Politics

Synergizing Political Finance and Crypto Trading Platforms: A Path to Enhanced Stability and Growth

Bitcoin Crypto Politics

In the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency trading, the intersection of political finance and digital assets is emerging as a potential catalyst for enhanced stability and growth. This article explores the dynamics of this synergy, examining how political finance can positively influence crypto trading platforms such as Immediate Eurax App.

 

1. Understanding the Link: Cryptocurrency markets are deeply intertwined with global economic and political landscapes. The decisions made by governments and policymakers can have profound effects on digital assets. As political and financial environments shift, so too does the sentiment within the crypto space. Recognizing and understanding this link is crucial for fostering a symbiotic relationship.

2. Regulatory Clarity: Political involvement can provide much-needed regulatory clarity to the crypto industry. As governments develop frameworks and policies around digital assets, investors and traders gain a clearer understanding of the legal landscape. This clarity reduces uncertainty, attracting institutional investors and fostering a more stable trading environment.

3. Infrastructure Development: Political finance can contribute to the development of robust crypto trading infrastructure. Government-backed initiatives and investments in blockchain technology can enhance the efficiency, security, and scalability of trading platforms. This, in turn, creates an environment conducive to increased participation and trust from both retail and institutional investors.

4. Market Confidence and Perception: The perception of cryptocurrencies is often shaped by political discourse and mainstream media. Positive engagement from political figures and financial institutions can boost market confidence. Conversely, negative sentiments can lead to increased volatility. By fostering a positive relationship between political finance and the crypto industry, a more stable market perception can be achieved.

5. Adoption and Integration: Political support can expedite the adoption and integration of cryptocurrencies into mainstream financial systems. Government endorsements and regulatory frameworks can encourage businesses to accept digital assets as a legitimate form of payment. This increased acceptance not only expands the use cases for cryptocurrencies but also contributes to their overall stability.

6. Risk Mitigation: Political involvement can play a role in mitigating risks associated with crypto trading. Government interventions in cases of fraud, market manipulation, or security breaches can reassure investors that there are mechanisms in place to address and rectify issues, reducing the likelihood of panic selling and market crashes.

7. Challenges and Considerations: While the synergy between political finance and crypto trading platforms holds promise, it is not without challenges. Striking a balance between regulatory oversight and the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies poses a significant hurdle. Additionally, political interference can be a double-edged sword, requiring careful navigation to avoid unintended consequences.

You might also want to read about Navigating Economic Uncertainty: How. Politics Impact Property Investment

Conclusion: In the pursuit of enhanced stability and growth, the collaboration between political finance and crypto trading platforms emerges as a compelling avenue. As the crypto space continues to mature, navigating the intricate relationship between politics and digital assets will be crucial for shaping a resilient and prosperous future for the entire industry. By leveraging political support, the crypto community can build a foundation that encourages responsible innovation and fosters a more secure and stable trading environment.

Politics

The Political Power of TikTok: How the Platform is Being Used to Influence Elections

politics

TikTok is a major player in the social media landscape, with a massive user base of over 1 billion people. The app is top-rated among young people, who comprise most of its users. Famoid TikTok views have already contributed to many political campaigns. This has made TikTok a key battleground for political campaigns as they look to reach and influence this critical voting bloc.

TikTok views can be a powerful tool for political campaigns

A well-made TikTok video can go viral and reach millions of people in a matter of days. This can help to raise awareness of a candidate or issue, and can also be used to mobilize voters.

For example, in the 2020 US presidential election, TikTok was used by both the Biden and Trump campaigns to reach young voters. The Biden campaign created a number of TikTok videos that were designed to be funny and relatable, while the Trump campaign used the platform to attack Biden and his policies.

In addition to campaigns, TikTok is also being used by political activists and organizations to raise awareness of important issues. For example, the Black Lives Matter movement used TikTok to document police brutality and mobilize people to act. The platform has also raised awareness of climate change, gun violence, and other important issues.

The political power of TikTok is still being debated. Some experts believe that the platform has the potential to be a major force in elections, while others argue that its impact is still relatively small. However, there is no doubt that TikTok is a powerful tool that can be used to reach and influence young voters.

READ ALSO: What You Need to Know about the Process of Handling Budgets for a Political Project?

Ways that TikTok is being used to influence elections

  • Campaigning: Campaigns are using TikTok to reach young voters with their message. They create short, engaging videos that are designed to be shared and liked.
  • Mobilizing voters: TikTok is also being used to mobilize voters to turn out to the polls. Campaigns use the platform to remind voters about upcoming elections and to encourage them to register to vote.
  • Grassroots organizing: TikTok is also being used by grassroots organizations to organize and mobilize people around political issues. They use the platform to share information, raise awareness, and build support for their causes.
  • Influencing public opinion: TikTok can also be used to influence public opinion on political issues. By sharing videos that support their views, users can help to shape the way that others think about these issues.

The political power of TikTok is still evolving, but it is clear that the platform has the potential to be a major force in elections. As the platform continues to grow in popularity, it is likely that we will see even more innovative ways of using TikTok to influence the political process.

Finance of Politics

Should Politicians Be Trusted with Our Finances?

Politicians are never shy of money. They are equally never shy of debates about the best use of taxpayers’ money. In a time when trust in politicians is falling and populist parties gaining ground, one could ask if we can trust our politicians when it comes to managing public finances? Should they be trusted with our money or should they keep their hands off?

What Do Politicians Know about Managing Money?

The first thing to understand is that, even though politicians set the tax rates, they don’t take the decisions on how money should be spent. This happens at the level of the ministries and departments and, in part, at the level of municipalities.

Politicians don’t make individual spending decisions. So, they don’t know what a specific investment should cost or how it should be financed, let alone where it should be made. It is also worth noting that a lot of spending is based on laws and policies that were put in place before the current government took office.

Why should We not Trust them?

Governments have always had a bad reputation when it comes to fiscal prudence and fiscal transparency. As a matter of fact, there are very good reasons for this distrust. Political leaders don’t have the financial skills to manage the state’s fiscal affairs and they don’t possess the fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers. Unlike the professionals, they’ve got years of experience processing claims and handling client’s finances.

Instead, they have a fiduciary responsibility to their political parties. Political parties are not acting in the taxpayers’ interest but in their own self-interest. This is why we can’t trust them with our money. In fact, we have seen that many of them have misused taxpayer money for their own ends.

The Case for Trusting Politicians with our Money

The crux of this debate is whether the government should spend more or whether it should spend less.

But the question is, how do we decide how much money the government should spend?

There are many ways of measuring this. For example, the government can increase spending in areas where it can create the most value for society. Or, it can decide not to spend on areas where there is no value-added.

There are many ways of measuring the value that the government brings. For example, we can look at the number of people who are employed by the state. Or, we can look at the amount of taxes that they collect. These indicators help us to decide how much the government should spend. We don’t have to trust the government to know how much money it should spend. We can rely on facts and data to make such decisions.

Financial

What You Need to Know about the Process of Handling Budgets for a Political Project?

Budget control is one of the most important responsibilities for any type of organization. In the political sphere, budgets are especially critical given that so many projects are paid for through donations and grants.

To ensure that money is being spent responsibly, organizations have to have a system in place to monitor costs and expenditures. With so much at stake, mishandling budgets can be disastrous for an organization. That’s why it’s important to understand how budgets work in a political project before diving in head first.

Understanding the Political Project Budget Process

Budgets for political projects are not one-size-fits-all. Rather, organizations need to create a budget that aligns with their specific project needs. In other words, it’s not enough to create a general budget that covers every expense.

Rather, you’ll want to break down and categorize all planned expenses by type. The best way to create a budget is to make a list of all planned expenses. Note that this list should include all project-related costs, including salaries, travel, office supplies, event space, etc.

Communicating with Stakeholders

A budget can help an organization understand the financial resources required for a project. It can also be an effective tool for communicating with stakeholders.

Whether you’re working with donors, foundations, or sponsors, a budget can help you make a strong case for funding. Budgets also help stakeholders understand how their money will be used. For example, if you’re working with individual donors, you can show them exactly where their money is going.

