PFRDA

How is the New Pension System which was launched in May 2009 in India? How is the New Pension System which was launched in May 2009 in India

Can a NRI (NON RESIDENT INDIAN) invest in New Pension System ? NPS.? IS New Pension System for NRI'S ?

May I pay Tier 2 account under new pension system online. Pls help me ?

Any one refer me to a pension lawyer who is familiar with Teachers Retirement system in New York city?

Is it better to replace the public pension system with social security & a 401k plan that would? Should we replace public pension system with social security and 401k that would lessen the problems both systems (SS and PP) are experiencing. Namely, SS will be infused with new funds and PP will meet their commitment because public employees would begin to contribute towards their own retirement funds.

About the idea of a mandatory universal pension system,? RetirementUSA, how exactly does this work when you factor in people who don't? Aren't the feds really just planning to create a new Social Security Admin and use our private pension plans to fund it? Or do you really think that we would receive a government pension on top of Social Security?

Should we replace public pension system with social security and 401k that would? lessen the problems both systems (SS and PP) are experiencing. Namely, SS will be infused with new funds and PP will meet their commitment because public employees would begin to contribute towards their own retirement funds.

How do pensions work in Sweden? Whats the idea behind them, how does the process work? Why is it considered one of the best policies in europe? Are there any problems that the new pension system has created?

Pension question involving Real estate? My husband recently left a job with a city police department for a state one. His new department recognizes his time served, and he does not have to contribute to the new pension system. Previously, he had, and is now entitled to get his other money back, after taxes and a penalty for pulling it out early of course. We were looking to use the pension money as a down payment on a home. My question is; is their some way to avoid any of the penalties usually involved with withdrawing pension money early, since the money is being deposited directly for a real estate down payment? There was mention of State and Federal taxes that would be owed as the money was invested pre-tax, and an additional 20% penalty because of out age (early 30's.) Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! By the way, this is in New York State, if that helps.

Question about pension money and real estate? My husband recently left a job with a city police department for a state one. His new department recognizes his time served, and he does not have to contribute to the new pension system. Previously, he had, and is now entitled to get his other money back, after taxes and a penalty for pulling it out early of course. We were looking to use the pension money as a down payment on a home. My question is; is their some way to avoid any of the penalties usually involved with withdrawing pension money early, since the money is being deposited directly for a real estate down payment? There was mention of State and Federal taxes that would be owed as the money was invested pre-tax, and an additional 20% penalty because of out age (early 30's.) Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! By the way, this is in New York State, if that helps.

At what age can a new jersey teacher retire? my wife started at age 23, at what age can she retire. I know NJ police can retire at any age with 25 years, how about in the teachers pension system?

How many current pensioners realise this Government are going to introduce a two tier pension system ? In a few years thanks to this government all current pensioners still alive will fall behind new pensioners by a considerable amount. It's not enough their meddling with pension evaluations between RPI and CPI will ensure that people on pensions get the dirty end of the stick again. It seems from the lack of protest by those effected and the opposition parties the Tories are going to get away with it. Trevor your nit picking. The Coalition has a majority of Tory M.P.'s and I haven't heard any protests from the Liberals about it so far. Ford Prefect that is the silliest comment I've seen on Y/A since yesterday. Your argument doesn't hold much water because many current pensioners have worked since they were fifteen unlike those to come who well may only have started working at eighteen.That's swings and roundabouts. In addition some private companies are taking advantage of the difference between CPI and RPI and are proposing adjusting their pension to the lesser increase. alamolic.........cynical but quite true. I don't know if it still exists but there was an organisation in the US called I believe 'Grey Power' which represented pensioners and kept their politicians on their toes. To the best of my knowledge there is nothing similar here. No political party has had the wit to openly ensure fair treatment for pensioners and thus get their vote,having taken their money for some 45 years they now couldn't care less. Kernow Lady, yes you know and I know but how many others of our generation do know. Speaking to many of my contemporaries they don't seem bothered because it's something in the future.It's a stupid idea for short term gain (as usual) after all what do the likes of Cameron,Milliband etc know about ordinary pensioners ? They have ensured they'll never go short.

Do you think the new DOD retirement plan overhaul has a good chance of passing? The new program ends pensions and pays money into the TSP. Current members are not grandfathered into the old system.

Estimate the city’s full cost of the fire department labor during 200X fiscal year.? The following personnel information about the Marshal Fire Department for the fiscal year that begins January 1, 200X, is to be used. Employee Grade__Number in Grade__Salary______ Chief------------------------- 1--------------- $105,000 Shift Commander-------- 3----------------- 70,000 Firefighter 1--------------- 12--------------- 39,000 Firefighter 2--------------- 26--------------- 30,000 Clerical (part-time)------- 3--------------- 15,000 The city is part of the federal Social Security system. For 200X, the city and the employee each pay Social Security payroll taxes of 6.2 percent of all salary paid up to $90,000 per employee to finance federal retirement and disability insurance and 1.45 percent of all salary paid to finance Medicare. The city pays a portion of the cost of health insurance for each full-time employee, an amount equal to $180 per month. Employees on the payroll after June 30, 200X, regardless of hiring date, are part of a new pension system financed by a city payment of 20 percent of the employee’s salary and employee payment of 5 percent of the employee’s salary on pay received after that date. Payments up to that date were made by state appropriations from state tobacco tax revenue. Full-time employees received an allowance for uniforms of $750 per year. Estimate the city’s full cost of the fire department labor during 200X fiscal year, assuming no change in staffing. Separate that cost into salary and fringe benefit components.

When is the department of work and pensions releasing its forthcoming white paper on the benefits system? It will detail how the new universal credit system will be implemented

Do you like the new caste system of poverty for the masses and ruler-ship for the rich? Or do you love it even more that Tea partiers are getting the same federal dollars that they claim to hate: From a republican: " Yes, it's true, I retired from the police/military/DPW at 54 and am on a fat government pension that you and your kids are going to be paying for for the next forty years, while I sit in my plywood-paneled living room in Florida watching Fox News, gobbling Medicare-funded prescription medications, and railing against welfare queens. But I worked hard for those bennies! Not like those other people! " http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/more-tea-party-hilarity-20101012

How does the general, Australian old-age pension scheme work? Here in New Zealand, if I am not mistaken, we need to work 10 years total (5 before we turn 50, and another 5 afterwards, but before we turn 65) to qualify for the standard government pension, which is basically the same for everyone, regardless of height of income. Is it the same system in Australia? I once heard it's referred to as a superannuation scheme there, so there's the first difference already.

What is Fox New's definition of lavish benefits and fat pensions? Why would a news network support killing good jobs in America? Are we all supposed to be without insurance and rely upon welfare and social security instead of an employer pension. Maybe we should kill of the last of these good jobs so we can bankrupt the entire system.

Are you happy with your pension provider if you are with Norwich Union? Under the new system of 'lifestyle' rates being introduced by NU someone with the same £35,000 private pension investment with the company who smokes, is single, and who lives is a less wealthy neighbourhood, will receive several hundred pounds a year more than those who do not smoke, are married and who live in a wealthier area! The smoking and marriage calculation will become effective in November. Spokesperson Cheryl Cox said 'it's important that people realise that it isn't always the more affluent on society who get the best rate'! And here is the killer crunch - 'but everybody gets the same pot', she said. People who were adjudged likely not to live as long would simply get more during the years they were alive than those who were 'slightly better off' and so likely to live longer. God help them - my mother has smoked since she was 14, is now 82, smokes around 30 a day (unfiltered) and is as fit as a fiddle - her mother lived to be 105! Guess who has her pension plan? What about the burden on the rest of us having to pay for treatment for various diseases which most who do or have smoked end up with? It's still not fair - we have a double whammy here, whilst these people are making themselves ill through smoking we have to support them through the NHS also! Too true! Careful, don't get too excited we don't want any mishaps! Oh God! Susanshusband - this might be the way to kickstart the housing market!

In a divorce if a spouse has been awarded part of the others pension for? spousal support what happens if that spouse that is collecting dies? do the other spouse get the money or is it lost to the system or does the spouse that die does it go to there beneficiary or to there new spouse or what.

Who can help me with a complaint against HMRC? Almost a year ago, i submitted a claim to have higher rate of income tax refunded on my pension contributions. Initially they lost the claim, and through numerous contacts during the year have not been able to conclude my claim, their excuse is their new software system has lost all history and tax code problems (bogging the department down not specific to my claim) so i have been told to wait. 1 year and no resolution!! Is there an ombudsman or someone in whitehall i can complain too?

New Boss Issue Need Help? I have a new boss. He seems like a very nice man, but there seems to be a small problem that is bothering me. My hours are from 9 - 4:30pm. I work for the town (a municipality) and I belong to a union. Overtime is hard to get and generally is rare for office workers. The first week he started we got a new payroll system and I let my babysitters know I may be a little late coming home this particular week. I missed lunch hours breaks and ended up staying to 5pm at least 4 days. Those days will be made up in comp time. So I noticed the following week the new boss would start asking me for things right at 4:30. So it was suggested that I ask him if he needed anything about 20 min before I leave. It did not seem to work. He still would try and delay me with questions. So on Friday I rushed out the door right at 4:30 and I said "I'm sorry, I really have to go, have a good weekend!" It just seemed kind of rude after I thought about it. So on Monday, I explained to him: Mr. Smith, I don't mean to be rude, but my hours are 9 to 4:30 and I do not get paid after 4:30 and I have to pay a babysitter for my son. Also on Fridays my babysitter and her sister get picked up by their father (parents are divorced) so I really need to go home on time. I just want you to know that because I don't want you to think I am rude. Well that same day, I went to leave at 4:30 and I had my handbag, lunch tote and another bag in my hand. I went to shut our workroom door, and my boss was on the telephone and he asked me "Would you please get me my coat before you close the door......and then could you bring me a water out of the fridge?" Now he has the key to this door and I could have very well left it open for him to close at 5pm when he leaves. What should I make of this request after I explained that I had to leave right at 4:30...its kind of rubbing me the wrong way! This is the second time he has asked me to get a water for him out of the fridge right before I left. The first time I did not think too much of it. By the way, there is another lady that works in the office in a lower position than me and she is older and he has not asked her for any unusual requests. And I am not a secretary, I hold the title of accounting clerk/pension administrator. Oh, this may be interesting, his wife has a job where she heads a commission on the protection of womens rights!!!

