Are the Clintons Corrupt?

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The Clinton Foundation is remaining as transparent as it always has been when it decided to reveal the $31.1 million donation to it that it had conveniently left off its tax filings. The foundation received this 'donation' because of a deal that had been made between Canadian financier Frank Giustra, with Bill Clinton at his side, and Kazakhstan. This deal immediately led to another deal that gave the Russians access to US uranium deposits. On top of this the foundation has to re-file taxes for multiple years because it didn't report all of its revenue. The spokeswoman for the Clinton Foundation said this was due to grants from the government “mistakenly combined with other donations.”

The Clinton foundation is not able to keep its numbers right on its tax forms.  It is not able do basic arithmetic.  The people who are in charge of the foundation, the Clintons, are either trying to hide money or hired someone who made a $31 million error.  Anyone who tries to hide money or makes $31 million mistakes on their tax forms should not be dealt any form of public responsibility.  Now we have the matter of allowing the Russians to access American uranium deposits.  Not only did Russia gain access to these deposits but the Clinton Foundation received money from this deal.  This money appears on the outside to be a bribe.  Bribes indicate corruption.  How do we know that during Hillary's time as Secretary of State or during Bill's time as President that no more of these donations, or bribes happened?  If the US elected Hillary Clinton during the 2016 elections we would be electing an essentially corrupt President and that is morally wrong and irresponsible as a people to do.

Our Tax Code

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Yesterday was perhaps our greatest national holiday, if you're the government that is. That's because yesterday was tax day. The thing that is so horrible in taxes is perhaps not having to pay money to the government but that the tax code has 74,608 pages in it.  In the first 26 years of the federal income tax.  The tax code only grew from 400 to 504 pages.  In 1984 the tax code was only, compared to today, 26,300 pages.  That was just about 30 years ago and the tax code has tripled in its size.  There are large amounts of initiatives in the tax code that have lead to its ever larger size.  Such as buying hybrid vehicles and using ethanol.  Obamacare itself added about 3000 pages to the tax code.  It appears that we will never get a flat tax even though it would be the the fairest and least complicated solution to to our problem with the tax code.  A flat tax would just be too fair for our government and would allow everyone to pay the same rate.

I think our tax code is an abomination.  It doesn't add anything to society except confusion and resentment.  Also it is an over complex mess that needs to be reformed.  The tax code is probably the one thing that unites Americans together in their disdain of the government taking their money.  But you could also say that it breaks Americans apart because they know that the tax code isn't fair.  Another sign that the tax code is broken is that people need to go to tax filing firms that tell you what you need to pay because the tax code is just too complex for the average person to comprehend.  There are so many things wrong with taxes today that I could possibly go on all day.  But I will stop because you need to start getting ready for taxes next year and the pages that will get added to the tax code.

Russia, the US and Hacking

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Espionage is the one thing that all governments have in common.  They all spy on each other in every possible way.  One of these such ways is through computers.  Recently, Russia has been caught acessing the White House's computers remotely.  Although, the United States says that they only accessed non-classified computers.  These hackings come within months of a similar hacking at the State Department.  The digital age has ushered in new ways for intelligence agencies to spy, and we can be sure that they all take advantage of this opportunity.

Spying on other countries is not a new concept.  The Chinese, Russians and others have often tried to hack our systems.  I don't believe that Russia didn't access classified computers as well as regular ones.  We probably just don't notice them there yet or we do but no one is saying so because it would be embarrassing.  On one hand I hope that no classified intelligence gets out because it could endanger regular Americans.  On the other hand I hope that if Russia obtained evidence of illegal operations by our government that they reveal it to the people.  I think that it is a little ironic that while the government hacks its own citizens it can't protect itself from a similar action.

There Is No Way the Iran Talks Are Going to End Well

Iran Talks

There have been ongoing talks in regard to the Iranian nuclear program.  These talks are ongoing even though it is widely believed that Iran is arming Yemen's rebels.  The rebels have forced Yemen into chaos.  Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel says that helping Iran acquire ingredients needed for a nuclear device shows that "there is a reward for Iran's aggression."  There is also the possibility that Saudi Arabia may try to acquire a nuclear weapon if Iran wins during these talks.  Saudi Arabia and Iran are historic foes.  Some say that, in order to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear devices.  Iran could convert its weapon grade uranium into fuel rods, which are hard to be weaponized.  Although this method has been rejected by the Iranians.  Also, downgrading the uranium has been brought up.


These talks have a very unsettling vibe to them.  I feel if we negotiate about nuclear programs with a country that repeatedly chants “Death to America” will not be a good idea.  Even their leader said that.  I don’t get why we even need to hold talks, what do we get out of them?  That right there is the big question.  What will we get out of all of these talks?  I feel like we will get nothing.  There is no way that this nuclear program won’t help Iran get nuclear weapons.  So, lets say this deal is accepted by all parties, how will the United States officially agree to it.  The senate has to have a 2/3 majority vote in order to make any treaty.  So how will this treaty be approved?  We know it won’t be approved in the senate because it is controlled by the Republicans, or do I have too much faith in them?  But this administration will probably go through the UN and bypass congress entirely. This in itself is sketchy legally speaking.  This deal will destroy the Middle East.  Iran wants the destruction of Israel and America over all things.  Also, Saudi Arabia hates them as well since they are Sunni Muslims and Iran is full of Shiite Muslims.  Both countries are pretty much at war right now in Yemen.  I don’t want to see what happens when they can fire nukes instead of standard missiles.  All I see coming out of this deal is chaos and hurt for everyone in the world.

A Little About Me

Madison Square Garden in New York City at the Big East Basketball Tournament

So, I am writing a blog for my English class because I have to. But, it’s not the end of the world so I am going to make the most of this opportunity. I am a sophomore at Creighton Prep High School, am 16, and like I previously said am writing this blog for my English class.  I am an oldest child, I have brothers that are 13 and 10, and my little sister is 6. My favorite hobbies are playing and watching sports and playing video games. During my life I have traveled to Italy, France and the Grand Cayman. As well as Colorado to ski, New York City as a sixth grader to participate in Model UN with my old grade school and then again during my Freshman year to watch the Big East basketball tournament. I have also gone to Florida and Hawaii. One interesting thing about me was that when I was homeschooled during my seventh grade year I went to Maui, Hawaii and spent a month with my grandma. During this time, since I was homeschooled, I was able to continue to do schoolwork while being in Maui instead of cold and dreary Nebraska. I like a lot of sports. I play football and run track for Creighton Prep in Omaha, Nebraska. Basketball is one of my favorite sports; I am just not that good at it.  All of these sports, minus track, I like watching on TV.  I especially enjoy watching basketball during March Madness, when I can fill out brackets and just watch a bunch of basketball. When I grow up I want to go to college and I still do not know what I am going to do there. For this blog I will talk about some current events, politics and just a little bit of everything.

This year's NCAA Tournament Bracket