Once the budget has been approved and the project has begun, you’ll need to keep stakeholders updated on progress and any deviations from the original budget. This way, everyone is on the same page and can keep track of how the project is progressing.

Identifying Costs and Resources

Once you’ve created a budget, you’ll need to regularly review it to make sure that you’re staying within the financial limits. A budget will outline the expected cost of every single item on the project’s to-do list. You can do this by using a budgeting app like Quicken if you want to try different apps.

Financial

How Government Officials Decide What Projects to Finance?

Governments invest in infrastructure projects to create long-lasting benefits for citizens and for small communities. This is why if ever is to request for funding, their chances of getting an approval is high.

This is done by financing the construction of new roads, bridges, airports and other facilities. Governments assess whether a project is a good investment based on three principles:

  • Financially sound
  • Positive impact on society
  • Meet its medium-term objectives

Be Financially Sound

The first principle that governs politicians’ decisions on what infrastructure projects to finance is that the project should be financially sound.

This means that the project should generate enough revenue to cover the costs of building and operating it. Governments typically finance infrastructure projects by issuing long-term bonds. Investors are interested in buying government bonds because the interest rates exceed what they would earn if they invested in other assets.

Governments use the revenues from infrastructure projects to service the debt they issue to finance construction.

Have a Positive Societal Impact

This is measured based on the number of people who stand to benefit from the project. The larger the number of people who benefit from a project, the better the project score.

A positive societal impact can be achieved by improving people’s quality of life, protecting the environment, and strengthening the economy.

For example, building a new bridge over a river is likely to improve the quality of life for people who live nearby by shortening their drive to work and school. Building a new airport is likely to protect the environment by reducing the number of airplanes that fly over heavily populated areas. Building a new power plant is likely to strengthen the economy by providing an additional source of energy.

Meeting Medium-Term Objectives

These objectives include strengthening the economy, improving people’s quality of life, protecting the environment, and meeting government priorities. For example, building a new highway connecting two major cities helps strengthen the economy by reducing the cost of transporting goods between those cities.

Building a new sewage treatment facility helps improve people’s quality of life by reducing the risk of water contamination.

Building a new airport runway helps protect the environment by reducing the number of airplanes that fly over heavily populated areas.

So long as these principles are met when requesting government funding, there is a high chance to get approval for your desired project. The process may take a little while but once approved, it’ll all be worth it.

Finance of Politics

Why Politicians Often Hire Finance Majors to Do Their Accounting?

Politicians come from many different backgrounds, and so do the people who work for them. Some are engineers or lawyers; others are business managers or teachers. Regardless of their background, politicians need support staff to help them manage their campaigns and day-to-day operations once they’re elected.

However, you might wonder why a politician would hire someone with a finance degree to do their accounting. It doesn’t seem like an especially creative job, but there must be more to it than that…right? Read on to learn more about why politicians often hire finance majors to do their accounting.

Familiarity with Money and Banking Laws

Politicians may not be accountants, but they’re still required to know how to keep track of their funds.

When a politician hires an accountant, they’re bringing on someone who can help them keep track of their revenue and expenses.

Politicians have to deal with many complex financial decisions. This means that they need accountants who are thoroughly familiar with money and banking laws. Politicians often have to invest the money that they receive from donors, and they also have to figure out how to spend the money that the government sends them in the form of taxes.

Politicians also have to manage their campaign finances. This includes things such as deciding how much to spend on various items, including advertising.

Financial Literacy and Financial Research

Finance majors also often have a strong financial literacy. This means that they’re able to understand the mechanics behind different financial systems and policies. This is important because politicians often have to make financial decisions that have an impact on other countries.

For example, a politician might decide to increase the prices on wood. This would affect millions of people and businesses, like businesses who do wholesale kitchen cabinets. Because of this, accountants who have a high level of financial literacy can help ensure that a politician’s decision is well-informed and well-thought-out.

Working with Data is a Priority

Politicians have to rely on data as they make decisions. Accountants have to work with this data and report back to the politician. Accountants have to be able to work with massive quantities of data to produce reports that are easy to read and understand.

Politicians often have to make decisions based on complex data. This means that the accountants need to determine which numbers are the most relevant and how to report them in a way that makes sense to the politician.

Finance of Politics

The Essential Guide to Understanding How Finance is Managed in Political Campaigns

As you may have noticed, the world of politics has been a little unhinged lately. Things that would have previously been thought of as inconceivable now appear to be almost commonplace.

The 2016 presidential campaign was a watershed moment in American history, and it also introduced us to some new words as well as concepts we didn’t know existed.

How Finance in Political Campaigns are Managed?

We are still dealing with the fallout from the scandalous revelations about the inner workings of political campaigns and their finances. If you are involved in political fundraising or management, even at an amateur level, you will likely find something useful in this article.

Whether you are working on a small campaign or planning for a future career in politics, it is important to understand how finance operates within these fields.

What is Finance in a Political Campaign?

Finance is the management of the money that is available for use in a political campaign. A political campaign’s financial ability determines how successful it will be.

If the finances are inadequate, the campaign will be unable to compete, and it may not even be able to begin. If they are well managed, they may be able to do a great deal.

If someone is involved in financing a campaign, they are probably taking care of the money that is raised and spent. They may be responsible for reporting the amounts to the government. They will also have to make sure that the campaign’s money is kept safe after they just funded mortgage for the venue of their campaign.

Limitations of a Political Campaign’s Financial Abilities

The financial limitations of a campaign are determined by a variety of factors. These may include the amount of money that the candidate has raised, the number of donors and the amount that they have given, and the amount that the other candidates in the election have raised. There are two numbers that are of particular importance when evaluating the financial abilities of a political campaign.

The first is called the amount of money on hand. This is the total amount of money that the campaign has raised, regardless of whether it has been spent.

The second is the cash on hand. This is the amount that the campaign has in its bank account. In a political campaign, there are a number of factors that will determine the amount of money that the campaign has at its disposal.

Politics

US House of Reps in Favor of Proposed Law Allowing Congressional Workers to Unionize

This week, the House of Representative voted in favor of a legislation that allows Congressional staff to organize unions so they can bargain collectively. The move is touted as the biggest expansion of congressional workers’ rights after 3 decades, and made amidst a growing number of grievances put forward by close to 10,000 staffers.

The House resolution codified the rights of congressional employees, including aides working in lawmakers’ personal offices, in district offices and committees, to unionize and bargain collectively. The resolution is actually an extension of the rights previously given to employees in other Legislative branches such as the Library of Congress, the Capitol Police and professional tour guides.

Resolution Came After Capitol Saw the Highest Number of Turnovers in 2021

The resolution was introduced in February 2022 by Democratic House Representative Andy Levin of Michigan, who remarked that:

”To say we are standing up for the rights of people is somewhat hollow if our own workers here at the Capitol, are not entitled to such rights and privileges.”

Reports have it that House leaders have been aware of the low pay and other grievances that have been driving staffers out of Congress. Apparently affected by the destabilizing effects of the pandemic, the year 2021 saw the highest number of congressional staff turnovers, resulting in brain drain. Capitol staffers have been burned out while serving vital roles amidst the constant political strife among House leaders and lawmakers, which was marked historically by the January 06 upheaval

Financial

Finances – Political Parties

finance-of-politics

Political Parties Act

The financing of political parties has come under repeated criticism in recent decades because questionable practices had crept in or even violated applicable law. Basic Law is unmistakable on this point: Precisely because the parties play a privileged role in the political system, it must not happen that they are influenced by large donors without being recognized. Article 21, therefore, obliges the parties to disclose their income. The Political Parties Act contains more detailed provisions. According to this, the party executives have to submit an annual report to the President of the Bundestag, which lists the funds received in full, lists the names of major donors, and provides information on the use of the funds.