Maternity at the begining of a new job? Hi. I just got an offer for a permanent job in UK which I would like to accept. Since the beginning is 1th March. The problem is that I am pegnant (they know) and the baby should come exactly the first week of March so I would be not able to start. I asked an unpayed period untill september and they accept but the problem is that in this way I discovered I would be out the pension system (more than 6 month umpayed). The system will get much worse since 1th April and I really want to avoid that. Do you know if I can ask some maternity even if I have still to start the contract (even 1 month would be enough and with very low salary, this does not matter). I am foreign so I do not know too well the system in you Country. I would really appreciate any help from you and my coming baby, too. Thank you very much.

Is it time for a Roosevelt style New Deal in Order to save this country? Franklin D. Roosevelt's program was known as the New Deal. Under it, the federal government took far more responsibility for the economic welfare of the people than it had in any previous administration. One amendment to the Constitution was passed—the 21st (1933), which repealed the 18th (Prohibition) Amendment. Relief Measures The nation's economic system was almost at a standstill when Roosevelt became President on March 4, 1933. Nearly every state government had declared a banking holiday, or moratorium, to prevent depositors from withdrawing all their funds and ruining the banks. Roosevelt declared a four-day national banking holiday. He then obtained, in one day, legislation from Congress that permitted reopening of most banks under certification by the federal government that they were sound. Later banking reforms included insuring of deposits through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The New Deal provided large sums of federal money for direct payments to needy citizens through grants (rather than loans) to the states. It also established various new agencies to provide government-sponsored work for the unemployed. Through the Works Progress Administration (WPA) special projects were devised to provide employment for skilled and unskilled labor and for such persons as writers, artists, actors, and musicians. A vast program of public works—the construction of public buildings, highways, dams, and similar projects—was begun under the Public Works Administration (PWA). Young men were employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to work on conservation projects. A basic goal of the New Deal was to raise both wages and prices, which had dropped lower and lower as the depression continued. The National Industrial Recovery Act called for the cooperation of labor and management in setting prices, minimum wages, and working hours within various industries. The act also gave workers the right to join unions without interference from employers. To increase the income of farmers, the Agricultural Adjustment Act was passed. It included provisions for paying farmers to reduce the acreage of certain crops and to limit livestock holdings. These measures were intended to reduce surpluses, which caused low prices. Both the National Industrial Recovery Act and the Agricultural Adjustment Act later were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. However, the right of workers to organize was reinforced by the National Labor Relations Act (1935), the constitutionality of which was upheld by the court. Later legislation restored other gains for labor that originally had been part of the Recovery Act. A revised Agricultural Adjustment Act, passed in 1938, retained the basic provisions of the farm relief program and was later sustained by the Supreme Court. Other New Deal Programs Along with its relief program, the New Deal enacted various measures for the reform of business practices, many of which resulted in increasing the scope of government activity. The Tennessee Valley Authority was created in 1933. The Securities and Exchange Commission was established to regulate the stock market. The Social Security Act of 1935 provided for unemployment insurance and old-age pensions. In 1936 Roosevelt was reelected, carrying every state except Maine and Vermont against the Republican candidate, Alfred M. Landon. During Roosevelt's second term, the United States Housing Authority was established to advance funds to cities for replacing slums with low-rental housing projects for low-income families. In 1937, in order to get a Supreme Court more receptive to his policies, Roosevelt asked Congress to enact legislation increasing the number of justices. He was accused of trying to "pack" the court and the plan was defeated. However, the court eventually became more sympathetic toward the New Deal. In 1940 Roosevelt sought election to an unprecedented third term—no President had ever served more than two terms. He went on to defeat Republican candidate Wendell Willkie.By 1940, the New Deal crusade for economic reform had all but ended. War in Europe and Japanese aggression in Asia caused the Roosevelt administration to shift its main attention to foreign policy and national defense. In September Congress authorized the first peacetime military draft in the nation's history. In October, 16,300,000 men registered and the draft began soon afterwards. Because of the New Dael My Grandfather went to school as an Electrician He wired Hoover Damn Later in life he managed a Power plant here in the South West My other Grand Father became a Fireman and later a Fire chief Both were strong Union Men Because Obama and Democrats pandered too much to the right the recovery act did not work as well and was not nearly enough .

Are the New Labour Government cheapskates witholding an increase in the Winter fuel payment for UK pensioners? It seems that the New Labour Government can fork out benefit money for immigrants and asylum seekers who have never paid contributions into the state benefits system, but they refuse to increase the meagre pensions and winter fuel payments for our elderly UK citizens who have paid into the benefits system all our working lives. No pensioner should vote for New Labour at the next General Election or any other elections in the meantime. They line their own pockets at the expense of the people they serve. Arrogant, patronising, inept and lacking in logic and perception - that's Tony Blair's 'legacy' of his performance and that of his New Labour Government and all they have achieved in 10 years. It was the Conservatives that created the 'New Moneyed Working Class' and why not! Fair shares for all I say - if you want two cars, a holiday abroad, social, house and garden fashion then good on you! That's what people want. Why drag everyone down to the same level - nah I voted but not for Labour, Conservative or Liberal, I am an anarchist not a party HQ worker in disguise. and - to CM of the USA - you would expect to get your state pension if you had paid $600,000 in compulsory pension, sickness insurance payments and tax out of your earnings during your working life!! Don't be so smug - we only get free health care and a state pension because we've paid for it - and that's why we don't have to show we have private health insurance before we're treated in a hospital.

Simple java printf question. Need to create output that is left and right aligned. Help!? I'm just trying to create output that is properly aligned like: GROSSPAY.......5400.00 NET PAY............4500.00 TAX......................900.00 Note: The periods are only there because yahoo cuts out multiple empty spaces. This is the code I have so far. It takes input from the user and calculates a paycheck for them. But the strings on the left need to be left-aligned and the integers on the right need to be right-aligned. This is what I have so far: import java.util.Scanner; //import input Scanner public class Assignment1_2 { //declare constants (deductions from paycheck) public static final double FED_TAX = 0.15; public static final double STATE_TAX = 0.05; public static final double SS_TAX = 0.05; public static final double MED_TAX = 0.03; public static final double PENSION = 0.08; public static final double HEALTH_INS = 125.00; public static void main(String[] args) { //declare variables needed for input from user int employeeId; String lastName; String firstName; double grossEarnings; double netPay; Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in); //create individual input boxes for each piece of input System.out.print("Employee ID: "); employeeId = input.nextInt(); System.out.print("First Name: "); firstName = input.next(); System.out.print("Last Name: "); lastName = input.next(); System.out.print("Gross Monthly Earnings: "); grossEarnings = input.nextDouble(); //print the output that has been generated from user input System.out.println("Employee ID: " + employeeId); System.out.println("Employee Name: " + firstName + " " + lastName); System.out.println("====================================="); System.out.printf("GROSS EARNINGS %30.2f\n", grossEarnings); System.out.printf("Federal Tax %30.2f\n",(grossEarnings * FED_TAX)); System.out.printf("State Tax %30.2f\n", (grossEarnings * STATE_TAX)); System.out.printf("Social Security %30.2f\n", (grossEarnings * SS_TAX)); System.out.printf("Medicare/Medicaid %30.2f\n", (grossEarnings * MED_TAX)); System.out.printf("Pension Plan %30.2f\n", (grossEarnings * PENSION)); System.out.printf("Health Insurance %30.2f\n", HEALTH_INS); System.out.println("====================================="); //formula for calculating pay after deductions netPay = grossEarnings - (grossEarnings * FED_TAX) - (grossEarnings * STATE_TAX) - (grossEarnings * SS_TAX) - (grossEarnings * MED_TAX) - (grossEarnings * PENSION) - HEALTH_INS; //print NET PAY System.out.printf("NET PAY %.2f\n", netPay); } } ------------------------------------------ The problem with this is that using printf, I have specified the width of the field (%30.2), so it does move the integers to the right, but since the GROSS PAY and NET PAY and everything varies in length, the dollar amounts on the right are no longer aligned. I have been fiddling around with this for a very long time and I can't seem to find the answer anywher. Does anyone know what the proper printf() format I need to do in order to achieve this?

