Monday Open Lines


President Obama believes that we should be doing everything we can to put higher education within reach for every American – because at a time when the unemployment rate for Americans with at least a college degree is about half the national average, it’s never been more important.

He is calling on Congress to act before student loan interest rates double for more than 7.4 million students, adding an average of $1,000 to their debt. Congress has a chance to take action on what should be an area of bipartisan agreement to prevent this unnecessary and damaging increase in interest rates and give our young people a chance to succeed in the jobs of today and tomorrow

This week, the President visited one of the Sunshine State’s largest ports, attended the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia, announced new steps to strengthen oversight of energy markets, welcomed champion NASCAR drivers and the Alabama Crimson Tide football team to the White House, and traveled to Ohio to speak with unemployed workers about the importance of job training programs. That’s April 13th to April 19th or “Roll Tide.”


People who have used computers for some time will remember the saying “garbage in — garbage out.”  In these days of intensive search for alternative ways to create energy, the words may become “garbage in — energy out,” as an increasing number of power plants burn garbage instead of fossil fuels.  The first power plant in the U.S. to burn garbage was the Union Electric Company in St. Louis, Missouri, this month in 1972.  The U.S. now burns about 14 percent of its trash, compared to the 54 percent of the world leader, Denmark.  Coal, natural gas, and nuclear power currently generate most electricity used in the U.S.  Among renewable energy sources, hydroelectric plants lead in the generation of electricity.  Profile America is completing its 15th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.


 

Discuss and more on today’s Open Lines