 

Three Main sources: Contributions, Donations, and Government grants

The parties are funded from three main sources: contributions, donations, and government grants. In addition, there is income from events, publications, business activities, and assets, as well as loans. Although the state funding of political parties has assumed a considerable amount, the contributions of the members and the fees of the elected officials still form the reliable basis of the party budgets. See accident lawyer Los Angeles ca – Of the € 510.9 million that the seven parties represented in the Bundestag received in 2018, € 206.3 million (40%) came from contribution payments. the LINKE (47%), the SPD (46%), and the GRUNEN (44%) recorded above-average contributions. Income from donations totaled € 54.8 million (10%) for all parties. The parties closely related to the economy – i.e. CDU, CSU, and FDP – are usually particularly favored. On the other hand, the SPD (5%) and the LINKE (6%) posted significantly below-average donations.

 

Government grants covered a third (36%) of the total income of the seven parties in 2018 with € 185.5 million. With its ruling of April 1992, the Federal Constitutional Court prevented even stronger support. This not only set an absolute upper limit for state subsidies but also laid down the principle that the parties must remain politically, organizationally, and economically dependent on the citizens. The legislature then reorganized the financing of parties in 1994. After various party donation affairs became known, the regulations were supplemented in 2002, including a penal provision for violations of the political party law. The ceiling for state party grants was raised to 190 million in 2018.

Financial

Sen. Manchin’s Corrupt Ploy to Seek Political Donations Outed in Zoom Video

A video of a Zoom call hosted by centrist group No Labels showed Sen. Manchin in conference with numerous big donors, shedding light on his political agenda. A group called The Intercept obtained the video showing that the West Virginia senator is in a position where he could put pressure on moderate Republican senators to influence voting on legislation.

Although the video shows Manchin looking to round up GOP votes for the Jan 6 congressional investigation commission, he argued that the GOP’s refusal to investigate the Jan. 6 putsch, is enabling the left’s argument that bipartisanship is impossible. Manchin argued that if Republicans won’t even agree to investigate a threat to their own lives, it only emboldens the far left, which was how he referred to his fellow Democratic lawmakers.

Manchin has turned himself into one of the most powerful figures in American politics today but it is darkly amusing to see what he does with that power. He has been accused of using his position to solicit corrupt favors from the opposition, which in his case is the GOP.

GOP Senator McConnell Thwarts Manchin’s Attempt to Use The GOP

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) refuses to become a willing party to Manchin’s political manipulations. He publicly made it clear that the GOP does not and will not support Sen. Manchin’s proposed amendments to bills put forward by the Democratic. The latter purports that he is promoting bipartisan agreements in Congress.

 

The West Virginia senator seems to enjoy the fact that he is able to destabilize the Democratic Party’s powers as the majority party. As it is, and with the filibuster rule still in place, the Democrats need at least 10 GOP votes in order to pass a senate legislation.

Sen. Joe Manchin, the West Virginia Democrat prefers to keep the filibuster rule in place, which the oppositionists are using to oppose much of President Biden’s agenda.

Manchin Does a Turnabout with His Stance on Voting Rights Bill

In an op-ed he published recently, Manchin declared that he will oppose the “For the People Act,” the comprehensive voting rights bill being pushed for by the Democrats’ The article containing the declaration appeared shortly after Senator Manchin received campaign donations from influential pro-business lobbyists, particularly the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The op-ed and the donation cannot be regarded as not linked, since the group has not made any political contributions to Manchin’s campaign funds for nearly a decade.

After being exposed by the Zoom video obtained by “The Intercept”, the latest action from Sen. Manchin is apparently aimed at trying to save face. He is now proposing amendments to the For the People Act , which in effect, are in support of the major voting rights being pushed for by his fellow Democrats.

Politics

Despite an Imminent Biden Win, Trump Has No Plans of Conceding

Even as overall unofficial results are in favor of Joe Biden, Trump has no plans of conceding; still accusing election officials of manipulating the votes.

In his first public address since election day, Donald Trump didn’t provide any proof except for conspiracy theories of electoral manipulations. Since everything was highly speculative, media sites such as USA Today removed the live stream of the President’s public address, as USA Today’s editor-in-chief Nicole Caroll said, their job is to disseminate truth, not groundless conspiracies.

Trump’s public address occurred as the opposition, when Democratic candidate Biden started taking the lead in several states. Trump’s hopes of winning a second term is getting nowhere near reality as the voting results in the four key states of Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin did not deliver enough votes that would have made true his premature claim of winning the presidency.

Election officials are assuring voters that the election this year is hardly chaotic as anticipated. Regardless of longer polling-site hours, and usual technical problems, they have not encountered significant problems that interfered with the vote counting processes. Even if it’s taking longer when compared to previous years’ election, there is no basis that support allegations of fraud with the mail-in ballots.

Key Republican Figures Not Backing Trump’s Claims of Fraud

According to Senator Mitt Romney, the only Republican who voted in favor of Trump’s impeachment trial, the soon-to-be-former president’s calls to stop the counting is unconstitutional as each and every vote counts as part of the democratic process. Sen Romney said that if there are inconsistencies, there will be an investigation and the matter will be resolved in judicial court/s.

Even former Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, a known close ally of the President, also expressed disapproval over Trump’s claims of electoral fraud. He told ABC News last Thursday that there were no justification for the argument and that all votes that are in should be counted.

Foreign Investments

How Politics Make An Impact On The Forex Market

Although there are several factors that influence the direction of money movement in the forex market, the political conditions in the country can help people understand some movements in the forex market. Forex brokers can give you a detailed explanation to this. Trading in foreign exchange has become a global activity. This means that macroeconomic occurrences are playing an even bigger role in the foreign exchange market than it was in the past. The interbank currency market is not only affected by economic data. Every single news headline can have the potential to adversely or favorably impact a certain currency.

The Economics of Foreign Exchange

There is no doubt that politics, not economics, is the main driver of volatility in global currency markets. The traditional relationship between major exchange rate changes and economic events has been replaced and is now at the forefront of major political developments such as Brexit, conflicts, and elections. Regarding exchange rate forecasting, basic analytical science involves considering various important economic and political elements of a currency relative to another currency in any currency pair under consideration.

Today’s currency movements appear to be more sensitive to Trump, the Brexit, French elections, and more Trump headlines than to economic policy announcements. Among the main explanations for this is that the central bank has used almost all of its easing tools to increase liquidity and reduce interest rates to historical lows. This shows that the central bank is running short of wise moves. This is why the economy and market observers turn their attention to the government’s fiscal stimulus policies.

The political situation and economic performance of a country affect the strength of its currency. Countries with a lower risk of political instability are more appealing to foreign investors, and foreign investors in turn attract investment from countries with greater economic and political balance. The increase in foreign capital leads to an appreciation of the value of the domestic currency. A country with strong financial and trade policies will not create uncertainty about the value of its currency. However, the exchange rate of a country prone to political chaos may fall.

The health of a country’s currency is dependent on the actions of political leaders. For that reason, any transformation in a country’s state administration will affect its currency by changing the country’s economic policy. If the government changes, it may lead to new economic policies and cause the currency to appreciate or fall. Increased global tensions will lead to instability in the foreign exchange market. Irregular currency inflows or outflows can cause large fluctuations in exchange rates. The stability of foreign exchange is strongly related to the country’s political situation. Generally, the more secure the country, the more steady the currency.

Politics

Politically-charged Bets For Entertainment Betting

Nowadays, a lot of people learn a new type of game so as to explore as well as try their luck when they play and gamble online. Dominoqq, the domino game from Indonesia, is isn’t an exception.

Many beginners or those who have heard of the game for the first time think that dominoqq is a game that is complicated and difficult to learn. In actuality, the game is very easy and simple to learn. Moreover, players could win some money when playing the game online in particular credible and trusted online gambling sites provided that one has basic understanding of the rules of the game as well as the best possible strategies to play it.

Dominoqq – What Is It?

The game originated in Indonesia and was a favorite of many families for many generations. Also called Domino Qiu Qiu, dominoqq is played using two sets of regular dominoes. However, the blank domino tiles aren’t used. The game is quite similar to poker wherein each player would have five cards. Hence, if you are familiar with poker, it may be easier for you to learn and understand dominoqq.

Entertainment Betting – Political Betting

As the internet has now become a place where people look for entertainment, it isn’t only on various games such as dominoqq that people play and bet on the win some money. In the US, there is a specific subcategory of “entertainment betting” which has gained momentum – Political Betting.