If Social Security is enough, then why Create an Automatic Workplace Pension? Why not simply fix/ restructure the current Social Security System instead of creating more bureaucracy, more laws, more "social" programs", and more government spending? The Social Security system was teh brainchild of the Democrats. If it isn't working, why can't they just fix it or admit the idea wasn't complete/is failing? Why does Barry feel the need to impose even more government policy upon employers? Why does he insist on a Paternalistic government that forces his own views of "what's best for the people" [i.e. forcing Employees to be in a savings plan] ?? From Body Odor's policy plan: " Create Automatic Workplace Pensions: Currently, 75 million working Americans – roughly half the workforce – lack employer-based retirement plans. Even when workers are given the option of joining employer-based plans, many do not take up the option because it requires considerable work to research plans and investment portfolios, and enroll in the plan. Barack Obama’s retirement security plan will automatically enroll workers in a workplace pension plan. Under his plan, employers who do not currently offer a retirement plan, will be required to enroll their employees in a direct-deposit IRA account that is compatible to existing direct-deposit payroll systems. Employees may opt-out by signing a written waiver. Even after enrollment, employees will retain the right to change their savings levels, reallocate investment portfolios or end contributions to the account. Obama’s plan will give options to the self-employed and new small businesses to access new easy-to-enroll savings plans and direct the IRS to deposit tax refunds into those savings plans for people who choose to save some of their refunds. Under the Obama plan when employees change jobs, their savings will be automatically rolled over into the new employer’s system to ensure continued savings. Experts estimate that this program will increase the savings participation rate for low and middle-income workers from its current 15 percent level to around 80 percent. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/EconomicPolicyFullPlan.pdf

American history survey question for my class? Of the following New Deal programs, which one do you think affects your life the most and why? .National Pension System- Social Security system pays out old-age pensions (and has been expanded to include aid to other groups). Its funded through taxes on employers and employees. .Oversight of Labor Practices- Created by the Wagner Act, the National Labor Relations Board oversees labor unions. It also investigates disputes between management and labor. .Agricultural Price Supports- This program pays farmers to raise crops for domestic use rather than export. To receive payments, farmers must agree to limit space they devote to certain crops. .Protection for Savings- After the bank holiday of 1933, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was created, The FDIC insures bank deposits up to $100,000. It replaces the deposits of individuals if banks close. .Regulation of the Stock Market- A federal agency called the Securities and Exchange Commission watches the stock market. It makes sure companies follow fair practices for trading stocks. *I know this question is supposed to be class-wide but I wanted to experiment and see what other people think.

Why are some EU member-states actually LOSING population? Examples would be Germany and most of the new eastern members. Their population levels are actually DECLINING at the moment, which is very bad, because it increases the so-called "worker-pensioner ratio." When you run a social democracy with pensions for retirees, those pensions are ultimately funded by the labor of people still in the workforce. A country like China doesn't have to worry about this, because there is no national pension system. But a country like Germany has to worry about this quite a lot, because there is a UNIVERSAL old-age pension system. Why are countries like Germany, which need MORE young workers, going into population DECLINE? And how will they correct this impending demographic disaster?

If I make 150K and retire from the federal government, how much will I get a month at retirement? Where can I find out more information about the FERS retirement system. I am a new federal employee and I feel that much of this info is cloudy/hidden? I know that federal employees also get TSP and social security, but also how much from pension? Thanks! Also, is the basic annuity taxed?

Retirement System ... should companies get out of retirement coverage? The 1980's was largely about raiding companies that held over funded pension plans, pension plans that weren't over funded were often dipped into, in any case a case can be made that company involvement in pension and retirement plans takes away the ability of companies to efficiently and better effectively compete with each other under a free market capitalistic system and hurts revenue, profit, gross domestic product, etc. I am not saying that medicine and retirement plans should be socialized, merely seperated out of businesses and corporations and a new broader, more population inclusive and affordable system be developed. There is no reason why such coverage couldn't be independantly operated.

better teacher pension plan? Starting a new job at a school and need to decide between the Public Employment Retirement System (PERS) or State of NJ Teachers' Pension & Anunuity Fund. All this drama with our governer and changed NJ laws is making it difficult to choose. Anyone have ideas which plan is better for the long run? Thanks!

Is it time for a new UK? A new type of government? Imagine a UK that is independent from the EU, completely soveriegn with no dictation from EU beauracrats and gives no money AT ALL to European subsidies or foriegn aid, instead spending it on internal systems such as schooling, policing and the NHS. A UK that has a strict no immigration policy, with no one at all getting in unless they are skilled nurses, doctors, teachers, etc. And to stop any feckless illegals coming in, no benefits at all, no free housing and no jobs, and the threat of being removed by force by our military services. A UK that is proud of its British heritage, no public celebrations of Hindu, Sikh, Chinese, Polish or Islamic etc bloody holidays, where everyone who lives here abides by British law, rules, norms, language and dress. A UK with a pensions system for the elderly, with subsidised heating, etc for those who cannot afford it, but no other benefits system at all. Forcing those feckless wasters to find work (which is out there) or starve, and also forcing a lot of teenagers to REALLY think if that child at 15 is a good idea (Im imagining a lot more will say no if there is no free house in the offing!) A UK with a vastly reduced tax rate paid for by stopping vast benefits payouts, foreign aid and foreign payouts, and also stopping huge government salaries and perks. A small government is enough with a good manageable salary like the rest of us. (It may remind them they are there to serve, not rule!) A UK with sensible policies such as scrapping stamp duty to kick start the housing market again and other policies such as low taxation etc that are designed to make the British people healthy and prosperous, not line the pockets of a greedy government. This is only a brief overview of what I believe should happen, (brief due to time and space), I was just curious as to the public sentiment on how many people agree/disagree with me on these. Ooh a heinekin ad that slates the government! I love it!

How not to use his/her? Hey everyone! Do people still use his/her to avoid the masculine implication of the generic use of his? eg. Under the new system, employers must monthly deposit a sum of money amount to six percent of a worker’s salary into his/her individual account as retirement pension. Is there any way to say this without using his/her? To me "six percent of workers' salaries into their individual accounts..." seems a bit confusing. So now I have no idea how to put this. Please help! Thanks to all! :)

If Wi. Gov Walker was concerned about balanced budgets why would he have sabotaged the budget? Wisconsin: How we got here From NBC's John Bailey Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) Budget Repair Bill, and the ongoing fight over its provisions, was prompted by a large, looming state budget deficit. Wisconsin has an immediate budget shortfall of $137 million, projected to grow to $3.6 billion by mid-2013. The lion’s share of the blame for Wisconsin’s budget woes falls on the receding economy, but other factors such as tax cuts, rising health care costs, and expiring federal aid have contributed as well. Wisconsin's budget problems -- Falling tax revenue resulting from the recession is the greatest culprit of Wisconsin’s budget woes -- between 2008 and 2009, state tax revenues fell over 7%. -- Since July 2009, there has been an estimated dip in revenues of $200 million annually; the state saw little growth in tax revenues in 2010. -- Unemployment rose more than 4 percentage points between 2007 and 2010, forcing more Wisconsin residents on Medicaid and causing state Medicaid costs to rise. -- A series of tax cuts passed since 2003 that cumulatively represent $3.7 billion and, by 2013, make up a $800 million-per-year reduction in tax revenues. -- In addition, this year agency budget requests will rise $2.9 billion -- nearly two-thirds of which is for Medicaid, with much of that amount associated with replacing one-time federal Medicaid revenues the state received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. What is the real budget gap? -- Walker's Democratic predecessor, Jim Doyle, estimated that in June of 2011, Wisconsin would still have a $10 million surplus, but Walker has said the state is facing a $137 million deficit today. Why the discrepancy? -- Walker made a number of adjustments to Doyle’s estimates, mainly accounting for higher-than-expected Medicaid costs. -- Walker also pushed through three tax cut bills negatively impacting projected tax revenues by $117 million -- the tax cuts went toward health savings accounts, deductions for relocated businesses, and exclusions for hiring new employees. Wisconsin’s pensions -- The pension system in Wisconsin is actually quite healthy. In fact, it was one of only four states (FL WA, and NY are the others) that entered 2008 fully funded. Gov. Walker’s Budget Repair Bill -- Pensions: Requires employees who pay into the Wisconsin Retirement System to contribute 50% of their annual pension payment an estimated 5.8% of salary; currently, employers make all pension contributions. -- Health insurance: Requires state employees to pay at least 12.6% of the average cost of annual premiums—about double what they pay now. -- On collective bargaining, it: 1) removes rights to bargain collectively for most of 175,00 state employees; 2) exempts most law enforcement, firefighters, and Wisconsin State Patrol; 3) does not allow employers to collect union dues in paychecks. Political power in Wisconsin -- State House is Republican controlled 57-38-1 -- State Senate is Republican controlled 19-14 Other nuggets -- AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) started in Madison in 1932. -- Wisconsin was the first state to give local government workers and teachers collective bargaining rights with the Public employee Collective Bargaining Act in 1959. -- State government workers got collective bargaining in 1970s.

