US Government Recall Agencies

Jul 11th, 2008 by Addy | 0

There are many government agencies that have some limited form of product recall responsibilities, such as the Coast Guard’s responsibility for certain marine-product recalls like floatation devices, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) jurisdiction over recalls involving harm to the environment. However, the bulk of recalls in the United States goes through one of four government agencies: Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This article aims to inform consumers about which agency to contact when they have a complaint to make about a product, and how to go about contacting the agency.


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Gaza Strip’s Plight

Jul 8th, 2008 by Addy | 0

A great number of men, women and children in the Gaza Strip live in one of the most chaotic environments on Earth. The escalating violence between warring political factions such as the Palestinians and Israelis has caused many to doubt the prospect of a peaceful state. And many are wondering if the Gaza Strip will return to its former grandeur as the gem Mediterranean.

The Gaza Strip is rife with political contradiction and corruption. In retrospect, the actions of the Palestinians to retain control of Gaza have been considered by many to be outrageous and condemnable. Once the Israelis surrendered control of Gaza City, the Palestinians were divided into two major parties for the reign of Gaza- Hamas and Fateh. Will the Gaza Strip ever know peacee


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A Bill to Protect Military Recruiters

Jun 22nd, 2008 by Addy | 0

I am completing Defending College Heights, a novel about an Irish Catholic family and a college administration in the aftermath of the murder of a U.S. Army recruiter. I started work on Defending because I had connections in the higher education community who were quite knowledgeable on the issues, or had worked closely with military recruiters on campus.

In my research, I went back to pro-military as well as anti-war protests against the Vietnam War. Then, and now, there were confrontations between military personnel and civilians. Most of these protests were non-violent, but others were not. Kent State, where four students were killed and nine wounded, was perhaps the tipping point of the protest movement.


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Endowment Tax is Unsound Public Policy

Jun 17th, 2008 by Addy | 0

I just read in the May 19 Christian Science Monitor that a Massachusetts legislator proposes a 2.5 percent tax on college endowments over $1 billion. The Commonwealth State has nine such institutions including Harvard, MIT, Williams, Boston College, Amherst, Wellesley, Tufts, Smith and Boston University; all of them are among the most selective schools in the United States.

State representative Paul Kujowski, sponsor of the endowment tax legislation believes these institutions have accumulated an exorbitant amount of wealth while retaining their non-profit status. I can believe that Representative Kujowski did the math, and found that Harvard alone would pay $850 million on $34 billion of their endowment and MIT $250 million on their $10 billion; a smart politician knows a cash cow when he sees one.


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What Do We Get For Our Taxese

Jun 16th, 2008 by Addy | 0

Tax time is coming around again. I’m reminded because I just placed my order for the 2007 version of TurboTax, which is a software application that guides me through federal and Pennsylvania tax return preparation. The damn tax code has become so complex, you really need either a good accountant or a tax package to get it right.


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Federal Emergency Management Agency Fails

Jun 3rd, 2008 by Addy | 0

In the wake of a tragedy we are often left in a state of complete and utter shock. Especially in events where our homes are destroyed and our loves one separated from us, our minds are the furthest thing from rational or clear. The unfortunate part about this fact is that it is in times like these that a clear head is the most important thing we can have. When events such as these happen, it is our family, friends, and neighbors in our communities that often come to our aid, providing relief and support where needed. When disaster hits on a broader scale, however, and it affects entire cities, counties, and states, what happens thene Enter the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Since 1979, this organization’s efforts have played vitals roles in the lives of millions of citizens who have fallen victim to natural disasters across the nation. With almost 30 years past, and five presidents overseeing this agency, it has undergone reorganization and changes aimed at making it a better responsive resource for the citizens of the United States in times of urgent need. Ironically enough, it is this reorganization, among many things, that have caused for this organization to fail at its primary task of responding efficiently and effectively in times of national crisis.


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Jon Corzine

May 26th, 2008 by Addy | 0

Here in New Jersey, the Garden State, we have a governor who has just proposed to make $500 million in permanent spending cuts, refinance state debt, reduce municipal aid, eliminate two cabinet departments, and introduce tougher standards in math and science education.

These are proposals that you might expect from a Republican, but Jon Corzine is a fiscally conservative, moderate to liberal social issues Democrat. Corzine, a former chief executive of Goldman Sachs, one of the oldest white-shoe Wall Street investment firms, governs New Jersey as if he doesn

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