Over the several previous electoral cycle, political betting has become quite popular. Taking into consideration what have taken place in the US the previous years, it is no surprise that many bettors would actually take a greater interest in prop bets that are politically-charged.

Is Political Betting Legal in the US?

In the United States, laying a bet on political outcomes was regarded as an illegal or unlawful activity under most state laws and federal laws. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, the Federal Wire Act, as well as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act prevented potential bettors to lay a wager on the next cycle of election candidates. Generally, these laws prohibited sports betting based in the US, whether online or offline, in every state except Oregon, Nevada, Montana, and Delaware.

In 2018, the Supreme Court of the US struck down the PASPA wherein the Act was ruled as unconstitutional. Now, the decision on whether residents are allowed or not to engage and participate in sports betting, this includes political betting, is determined and decided by each state.

Kinds of Political Betting

There are two major ways to engage in political betting, the prediction market and the bet on politics online sportsbooks.

Prediction Markets. Questions with “Yes or No” answers are posed by the prediction markets. For instance, “Will Trump be re-elected in 2020 as the US President?” or “Will the next US president be a Democrat?”. Traders then purchase “Yes” shares or “No” shares on each posed question. Similar to the stock market, the prices of the shares will rely on the supply and demand. If you predicted right, the futures market pays ¢100 on the dollar, and pays nothing if your prediction is wrong.

Online Bets. Political props are similar to sports props and entertainment props. Below are some of the common ones:

  • Odds on the Presidential Election in 2020
  • Odds of which political party will come out on top of the 2020 Presidential Election
  • Odds on Popular Vote
  • Odds on Antics of Candidates
  • Odds on the winner’s gender in the Presidential Election

Politics

Learning More about the Quack Doctor Endorsed by Trump

Earlier this month, Trump’s deployment of secret police in major cities was the hot issue. Today, it has been replaced by Trump’s endorsement of a quack doctor.

Actually, his son Donald Jr. initiated the endorsement by tweeting a video of a Texas based doctor that appeared in the right-wing Breitbart News website. Although Twitter immediately suspended Donald Jr.’s account to prevent the misinformation from spreading further, Trump was quick to the draw.

The latter immediately re-tweeted Donald Jr.’s post, and made it possible for the quack doctor’s video to go viral. Nonetheless major social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have since removed her video for the simple reason that her speech carried misleading information about hydroxychloroquine as a potent cure for COVID-91. Trump tweeted his own endorsement mainly because the video provided support to his own promotion of hydroxychloroquine as an effective cure for COVID-19. That is despite contradictions by the experts of the medical community and lack of FDA approval.

Later however, when Trump was pressed for answers by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on information about the Texas doctor, Trump said he doesn’t know anything about her, or from where she originally came from; whilst immediately ending the press conference to avoid answering any more questions about the quack medical practitioner.

About Stella Immanuel the Texas Doctor Endorsed by Trump

Stella Immanuel is actually a Texas-licensed pediatrician who has a medical clinic in Houston, where she claims she has helped numerous COVID-19 patients recover from the illness.

What Trump missed knowing about Immanuel is that she is currently facing a malpractice lawsuit after a patient who sought her medical attention died. Although the patient’s death is not COVID-19 related, Immanuel merely prescribed a medication without fully examining the patient’s source of pain.

As it turned out, the patient had broken a needle that she used in injecting herself with meth. Since the patient’s condition worsened she was brought to a hospital where she was examined, but apparently too late to save her because she died six days later.

The reason why Immanuel is being touted as a quack doctor is for her claims that most women are suffering from gynecological problems because they are suffering from astral sex. She explained astral sex as intercourse with a spirit man who is actually a tormenting spirit. Immanuel makes all such claims by delivering them as sermons in a religious organization she founded and named as the Fire Power Ministries.

Among Immanuel’s cult claims is that the vaccines currently being developed are using alien-DNA, as part of a conspiracy perpetuated by way of the COVID-19 pandemic. The video that the father and son Trumps tweeted shows Immanuel making claims that the real truth is that a COVID-19 treatment has been available all along. That the cure is hydroxychloroquine — claiming further that she has proven the drug effective in curing 350 patients who came to her for treatment

Immanuel is an immigrant from Nairobi, where she obtained her medical degree. She along with other Texas doctors, who lack medical experiences in handling serious health cases have formed a group known as “America’s Frontline Doctors.” in introducing their alliance to the public, they also made known their intentions of carrying out a medical mission to treat COVID-91 patients, even without approval from the FDA in using the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine.

However, as the press people tried to get in touch with Immanuel and her group, none of them were available for interview.

Investments

Senators in STOCK Act Scandal

Three Republican senators and one Democratic senator are being investigated by the U.S. Justice Dept. after the nonpartisan Common Cause filed a complaint.

Common Cause, a grassroots watchdog, alleges that Senators Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Georgia), Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) and Senator Diane Feinstein (D-California), have violated the STOCK Act. Reports have it that the four (4) U.S. senators had unloaded their shares of stocks upon receiving classified briefings; allowing them to avoid investment losses during the stock market downturn.

According to the Justice Department, investigations will look closely into the point in time when the senators unloaded substantial amounts of shares of stock (e.g. Burr’s 33 stock transactions in Feb. 13, 2020); and other related information (emails or phone calls to wealth managers and/or stock brokers), to determine if the senators, had indeed committed “insider trading” and violated the STOCK Act of 2012.

What is the STOCK Act 2012

The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act or STOCK Act is a law that was passed in 2012, to prohibit stock trading among members of Congress, congressional staffers, and other government employees including members of the executive and judiciary branches. The prohibition applies to those who in relation to their government position or job receive classified information or information that has not been made available to the general public.

Senators Dumped Shares While President Trump was Still Downplaying the Coronavirus Outbreak as a Hoax

The senators in question argued that decisions to sell were made by their wealth managers based on public information on how the coronavirus outbreak appeared to be trending. Yet what made their respective wealth manager’s selling activities questionable is that they occurred right after the senators attended a classified briefing, which warned of how the outbreak has likely potential to wrought a catastrophic impact similar to the 1918 Spanish flu.

Considering also that at the time the lawmakers unloaded their investment portfolio, the public was still being convinced by U.S. president Trump that the outbreak was not as serious as what the CDC had warned. During campaign rallies, Trump asserted that the coronavirus was a hoax cooked up by Democrats. Later Trump tried to convince the public that the government had everything under control, and that a vaccine was already underway.

The four senators were able to avoid losses since they unloaded stock investments before their prices went down, as a result of the massive sell offs that transpired thereafter.

Senator Burr Also Warned Associates and Political Donors

Senator Burr, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee and at the same a time a member of the Senate Health Committee, has more explaining to do.
The National Public Radio (NPR) came out with a secret voice recording, showing the North Carolina Senator giving out the same warnings to his wealthy associates and political donors in February 27, 2020.

The NPR, which is a Washington-based, non-profit membership media organization that receives both public and private funding, was the first to break the news about Senator Burr’s stock market trading activities.

Politics

Money, Politics, And Democracy

For thousands of years, hardship, hunger, disease, poverty, violence, and war have shaped people’s lives. It was only during the Enlightenment that freedom of thought, literacy and letterpress printing led to a technological and political progress tsunami that markedly improved the living situation of a large part of humanity despite the population explosion, for example by overcoming plagues such as plague or smallpox, the almost incredible decrease in maternal and child mortality, the sharp rise in life expectancy in good health, the decrease in violence against people, social security in old age and in the event of illness or the victory over hunger.

Money politics: A long shadow on the ‘beacon’ of democracy

But none of this would have been possible without a much older invention: that of money. Only money as an abstract unit of measurement, with which goods, services, and risks can be valued, enabled the market economy based on the division of labor with the associated potential to create prosperity for everyone. However, the money economy always bore the seeds of a crisis. Whenever politics tried to contain human weaknesses such as greed, exuberance or illusions through regulation, such weaknesses found new loopholes to unfold. But that shouldn’t hide the enormous benefits of the money economy for mankind.

Money had made things possible for people. People work for money to meet their daily needs. With freedom related to democracy, people are able to receive money equivalent to the work they put. But sometimes, that’s not always the case. Regardless of hard work, money is never enough to suffice hardship and crisis. In this case, people run to banks and financial institutions (https://moneylendingclub.com/) for financial help.