My 72 widowed brother needs his Central heating boiler replaced ? however he is not on benefits but neither does he have any savings though he does own his own house. He pays his way (just ) with his state pension but does not have any spare cash. Q: Can he get help towards the costs to replace his existing CH boiler which is now beyond repair. Seems he is penalised because he is not on benefits as he could claim 2,500 pounds towards the costs of a complete new heating system from the government if he were. UK question

What response do you give to Congress' Pension Plan??? Read this and respond: NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - In the coming months, you are going to read a lot of stories on our site about pensions and attempts by Congress to "reform" the system. No doubt there will be a lot of sound bites from various Congress folk ... some "outraged" by the loss of pensions and others pointing to "economic reality" while professing sympathy for the working American. Amid all the hubbub, keep this in mind: Congress has a pension plan ... and it's not at risk. It's a fairly nice one, too. Not extravagant, but nice. Members are eligible to start collecting at age 62 if they have at least five years of service. If they have 20 years of service under their belt, they can retire at 50. With 25 years of service, they can retire any time. What they get depends on a formula based on years of service and average pay(natch, right?). So a congressman with 22 years of service and whose average salary for the top three years was $153,900 gets $84,645. A

This was on yahoo new. Whats your opinion? What does everyone think about this? This is on yahoo news. WASHINGTON – Americans who refuse to buy affordable medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a health care overhaul bill unveiled Thursday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama's top domestic priority. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the fines will raise around $36 billion over 10 years. Senate aides said the penalties would be modeled on the approach taken by Massachusetts, which now imposes a fine of about $1,000 a year on individuals who refuse to get coverage. Under the federal legislation, families would pay higher penalties than individuals. In a revamped health care system envisioned by lawmakers, people would be required to carry health insurance just like motorists must get auto coverage now. The government would provide subsidies for the poor and many middle-class families, but those who still refuse to sign up would face penalties. Called "shared responsibility payments," the fines would be set at least at half the cost of basic medical coverage, according to the legislation. The goal is to nudge people to sign up for coverage when they are healthy, not wait until they get sick. In 2008, employer-provided coverage averaged $12,680 a year for a family plan, and $4,704 for individual coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation's annual survey. Senate aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the cost of the federal plan would be lower but declined to provide specifics. The legislation would exempt certain hardship cases from fines. The fines would be collected through the income tax system. The new proposals were released as Congress neared the end of a weeklong July 4 break, with lawmakers expected to quickly take up health care legislation when they return to Washington. With deepening divisions along partisan and ideological lines, the complex legislation faces an uncertain future. Obama wants a bill this year that would provide coverage to the nearly 50 million Americans who lack it and reduce medical costs. In a statement, Obama welcomed the legislation, saying it "reflects many of the principles I've laid out, such as reforms that will prohibit insurance companies from refusing coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and the concept of insurance exchanges where individuals can find affordable coverage if they lose their jobs, move or get sick." The Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions bill also calls for a government-run insurance option to compete with private plans as well as a $750-per-worker annual fee on larger companies that do not offer coverage to employees. Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said in a letter to colleagues that their revised plan would cost dramatically less than an earlier, incomplete proposal, and help show the way toward coverage for 97 percent of all Americans. In a conference call with reporters, Dodd said the revised bill had brought "historic reform of health care" closer. He said the bill's public option will bring coverage and benefit decisions driven "not by what generates the biggest profits, but by what works best for American families." The Congressional Budget Office, in an analysis released Thursday evening, put the net cost of the proposal at $597 billion over 10 years, down from $1 trillion two weeks ago. Coverage expansions worth $645 billion would be partly offset by savings of $48 billion, the estimate said. However, the total cost of legislation will rise considerably once provisions are added to subsidize health insurance for the poor through Medicaid. Those additions, needed to ensure coverage for nearly all U.S. residents, are being handled by a separate panel, the Senate Finance Committee. Bipartisan talks on the Finance panel aim to hold the overall price tag to $1 trillion. The Health Committee could complete its portion of the bill as soon as next week, and the presence of a government health insurance option virtually assures a party-line vote. In the Senate, the Finance Committee version of the bill is unlikely to include a government-run insurance option. Bipartisan negotiations are centered on a proposal for a nonprofit insurance cooperative as a competitor to private companies. Three committees are collaborating in the House on legislation expected to come to a vote by the end of July. That measure is certain to include a government-run insurance option. At their heart, all the bills would require insurance companies to sell coverage to any applicant, without charging higher premiums for pre-existing medical conditions. The poor and some middle-class families would qualify for government subsidies to help with the cost of coverage. The government's costs would be covered by a combination of higher taxes and cuts in projected Medicare and Medicaid spe http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul I do not have any insurance for myself or my family, and heres why. Since I am self employed it will cost me $900 per month to cover my family. If by chance a member of my family needs a doctor then I pay for the services right then. I have a tear in my abdominal muscle just above my belly. Now here's my complaint. I went to the Dr. and he said it will cost me $1500. just for him but since i'm uninsured he will do it for $500. Since i'm uninsured I had to contact each person myself to set things up. The hospital told me it will cost me $25,000. to rent a hospital room, nurse and the tools the Dr. will need, but since i'm uninsured they will rent me everything for $11,000. Then the same for the anesthesiologist, $3000 but he'll cut it to $1500. for his service. Now this $29,500 surgery will cost me $13,000 out of my pocket. Now if they could do it for less then half since i'm uninsured, why couldn't it be that price to begin with? Then insurance would be affordable.

Hi can any one help with J Grasp? Hi can any one help with J Grasp This is the program I wrote but I’m getting a the following error below import java.uti.Scanner; public class Salary {public static void main (String[]args) { double gross,tax,deduct,net,medaid=500,pension=500; Scanner sc=new Scanner (System.in); System.out.println("Enter gross"); double gross=sc.nextInt (); tax=double gross * 0.14; deduct=tax+medaid+pension; net=gross-deduct; System.out.println("The deductions are"+deduct); System.out.println("The net is"+net); } } Salary.java:9: '.class' expected tax=double gross * 0.14;

Lazy students and the New World Order? I posted this question, in different format because too many people were missing my question. First, rest assured I believe in Jesus, the rapture, the New World order and I have an ok knowledge on the Illuminati. What I want to know is why would the New World Order appreciate a generation of lazy, self-entitled people? In our school system, we have policies that ensure a child doesn't have to do much to pass onto the next grade. The no child left behind system ensures a student can hand in his/her assignments whenever he/she wishes (i.e. no deadlines). I can understand this ensures he/she can get a diploma but not guarantee that he/she will earn one. And it does not prepare him/her for the real world. My question is: why would New World Order desire a lazy, self-entitled generation? People have responded to me and said, 'to keep them dumb' but what about the self-entitlement? The new workforce will expect good pay, benefits, pension for doing nothing! All these answers except purple veggie shows me the NWO has worked on and succeeded at creating a slow-witted generation. Birdy, I liked ur answer too.

tell a stroy to the news mediaof wrong doing and fauls advertiseing? I perched a New Compaq computer on 9/17/2009, and about two week after the perched of the computer I started losing file's so I went to tact's sport and they had to do a factory restore on it, and then I lost the Norton Virus Protection that came on the computer, I asked that what to do about it, they told me to go to Norton's web site and get the tactician to re-install it, so I did, but they would only give me 30 days use of the program,I told them the date that I purchased the computer, but that didn't matter to them at all,I only got a 30 package.The problems kept coming with the computer, one after another, files being lost, system locking up, Programs not responding, I continually was on the phone or on line with tact's-sport over the things that were going on with this new system,it's a C Q- 5111F Model, V.A. Pension,I decided to perched a new computer, so I looked in to Compaq web site to see what they had to offer, and decided on this one,I perched it and when it arrived I was so happy, just thinking of getting it set,knowing in my mind that I had a good system,but as it turns out,I received a "Lemon", and the tactician Hp are about the same as the computer, they will tell you something to do to it, just to get you off of the line with them, so they don't have to solve the problem,knowing that after you do what they tell you, you have to restart the computer, and they don't have to fool with you any longer.I Still have a messed up system. I have contacted the supervisors, all the was up to the HP Head Consultant, over the issue's about the computer.The tact's told me that Window Vesta, that came in the computer wasn't worth having, that it had a lot of problem to the program, and told me that I would be better off if I perched windows 7,@ the price of $130.19, that I would like the program a lot better and that it didn't have the problems that Window's Vesta had, that it was much easy- er to use and function a lot better than Window's Vesta did.But they fail to tell me that none of my software for my printer or my web-cam, would work with window's7,I found that out after I installed it into my system, that's how I found that out.I had to go into the web site and down load the programs to each of them in order to get them to work properly, and burn new CD's on the new drivers. Then they told me that my warranty was to be out of date the next month,witch was Sept.,they said that I need to update my warranty, in order to be able to get tact-sport, to help me with solving problems with the computer, and that I would have to pay to get the tactician to help me solve a problem,if I need help, that they advised me to perched a extended warranty, it would be to my advantage, it was $79.99 + $6.80 a total of $86.79, but they fail to tell me that, in actuality I was only getting a one year warranty,instead of a two year warranty, so when I saw that, I contacted HP support, and asked them what was the meaning of that, they told me that the warranty went back to the day i perched the computer and one more year, I asked them to repeat what they said one more time? They said the the warranty went back to the date of the computer and one year more,I asked them what happened to the warranty that came with the computer, that was what was going to run out, the next month, they kept on double taking to me, I got so mad , so I contact Hp company, and sent them a email over what had been told to me,and told them a piece of my mind also, then to night around 4:30pm, I received a call from the HP Head Consultant,over the issues, and the thing's that were going on on my computer and had been going on on it since two week's after the perched of it.I asked him about the warranty, he started the double talk to, I said waite a minute,you mean to tell me that I perched the computer on 09-17-2009 and that it came with a one warranty, he said yes, I then asked him, now that the warranty is about to run out and I perched a new two year warranty on the computer on 08-04-2010, that I only get one year of warranty, that I'm actuality paying for the first years warranty buy perching this new two warranty, he said yes, that if I wanted a two warranty,I would have to perched a three year warranty,in order to get a two year warranty. I told told him that I wanted a refund on the warranty that I perched, and that I was going to let everyone know across the internet, new media and who ever else I could about the way HP does Business,in ripping there costumer's off, like they have me.I have proof of what I'm telling you, here lately I've been printing out the Chat session from the online tact support, receipts of the perches of the software that they told me I needed to buy in order to keep my computer up and running properly.what HP.INC. is doing to there costumer's. own a HP.Product.Thanks for checking this out.Mr. Edward Vorti

