Assignment 6- Identifying Opportunities in Economic and Regulatory Trends

1) The Cost of the Shutdown (so far): A Statistician's Estimate

• https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/the-cost-of-the-shutdown-a-statisticians-estimate
• Liberty Vittert explains the ranges of how much money the government shutdown is costing the government. There are over 800,000 people without pay. This also affects how much these people are spending in the economy. Since they are not getting paid, they are spending less as a whole. Nothing is going to be accomplished without necessary communication between the democrats and the republicans. Workers of the federal government are not being paid, and that effects them in tax season coming up and overall basic living
• My brother is in the US Coast Guard. He is currently underway which means he is out to sea. For more than half of his time underway, he has not been getting paid. My brothers only source of income is what he makes while at work, and for 35 days he has not been getting paid. Additionally, the government shut down has been a significant topic on the news. It is very bothersome how the left and right cannot even have a civil conversation to end the shutdown. The results of the closure hit close to home. Each person not receiving pay during the shutdown should absolutely receive payment when the government reopens fully. Not only has this affected the Coast Guard but it has affected many other government workers, their families and the economy as a whole.

2) 3 States Legalize Marijuana for Recreational or Medical Use

• https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/midterm-election-marijuana-legalization_us_5be26aa3e4b0dbe871a45fd7
• Matt Ferner explains that within the past few months, Michigan, Utah, and Missouri have recently legalized marijuana for both recreational and medical use. Ten states have now legalized marijuana for recreational use. The article explains how now 2/3 Americans support the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana has opened up new doors for medical treatments and has been able to bring money into the states that have legalized it. 
• Marijuana has more recently been used as an alternative to certain medical conditions such as Chron's disease, ulcerative colitis, depression, anxiety and has been used to treat pain. The opioid crisis is at an all-time high, and marijuana is now also being used to treat addictions. I intern for a behavioral health care company, and we work with a lot of people who struggle with addiction. Additionally, statistics have proven to increase state income in states that have legalized marijuana.

3) Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Gun Rights Case After Nearly a Decade of Inaction on Second Amendment

• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/22/supreme-court-will-hear-gun-rights-case/2482910002/
• Richard Wolf explains that there are many unsettled cases regarding gun violence. Additionally, communication between liberals and conservatives has not been clear. Each side rightfully has their opinions, but it is time to find a middle ground. Without a clear discussion and solution, nothing will ever get solved
• The second amendment has been around forever, and it will most likely not go away. Times have changed and people are changing too. Gun violence is at an all-time high, and something does need to be done. There needs to be more background checks on those seeking to buy a gun. The FBI also needs to take it seriously when they receive warning about a specific person. The problem is that there is a black market for guns, and they will never disappear. Without more rules and regulations, the problem will never improve.

4) Next Year, the US Will Export More Energy than it Imports. That Hasn't Happened Since 1953.

• https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/24/business/us-energy-exporter-2020-oil-natural-gas-shale/index.html
• Matt Egan discusses how the US has always imported oil and fuel. For the first time since 1953, the United States will be a net energy exporter. New technology was able to uncover oil in the states. Statistics expect the US to continue in production growth. There are some concerns about pollution in the oil. The US is expected to shrink its reliance on foreign oil, but not become completely dependent.
• This creates an extreme opportunity for our country. By not importing oil, it decreases gas prices for consumers. The US has always aimed to be a net exporter, not a net importer. This would be beneficial to our economy. However, in recent weeks, there has been an increase in gas prices. When gas prices go up it hurts certain citizens who have trouble paying for gas. I pay for my own gas, so I do not like to see when gas prices go up.