Tag: government

The Government Shutdown still going on…

by Elizabeth, posted in Awareness, Education

Quote of TRUTH: “Getting along with others is the essence of getting ahead, success being linked to cooperation.” – William Feather

here we go…

 

What has happened??? The US government had been shut down for some time now. I know, I’d say it is slightly alarming. Let’s start from the beginning. Basically, Trump requested about $5 billion to fund the wall on the US and Mexico border. However, this request was denied. So, then Trump decided to shut down the government until he got what he wanted, this happened on December 22. 

 

What exactly is a government shutdown?  Typically, government shutdowns usually occur when there is a lack of funding. And, this lack of funding usually happens because of a delay in the approval of the federal budget. However, the shutdown we have now is a different case, it’s because of Trump not getting what he wants and shutting down the government until he does. 

 

Now what? There are hundreds of thousands of federal workers from different departments and federal agencies that are being affected by the recent shutdown.  Currently, the federal workers who are working are without pay. WITHOUT PAY. The thing is they will get paid its just they’re not entirely sure when that paycheck is coming anytime soon. Here are some of the departments and agencies affected by this:

  • Department of agriculture
  • Commerce
  • Justice
  • Homeland Security
  • Housing & Urban Development
  • Interior 
  • State
  • Transportation
  • Treasury

 

The shutdown is still ongoing, passing 25 days! In my opinion, it shouldn’t be down for this long. The longer that they keep the government shutdown like this, different programs will probably close down, more people will lose their jobs, and the US economy won’t be at its best. We are waiting either for Trump to cave in and open the government back up again without the funding, for the Democrats to cave in and agree with helping to finance the border, or the Republicans to cave in, get with the Democrats, and pass a spending bill to fund the government and get it back on its feet without Trump’s approval. Which one will it be? Well, we’ll have to wait for that….

 

 

Yours truly,

L.O.A.S.H

© Elizabeth Anne Villoria

 

 

Regulating the Source of Life (FOOD)

by Elizabeth, posted in Food, Worldwide

Quote of truth: “Laughter is brightest where food is best.” – Irish Proverb

Food has great importance. It’s a source of life, and it plays a huge role in our society. It’s seen way more than just some plain thing on a plate. It’s valued and as each individual has their own culture, food has helped as a bridge to connect everyone. As the years pass by, mass productions of food have grown with it. The growth of corn, for example, has risen so much as shown in the article, When a Crop Becomes King, by Michael Pollan. And, it is also discussed in the article The Pleasures of Eating written by Wendell Berry about food politics and its relation to the people. More so than now, governments must take responsibility to regulate the food industry and ensure that the food that is given to the people is safe and healthy.

FOOOOOOOOOOOOD. 

One reason why the government needs to regulate the food industry would be to help maintain the health of the people. Taking the average person, the food that they intake is what helps them to function on a daily basis. If the food were to be filled with unhealthy ingredients, this would be very unfortunate. However, the thing is that most people have their busy schedule to control what they eat. Without the time to make homemade food, what gets most consumed would be junk food, pre-made food, and fast food. Most people are not aware of what is in the products that they purchase. And, just as Berry mentions in his article when buying food, consumers tend to “ignore certain critical questions about the quality and cost of what they are sold”. And, in the end with all the unawareness and lack of control that a consumer is given over what’s in their food makes them a victim of the food industry.

Another reason that regulations need to be set would be because of the havoc it creates with the environment and the people. Taking corn, for example, it is put into almost every product on every shelf of every store out there. It has squirmed its way into our snacks and drinks, all the way up to the vitamin C that we take. The government needs to take a closer look at the growing problems that come with corn. Not only does corn hurt our environment, “kill off marine life in a 12,000 square mile area” and more, and takes millions of acres of land for themselves but they also affect our health as argued by Michael Pollan. Billions of dollars are given to grow corn. This corn is then put into the food we eat, the animals that we consume, and even the beverages that we intake. Corn is just turning into a big fat monster, but this is for another story, another time. Anyways, this needs to be regulated more often along with every other ingredient out there, stopping it from taking too much of a role in our lives.

Although some people may say that the government shouldn’t do anything with the regulation of the food companies, this is wrong because it poses such a huge threat to our health and environment. Without the government to check on the food processes and what gets put into our food makes what we consume to be risky. And, this risk goes to our health, our families health, and the environment. Also, as not everyone is aware with what is being put into their products, they can never truly “be free if our minds and voices are controlled by someone else”, as Wendell Berry puts it. With the government to double check the food industries and for them to make sure what is given to us in our supermarkets is safe, would make us have more sense of security and create a better and healthier lifestyle for everyone.

In conclusion, the government should keep tabs and regulate what goes on in the food industry to make sure it is safe, healthy, and good for our environment. Just like how the article on The Pleasures of Eating talks about the importance of eating responsibly, this is what the goal of the regulations should be. Choosing and allowing this to happen, would help our lifestyles, the world around us, and the choices we choose to be better, healthier, and safer.

You can make a difference. Start being aware of what you put into your mouth. Spread the word. Cook homemade delicious food. Find the time. Make time. 

 

stay aware. stay awesome.

Yours truly,

L.O.A.S.H

© Elizabeth Anne Villoria