New York Question: How about we take way these ridiculous ****** pensions that city workers get? I'm from New York and so now we are going to get taxed to hell to pay for City pensions for people are most of us hate. They get a GED get a city job through a Union then work a job for 20 years, retire at 40-45 years then get 3/4s or 1/2 pay for YEARS after they retire. Cops - scumbags Train Clerks - useless and every year machines take over more and more of their duties (in many areas they get paid to sit there and do nothing) Bus drivers - Miserable a**holes. DMV workers - Miserable nothings Unemployment Workers - I was unemployed in 2004 years and quit on them . I started using the online service. Ironically the only ones who make a decent effort are the public assistance workers So we have to get taxed to pay for BILLIONS in pensions while these people provide a transportation system that gets worse with every day that passes , not only that but their attitudes get worse and worse. What makes their 20 years of sh*t service deserving of that much money after they retire young but not my service? If I provide lousy services at my job I'd get fired. The democrats are really starting to let me down man, real bad, and I'm a lifelong liberal. Yutsnark - I'm not suggesting paying them less. I just have a problem with the extremely high tax funded pensions. These people retire making 45k a year at 42 years old then get 25k a year for the rest of their lives while going into private industry or flat sitting on their ass until they die 30 years later. They should have the pension reduced if they continue to work after they 'retire' Yutsnark - In my industry our pensions aren't paid with taxes. Weasel McWeasel - Please don't leave bullsh*t responses. Cops now need two years of college education but they are basically bullies or high priced security guards. And as for tokens -- we haven't used them in over 10 years. You ever heard of a metrocard? Also, in this economy a vile of crack does not cost the price of two train rides

Come 2012 you will be contributing 4% of your wages. Can I have your thoughts on this? The Pensions Act 2008 puts into law the reforms to the private pension system set out in the White Paper. From 2012, employers will automatically enrol eligible workers’ between the ages of 22 and State Pension Age who are not in a qualifying scheme into a qualifying workplace pension scheme (which can include the new ‘personal accounts’ scheme). Automatic enrolment means instead of choosing whether to join a workplace pension scheme provided by their employer, all eligible workers will have to actively decide not to be in a scheme, if for any reason they feel this is not a suitable form of personal saving for their situation. For the first time all employers will be required to contribute a minimum of 3 percent (on a band of earnings) to an eligible employee’s workplace pension scheme. *This will supplement the 4 percent contribution from the employee and around 1 percent from the Government in the form of tax relief. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/pensionsreform/pensions_act_2008.asp

Do we need a TRIBUNAL to decide cases that are not defined adequately by present laws? Has there been serious consideration for extrajudicial meaures to ensure that vulnerable people (elderly, mentally disabled), are not, or have not been, unjustly convicted? Have tribunals been considered for situations not adequately defined by law, to insure that people are not unjustly convicted due to faults in the legal system? There are tribunals to determine if a person qualifies for a disability pension. Can we trust a tribunal, consisting of responsible citizens, to do the same in criminal cases? Should anyone suffer due to a flawed legal system in Canada and the US? New laws are always being made. Isn't it reasonable to assume that we need new laws still? When new laws are made, do we assume that those who would not have been convicted under these new laws are innocent? Could a tribunal be used as a diagnostic system that would point out faults and lead to new laws? Would a more just justice system increase public confidence in it? Do we want it to be more just? The point is that there will always be situations that are not well defined by law, though PARTIALLY defined by it. As an analogy, say that 'killing someone' alone was the definition of murder. Person A kills person B, and it was clearly in self-defence. The law would define it as murder, and not consider any other factors, because those factors are not described in the law. Person A would be convicted of murder. We all know that such would not occur in court today IN THAT SCENARIO, though common sense tells us that limitations in the law PRESENTLY EXIST, simply because the law is flawed. The point is that, when it is the LAW that is flawed, it shouldn't be the CITIZEN who suffers the consequences. Any comment that does not specifically, seriously, and reasonably deal with the points above will be evidence that there is no good argument against the above. Any attempt to claim ‘rightness’ based on an arguer’s title is no argument at all. Arguments should be sufficient in themselves.

which country is this ? The president and his minions have destroyed the country. They have intoduced 3,000 new criminal offences. They have put cameras everywhere to follow our every move They have destroyed the NHS; the Armed forces; the Police; our education system; the Pension system; the countryside; planning laws; the civil service; trust in government. they surrendered to the IRA and the EU. they lie with impunity They pledge a billion pounds to Africa so that the president can become a world statesmen when we have feral children living in OUR cities. The criminal, the illegal immigrant and the drug users have more rights than the honest hardworking citizens who pay for everything. We are spied on by our banks, solicitors, accountants, estate agents all of whom risk going to prison if they do not inform on us. Any thoughts which country it might be ?

Do the American taxpayers comprehend the unfunded liabilities for state and local employees? It's estimated, under the current retirement systems in place, that there's over $2 trillion dollars in UNFUNDED pension and health care benefits for state and local retirees and future retirees. Well over $1 trillion is owed by just 4 states... California, Illinois, New York and New Jersey. How will the taxpayers ever pay for these benefits?

Do teachers have it easy? Im a new college professor. Most teachers expect way too much sympathy. They want you to think they have tough jobs, and are underpaid. But I gotta say, I love this job. It's super easy. A huge amount of time off. Get full time income for part time work. I know there's a big difference between college teaching and grade school teaching, however. A grade school or high school teacher has to babysit misbehaved students, and keep them captive like prisoners. In college, behavior is not an issue because: 1. They are adults 2. attendance is optional But nonetheless.......teachers as a whole do have easy jobs. They also get great pay. Huge pensions, almost-free health insurance.....they start at 45k or so (with a master's) and as they gain experience they get up to 60k 70k. The pension system allows them to retire fairly young. Many teachers claim to work 40 hours per week because they do "lesson planning" form home. The truth is, they decide how much time they devote to lesson planning. And working from home is very comfortable! Hey if a teacher complains about being underpaid......tell them to get a summer job. Work 12 months a year like most people do and then they will get paid more.

can I be forced to partake in a retirement program? I work for a local government. They are now making our retirement program mandatory. It works like this: the take 9% of my pay and put it in an account they operate. they match 9% and put it in the same account. If I do not stay 5 years, I lose it all. After 5 years, I can withdraw my share and roll it to an IRA if I leave the job. I just do not think it is right to force me into a program I do not agree with. I had a pretty good thing going already. Plus, under this new system, I have to work 10 years longer to be eligible for my pension. Please cite sources if this is not right. Thank you.

DO YOU THINK MY HISTORY PROJECT BIOGRAPHY IS GOOD. GIVE IT A GRADE. MAKE SUGGESTIONS THANKS? Jean – Jacques Rousseau was born to a middleclass family in Geneva Switzerland in the year 1712. He came from a family that had voting rights and his father Jean – Jacques Rousseau, a watchmaker was also a lover of music and education. Rousseau’s mother, Suzanne Bernard Rousseau, was the daughter of a preacher and died nine days after childbirth due to difficulties. Rousseau also had an older brother named Francois; the two brothers were both raised by their Father and a paternal aunt. At a young age his father got into legal trouble and to avoid imprisonment the family fled and they lived with Jean Jacques Rousseau’s’ maternal uncle after his father remarried. Rousseau uncle then sent him away to live with a Calvinist minister. With the minister he learned mathematics and picked up the elements of art. Rousseau who was deeply moved by religious services and for a time even dreamed of becoming a priest. After he was finished with school he had a few unsuccessful apprenticeships; first for a notary and then an engraver by whom he was treated very harshly. The practically orphaned Rousseau spent much of his spare time alone exploring his first love, nature, which he ran away from Geneva as a vagrant in 1728. His wanderings led him out of Geneva to Sardinia then France, where he met Madame de Warrens, a nobleman who helped bring Protestants to Catholicism, and for the next ten years she gave him an education, and much needed moral and financial support Finding himself mostly on his own besides the support of Madame de Warrens Rousseau he supported himself for a time as a secretary, servant, and tutor. He received a small inheritance from his mother at age twenty – five and with some of that he repaid De Warrens for her financial support of him. In 1743 1742 Rousseau moved to Paris were he wished to take on a career in music. He initially went to Paris to propose a new system of music to the Academy of Sciences; despite his efforts it was unsuccessful. He published musical theory and wrote for the opera, attracted the attentions of King Louis XV and court when he composed, Le Devin du Village (The Village Soothsayer). Rousseau was offered a pension from the King, but denied it in attempts to live a modest life, and after the success of his opera, he promptly gave up composing music. He also befriended and Therese le Vasseur, a pretty seamstress, who became his mistress and together they bore five children. In 1749, the Academy of Dijon held a contest that Rousseau won first prize in by answering the question “Has the progress of the sciences and arts contributed to the corruption or to the improvement of human conduct?"Rousseau felt that humanity was good at nature but corrupt by society. Although it is still widely believed that all of Rousseau's philosophy was based on his call for a return to nature, this view is an oversimplification, caused by the excessive importance attached to this first essay. His second major philosophical essay, Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality among Men which stated that the advancement of science and art had not benefited mankind and that I took away individual liberties and gave governments more powerful. After its publication, Rousseau returned to Geneva, reverted to Calvinism and regained his official Geneva citizenship. In 1756 he moved to France , a year after the publication of the Second Discourse, Rousseau left Paris after Madame D’Epinay lent him a cottage, on her estate at Montmorency. His stay here lasted only a year because of repeated quarrels with Madame D’Epinay and her guest, Rousseau moved to housing near the country home of the Duke of Luxemburg at Montmorency. During the later years in his life was when he wrote the bulk of his renowned work including the novel, Julie or the New Heloise. Then in the year 1762 his most important and chief philosophical works: including The Social Contract; which showed his views on political philosophy, and one on education, Emile. The Paris government condemned both books mainly because of his views on religion forcing him to leave France. Rousseau then moved to Switzerland and started to work on his life stories, his Confessions. A year later, after coming across difficulties with Swiss government and then moved around and live in Berlin and Paris and ultimately moved to England to stay with David Hume. However, due to constant bicker with Hume, and his inability to learn English or make friends his stay in England lasted only a year, and in 1767 he returned to the southeast of France under a false name. In 1770 when he returned to Paris where he copied music for a living, it was during this time that he wrote what would be his final works Rousseau: Judge of Jean-Jacques and the Reveries of the Solitary Walker. His final years which were spent in deliberate withdrawal did not allow him to enjoy him fame. He died on July 3, 1778. this is 9th grade advanced history and my and suggestion just anything to help improve it so yes grammatical errors

