task.  However; is it really necessary to be taxing movie tickets and taxi rides?

NY Gov. David Paterson announces 2009 budget

It seems that a much better alternative would be to tax things that are bad for people. Soda and beer are prime examples. If people insist on using things that will hurt them in the long run, the government might as well make a profit off ofit. We have seen this work with the cigarette industry. Even several smokers are accepting of the taxes on cigarettes since they know why the prices are so high. Taxing things like iTunes music will just encourage people to pirate and steal more. Taxing movie tickets will just hurt the industry, since $10 a ticket has already caused many movie-goers to simply wait for the DVD (which of course they can now illegally download since iTunes is too expensive).  The budget also calls to cut services to schools and hospitals.

It seems to me that there is a more pragmatic approach to this budget deficit.  Smart taxing can offset the anger from unwise taxing, and from the anger of cutting services. However, I am no economist, and am no where close to the governors ear. Where is the NY state economy going? Will the tax increases and service cuts work?

Immediate cease fire in Darfur

According to a cnn.com web article, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has agreed to a cease fire in the Darfur region where so many global activists have attempted to gain grounds on ending the genocide of over 300,000 Sudanese citizens.

Change has come to America

For almost two years now, this political experience has taken over many of our lives. I remember hearing Barack Obama in Springfield, Illinois on February 10, 2007 when he announced his presidency. I remember that win in Iowa, the speech in New Hampshire.

I remember Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.

Yesterday, on election day from coast to coast, America spoke. The world was listening.

Generations from now, we’ll be able to tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and give jobs to the jobless.

This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal. This was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation, and restored our image as the last best hope on earth.

Thank you to all of the people who gave their time, their money, and their support to this campaign.

It’s been a long time coming, but change is coming to America.

Barack Obama

Saturday Night Live: Sarah Palin RAP

Sarah Palin Rap

What do you think of it?

Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama, stating “He has both style and substance. I think he is a transformational figure”

Today on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he said Obama is better suited to handle the nation’s economic problems as well as help improve it’s standing in the world.

Powell has worked with both Democratic and Republican presidents and is a registered Republican.

This is a huge endorsement for the Obama campaign calling it a “gold standard” because Powell is seen as a credible figure.

His military and foreign policy experience can only help the Obama campaign at a time when John McCain is attacking Senator Obama on everything from his connections to his experience.

Colin Powell was the National Security Advisor under Ronald Regan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton and Secretary of State under George W. Bush.