The Function Of The Financial Markets

One can distinguish three core functions of the financial markets. First, contracts can be used to reassign economic values ​​and postpone them over time. With the mortgage, for example, the bank finances the construction of a home, in return, the homeowner promises to pay interest and repayments. Conversely, a worker can receive a monthly pension in return for one-off or periodic payments up to the end of his life. Secondly, risks can be redistributed by a party that is better able to take risks to take over such risks from another party for a fee. This is the case with insurance companies, for example. Third, financial markets can pool capital and use it to create wealth. Thanks to savings deposits, banks grant loans for economic activity. Exchanges allow companies to receive money from investors. States collect tax dollars from small people to finance large projects. This gives investors the opportunity to use their savings productively and to be compensated for the associated risk.

It was only the financial markets that enabled the creation of the welfare state, one of the most impressive achievements of the people, by incorporating certain redistribution mechanisms. It solves the problem of fear of the uncertainty of the future, it ensures a sufficiently dignified life in old age, it alleviates the hardships of unemployment, it provides good medical care in the event of illness, and it also gives people with disabilities a perspective. Of course, the welfare state also provides incentives that influence people’s behavior, such as the willingness to perform, personal responsibility, propensity to save, risk behavior, the choice of when to retire or family structures. Politicians have to consider all this.

The only government model that has so far produced successful welfare states is the combination of democracy, the rule of law and a market economy. However, there are four political laws that, if institutional and cultural antidotes are not always found, endanger the success of this model. I call them the principles of courtesy democracy: politics seeks, firstly, always the path of minimal effort. Second, the attraction of favors that others pay is irresistible. Thirdly, even the most absurd political action finds its plausible justification, and fourthly, the “this time is different” syndrome works.

Politics

Impeachment Trial Puts a Dent to Trump’s Narcissistic Ego

Time and again, Trump’s overly pompous words and actions have been branded by many psychologists as the typical signs of a person with narcissistic personality disorder. Many agree that Trump is so full of narcissism that the impeachment resolution passed by Congress a few days ago, had dealt a great blow to Trump’s bloated ego.

Trump will go down in America’s history as the third U.S. president to be impeached, after Andrew Jackson and Bill Clinton. Although Richard Nizon nearly made the claim to being the second U.S. president to be impeached, Nixon resigned from office before Congress reached a formal decision to impeach him.

It is expected that Trump’s Republican minions at the Senate will act quickly to save him from being removed from office. Yet it does not take away the damaging effect of impeachment on Trump’s self-absorbed world. After all, he views himself as the greatest person to have ever walked the Earth.

Impeachment Puts a Dent to Trump’s Pompous and Boastful Behavior

Now that the impeachment inquiry launched by the House of Representatives has advanced to become an impeachment trial, Trump’s narcissistic ego is finding it hard to process how he will be able to proclaim himself as the greatest U.S. leader. In fact he even implied in a statement to then visiting French president Emmanuel Macron that he (Trump), is smarter than George Washington.

It probably troubles his mind that he will find it more difficult to convince the world leaders and diplomats who attended the 2018 UN General Assembly that they had no reason to laugh at him for stating that his administration accomplished more than any of his predecessors ever had.

To Trump, impeachment is already an ugly word, even uglier now that he is branded as the 3rd U.S. president to have been impeached. Even if he continues to perform duties as the nation’s chief executive, he knows for sure that other world leaders will continue to regard him as a laughing stock, the way they did during the recent G7 Summit in England. .

Signs that Impeachment has Greatly Affected Trump’s State of Mind

As cognitive experts believe that Trump’s narcissism is bound to get worse during his presidency, the impact of the impeachment trial on Trump’s narcissism has begun to surface.

Only recently in a campaign rally held in Michigan, Trump made vicious remarks against Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and her demised husband House Representative John Dingell. Trump’s rhetoric implied that the deceased Michigan Congressman who passed away in February of this year, is not in heaven but in hell. That is notwithstanding the fact that the deceased Representative John Dingell is highly revered in the state for being the longest-serving Congressman in the history of U.S. politics.

Trump once again manifested a behavior, which in his narcissistic world does not recognize Constitutional laws or moral values. Even his close political ally Senator Lyndsey Graham found Trump’s remarks to put down a highly distinguished statesman, as irreverent and distasteful. Senator Graham wants Trump to publicly apologize to Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, a demand directed toward a narcissistic person who hears only praises about himself.

Financial

The Forex Market – The Pillar Of Gobal Trade

Known as VPS, a virtual private server is a type of web hosting that utilizes data center facilities permitting businesses to find physical hardware to provide a direct connection to an internet service provider (ISP), with data centers or facilities of professional computer-server giving the capability for trading units to host their software for trading to uninterruptedly operate 24/7. Moreover, this could be done autonomously from the trader’s personal computer with less effort.

The forex market in numerous ways is the mainstay of global trade, since it is where exchanges of every major as well minor currencies happen, typically on a trading platform by expert forex traders. This has an enormous influence on global trade, with regards to importing and exporting, together with local business, since it could have a bearing on the outlay of creation, production and more. The forex market is influenced by numerous factors that are imperative for every type of businesses to be aware of.

Major Political Affairs Impact Forex Market

The elections could have an enormous impact on the currency of a nation, whether they are anticipated or sudden. These present a large number of political ambiguities in a lot of cases, wherein it typically causes the value of its currency phases of high volatility. Following the poll, if administration has changed, it could see an increase or decrease of the value of the currency which is determined by its policies on finance.

Bearing on Import and Export

In support of the industries of import and export, the forex market is imperative. Growth in the global economy will struggle if the capacity to trade in various currencies is absent since the transfer of resources and goods is fundamental and crucial in generating supply and demand for services and goods that support and sustain economies.

Distinctions in the values in currency, wherein could be influenced by the high and low levels of forex traders ‘demand, could either make importing or exporting between countries cheaper or pricier. For businesses in nations that have a strong currency, this could bring about immense importing opportunities, whilst tendering better exporting opportunities for those in countries whose currency is struggling.

Market Manipulation

In the forex market, one concern which could affect businesses is the presumed market manipulation. Fundamentally, forex fixes are the set point of reference, with the major ones carried out in London, to help in reflecting better the worth of one currency comparative to others. These rates of forex are utilized by numerous corporations to value assets, accountabilities and much more.

Not only does a possible outcome of market manipulation toss scandal into the world of finance but to several other businesses as well. If this come to pass then businesses will fathom that their orders haven’t been justly dealt with, valuations are out of bounce, and trade could be disturbed.

Investments

Lawmakers Are Afraid Facebook Libra Might Take Over The Financial Industry

Crypto signals or crypto trading signals are trade suggestions or ideas to buy and/or sell a certain crypto coin at a specific time and value. Typically, the trade signals have included a take profit as well as a protective stop loss. You are then essentially protected from every side.

Because of the success of cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, many companies and industries ventured into the new era of digital currency while understanding crypto signals. For instance, when the interest of Facebook in cryptocurrency has become public, it set off a great deal of different reactions from the worldwide community.

Libra’s Effect on the Cryptocurrency Industry

Cryptocurrency has grown in popularity but has been silent for quite some time. And although many investors still continue their crypto dealings, it hasn’t drawn uncalled-for attention from third parties as well as the government.

But, when Facebook publicized its plan to release its own digital currency, political figures as well as powerful officials of the government have directed their attention to the industry of cryptocurrency and called for its regulation.

If favored, the regulation might generate a considerable impact on the crypto industry. There is an increasing concern though as legislators aren’t well-versed about cryptocurrency or digital currency. Then again, the present attention that the industry of crypto had gotten might gain digital currency bitter and strict regulations from government legislators.

Libra’s Impact on Politics and the Financial Industry

Similarly, there is a developing concern that cryptocurrency might take control over the financial industry. Numerous media have reported that Facebook’s digital currency, Libra, was made to provide a platform for payment for Facebook users. Furthermore, it was also created for other platforms as well like Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. It was also reported in the news that this will be available to about 2.7 billion active users.

