One of the most controversial topics, I think, in the Christian community is cohabitation before Marriage. I've always viewed that topic as more of a moral issue than an economic issue but after reading the article Ties that Bind I can see how is a money issue as well. Just to touch on the moral aspect of this, I am still on the fence. I understand it is considered to be against the Bible, but I personally do not think growing up in a home with two unmarried people is necessarily bad for the kid. I only say this because I've grown up in two different homes where my parents had partners live with us who they weren't married to. Yeah it was a little difficult in multiple ways, one being financially.
It isn't a secret that the proper kind of home for a child is a stable one and one way of obtaining that kind of environment is financially. Two pay checks obviously beat just one and can make paying for things easier, though people do just live and survive with just one. Children who grow up watching their parents have multiple partners are more likely to one, do the same. Two, be less likely to succeed in school. And three, end up pregnant in high school and NOT continue on to get any kind of degree. Which in turn just put the, now mother, and child in further financial trouble than before. It is a vicious cycle that very few want or try to break out of.
The increase of homeless children has increased as well. Almost 1.35 million each year, and about 42% of them are under the age of six. Why does this happen? Again, excluding disasters and such, it boils down to not having money to provide a home for your children or yourself. Whether or not those home had split parents. Cohabiting partners, or still married spouses. One thing is all the same. It wasn't a stable enough environment.
I, like I mentioned before, have come from not only a split home, but also two homes where the parental figures were not married at one time. I know other kids who have grown up in a similar situation and their outcomes all vary. My mom and sister and I all went through highs and lows after my mom and dad split. He paid his child support yes, but having just a little slice of support is not the same as having him there for full support. I find it funny how money is the root of all evil, yet it is the corner stone for stability and happiness.
But in all reality I think the true outcome for a child comes from how dedicated a parent is to make as good of a life they can for their kids. My mom, my family, and countless others took the split and ran with it. Yes, they stumbled, but they didn't stay down and say this is my luck, this is how it is supposed to be. The split home children and dependents lives are not predetermined to suck. It is hard and ones life will never be as good as another, but if people are determined to break the cycle I think it is possible. No it may not be healthy to grow up with your parent having a revolving door of people in your life, and it may not be good to go week to week from parent to parent. But if you have a roof over your head, food on the table, a loving non abusive parent (even if its just one or one and their boy/girl friend), consider yourself lucky. Some don't even have the simple stabilities in life.
The article, Trump’s economic policies could destabilize the global economy basically, in a nut shell, discusses once again how Trump is speaking and making decisions without knowing or understanding the full magnitude of the situation. Though whose really surprised? The global economy is ever-changing and very fragile and yet our now President doesn't seem to see anyone else's needs nor problems. The economic system is very integrated and way above my head but that's ok isn't it? I mean I'm not the one making the important decisions. In reading this article, the over whelming vibe I get from this is that Trump is beginning to wonder if the globe still needs the economic leadership of the US.
One of the number things Trump always mentions, mocks, whatever you want to call it is China. And reading through this article it seems Chinas economic reign has begun to run its course. Yet instead of being sensitive to the fragile state China is in Trump keeps trying to blemish their name, "...keeps branding China as a currency manipulator intent on cheapening its currency". Trump is "undermining" the growth of China by proposing a expansionary U.S. fiscal policy. Our countries employment is higher than it has been in a long time yet he is wanting deeper tax cuts and increased "public expenditure on infrastructure and defense". This will raise interest and this will propel Chinas to higher levels.
China isn't the only economy vulnerable to the increasing rates of the US and the "higher dollar". "The Bank of International Settlements keeps warning us, the emerging market economies constitute a major risk to the global economic recovery because they have allowed their corporate sectors to have increased their dollar denominated debt by more than $3.5 trillion over the last eight years." 3.5 TRILLION dollars. I can't even fathom that much money, nor owing that much.
Raising rates and the dollar can be very damaging to the other emerging economies. Trump needs to stop turning his head away from what the world is doing and ignoring what is happening around us. Yes, we should focus on the US and what is best for us but we cannot turn our head from the worlds issues and needs. Because believe it or not, despite what Trump believes or wants, we are apart of the world and affected by what happens in it. A lot is going to happen in 2017, in Trumps term.
"In April/May, France is to hold its presidential elections in which the National Front’s Marine le Pen could do well; by the third quarter of the year, Italy is likely to have early elections that could see further gains for the populist and anti-euro Five Star Movement; and in September, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s political authority could be further undermined by parliamentary elections." In a couple of months all this will take place and it could or could not affect the US negatively. Though he may get lucky and not have any issues his term. That he can keep going on vacations and keep branding other countries in economic trouble as cheap. But what if it does affect us? We'd have to start looking up and I fear we wouldn't like what we see.
(I'm sorry if this blog is boring, I am sick, and have the worst migraine, I believe, in the history of the world)
