Political Leaders Need To Embrace Constructive Cooperation Instead Of Antagonistic Competition4/10/2019 A black hole has been observed for the first time in human history. To be more specific, the shadow of a black hole’s event horizon, i.e. the distance from a black hole that particles moving at the speed of light cannot escape its gravitational pull, has been imaged. Black holes are, of course, called black holes, because they are so massive that even light cannot escape their gravitational pull. For years, scientists have used indirect observations of the influence black holes have on their surroundings to transform a mathematical construct into an observable phenomenon. The image at the center of the Messier 87 galaxy is not particularly stunning, but the implications that can be discerned from the data recorded could open a new chapter in the history of astronomy and physics. Although the significance of the development may seem inconsequential in terms of everyday life, the knowledge gained may eventually transform life as we know it. It is a breakthrough that was only possible thanks to global cooperation.
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Sovereignty is what defines a nation. It is the supreme power of a government and People to act without the consent of a foreign People and power. For weaker countries, their sovereignty is beholden to the goodwill of world powers who must agree to uphold the sovereignty of all nations. As the world’s only hegemonic power, the sovereignty of the United States is only constrained by its willingness to embrace public policies that cede US sovereign power to international forces. In a globalized economy and International Community, all nations must sacrifice a certain degree of their independence in the name of peace, stability, security, and constructive cooperation. Ceding too much sovereignty, however, disempowers sovereign-nations and their ability to serve the interests of their Peoples. By weakening the sovereignty of nations, powerful international actors are empowered to pursue their interests and push their agendas at the expense of all Peoples.
Oil and gas prices are on the rise due to steady global demand and global supply concerns. It is a familiar story that has a major impact on the economies of all countries and the wallets of all consumers. Prior to this recent rise in oil prices, the reemergence of the US as the world’s top oil producer and a collapse of commodity prices had been helping to keep crude prices down, but relatively minor geopolitical shifts continually place upward pressure on crude prices. This time around, the driving force appears to be the Trump Administration’s sanctions on Iran and Venezuela as well as the Saudi, Russian-led effort to push up crude prices by capping OPAC and Russian oil production. In an economic environment where demand is ever-present and production can be suppressed, the inverse relationship between supply and demand dictates prices must go up whenever supply is strained. It is a fact of life that means the over-reliance on a globalized oil supply will favor higher and higher energy prices.
Accountability must be a fundamental component of any company’s operations. Just as people do not live life based on the laws of physics, yet exist in accordance with the laws of physics, employees do not do their work based on the policies that govern accountability, but their performance and work ethic are shaped by those policies. A culture of accountability fosters improved productivity and ethical decision-making. Accountability is, however, not simply something subordinates need. It is something the leadership of every company needs. When leadership has no accountability, a culture of accountability cannot be established and workers cannot be truly held accountable. Subordinate employees might face punitive action, yet unaccountable leadership cannot rightly criticize others for their failures when they cannot embrace responsibility for their wrongdoing. To that end, two complimentary public policy solutions could help ensure accountability for top executives who are negligent in their duties.
Food stamp recipients under a new proposal from the Trump Administration would be less likely to avoid work requirements. If embraced by lawmakers, the policy shift could push more than 750,000 Americans from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Advocates see the projected reduction in beneficiaries as a clear benefit, but critics fear the result will mean more people eating less nutritious food and/or going hungry. While work requirements are already a part of SNAP, many states are able to obtain waivers that eliminate the burden for those living in areas with high unemployment rates. Since the national unemployment rate is currently low, advocates believe reducing the number of waivers and requiring more recipients to work, volunteer, or train 20 hours per week is more than achievable for able-bodied adults. This policy solution is, however, a no-solution, because it fails to address the dysfunctions driving the need for financial assistance like food subsidies.
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