As per Coinetelegraph, the plan attempts to target people who are unbanked, which makes up about 1.7 billion adults worldwide, with an emphasis on remittance that is cross-border. The latter feature places Libra in conjunction with the likes of Mastercard and Visa.

This feature of cryptocurrency has likewise gained undesirable comments as well as strong disapproval from numerous people. But, leaders worldwide are troubled about the probability of the digital currency to seize the financial market and industry as individuals perceive it as a practical and feasible alternate to fiat currency.

The attention that Facebook Libra is receiving is due to the size of social media platform, its resources, as well as its capacity to incorporate an efficient, economical payment network utilizing digital currency through numerous of its own platforms wherein it can fetch considerable adoption to the cryptocurrency space. Others haven’t gotten a similar degree of interest, primarily since they don’t have the capacity to hasten the acceptance and adoption of a stable coin, wherein Facebook has no difficulty achieving.

Politics

The Political Agenda Behind Credit Reporting Agencies

In this generation, we are living within a digital financial framework. Identities of Americans exist in set databases made to monitor details about them and used mainly to run commerce. This power destroys anonymity which takes even the slightest info about our social bonds and reputations then converts them straight into structured data. This very same structure can tag you with bad credit and ruins your chances for further finances not if you consider other specialized lending institutions. Check out https://www.forafinancial.com/blog/working-capital/get-business-loan-bad-credit/ to help you get your finances straight.

Driving all this are the credit reporting agencies (credit bureaus), like Equifax. The credit reporting business acts like a governor of each and everyone’s credit interactions, reputations as well as individuality. It had been recognized by the congress in the late 60s to early 70s that the power inlayed in data involves political matter and thus developed a regulatory command for these agencies. However, through the years, the regulatory program vested upon these agencies is insufficient. The government bodies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and also the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) are generally poor. Therefore the credit-reporting program on which we have vested our identities as well as our commercial existence continues to be opaque and also susceptible to misuse.

Credit Reporting Background

Credit Bureau Prior To The 70’s

Like organized business relationships, prejudice and biases have been integrated into the rules of the Credit Bureau and the types of facts they collect. Before 1970, Black, gay, single women, or a person with a strong political opinion – all of these could make an impact on the person making it difficult to find jobs, get credit, loans, insurance purchases, or stay away from police investigations. In WWII, credit reporting agencies conducted loyalty checks on the military to keep the business. This relationship continued even after the war. Millions of Americans undergo background checks for many reasons but mostly political in nature.

Credit had been always associated with social norms. In the 19th century, black and white tenants were exposed to undesirable interest rates and also credit terms to undermine their freedom. In the 1950s, a fixed-rate mortgage for 30 years was a liberation force for white families and the strict credit circumstances for black families were a way of controlling races.

Since the 1950s, politicians have received grievances from people who have severely suffered due to bad credit reports. And while many ordinary citizens suffered by mere noise from their apartments, that would enter their credit report and will eventually destroy the reputation of one person. As suggested by the CEO of Retail Credit in 1968, this is a “discipline” for US citizens.

The Age of Computerization

The changes that took place in the 1970s were mainly computerization of identity and money. Americans have seen the verge of computerization than the prediction of data problems. In the 1960s, there were many books on databases of American society as well as congressional hearings on this matter. In 1974, Congress included the Federal Act’s authority to manage all databases in the Privacy Act, however, it was withdrawn immediately as an act for a favor to a Republican staff who helped the conference committee discussion.

This birth and the expansion of the credit card business clearly required a means to confirm identities quickly. It required a computer system, which meant the credit reporting agencies along with their lengthy files of claims from nosy people which will soon prove useless.

The Introduction of Fair Credit Reporting Act (1970)

Then came the FCRA or the Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 (and soon after the law to regulate debt collection practices). The FCRA had been the very first federal law to regulate data use and is part of a legislative initiative motivated through the civil rights movement. This essentially views credit report as a public tool that had been given a new set of rules. This includes the principle of anti-discrimination and the rules by which people share information and data.

The FCRA is not perfect, but the transition from social relations to structured data has brought significant changes to the politics of credit share. The FCRA was written by liberals trying to stop discrimination in the business community. While it did not totally remove it, it had a major impact on preventing the apparent racism and gender discrimination realized by credit channels.

There is now a dynamic domestic and international credit market. We do not take into account the cost of goods and services traveling abroad or using a credit card. Manage your pipeline tasks for all payments and identities. Discrimination is absolutely not permitted, and debt collection is somewhat regulated.

Discipliine in Credit and Commerce

The foundation of credit and business is discipline. When you borrow money, you owe something to the creditor. You can’t have a business community unless you’re sure who’s accumulating debt. If you do not recognize your identity and account, you can not deposit salaries into people’s accounts. Banks, workers, and merchants cannot just trade cash. Whenever you use a card to pay for anything in a store, whenever you place an order online, rules are made that make your business life less difficult.

The terrible thing about the old credit bureau is that it doesn’t track people, but the rules had been constant with the sensitivity of racism and gender discrimination that we abandoned. This is not the collection of data, but the use of data to empower people to manipulate people in a way that we think we hate.

Politics

Trump Unleashes a New 10% Tariff Threat vs China after Latest Trade War Talks Ended Last July 30, 2019

Trump’s latest announcement of imposing a 10% tariff on the remaining $320 billion worth of Chinese goods entering the U.S., clearly denotes that the most recent U.S.-China did not end well. Although Trump had previously described the ongoing talks as “constructive”, his newest tariff announcement, is an indication that nothing constructive was agreed upon by both sides.

Effectivity date of the new tariff is on September 01, 2019, which means it could still be averted if China makes good on its previous commitment. According to a White House announcement, trade negotiations will resume in Washington by early September.

Trump Asserts China is to Blame Why Recent Negotiations Failed

According to Trump, China failed to honor its previous commitment of increasing its purchase of agricultural products as a show of goodwill. In return, the U.S. government eased sanctions imposed on controversial Chinese telecoms giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd.

Yet according to Chinese state media Xinhua, the government of China declared that millions of tons of soybean shipments from the U.S. arrived in China since July 19, 2019; whilst numerous Chinese companies have placed new orders for U.S. cotton, soybean, sorghum and pork.

Trump vows to increase the 10% tariff to 25% if after the September resumption, China will not budge from its present negotiation demands that include stripping of the existing duties that were imposed during the ongoing trade war.

To date, the U.S. imposes tariff rates of 25% exclusively on $250 billion worth of Chinese imported goods. On the other hand, China applies exclusive 25% tariffs on U.S. imported goods valued at $110 billion. If Trump will not find future negotiations favorable, the 10% tariff on the $320 billion worth of Chinese importation will be raised to 25%.

Prior to the closing of the 2-day trade talks in Shanghai, Hua Chunying, the spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that it was clear that the United States continued to “flip flop” on the negotiations, although she added that she was not aware of the latest developments that transpired during the ongoing talks.

Investments

Political Power and Fair Lending Rules

Consumer credit or consumer debt, like what Forbrukslån.com offer, is personal credit or debt taken for the procurement of goods and/or services. While any form of personal loan can be regarded as consumer credit, the word is typically utilized to refer to a debt or credit that is unsecured taken on to purchase daily goods as well as services. Usually, consumer credit is not utilized to describe the buying of a house, for instance, wherein it is regarded an investment that is long-term and is typically bought by means of a mortgage loan, which is secured. Offered by retailers, banks, and others, consumer credit allow for consumers to immediately buy goods or contract services and settle repayment over a period of time including interest.

Politics and Fair Lending Rules

As per a statistical research, when home-state senator ascents through the ranks, lenders stand on the winning point whereas consumers of color as well as low income earners are on the losing point. Lenders who are shielded by powerful and influential office-bearers seem able to lessen their compliance with the rules on fair-lending without the probability of penalizations. Reductions in the compliance of fair lending rules are most obvious in vicinities where financial institutions, such as banks, have evidence of allocating donations for campaigns to these legislators.

These discoveries, together with the deregulatory actions by the Trump Treasury Department, carry extensive repercussions for the future of regulations and laws that work to fight against lending practices that are unfair and discriminatory.