Questions about The Constitution and American Government? Can anyone please answer these questions- 1) The Constitutional Amendment which was later repealed is the: a. Eighteenth b. Fifteenth c. Nineteenth d. Twenty-second 2) The right to admit new states belongs to: a. the Congress b. the Supreme Court c. the President d. the State Department 3) Powers not given to the U.S. by the Constitution and not forbidden to the States are reserved to: a. the U.S. Court of Appeals b. property owners c. the States or the people d. the Supreme Court 4) Congress must meet at least once every: a. 4 years b. 2 years c. 6 years d. a year 5) The Constitution forbids Congress to lay a tax on: a. goods sent by ship b. liquor c. goods sent from other countries d. goods sent from one State to another 6) If neither the President nor the Vice President can serve, the position would be filled by: a. the Speaker of the House b. the Chief Justice c. the elected President of the Senate d. the Secratary of State 7) All federal and state officers must swear to: a. support the President b. support the Constitution c. do their work well d. memorize the Constitution 8) The number of presidential electors a State gets is the same as: a. the # of its Senators and Representatives b. the # of its State Legislature representatives c. the # of its Senators d. the # of its Representatives 9) The number of Representatives a State gets depends on: a. the number of voters it has b. the number of its Senators c. how many it wants d. the number of people it has 10) The Constitution guarantees to every State: a. legal help b. a republican form of government c. a pension system d. freedom to make any law it wishes 11) A State may NOT: a. collect taxes b. keep a militia c. build school d. grant a title of nobility

In your opinion, is 'The Death of the West' inevitable? Every 15 months, the third-world grows in population to the equivalent of a new Mexico. Non-Hispanic White birthrates in America are below replacement level, whilst most ethnic minorities are at least double. By 2050, "23 million Germans will have disappeared” from today’s 82 million to 59 million. Halfway through the 21st century, according to University of Rome demographer Antonio Colini, Italy, which is already dependent on immigrants to bear the load of its deeply indebted pension system, "will no longer be Italian.” Fifty-two percent of Italian women between 16 and 24 planned to have no children. Russia’s 147 million people will fall to 114 by 2050, with a population loss of 22 million in just 15 years, warns President Vladimir Putin. That is greater than all the Soviet Union’s losses in the Hitler-Stalin war, Buchanan observes. Demographers have calculated that by the end of this century, the British people will be a minority in their homeland. With fertility rates down

Do you believe WAYNE ALLYN ROOT: Is Obama promoting Communism by overwhelming the system and collapsing it? Barrack Obama is no fool. He is not incompetent. To the contrary, he is brilliant. He knows exactly what he's doing. He is purposely overwhelming the U.S. economy to create systemic failure, economic crisis and social chaos -- thereby destroying capitalism and our country from within. Barack Obama is my college classmate (Columbia University, class of '83). As Glenn Beck correctly predicted from day one, Obama is following the plan of Cloward & Piven, two professors at Columbia University. They outlined a plan to socialize America by overwhelming the system with government spending and entitlement demands. Add up the clues below. Taken individually they're alarming. Taken as a whole, it is a brilliant, Machiavellian game plan to turn the United States into a socialist/Marxist state with a permanent majority that desperately needs government for survival ... and can be counted on to always vote for bigger government. Why not? They have no responsibility to pay for it. -- Universal health care. The health care bill had very little to do with health care. Â It had everything to do with unionizing millions of hospital and health care workers, as well as adding 15,000 to 20,000 new IRS agents (who will join government employee unions). Obama doesn't care that giving free health care to 30 million Americans will add trillions to the national debt. What he does care about is that it cements the dependence of those 30 million voters to Democrats and big government. Who but a socialist revolutionary would pass this reckless spending bill in the middle of a depression? -- Cap and trade. Like health care legislation having nothing to do with health care, cap and trade has nothing to do with global warming. It has everything to do with redistribution of income, government control of the economy and a criminal payoff to Obama's biggest contributors. Those powerful and wealthy unions and contributors (like GE, which owns NBC, MSNBC and CNBC) can then be counted on to support everything Obama wants. They will kick back hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions to Obama and the Democratic Party to keep them in power. The bonus is that all the new taxes on Americans with bigger cars, bigger homes and businesses helps Obama "spread the wealth around." -- Make Puerto Rico a state. Why? Who's asking for a 51st state? Who's asking for millions of new welfare recipients and government entitlement addicts in the middle of a depression? Certainly not American taxpayers. But this has been Obama's plan all along. His goal is to add two new Democrat senators, five Democrat congressman and a million loyal Democratic voters who are dependent on big government. -- Legalize 12 million illegal immigrants. Just giving these 12 million potential new citizens free health care alone could overwhelm the system and bankrupt America. But it adds 12 million reliable new Democrat voters who can be counted on to support big government. Add another few trillion dollars in welfare, aid to dependent children, food stamps, free medical, education, tax credits for the poor, and eventually Social Security. -- Stimulus and bailouts. Where did all that money go? It went to Democrat contributors, organizations (ACORN), and unions -- including billions of dollars to save or create jobs of government employees across the country. It went to save GM and Chrysler so that their employees could keep paying union dues. It went to AIG so that Goldman Sachs could be bailed out (after giving Obama almost $1 million in contributions). A staggering $125 billion went to teachers (thereby protecting their union dues). All those public employees will vote loyally Democrat to protect their bloated salaries and pensions that are bankrupting America . The country goes broke, future generations face a bleak future, but Obama, the Democrat Party, government, and the unions grow more powerful. The ends justify the means. -- Raise taxes on small business owners, high-income earners, and job creators. Put the entire burden on only the top 20 percent of taxpayers, redistribute the income, punish success, and reward those who did nothing to deserve it (except vote for Obama). Reagan wanted to dramatically cut taxes in order to starve the government. Obama wants to dramatically raise taxes to starve his political opposition. With the acts outlined above, Obama and his regime have created a vast and rapidly expanding constituency of voters dependent on big government; a vast privileged class of public employees who work for big government; and a government dedicated to destroying capitalism and installing themselves as socialist rulers by overwhelming the system. Add it up and you've got the perfect Marxist scheme -- all devised by my Columbia University college classmate Barack Obama using the Cloward and Piven Plan.

Are conservatives the new fascists? Contrary to what most people think, the Nazis were ardent socialists (hence the term “National socialism”). They believed in free health care and guaranteed jobs. They confiscated inherited wealth and spent vast sums on public education. They purged the church from public policy, promoted a new form of pagan spirituality, and inserted the authority of the state into every nook and cranny of daily life. The Nazis declared war on smoking, supported abortion, euthanasia, and gun control. They loathed the free market, provided generous pensions for the elderly, and maintained a strict racial quota system in their universities—where campus speech codes were all the rage. The Nazis led the world in organic farming and alternative medicine. Hitler was a strict vegetarian, and Himmler was an animal rights activist. It is hard to deny that modern progressivism and classical fascism shared the same intellectual roots. We often forget, for example, that Mussolini and Hitler had many admirers in the United States. W.E.B. Du Bois was inspired by Hitler's Germany, and Irving Berlin praised Mussolini in song. Many fascist tenets were espoused by American progressives like John Dewey and Woodrow Wilson, and FDR incorporated fascist policies in the New Deal. Condor: Are you forgetting that FDR and the fascists shared a certain fondness for concentration camps? Only FDR never got around to killing his prisoners. Guys, that's my POINT! It sounds like liberals because they share the same ideological roots! I just get tired of conservatives being called fascists, when we are the heirs of classical liberalism, individual rights and free markets.

Can I choose my own 457 plan? I work for a County Government in New Jersey. I have a pension (police & fire retirement system) that I've been paying into for the last 12 years. Just for added security, I also started a 457 (deffered comp) plan. I was told that I only had 2 choices/fund manager/company that were avaible to me - 1. Valic Retirement Services or 2. Great West Retirement Services. That just doesn't sound right, shouldn't I be able to choose any service that I want? Or does it have to be the two services that the county government designates? I guess what I am getting at is, can I do my own research and go with a company that I think fits my needs most? with less fees? higher returns? etc...?

