Jeb Bush touting conservative policies to aid middle class

The nation’s economy can grow much faster by unshackling government burdens on business, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told an audience of influential Detroit-area business leaders on Wednesday in his first major economic speech as a 2016 Republican presidential prospect.

In his address to the Detroit Economic Club, the son and brother of former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush offered the economic principles that would form the foundation of an economic platform, should he continue on the path toward a campaign. Bush was also expected to attend a fundraiser Wednesday evening in Detroit.

Bush spoke mainly about improving the economic fortunes of middle- and low-income families, especially in cities, such as Detroit, which has recently emerged from bankruptcy.

“I know some in the media think conservatives don’t care about the cities. But they are wrong. We believe that every American and in every community has a right to pursue happiness,” he told the audience of 600. “They have a right to rise,” Bush said, borrowing from his economic mantra and the name of the political action committee he formed in December. Wednesday’s speech was the first in a series of stops his aides are calling his “Right to Rise” tour.

Bush said the federal government needs to encourage economic growth among the middle class, which, he argues, has languished despite the ongoing economic recovery. Conservative economic policies, he says, would provide incentive for middle-income families to reach higher income.

Bush touted education as a way forward for struggling families, an issue he has long supported. In his second term as Florida’s chief executive, Bush enacted the nation’s first school voucher program, aimed at allowing families in failing school districts to choose charter and private schools at state cost.

The former governor also is in favor of paring down government, calling bloated bureaucracy, onerous taxes and voluminous regulations shackles to economic growth and American families’ ability to climb.

The Detroit event represents a departure for Bush, who has spoken only at paid events and private fundraisers.

Aides also confirmed that Bush plans to make his first trip to Iowa as a presidential prospect in March. Bush plans to participate in an agricultural policy forum hosted by Republican Gov. Terry Branstad and agribusiness leader Bruce Rastetter.

View the original article here

Jeb Bush touting conservative policies to aid middle class

Arley Gill: A policy of containment may have avoided further Middle East troubles

Rashid Street, Baghdad, Iraq (Credit: Caribbean360/Bigstock)

Arley Gill

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Friday June 27, 2014 - ISIS – the group that claims it’s fighting for an “Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’’ – is said to be extreme compared to the Taliban, whom we know to be extreme. The goal of ISIS is to carve out an Islamic state, taking portions of unstable Iraq and the dysfunctional nation of Syria. This is not good news for the west and, indeed, the world.

Now, I am no admirer of Saddam Hussein, the former Iraqi President. For sure, I would not like to live in a country where the likes of Saddam are leaders.

However, it is fair to ask one’s self whether or not the so-called “War on Terror’’, launched by the United Stated in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in America, would not have been better off with a policy of containment on an Iraq led by Saddam Hussein.

Saddam, for all his weaknesses, led a more stable Iraq. One cannot help but wonder whether or not these types of leaders are what is required in societies so volatile.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

So, did the US err in invading Iraq and getting rid of Saddam? Was getting rid of Saddam a shortsighted policy?
It occurs to me that the same questions can be asked for the countries that were part of the Arab Spring of protest and western-encouraged government changes; in places such as Egypt and Libya, for example.

Egypt is back, effectively, with a military Jefe, who has jailed his opponents including a sitting president. He resigned from the army, installed himself as government leader, and then – not surprisingly – ran and won an election. Farcical, isn’t it?

Libya, for its part, now has a multitude of leaders and militias for every district.

Muammar Gaddafi, the former leader who was overthrown and executed, had negotiated a settlement of the Lockerbie airplane bombing (subsequent documentaries and literature I have read indicate that Libya was not to blame for the bombing), and he had opened up Libya to the west; so much so that western leaders had returned to visiting Libya.

But, the west had other plans for Gaddafi and it did not include him remaining in charge of Libya.

They supported rebel fighters against Gaddafi and a no-fly zone was set up over Libya. It’s the same policy that was adopted against Syria; only this time, Syria had powerful friends like Russia to assist.

The west now seemingly appreciates that there is no one opposition group in Syria and it is chaos dealing with the leaders of these groups. Here again, can a policy of containment be a better option rather than military intervention and the overthrow of the government?

Admittedly, there is need for greater freedom and democracy in Syria. But, what is the alternative? Who is the alternative? Those are questions begging for answers. It seems to me that a dance with the devil may be better than a search for the unknown.

Further, on the issue of Iraq, the reasons given by the US for the invasion we now know to be untruthful. So, what were the real reasons for the Iraqi invasion?

Whatever it is, it seems as though it was a bad decision by the US. But, who is going to take the blame? Who is going to accept the responsibility?

The views expressed in this column are solely those of Arley Gill. Arley Gill, a lawyer and magistrate, is a former Grenada minister of culture.

The views expressed in this column are solely those of Arley Gill. Arley Gill, a lawyer and magistrate, is a former Grenada minister of culture.

View the original article here

Arley Gill: A policy of containment may have avoided further Middle East troubles

Brazil"s new middle class demands more

14 July 2013 Last updated at 19:18 ET By Julia Carneiro BBC Brazil, Rio de Janeiro Brazil’s new middle class – celebrating and demonstrating Brazil’s so-called “new middle class” gained recognition worldwide as a symbol of upward mobility. But the wave of demonstrations that brought millions out on to the streets in June has exposed the thin line that separates this group from slipping back into poverty.

They had been planning the evening for more than a year. The groom waited anxiously in the fancy grey suit rented out for the ceremony; the bride arrived fashionably late in a shiny black car, with sparkles from her gown to her crown.