The Community Reinvestment Act has been in the news broadcast, with the Treasury Department of the United States implying major amendments to the landmark 1977 legislation necessitating banks to create and offer loans areas that are undeserved inside the communities in which they operate.  Supported by the industry of banking, the Treasury has made a proposal for a series of amendments or revisions narrowing down the range of enforcement as well as to for it to be less difficult for lenders to attain high scores for fair lending.

Reduce Compliance Because Of Political Protection

Regulators, however seem to encounter obstacles in implementing the standards on fair-lending like that CRA as well as the Equal Credit Opportunity Act or ECOA.  It has been documented that the compliance of lenders with the standards on fair-lending were subsequently reduced when their voted representative or politician grow to be more influential and powerful.  With this power, they are able to influence how rules are enforced or implemented by regulatory agencies. Accordingly, lenders who are protected by these politicians could lessen compliance with the regulations on fair-lending without worrying about the possible adverse penalties.  In accordance with this case, after home-state representative climbs the ladder to become the head of a focal committee, lenders are found to limit the offers on credit to populations that are underserved like racial minorities as well as low income earners.

 

Politics

U.S. Vice Pres. Pence Sees Mexico Tariff Kicking Off On June 10, 2019, Not Unless…

After meeting with the Mexican envoys to discuss solutions for averting the dreaded 5% – 25% tariffs that the U.S. will impose on goods imported from Mexico, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said the tariffs are likely to kick off as announced on Monday, June 10, 2019. Not unless the delegation headed by Mexico Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard returns to the negotiation table with an acceptance of Trump’s demand for a “safe third country” agreement and of the “Migrant Protection Protocol.”

However, instead of accepting those conditions laid out to them last Wednesday, the Mexico envoys returned with a promise to deploy around 6,000 of the Mexico’s National Guards to the country’s southern border with Guatemala. The purpose of which is to cut off the flow of Central American migrants whose advancements to the US – Mexico south border has led to even sharper increases during the recent past months.

According to V.P. Pence, Mexico’s non-acceptance of the aforementioned conditions, is for the U.S. president to decide. Pence though, hinted that negotiation talks will continue.

Trump views the Thursday negotiations as having made “a lot of progress”, and is expressing determination to impose the initial 5% Mexico tariff on June 10, 2019 (Monday.) Yet, he is also dropping hints that are not short of dangling possibilities of foregoing the tariffs altogether. That is, if Mexico fully accepts the “safe third country” agreement and the “Migrant Protection Protocol.”

When asked by reporters about those specific demands, Mexico Foreign Secretary Ebrard avoided the question, but commented that the meeting on Friday could be one of the last sessions in the negotiation talks. Other Mexican officials said that they will agree to solutions in curbing the flow of asylum seekers, but only if such solutions are dignified, as well as effective.

What Exactly is the “Safe Third Country” Agreement?

Under a “Safe Third Country” covenant, a country agrees to grant asylum to refugees if that country has jurisdiction on the territory on which the refugees first set foot or landed. If this agreement is accepted by Mexico, the country automatically becomes responsible in granting the refugees asylum, as well as in preventing them from pushing forward should they prefer the U.S. as their place of asylum.

As it is, the government of Mexico is hardly in a position to take in hordes of refugees, in light of the country’s own economic conditions. In fact Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had slashed down the country’s immigration and refugee budget for 2019. According to reports, Mexico’s refugee agency is practically receiving less than $1 million for the year.

Canada, the only country with which the U.S. maintains a “Safe Third Country” agreement is currently seeking to end the pact, as Canadian official no longer regard the U.S. as a safe third country. .

Politics

Accounts of Crypto-Funded Political Campaigns

On May of 2018, Colorado State Secretary Wayne Williams suggested a new political movement financing rules that now include a portion of the cryptocurrency content.

In May 2014, FEC presented a set of regulations that responded to a survey of a super PAC called “Make Your Laws.” The entity advocates to replace representative democracy with a comprehensive liquid democracy and asks for clarification if BTC donations can be accepted to finance political campaigns. During that time, Bitcoin was valued at about $400, and the altcoin was not actually regarded as an accepted means of financing campaigns. The FEC decided that Bitcoin can be accepted as an “in-kind donation” for campaigns. A kind of contribution that supplies the services and goods necessary for the organization’s functions, instead of using the funds to pay for those services and goods.

This means that the campaign cannot pay Bitcoin directly. It should be liquidated and then deposited into the campaign account. In terms of the donation ceiling, the percentage is dispersed throughout the party lines where the Democrats use a limit of $100, the Republicans at $2700 ceiling. Since the advisory opinion outlines recommendations rather than rules, GOP support for a larger cap had later inspired some politicians to allow themselves to go with the $2,700 limit. As the advisory watch laid out the suggestions instead of the guidelines, the Republican support for the larger limit afterward encouraged some political figures to let themselves take the $2,700 cap.

Given the somewhat uncertain federal rules, several state regulators had been struggling with related investigations after the distribution of the FEC regulation.

Politicians Who Advocated Crypto-Funded Campaigns

Below are a few of the most compelling American politicians at the state and federal levels who were transparent on their acceptance of crypto funds.

  • Andrew Hemingway. Hemingway is a Republican candidate for the Governor of New Hampshire in 2014. He is the first in the office who has used cryptocurrency donations during his campaign.
  • Austin Petersen. Petersen is from Missouri, a Republican candidate running for the Senate. He supports cryptocurrency based on his pro-market ideas.
  • Brian Forde. Forde is set to become the political digital currency star. A Democrat seeking to be elected in the U.S. House representing California 45th Congressional District. He previously worked at MIT Media Lab as the head of digital currency. He also had been tech adviser under the administration of Obama.
  • Dan Elder. Elder, Libertarian bidding for the House of Representatives for Missouri in 2016. He held the first campaign to be financed all by Bitcoin.

Other politicians who advocate cryptocurrency during their campaign includes Jared Polis, Greg Abbott, Patrick Nelson, and Rand Paul. Politics is full of inertia and devotedness to the status quo. Therefore, there is no doubt that cryptocurrency for political finance is not even close to popular taking.

Politics

World Leaders Responded to Climate Change via Paris Agreement

Back in 2015, over 196 nations have taken part on a common cause and made a historical agreement. Collectively, they’ve made a vow to do their best efforts in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and pour research and development in discovering other sources of clean energy. This is in an effort to combat climate change.

Whether you believe it or not, USA is one of the leading polluters in the globe. Given the fact that they’re one of the major contributors to climate change, they have heavily supported the historic pact termed as Paris Agreement. This was under former US President Barack Obama’s administration.

The Start of a New World

The agreement was then adopted on the 12th of December 2015 at the UN climate summit in Paris France. This has the aim of limiting warming of planet to below 2 degrees Celsius while aiming to reach 1.5 degrees Celsius by the start of 2100. Being part of the pact, countries were expected to lower its emission of greenhouse gases. The US set a personal goal for itself by facilitating 26 to 28 percent reduction of 2005 greenhouse gas emission levels as 2025 enters. It is actually a big leap and a time-sensitive task as well.

According to an analysis from Nature Climate Change, it has been discovered that we need to stop emitting greenhouse gases by up to 2060 in an effort to keep the warming below the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold by 2100.

As a matter of fact, this effort has affected the world as a whole for various companies and industries have started the shift on more efficient industrial production. From crypto signals, market trends, etc. are affected by this agreement.

In 2016 of November, the agreement takes effect and required a minimum of 55 countries which account almost half of global emissions to be on board. To date, 179 countries or parties out of the 196 signatories has been accepted or ratified. There are only couple of nations in UN Framework Convention on Climate Change or UNFCCC whose leaders have refused signing the agreement and these are Nicaragua and Syria.

Then All of a Sudden…

But come Trump’s administration, the President made an announcement in 2017 becoming the third country not to be included in this global pact. Though one of the largest contributors of greenhouse gases, they’re the first nation to ever rescind in its commitment to the pact.