The following is an excerpt from Lucent Technologies’ Management? The following is an excerpt from Lucent Technologies’ Management? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911 * 1 month ago

IF the US Economic system collapse as some Economist are predicting. How will Women cope? What's Dead (Short Answer: All Of It) Just so you have a short list of what's at stake if Washington DC doesn't change policy here and now (which means before the collapse in equities comes, which could start as soon as today, if the indicators I watch have any validity at all. For what its worth, those indicators are painting a picture of the Apocalypse that I simply can't believe, and they're showing it as an imminent event - like perhaps today imminent.) * All pension funds, private and public, are done. If you are receiving one, you won't be. If you think you will in the future, you won't be. PBGC will fail as well. Pension funds will be forced to start eating their "seed corn" within the next 12 months and once that begins there is no way to recover. * All annuities will be defaulted to the state insurance protection (if any) on them. The state insurance funds will be bankrupted and unable to be replenished. Essentially, all annuities are toast. Expect zero, be ecstatic if you do better. All insurance companies with material exposure to these obligations will go bankrupt, without exception. Some of these firms are dangerously close to this happening right here and now; the rest will die within the next 6-12 months. If you have other insured interests with these firms, be prepared to pay a LOT more with a new company that can't earn anything off investments, and if you have a claim in process at the time it happens, it won't get paid. The probability of you getting "boned" on any transaction with an insurance company is extremely high - I rate this risk in excess of 90%. * The FDIC will be unable to cover bank failure obligations. They will attempt to do more of what they're doing now (raising insurance rates and doing special assessments) but will fail; the current path has no chance of success. Congress will backstop them (because they must lest shotguns come out) with disastrous results. In short, FDIC backstops will take precedence even over Social Security and Medicare. * Government debt costs will ramp. This warning has already been issued and is being ignored by President Obama. When (not if) it happens debt-based Federal Funding will disappear. This leads to.... * Tax receipts are cratering and will continue to. I expect total tax receipts to fall to under $1 trillion within the next 12 months. Combined with the impossibility of continued debt issue (rollover will only remain possible at the short duration Treasury has committed to over the last ten years if they cease new issue) a 66% cut in the Federal Budget will become necessary. This will require a complete repudiation of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, a 50% cut in the military budget and a 50% across-the-board cut in all other federal programs. That will likely get close. * Tax-deferred accounts will be seized to fund rollovers of Treasury debt at essentially zero coupon (interest). If you have a 401k, or what's left of it, or an IRA, consider it locked up in Treasuries; it's not yours any more. Count on this happening - it is essentially a certainty. * Any firm with debt outstanding is currently presumed dead as the street presumption is that they have lied in some way. Expect at least 20% of the S&P 500 to fail within 12 months as a consequence of the complete and total lockup of all credit markets which The Fed will be unable to unlock or backstop. This will in turn lead to.... * The unemployed will have 5-10 million in direct layoffs added within the next 12 months. Collateral damage (suppliers, customers, etc) will add at least another 5-10 million workers to that, perhaps double that many. U-3 (official unemployment rate) will go beyond 15%, U-6 (broad form) will reach 30%. * Civil unrest will break out before the end of the year. The Military and Guard will be called up to try to stop it. They won't be able to. Big cities are at risk of becoming a free-fire death zone. If you live in one, figure out how you can get out and live somewhere else if you detect signs that yours is starting to go "feral"; witness New Orleans after Katrina for how fast, and how bad, it can get. The good news is that this process will clear The Bezzle out of the system. The bad news is that you won't have a job, pension, annuity, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and, quite possibly, your life. It really is that bleak folks, and it all goes back to Washington DC being unwilling to lock up the crooks, putting the market in the role it has always played - that of truth-finder, no matter how destructive that process is. Only immediate action from Washington DC, taking the market's place, can stop this, and as I get ready to hit "send" I see the market rolling over again, now down more than 3% and flashing "crash imminent" warnings. You may be reading this too late for it to matter.

The following is a excerpt from Lucent Technologies Management? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

What is your Opinion of Ron Paul after reading this article? Republican Socialism by Rep. Ron Paul, MD Congress worked late into the night this past weekend to pass a Medicare prescription drug bill that represents the single largest expansion of the federal welfare state since the Great Society programs of the 1960s. The new Medicare drug plan enriches pharmaceutical companies, fleeces taxpayers, and forces millions of older Americans to accept inferior drug coverage — while doing nothing to address the real reasons prescription drugs cost so much. Nothing from the government is free, of course, and prescription drugs will be no exception. The perception that seniors will be able to flash a Medicare card at the pharmacy and walk out without paying anything is completely false. In fact, many seniors will end up paying more out-of-pocket under the Medicare scheme than they do now with their private plans. The Medicare drug benefit requires monthly premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, just as private plans do. It also has gaps in coverage that no sensible person would accept if offered by a private insurer. Like all government programs, the Medicare drug entitlement will be shabby, degrading, and inferior to the private sector. The vast majority of older Americans already have private prescription drug coverage that they don't want changed, and this 78% of seniors may well lose their good private coverage altogether. In fact, the government's own Congressional Budget Office estimates that at least one-third of all private companies will dump their retirees into the Medicare system as a result of the new bill. Big corporations love the Medicare drug plan, because they want to shift the responsibility for providing drug benefits to their retirees onto taxpayers. Dozens of major companies shamelessly advertised in the Washington Times and elsewhere in support of the Medicare bill for this very simple reason. Their pension plans are dangerously underfunded, so naturally they use their lobbying influence to promote a Medicare drug system. In this sense the Medicare bill is a taxpayer-funded corporate bailout for hundreds of American companies. The financial impact of this legislation on taxpayers cannot be overstated. Government projections that the drug program will cost $400 billion over the next decade cannot be trusted, as existing Medicare programs cost 4 times more than estimated when they were created. The likely cost is at least $1 trillion over 10 years, and much more in following decades as the American population grows older. The Medicare “trust fund” is already badly in the red, and the only solution will be a dramatic increase in payroll taxes for younger workers. The National Taxpayers Union reports that Medicare will consume nearly 40% of the nation's GDP after several decades because of the new drug benefit. That's not 40% of federal revenues, or 40% of federal spending, but rather 40 % of the nation's entire private-sector output! Clearly this new Medicare spending will bury our great-grandchildren unless we rethink the wisdom of ever-increasing entitlement programs. Phony senior lobbies want free drugs paid for by taxpayers; American corporations want to dump their retirees into Medicare at the expense of taxpayers; pharmaceutical companies want huge windfalls provided by taxpayers; and politicians want to get reelected by passing incredibly shortsighted legislation courtesy of taxpayers. Most of today's politicians will never have to answer to future generations saddled with huge federal deficits because of this expansion of Medicare. Those generations are the real victims, as they cannot object to the debts being incurred today in their names. http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul143.html

Help! The sound from our new Sony flat panel TV is awful.......? We have recently bought a Sony KDL-32W5810 flat panel TV and although after reading many reviews on various flat panel TV's we were aware that the sound would not be very good, we were not expecting it to be as bad as it is. The picture is great, the space saving and movability a big bonus, BUT compared to our previous Panasonic CRT tele the sound is really crap. Very 'woolly at low levels and distorts at high levels. In fact we were almost tempted to sell the Sony and keep the old CRT tv ! Well we are not going that route but we neither have the money (just retired on fairly basic pension) nor, for that matter the space, for a full home cinema surround sound system. We are not looking for deep Bass just clear sound in both speech and music comparable at least to that you got on premium brand CRT televisions. Can anyone suggest the most economical options for us. We do NOT want to have wires strung all over the place. We are aware of the existence of 'sound bars' but the reviews we have seen of the 'affordable to us' ones do not seem very encouraging.

So what will you think if Congress bails-out all the local,city & state bond & pension funds about to go bust? The state if "illinois" is known as the Dead beat state with New York,California,New Jersey and a few more borrowing money to meet state payrolls etc. Will this be more Socialism bail-out for the well connected while the people who have nothing "millions of citizens" continue to be ignored. homeless,jobless,incomeless, no social network to rely on. The last figures i came up with there are around 96 million available to work citizens that are not in the 2009 IRS system of filing with incomes. You can speculate on who needs a job & who got underground income.

