VOLUME No: 59 Issue No:2

Washington, D.C. - March 18, 2004

U.S. Census Bureau Projects Rise in Ethnic Diversity

In a statement released Thursday, the US Census Bureau projected a 49 percent overall increase in the country's population. Non-Hispanic whites, currently the dominant race in the country, will see a 19 percent drop in the next 50 years, while the Hispanic and Asian groups are expected to triple.

The numbers collected by the Census Bureau are based on immigration and birth rates of races and ethnicities present in the United States . They do not take into account things such as inter-racial marriages, acts of war, biological epidemics, amendments to immigration policies, or other such unforeseeable events. For example, they did not predict the post-WWII baby-boom which led to a larger population than they had originally projected.

These shifts in demography will greatly impact American society if the population growth continues as projected. The slow-growing population may cause a more stagnant economy, especially with fewer workers contributing to taxes. In addition, this worker shortage could impact federal institutions such as Social Security at a critical time (when baby-boomers retire and begin collecting their Social Security and Medicare benefits).

However, there are several plus sides to this: the job market will not be so competitive, leading to an overall downturn in unemployment. Additionally, workers will be in high demand and will be in a better position to gain wage increases, health and employment benefits.

For much of its history, the United States has relied on immigrant work forces to keep both its economy and society strong. It is clear from the evidence issued by the US Census Bureau that this trend will continue long into the next century.

Good News for American Workers

According to the National Center for Policy Analysis, foreign outsourcing into the United States has more than made up for the jobs exported to other countries.

Their evidence suggests that while the value of exported services (jobs leaving the country) was $77.38 billion last year, imported services (jobs provided in the US by foreign companies) increased to $131.01 billion, leaving the US with a $53.64 billion economic increase. Additionally, these imported companies and services have invested large amounts of money into domestic companies and their products, improving services in legal counsel, telecommunications, banking, engineering, management consulting, and computer programming.

In other news, a survey released by Manpower, the nation's largest source for temporary workers, has found that 28 percent of the 16,000 participating businesses were planning on hiring more workers between the months of April and June.

The recent economic growth has created a huge demand for workers, leading to the third straight quarter of projected hiring growth. Chief among them is the need for construction workers: 42 percent of construction companies polled will be upping their hiring process.

Talon News reports that unemployment fell from a high of 6.4 percent in June 2003 to 5.6 percent in January of this year – about the same as it did when President Clinton ran for re-election in 1996. The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits was at its lowest level since early 2001, with 336,000 people requesting it.

The status of the economy and job market will be a major debate issue in the upcoming 2004 Presidential Elections. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) has cited the loss of American jobs due to foreign outsourcing as affecting many working-class Americans, especially in the industrial and agricultural sectors. President Bush remains optimistic about the state of our economy, and has used the rising employment numbers and tax cut bills he pushed through Congress to his advantage.

There are currently 138.5 million employed American citizens, an all time high in the US .

The Latest on the Election Debate Issues

President Bush challenged Sen. Kerry to name foreign leaders he has claimed support his candidacy. Pres. Bush stated that a claim of that importance was made, “you ought to back it up with facts”.

The Boston Globe reporter who first wrote that Kerry claimed support from foreign leaders has retracted it, saying that he made an error. Upon reviewing his transcripts, he realized that Kerry had said ‘more leaders' instead of ‘foreign leaders', but Kerry has said that he would stand by the printed statement.

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) stated Thursday that he believed Sen. Kerry was not ‘weak' on defense. Kerry has been criticized by Pres. Bush and Vice-President Cheney for voting against providing the war $87 billion, and being ‘weak' on homeland defense and security measures.

While stating that he does not always agree with Kerry, he ‘decries this negativism that's going on on both sides. The American people don't need it.”

On Tuesday, Howard Dean stated that the recent train bombing in Spain was a direct result of the United States sending troops to fight in Iraq .

He backed this statement up by saying that he was repeating what was said on a videotape issued by al Qaeda. The tape he refers to is a confession reported to be from al Qaeda claiming responsibility for the bombing in retaliation of Spain 's support of the war in Iraq . The former Vermont governor stated this while defending Sen. John F. Kerry (D-MA) from President Bush's campaign ads.

Kerry quickly responded by saying “It's not our position”, effectively disagreeing with Dean.

Ohio State University Sued by Christian Group Claiming Discrimination

The Christian Legal Society chapter (CLS) at Ohio State University (OSU) has filed suit alleging that OSU has violated the rights of free speech, expressive association, and free exercise of religion as provided in the First Amendment.

According to the lawsuit, last year OSU tried to take away CLS's rights accorded to all recognized student organizations – informational boards, funding, meeting space, etc, and has even gone as far as to warn CLS that it would not be officially recognized by the University if they allow such discriminatory regulations to continue. OSU believes that the group is in violation of the non-discriminatory policies on religious and sexual orientation for discriminating against some of the University's students.

The constitution and bylaws of the Christian Legal Society state that all participating members need to profess belief in Jesus Christ and other Church leaders as well as living exemplary, ‘traditional' ways of Christian life. These regulations include banning homosexual activities and non-Christians from becoming members.

The Chief Litigation Counsel, Steven H. Aden, Esq. has stated that “by threatening to enforce its ‘non-discrimination' policy to require religious student organizations to accept as members and leaders those whose spiritual and moral views run counter to the group's mission, the university tramples upon the constitutional right of religious organizations to define their own identity.”

Taxpayer Rebate Act Considered by Congress

The “Taxpayer Rebate and Responsibility Act” (H.R. 3784) has been introduced to the House of Representatives by Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA). The bill would effectively give taxpayers refunds from the Federal government.

The bill guarantees at least half of the surplus funds from non-Social Security and non-Medicare programs left at the end of the fiscal year would go to eligible taxpayers (i.e. those with liabilities) provided that the end surplus is larger than the allotted administrative costs.

Ultimately, the Secretary of the Treasury would have the decision to release that fifty percent of unused funds back to the taxpayers or put it towards lowering the national debt. Congress would then decide the redistribution of the funds towards eligible American taxpayers.

The benefits, according to Rep. Cantor, are twofold: it will prevent lawmakers from spending that extra money, and taxpayers will follow legislative decisions more closely to monitor the potential refunds they will receive.

The Taxpayer Rebate and Responsibility Act is co-sponsored by 18 Republican Congresspersons. It is currently being debated within the House Ways and Means committee.

Refunding the taxpayers was one of President Bush's issues during the 2000 campaign. He stated at the Republican National Convention that he believed “the surplus is not the government's money. The surplus is the people's money.”