Campaigning for the presidency, Barack Obama threatened to invade Pakistan.  Since becoming president, he has attacked Pakistan, reneged on his campaign promises in regards to Iraq and here, escalated the war in Afghanistan (and contemplates further escalation), and is now pushing a confrontation with Iran.

Yet, somehow he wins the Nobel Peace Prize!?!

Topic: California is the world's 8th largest economy

California has had budget deficit challenges since 1978 when a law was passed to limit the ability to increase taxes. With the additional strain of the current worlwode depressed economy, CA may have to fold. This would cause a ripple effect of undisclosed proportions.

Their deficit has risen slowly over the past three decades to a staggering $24 billion dollars. This includes the cost of single-handedly funding many social programs for the entire nation. It also accounts for 12% of the national GDP.

The government is still watching and waiting to see if CA will be able to solve it's own problems.

Care to see if you could balance the state budget? the LA Times has a website where you can go to find out? http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-state...57202.htmlstory

Original Article found here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20090701/ts_ynews/ynews_ts418

And what would happen to all those people who were unemployed? They would be signing up for unemployment benefits, welfare, food stamps, any government financial assistance that they can get. I do not blame people for taking advantage of government assistance, they have to survive somehow. You made a great a point about higher minimum wage increasing unemployment. I hate to be cynical, but I think our government would welcome a higher unemployment rate, the more people that rely on the government for financial support, the more power that the government has over us. When campaign time roles around politicians can promise more financial benefits to the extremely poor, and the more people that are extremely poor the better it is for politicians. If there is an extremely high unemployment rate and some politician has promised all the unemployed people more money, then who do you think all the unemployed are going to vote for?

The Floridian Winter Pact
Preamble:
In the interest of promoting friendship and ever-lasting peace between two sovereign alliances, the Greenland Republic and the Random Insanity Alliance do hereby sign this document of Peace, Intelligence, and Aid.

Section I:
Both alliances and their respected members shall remain sovereign of each other.

Section II:
Neither alliance shall engage in or endorse military action against the other signatory. If a nation is found in violation of this they will be ordered to offer peace and reparations, the amount of which to be decided by the signatories governments on a case-by-case basis. Defending nations are required to limit retaliation to the level of attacks received. Should an offending nation refuse to offer peace and agree on terms of reparations, as decided by their alliances government, they will be declared a rogue and will no longer be offered the protection of either alliance.
Section II, Item A. Neither alliance will engage in or endorse espionage against the other.

Section III:
Both alliances and their respective members shall remain civil to each other at all times, especially in public forums.

Section V:
If either alliance receives information concerning a direct threat to the other, the receiving alliance will notify a member of the other signatory's government and provide the relevant information, keeping the source hidden if chosen.

Section VI:
Should either alliance find themselves in a defensive war, they may request financial aid from their fellow signatory, who are encouraged, yet not obligated, to fulfill such a request.

Section VII:
Either signatory may terminate this pact at any time; however, the withdrawing alliance must notify the other signatory through diplomatic channels 48 hours prior to cancellation, except when the countersigned has violated Sections II or III

Signed for the Greenland Republic:

Archon: Al
Vice-Archon: Shamedmonkey
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Ilselu1
Minister of Defence: Virillus
Minister of Finance: Kosherness
Minister of Interior: Acid
Senate: Kestral, Menwearpink135, Cripple, Jenker, Gn0x

Signed for the Random Insanity Alliance:

Delta1212, Triumvir of the Random Insanity Alliance, Demi-God of Maroon, Psychic Cupcake Overlord of the Cupcakery, Destroyer of Realities, Eperor of the SuperFriends
Shadow, Triumvir of Random Insanity, The Ultimate Lifeform, Mystic Dragon Emperor of the Cheeselands, Puppetmaster of Chaos, Shadow gov of the SuperFriends
Agent Lemon - Tricycle of the Random Insanity Alliance
crazyisraelie, Head of Foreign Affairs and Leader of &#$@s!
Thunder Strike, Head of Recruitment and hater of cats.
cctmsp13 - Head of Economics
C-zom - Head of Military Operations