Scandals, the new trend for financial industries.

   It seems that more and more scandals and dishonestly is happening in the financial industry more frequently. Since when did ripping off and scamming become so popular? Well in an USA Today article by Lefteris Pitarakis, AP it was said that maybe the "punishments" for such crimes are ironically solutions for the people committing these crimes.
   Recently, GlaxoSmithKline agreed to pay $3 billion to the government for failure to report safety data on it's diabetes drug and for marketing it's antidepressants for unauthorized uses. Similar deals have been made by Pfizer in 2009 and Abbott Laboratories in May. Not only has the pharmaceutical industry had major scandals but also the banking industry. In the 1980s the savings-and-loan debacle was forced a bailout of $100 billion because of scams in the investment banking and similar fund industries. Recently, the Libor (London interbank offered rate), which has a major impact on mortgages, credit cards and other borrowing lied about the rate they were offered on short-term loans.
  Over a 1,000 people were convicted of felonies during the savings-and-loan crisis and during the Libor scandal, Barlays CEO Bob Diamond and two other executives resigned. It is certain that financial penalties are not the answer to stop these crimes. In a  2005 book Freakonomics, the authors pointed out that when a day care center began to fine parents who were late to pick up their children, tardiness increased. Parents saw this penalty as a simple way to excuse their tardiness.
  Making these criminals pay a simple price that they can pay off is just giving them the okay to do these things. If they know their consequences are that easy, why not do it right? So regulations and expensive fines aren't the solutions to change criminal behavior, the way to change it is "with criminal penalties".

Classmate's Blog - Southern Hospitality

   Ogechi E. Acknowledges an important issue, which reminds us of our rights as American citizens. What happen to Freedom of Speech? Now every time someone protests or speaks out in disagreement automatically they're seen as ignorant and are criticized. What happen to our right to express ourselves freely, because isn't that a right we've fought for?
   Recently the NAACP has been criticized for booing and heckling Mitt Romney while Joe Biden was given a warm welcome at their convention in Houston. Knowing that this convention would contain a majority of Democrats, Mitt Romney still decided to give his speech. Which is fine because as Ogechi pointed out they're surround by mature adults. But when those same mature adults decided to express themselves with a noise as simple and harmless as booing those adults are now criticized.
   I agree with Ogechi's argument that while these people expressed themselves with a harmless noise and are being bashed, instead we should think of the people right now expressing themselves by acting out in violence. I also agree with Ogechi's thought that people have failed to think deeply about this situation. People have failed to think deeply about this situation because they are not seeing the fact that maybe the heckling wasn't out of immaturity and ignorance it was out of beliefs and opinions. We all think and believe differently and there is nothing wrong with this and for this reason we we're given the right to express ourselves as we wish. We have every right to harmlessly exercise our Freedom of Speech. It isn't right for citizen to be seen as ignorant for taking advantage of their rights and at that taking advantage of them properly.
  It is so sad to me that we cannot even express ourselves without being judged or criticized. America is a great Country for reasons like our right of Freedom of Speech. Instead of us being worried about the innocent disagreements we express in politics we such be worried about the violence people use to express themselves over silly disagreements in meaningless things.

Immigration law, do or don't?

   Immigration is a rising concern in America and Arizona's law (SB 1070) has surely stirred up the issue. In 2010 Arizona passed the SB 1070 in "defense" of illegal immigration. The law allows police officials to stop someone and ask for proof that they belong here. Many argue whether the law enables discrimination or not. Some feel that this is no different from a traffic stop or is that just a cover up to lighten up the problems this law brings. Can't they just improve and advanced their border. Why must citizens be asked to prove that they have the right to be in their homeland? Arizona's intentions maybe have been to protect themselves from crime and trouble. But then again was that even their intention? What or who are they trying to protect or protect themselves from, their jobs or the fact that Hispanics are a rapid growing minority? The SB 1070 really needs to be over looked and a new law needs to be put in place for the right reasons rather than the wrong reasons. America is a great country and many civilians around the world (not just from Mexico) want to be part of this amazing country to better themselves and/or their family. And this should be allowed without making American citizens suffer and be discriminated against. We can make this possible if laziness is not an option and we strengthen our borders to ensure protection of our wonderful country. The SB 1070 has surely turned around illegal immigration. And probably has influenced other states to create such a law that may continue to offend American citizens.
   Others have also argued that fear influenced Arizona's defense while freedom is being taken and too much power is being given. The power Arizona will be given will probably end up in misuse because isn't that almost always the case when more power is given. The fear that whites will become a minority has raised concern. But while Arizona worries and is finding ways to protect themselves by passing this law, Americans worry and try to find ways to protect themselves from this law.



http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/04/arizona_facts.html
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-04-23/opinion/opinion_navarrette-arizona-immigration-law_1_illegal-immigrants-immigration-law-fake-green-cards?_s=PM:OPINION