Francisco Oliveira and Taina Ferreira were married in a Catholic church close to Complexo da Mare, the shanty town where they live in Rio de Janeiro.

The proud groom is a 35-year-old construction worker kept busy in Brazil’s booming property business. He says the money spent on the fancy ceremony was worth every penny.

“It was her dream, and making her happy makes me so happy too,” he says.

Brazilians are spending 50% more on weddings than they did a decade ago

Like many in Brazil’s new middle class, Francisco and 23-year-old Taina can afford luxuries their parents did not have.

More buying power among the so-called Classe C has meant people have more access to appliances, electrical goods and travel opportunities – but also the possibility of getting married in style, something people here cherish.

In the past decade, Brazilians have increased their spending on weddings by more than 50%.

‘People want a say’

But in June, it became clear that having more access to goods and services was not enough.

Millions of Brazilians took to the streets in demonstrations that swept across the country during the Confederations Cup football tournament.

Julia Carneiro reports on Brazil’s middle class

The protesters had many concerns, ranging from corruption in public life to spending on hosting the World Cup and Olympics. Much of the anger was driven by middle-class demands.

People were asking for more investment in public services, demanding better public schools, hospitals and transportation.

“The people have awoken,” was one of the constant chants heard on the streets.

Jailson de Souza e Silva, who co-ordinates a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Mare known as the Favela Observatory, says newcomers to the Classe C have been celebrated as consumers but they are now making more demands as citizens.

“It’s great that people have more access to food and different goods. But people want to have a say in politics and a wider participation in decision-making.”

Three Brazilians among the thousands protesting in June

Mr Silva says the Brazilian government has historically distanced itself from the needs of society.

“The population feels that the state takes a lot and gives very little back. Taxes are very high, but the return in terms of investment in health, education, housing and security is still very low.”

Vladimir Safatle, a philosophy professor at the University of Sao Paulo, says there was a period of upward mobility during former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government, but now people feel this progress has stalled.

“We had a strong growth but we are not feeling a better quality of life. The middle class feels that its salaries are corroded by all the money they have to spend on private services, because public schools and hospitals are so poor.”

‘Basic needs’

Belonging to the middle class in Brazil is not what people may imagine in developed countries, says Renato Meirelles, director of research institute Data Popular.

Here, a family of four with a monthly income of more than $150 (£100) per person is considered part of this group.

“It seems low but the new middle class has seen its income improve a lot in the past few years,” says Mr Meirelles.

How the new middle class is changing the world

Of the 12 million people living in Brazil’s favelas – or shanty towns – more than 60% now belong to this middle class.

“Of course there is still a long way to go. People in this group still have very basic needs, for instance when it comes to education and proper sanitation.”

But Taina and Francisco are an example of a newer generation in Rio’s favelas that is more aware of the importance of education and do not feel trapped by the impoverished lives their parents led.

Taina is the first person in her family to go to university – she is a chemistry student at Rio’s Federal University.

Initially she dreamed of getting a stable job but now sees a wide range of opportunities – and her new husband Francisco wants to follow in her footsteps.

“Things are changing. Most of the people in my community now want to go to college. I think we’ve taken a big step forward,” she says.

First steps

After the religious ceremony, Francisco and Taina arrive, now together, at their wedding party.

It’s in a party venue in the working-class neighbourhood of Ramos, close to Mare. It’s modest but luxurious, with purple and white curtains hanging from the walls, matching flowers and drapery on the tables. The three-tiered wedding cake has a miniature bride and groom on top.

Francisco and Taina saved $4,000 for their wedding

The young couple saved $4,000 (£2,600) to throw this party and invited more than 100 friends and relatives. There is plenty of food, drink and even a folk dance, a tribute to Brazil’s traditional Festa Junina (June Festival) celebrations.

The men put on straw hats and line up in pairs with the women. The married couple duck down to scoot through a tunnel formed by the raised arms of their guests.

These are their first steps as a married couple but they have many ambitions for the future and a growing sense that the mobility which brought them into the new middle class needs to continue.

View the original article here

Brazil"s new middle class demands more

Mo Farah challenges Bolt in middle distance race for charity

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Usain Bolt and the United Kingdom’s Mo Farah could be going head-to-head in a race for charity.

According to news.sky.com, Mo Farah challenged Jamaican Usain Bolt to run over a distance of between 600 metres and 800 metres.Farah, 30, is more used to competing over 5,000m and 10,000m, while Bolt specialises in the 100m and 200m.“They won their respective events at last year’s Olympics and struck up a special connection during the London Games.So the charity race, if it happens, would be over an intermediate distance, raising money for their own foundations”, the report said.Farah, who is also in form in middle distance running as he recently broke the British 1,500m record, said: “He’s got his charity foundation, I’ve got the Mo Farah Foundation.“It would be great to do a distance where people vote in — proper athletics fans — on what distance they think is most suitable.”He then told Bolt: “Are you up for that? Come on, you’ve got to do it.”Bolt, 26, replied he would be prepared to take on the challenge, saying: “That sounds fun. It’s going to be hard but it’s charity so it’s all about fun and enjoyment. I’m up for anything, for anything’s possible.”Bolt said running 1,500m would be out of the question.“It’s way too far,” he said. “Six hundred (metres) for sure I can try because I’ve done 600m in training.”Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don’t use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed:mailto:advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

comments powered by

View the original article here

Mo Farah challenges Bolt in middle distance race for charity