Live in Germany - Work In the UK? HI! I'm a UK North Sea Oil worker currently living in England - UK/EU citizen. For sometime I have thought of moving to live in Germany - and at some point hopefully taking up German citizenship. I will continue to work on the UK North Sea Oil Rigs and commute to my new home in Germany during my leave cycle. So my employer will remain UK based but I will be a resident of Germany. Can anybody tell in what way this will effect my tax, national insurance, pension, medical insurance situation? I am particularly unsure about the german health and pension system. My work rota means that I would be spending less than 6 months a year in the UK - i.e. when on the rig. I believe this has an effect on my tax-paying status in the UK.

if there was a relegation system in the nhl? and the maple leafs got sent to the ahl, there will be two toronto teams 1) do you think it's a good idea, relegation. could it work in the nhl. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promotion_and_relegation 2) leafs vs leafs who would win (me personally i'm going to pick the st. john's maple leafs :P) and the biggest question of all 3) DO YOU THINK IT WOULD GET MLSE TO WISE THE HECK UP!!!!!!!!!!!! if not explain why. do you think they're handcuffed by the uber greedy OTTP (ontario teachers pension plan. respect for all the teachers!) 4) also of all the bottom feeder teams who do you think should get relegated, right along with the leafs. give a good enough reason. '08 bottoms Tampa Bay Lightning-71 pts Los Angeles Kings-71 pts Atlanta thrashers-76 pts St. Louis Blues-79 pts New York Islanders-79 pts Columbus Blue Jackets-80 pts Toronto Maple Leafs-83 pts Phoenix Coyotes-83 pts Florida Panthers-85 pts (i can't believe the panthers got more points than tml's) thanks for the answers so far...minus the one guy. i know it won't happen, and in fact i like that one sport is not like the other, and that there is a seperation between leagues. i like relegation for soccer, but i don't know if it would work in the nhl. i don't think it would, and like jeff said it'd probably be five teams (should be 3), and the leafs wouldn't crack that list anyways, because they're the perfect middle of the suck pack teams, and also leagues are changing over to a cap system, and although i am a fan of players getting drafted by a team and playing all their pro career with a team, i like the cap system in the nhl so far. i think it gives teams a chance i.e. what lity said about the preds, and an ever bigger fan of that, so one over the other. it's all scenario based by the way. that's why there's an if. i don't support it in the nhl, and it won't happen. who's to say the leafs can't bounce back next year like the flyers and pens did. lol. i know quick fixes won't do shit, i also know that it took time for those two teams to set up their current success, and i agree with litty on the OTPP/OTPF. i think we should just call them leafs PO PO, cause they're legit like cops. *I'm a bigger fan of that (correction). for the guy with the headphones, #3 was if there was a relegation system in the nhl do you think it would get maple leafs sports and entertainment to wise up, and do you think they'rehand cuffed by the ontario teachers pension plan fund well for the rangers fan i would've picked the current leafs over the marlies, but the marlies are in the calder cup playoffs, and i miss when they were in st. johns, before we got nll at the acc.

Employees accessing/changing personnel files? An employer is implementing a new information system which will allow employees to access/change their personnel files in an effort to cut down on human resource data entry personnel and entry errors. What are five potential risks in allowing employees to update the following personal information: Address, phone, marital status, tax information, pension plan contribution, etc. These risks can be positive or negative risks. Thanks

How does the Pension plan system work in Canada for transferring pensions to new jobs? I would like to know if the Ontario Pension plan is transferable to other provinces in Canada. If one works a job in Ontario full time for 10 years then they get a new job in another province such as Alberta or BC. What happens to the Pension that is already banked? do you get it automatically pay out? or do you bank it? or does the Plan go direct into the other provincial plan? if no one knows the answer. can someone give me the link to how the system works regarding pensions?

Why don't things change? Anyone for a new Normal People Party? I keep asking why. Why don't laws change more quickly? Why do obscene bonuses get paid? Why do paedophiles get out to re-offend? Why are old people cold? Why are young people unemployed? Why should anyone get more than £500,000 per year (that's £240 per hour!). Why are buildings empty and people homeless while construction workers are idle? Why do we keep running prisons that don't work. Why can't I drop the kerb without paying the council stupid money for inspections. Why should Fred Goodwin the banker from RBS have a £703,000 pension and my 84 year old neighbour who fought in both wars get £80 per week (one of them took real risks)? Why not legalise drugs in the way alcohol is controlled (and taxed)? Why not nationalise the insurance industries? Hundreds more but nothing changes. I'm not talking communism but I am talking anti-greed and a fairer share for all. Everyone is important. But if we don't have a system that allows change to meet Normal People's views on issues that affect us all - especially the weakest - then nothing will change. So who's for change?

Can someone help me with this regarding Lucent technologies? Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications. Required 1. Using the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Lucent Technologies for September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare a common-size balance sheet. 2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet. 3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information? 4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies? LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

does anyone want to please help me on my essay please? This is about the progressive era and reforms we find significant. This is what i have so far. could you please help. anything will help. i really need to get a good grade on this. This is supposed to be in MLA form. thanks in advance for any help! please just read and tell me what you think. just quick skim even. thanks. In the 1880’s through the early 1900’s many people were not thrilled with the society of America and the imperialism and industrialization that were taking place. In reaction many citizens started reforms confronting the problems caused by industrialization and imperialism. They clearly stated a change was wanted and needed. To name a few reforms, there was the Sherman Antitrust act, Interstate Commerce Act, Muckrakers, Meat Inspection Act, The Oregon System, and the 16th through 19th amendments. I believe the Muckrakers to have played a huge role in the Progressive era. The expression “muckraker” came on because they “raked”, or brought up, exposed, the “muck”, the unfairness and injustices, covered up by society. (McGraw-Hill. The American Journey, Student Edition. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2004. pg. 613) Muckrakers were Journalists who helped expose the true inequality and injustices. They wrote newspaper and magazine articles that told of the truth of trusts, prison conditions, the tax system, pension practices and food processing, among others. ("Muckrakers." United States History. 19 Dec. 2009. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h920.html) The Muckrakers made it known to the citizens what was actually going on. It helped to anger the people enough to want to do something about it. Though some stories may have been exaggerated, it got the people thinking. It got them to see how it really is. Without them I believe the issues would not have gotten the type of attention that was needed. A reported for the McClure’s Magazine, Lincoln Steffens, wrote articles about corrupt machine politics in New York, Chicago, and other cities. His pieces composed in a book, The Shame of the Cities. (McGraw-Hill. The American Journey, Student Edition. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2004. pg. 613) And with his writings this built up the demand for urban reform making the desire stronger. Meaning to provoke sympathy for the workers in the meatpacking industry, by writing a novel known as The Jungle, illustrating the horrors of the meatpacking industry, Upton Sinclair actually caused a major uproar. Because of his book the Meat Inspection Act was passed, which lead to the Pure Food and Drug Act, making it illegal to sell harmful food, and made it necessary to have accurate labeling on food and medicine. Another notable Muckraker would have to be David Graham Phillips. He wrote an article in the Cosmopolitan, "The Treason of the Senate". This article was a bitter reflection of political corruption. His article goaded President Roosevelt anger. Roosevelt believed that some of the journalists/muckrakers were going too far. But despite agitating Roosevelt his writing created a drive that would lead to the adoption of the 17th Amendment. ("Muckrakers." United States History. 19 Dec. 2009. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h920.html) “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures…This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.” ("U.S. Constitution - Amendment 17 - The U.S. Constitution Online" 19 Dec. 2009. http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_Am17.html) Ratified in 1913, (McGraw-Hill. The American Journey, Student Edition. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2004. pg. 614) the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution provided for the direct election of the senators. And instead of state legislatures, United States senators are elected. This Amendment I consider to be a very significant reform. It allows the people to finally have a voice in selecting their representatives. That is what the people wanted. They wanted to have a say in who was representing them, in who was in lead of them. Now, they have an Amendment, a law in the Constitution making it possible for the citizens to have a direct election of their senators. The 19th Amendment, I also think to be noteworthy! “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” (The Nineteenth Amendment." UMKC School of Law. 19 Dec. 2009 http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/nineteentham.htm) This changed the system of voting! It gives women the right to vote. Now everyone, no matter what sex, is equal in the voting system.

if the Australian government did these things would you consider them as good ideas or bad ideas? 1 forming and alliance with Indonesia 2 introducing an Australia first policy so we take care of matters in Australia first before we do things on an international scale so say there is a war and Australia has its forces spread if Australia is attacked majority of those forces would be called back to Australia 3 allow New Zealand to use our Military equipment if they ask 4 offer to set up a trade route with North Korea but only if they improve their human rights to at least the level that is in the Peoples Republic of China 5 install a new tax system that is primarily used for increasing the aged pension

Do you actually believe you are freeing America? From a USA Today study of government debt: "Americans' government obligations are five times what people owe for mortgages, car loans, credit cards and other personal debt. The $57.8 trillion liability is the amount that government needs now, stashed away and earning interest, to generate enough cash to pay future obligations. The obligations are valued in today's dollars and come due as early as in a few days, when Treasury bills mature, to as long as 75 years for Social Security and Medicare. "Like an unpaid credit card bill, the balance grows every year - about $25,000 per household annually. "Taxpayer liabilities grew 20% in the past two years, 13% above the inflation rate. "What's behind the increase: "Medicare. The health care program for the elderly saw its long-term deficit grow $4.5 trillion from 2004. The causes: higher medical costs and an aging population. Not a factor: the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. It was included in the 2004 number. "Social Security. The program's deficit for workers and beneficiaries already in the system grew $2.5 trillion over two years. Reason: Each generation gets benefits greater than the last, so the program automatically gets more out of balance every year. "Government retirement benefits. Pension and retiree medical benefits for civil servants and military personnel are more generous than those for private-sector workers. But government has not set aside as much money as private companies to pay the costs." The Law of Limp tells us why debts are doomed to grow to such proportions. Like the Fed, the feds flew into temptation…and limped back to sanity only reluctantly, hesitantly and partially. They were quick to loosen the purse strings and slow to tighten them. Deficits were many; surpluses were few. The red numbers burgeoned; the black ones shrank. The feds ran over the budget to counteract the downturns in the business cycle, but they forgot to run under the budget to counteract the upturns. And so, the debt mounted up. During the administration of George W. Bush alone, more debt has been added than during all the administrations put together since that of George Washington. But wait a minute, you may be thinking, "Isn't there a war on? Isn't that the real reason debts have exploded? And doesn't it make sense to pay the costs of fighting a war - no matter how great they may be - so that future generations may live in liberty?" We have two answers to this: "no" and "it depends."