BloggeRhythms

Two incredible story’s in the news today. While both involve Democrats and vast sums of money, one has to wonder if those at the top of the party really know how any nation’s economy works. Or, more likely, they ignore long-run damage to come in order to gain votes, regardless of cost to those paying taxes or increases to international threats.

 

Adam Kredo @Washington Free Beacon writes that, “Sanctions relief provided to Iran under a recently inked nuclear accord is expected to boost the Islamic Republic’s military spending by nearly $5 billion dollars, with much of that money going to fund Iran’s terror forces, according to a new study by a Washington, D.C.-based think-tank.

 

“Under the parameters of the deal, Iran will receive nearly $150 billion in sanctions relief and cash assets. Because the money comes with no strings attached, it is expected that Iran will spend the money to fund its global terrorism operation, as well as its defense sector.”

 

What’s most interesting, and truly frightening, is that the “cash windfall will allow Iran to put another $4.8 billion into its defense budget if current spending trends remain the same, according to a new study by the American Action Forum (AAF).”

 

Thus, while the administration keeps trying to focus the issue on its attempts to prevent Iran’s development of nuclear weaponry, “The study comes amid multiple reports indicating that Iran is building a series of new weaponized drones, missile defense shields, and other types of military hardware meant to deter an attack from Western forces in the region.”

 

And therefore, even if Iran delays its nuclear development, which is doubtful, it will now have the funds to expand its military assistance and influence around the Middle-East and elsewhere on the globe. Which means, that even if the U.S. were left to deal with Iran on its own, lifting the sanctions at this point is not only a horrendous mistake, it paves the way for Iran to become by far the greatest threat to peace in the region and other places

 

Which brings us to today’s update on Bill Clinton’s wife and her latest idea for moving left toward Bernie Sanders ideology. 

 

According to FoxNews.com her new “proposal centers on a $200 billion federal incentive system aimed at encouraging states to expand their investments in higher education and cut student costs. States that guarantee "no-loan" tuition at four-year public schools and free tuition at community colleges will be eligible to receive federal funds.

 

“Clinton doesn't go quite as far as some more liberal politicians and party activists, who've made "debt free college" an early litmus test for the presidential primary field. In May, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders released his own plan that would eliminate tuition and fees for public universities.”

 

What stood out, however, is that Sanders “$70 billion annual proposal would be funded by imposing a tax on transactions by hedge funds, investment houses and other Wall Street firms, while under Bill’s wife’s plan, “For many students, it would translate into debt-free tuition," said Carmel Martin, executive vice president for policy at the Center for American Progress, who advised Clinton on that plan. "It will depend on the student circumstances and the institution they are going to."

 

Reading how both plans would take huge sums out of taxpayer’s pockets in one way or another, spurred some additional research which showed that, “In the 2013 fiscal year, the 1,165 ranked universities that reported endowment figures to U.S. News in aggregate had a gain of 7.6 percent in the size of their endowments. The average endowment among them was about $355 million at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30,​ 2013, up from about $330 million the previous year. 

 

Furthermore, and truly incredible, “The average among the top 10 schools with the largest financial endowment was about $14 billion, also up from the previous year. 

 

“The three universities with the highest endowments are U.S. News' three highest-ranked National Universities, but in a slightly different order. Harvard University, ranked No. 2, has the largest endowment, nearly $32.7 billion. Yale, ranked No. 3, follows, with more than $20.7 billion in endowment dollars. Princeton, ranked No. 1, had nearly $18.8 ​billion at the end of fiscal year 2013.”

 

The numbers are staggering, so here’s a link to the story: http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/2015/01/13/10-universities-with-the-largest-financial-endowments

 

Therefore,  at least for the 1,165 ranked universities that reported endowment figures, if they offered free tuition to all applicants into the future, they’d still have millions left in their coffers. Which means that, once again, either Bill’s wife and Sanders didn’t do any homework before making irrational proposals. Or more likely, have no idea as what they’re talking about as usual, but still want to sound good to deadbeat, financially-failing constituents who'll vote for them. 

 

Leading to the ongoing question: Joe Biden, Mayor Bloomberg, Jerry Brown, and Starbuck’s chairman and CEO, Howard Schultz, are you reading this?

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios