Chapter 2 : Britain

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2547303/Lib-Dems-declare-war-rich-Danny-Alexander-launch-tax-raid-pensions-multi-million-pound-homes.html

I thought the Chapter we read was very dense with information so I decided to find an article which reflected on just a small, but important factor. From what I've gathered, the history of England is predominantly about keeping the monarch's and noble's power in check. With that said, it seems this is not only done so in the political realm, but the economic realm as well. The Liberal Democrats, or the "Whigs", are planning to set out a £4 billion double raid on wealthy people's income. These guys mean business; they are ready to impose a 1 percent levy on the value of homes which are over £2 million. This is expected to help them raise about 2 billion! And it doesn't stop there, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander is now planning to create two even higher rates for those with homes worth more than 5 million and 10 million. I guess all those Hollywood folks with their beautiful, ginormous flats in Primrose Hill and Mayfair are going to have to start paying up pretty soon!

Ukraine losing legitimacy?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25838962

"Can Revolution lead to democracy?" But what if there is already a "democracy" in place?

Ukraine has been up to some shady business lately. The people are unhappy because of their government's poor decision to link up with Russia and refuse to sign a planned treaty with the EU. Although their "demographic bulge" seems to range between the age of 15-64 with a whopping 74%, people came together to peacefully protest against this political move. However, the response of the Ukraine government is what was most shocking! The government attacked fundamental human rights by challenging their own democracy. On January 14th, they chose to pass a bill which radically limits the freedom to assembly. It demands that permission to form a protest must be obtained from police. That doesn't even make sense now does it? How can people get permission to protest from the very people who will stop their protests? Now the Ukrainians have taken it upon themselves to react violently after having their rights taken away. According to my article, already two confirmed dead on the third day of violence. I don't see this going very well.

This bill opens the gates for censorship, and punishment for speaking out against authorities. This does not sound the least bit democratic to me. Perhaps they are still learning since they've only been a democracy since 1990, but this is going to end very ugly if the authorities don't shape up and stop trying to be a Vladimir Putin imitator.