Politics

Trump Vetoes Resolution to End U.S. Support of Arab Coalition Forces vs. Iran-Backed Houthi Movement in Yemen

U.S. President Donald Trump sent back to Congress without Executive Approval, the joint resolution passed by Senate last March 13, 2019 under S.J. 7. The joint resolution bars Trump as the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces from approving further provision of military assistance, to the Saudi-backed Arab Coalition Forces waging war against the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen.

In a letter addressed to the United States Senate, Donald Trump asserts that the resolution is unnecessary, since there are no U.S. military personnel in-charge or participating in the ongoing hostilities in Yemen. Yet he also stated that the resolution presents a

”dangerous attempt to weaken his constitutional authorities.”

S.J. 7: An Unprecedented Bill in the History of U.S. Congress

S.J. 7 of the 116th Congress is a resolution that puts an end to U.S. military support for the Arab-backed coalition forces that intervened in Yemen’s affairs since 2015. The intervention aims to restore Yemen’s internationally recognized government, taken over by the Iran-aligned Houthi. The resolution includes barring arms sales and sharing of intelligence.

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, calls the joint resolution historic, because this is the first time in 45 years that Congress has taken measures to stop U.S. forces from participating in an unauthorized war. Senator Sanders, a long-serving independent from Vermont who later sided with the Democrats said,

”For many years, under Democratic presidents, under Republican presidents, Congress has abdicated its responsibility and allowed presidents to take our people into war without congressional authority,”

Although it is true that there are no U.S. military personnel actively taking part in the long running civil war in Yemen, the U.S. has been refuelling Arab Coalition aircrafts blamed for airstrikes that have killed thousands of Yemen civilians.

Last December 2018, Timothy Lenderking, Trump Administration’s Deputy Asst. Sec. for Arabian Gulf Affairs gave assurance to the United Arab Emirates in a security forum, by stating

“We (Trump Administration) believe that the support for the coalition is necessary. It sends a wrong message if we discontinue our support.”

Still, after Congress passed S.J.  7 last month, the U.S. military has ceased refueling Arab Coalition aircrafts.

Politics

Amazon HQ 2 Plans Move Forward: Arlington and Nashville In, New York City Out

Tech giant Amazon pursues expansion plans in Arlington, Virginia and Nashville, Tennessee, whilst scrapping New York City out of the picture.

Nashville was actually chosen in 2018 as a minor player, while New York City was scrapped after much hullabaloo was raised by local grassroots organizations, several New York state politicians and local NY City council members. The subject of protest  was the near $3 billion tax incentive offered to Amazon by the city government, as part of the Request for Proposal submitted to Amazon.

Amazon’s Original Choices

After more than a year of evaluating the proposals submitted by 238 cities, which included Toronto, Canada, the company chose the proposal submitted by the cities of New York and Arlington. The plan was to build 2 additional headquarters instead of building just one (1), whilst dividing the 50,000 new technology-related jobs between the 2 selected cities. The new employees can expect to receive salaries of more than $100K annually.

Actually, the benefits the cities will reap in having the tech giant as new addition to their landscape go beyond the creation of new jobs. According to the tech company, surveys showed that 70 percent (70%) of NYC residents supported Amazon’s decision to accept the NY proposal.

However, the company decided last February 2019 not to move forward with the NY HQ plans, as there are groups unwilling to work with them in connection with the project envisioned for the Long Island City.

Amazon’s new plan though will add only 5,000 new tech jobs to Nashville, the city being ranked Number 45 nationwide as a tech talent resource. Nonetheless, the tech giant plans to construct a 2-tower headquarter at the Nashville Yardsite. The additional office will be instrumental in growing Amazon’s technology hubs and corporate offices in in the U.S. and Canada, as means of easing the current load carried by the existing Seattle headquarter.

Plans for Amazon Expansion in Arlington, Virginia Still on the Table

On its part, the city of Arlington’s proposal includes an offer to give Amazon a $750 million in financial package, which the Virginia General Assembly had already approved with very few resistance. The package is actually more of a performance-based incentive, to which the local government will award financial grants.

That is if Amazon succeeds in meeting Arlington’s expectations once the tech giant builds its 2nd headquarter across the six (6) million sq.ft. space at the National Landing.

Politics

Democrats All Set to Stop Trump in His National Emergency Track, by Using All Possible Means

Many are looking to Congress for actions that would overturn Trump’s national emergency declaration last February 15, 2019. Finally, an announcement coming from the Lower House has been released, stating that House Democrats are set to file a resolution on Friday, aimed at overturning Trump’s national emergency declaration. NY Democrat and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer also said

Identical companion legislation to the House resolution will soon be introduced in the Senate”

How the Democrat Resolution will Run in Congress

If filing of the resolution pushes through on Friday, full house voting is likely to take place as early as next week or by the middle of March, 2019. If the bill passes muster at the lower house, it will then move up for deliberation and voting by the Senate. Since the measure will be introduced as a “privileged resolution,” the Senate will have to vote on the House-approved bill within eighteen (18) days.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is confident that the bill will move swiftly from the lower house to the Senate and finally to the Oval Office. Her confidence stems from the fact that some lower House and Senate Republicans will side with the Democrats. Republicans who won from perennial swing districts and states; namely Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin are in a precarious situation. Apparently, how those GOP Senators will vote on the proposed bill, can impact their chances of winning in the forthcoming 2020 elections.

In the event that Trump vetoes a Congressional resolution that will block the implementation of his national emergency declaration, which is likely to happen, Congress will again go into voting to nullify the presidential veto. This time, a bill overriding the veto must garner at least two-thirds vote in the lower house, and another two-thirds in the Senate upper chamber.

What Happens Next if the Democrat Resolution Fails?

House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Schumer avow that they intend to pursue all possible means to overturn Trump’s declaration. That is assuming that Trump’s presidential veto prevails due to lack of Congressional support in overriding such veto.

The next step available is for the Democrats to a file lawsuit in the same way that 16 American states have already pursued as course of action. Their court petition is to prevent Trump from using military and homeland security funds allocated for their respective state. Many believe that the Democrats have better chances of stopping Trump from his track, by filing their own lawsuit.

Apparently, the Republicans had set a precedent in 2014, when their lawsuit versus the Obama administration, won the support of the district court judge. The matter brought to court pertained to an attempt by the Obama administration to use funds already allocated for other purposes, to subsidize health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. This previous ruling therefore, applies as helpful argument in contesting Trump in his use of his national emergency powers, as means of diverting military funds to his US border wall project.

Politics

What May Happen if Congress Maintains Its NO Border-Wall Appropriation

Trump’s agreement to bring the U.S. government in full operation is only temporary and conditional, giving Senate up to February 15, 2019 to decide on his request for a $5.7 billion border-wall funding. What will happen, if after February 15, 2019, Trump fails to get the funding?

Upon signing the short-term funding bill, Trump still made it clear that his border-wall funding request stays on the negotiations table. If not, he will be constrained to initiate another partial government shutdown or declare a State of National Emergency. This means that if another partial shutdown happens, around 800,000 government workers will once again be without paychecks, while several badly needed government services will be suspended anew.

Now what will happen if Trump decides to use his executive power to declare a State of National Emergency?

Trump’s State of National Emergency Alternative

A U.S. President is empowered to declare a State of National Emergency under the provisions of the National Emergencies Act (NEA 50 U.S.C 1601). According to CNN, the White House is currently updating the proclamation draft that was previously prepared. The draft presents courses of action, in case Trump decides to invoke the power vested by the NEA 50 U.S.C 1601, as alternative.

The proclamation draft will have Trump declaring that

a national emergency exists at the southern border of the United States….. The massive amount of aliens who unlawfully enter the United States each day is a direct threat to the safety and security of our nation and constitutes a national emergency

CNN further reported that if the incumbent U.S. President uses his NEA power to obtain the border-wall funding, the related emergency actions that will be undertaken include extracting sums of budget appropriations, from the following:

National Treasury – $681 million in Forfeiture Funds
Military – $3.6 billion of construction budget
Pentagon – $3 billion in civil works funds
Department of Homeland Security $200 million in unspecified funds

Still, the NEA alternative is not a foolproof course of action, because the amended version of the Act has formally given Congress the power to exercise check-balance; along with the power to invalidate the national emergency proclamation, if found unwarranted.

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