TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE

Alex Gibney’s documentary Taxi to the Dark Side, analyzes the United State’s seemingly unprecedented policy on interrogation and torture of suspects after the 9/11 terror attacks in New York City. In the film, Dilawar, an Afghani taxi driver, a man considered honest and kind by all who knew him, died in a Bagram prison cell, only 5 days after his arrest. Using extreme detail on the case of Dilawar, Gibney exposes the brutality of the case and searches for the reasons to why it had even come to be. Through interviews with military officers, some in fact involved in the torture of Dilawar, Gibney invites his audience to question the mortality of American government and those in charge.

Gibney’s use of uncensored images alone, tells the story of the corruption found at prison camps, such as Guantanamo Bay. The film does an incredible job of placing the audience almost in the position of the soldiers involved in the horrible crimes. Similar to the Enron documentary, Taxi to the Dark Side, brings attention to the idea of corruption, and how power and authority can completely change the outcome of a particular situation. The film of course was much more difficult to watch than that of Enron, the Smartest Men in the Room. However, I felt that its impact was far greater than that of the latter. In my mind, I of course put some blame on those physically involved in Dilawar’s case, however, I can’t help but point a finger of blame to the Bush Administration for allowing and encouraging such practices to commence. American safety is of course an important feature for any US President, yet one can only wonder why the torture of an innocent civilian is necessary to ensure that.

ENRON, THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM

In the documentary, Enron: The Smartest People in the Room, through a series of interviews and footage, a story is told of a business that had developed through the practice of complete dishonesty and fraud. In the first few minutes of the film, a woman discloses that the outcomes of Enron, was not a business tragedy, but rather that of human tragedy. Through the manipulation of employee earnings, the destroying of company records, gambling, and the encouraging of gambling, the company lived in the moment, so to speak, rather than having any concern about what their fraudulent activities could result in. A company, once praised as the new model for business, would eventually come to a disastrous end.

The film takes a close concentration on Enron’s president Kenneth Ley, who seemed to ignore all the warning signs of the corrupted company. It appeared, that Ley, along with the executives of Enron, believed that the company would never get caught. Bethany Mclean, one of the writers of the documentary who interviewed Ley when the practices Enron were under suspicion, discussed that the company continued to make terrible business decisions – investing billions of dollars in India, for example – while still paying their executives tremendous sums of money. The documentary seems to bring attention to the danger of power and money, as the company seemed to place its concern on profit instead of healthy and profitable business methods. In the last minutes of the film, we learn of the tremendous impact of Enron’s bankruptcy on employees further down the line. While executives were still able to obtain a substantial profits, the “normal guy” was left with nothing. The story of Enron is most definitely a warning to those companies who have become obsessed with power and ignore the value of honest business practice.

The Success of Stands.3

After almost two years of economic difficulties in America, there are still signs of financial stress in New York City. However, in the lower East Village, many residents have become familiar with Artichoke Pizza, located on 14th street between 1st and 2nd avenue. Known for its pizza and for its late operating hours, there is likely to be a line trailing out of the small shop, even at two in the morning. On January 14th, owners Francis Garcia and Sal Basille opened a dessert stand, Led Zeppole, located only two doors down from their successful pizza shop, where customers continue to wait in long lines, only now divulging in tasty treats.

While Garcia discussed that he had ideas for a dessert themed restaurant, Led Zeppole was a still a bit unexpected. When the space suddenly became available about a year ago, Garcia explained that originally he had no interest specifically in investing money in something new. It was only until other food businesses began to look at the empty space that Garcia says he became serious in expanding, explaining his fear that he would only lose money by allowing in possible competition.

For many businesses in New York, competition falls second to the concern of financial stability. However, in the face of the economic crisis, Garcia’s business has remained unaffected.

“Pizza’s recession proof,” Garcia said. “No matter how bad things are people still have five dollars for a slice and a soda.”

Garcia explained that the business received during the late nights and early mornings have also helped them stay afloat.

“The late night crowd is great. It’s an alternative to a diner.” Garcia says. “ There are only a handful of places that have good food for cheap prices that are open late.”

In a report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the food industry remains a keystone of the nations economy, employing an estimated 11.4 million people in 2008, an increase from 2007’s 11.2 million employed. The food industry, while suffering from some amount of economic repercussions, it is still considered a safe haven. In the larger sense, everyone still has to eat. In fact, Malkia McLeod, a representative from the U.S Census Bureau's Public Information Office, says that, since 2007 "limited-service restaurants have experienced an increase in the number of establishments, sales and number of paid employees."

Despite the food industry’s stability during the nation’s economic crisis, it is difficult to disregard the negative impact the economy has had on others. According to a news release published by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 27 states reported unemployment rate increases. The report indicated that the 14.9 million unemployed within the US went fundamentally unchanged from January.

In New York, the state’s unemployment rate has increased from 8.8 percent to 8.9 percent. Peter A. Neenan, director of the labor department’s research division, is quoted as saying: “Our newly revised jobs data indicate that the impact of the national recession on New York state’s economy was deeper than first estimated.”

However, there remains optimism amongst many economists, as there is suggestion that the country has overcome the recession and is now dealing with recovery. In an interview with David Gregory, host of the MSNBC show “Meet the Press,” Christina Romer, a chair on President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisors had said:

“You know, there’s the official definition, and that talks about just when do you turn the corner, when do you go from plummeting to, to finally starting to go back up? And I think we have, at least in terms of GDP, reached that point. But I think the president’s always said, and what I firmly believe, you’re not recovered until all those people that want to work are back to work.”

Whatever the case may be, for Garcia and Basille things have never been better; according to Garcia, business is only expected to increase due to the summer season. With there recent opening of Led Zeppole, a new meat sandwich shop This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef, and the development of a second Artichoke Pizza – one that would offer seating and a side slice shop – it is hard to imagine the city of New York is still suffering from an economic crisis.

“We’ve been blessed,” Garcia says. “We really haven’t had any down time. After the first two weeks [Artichoke] business just exploded.”

The Future of Education.2

On March 30^th, nine days after the bill had passed, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act was signed into law as part of the Health Care and Reconciliation Act, after a total of 56 votes compared to 43 approved the new legislation. According to Mark Kantrowitz of FinAid.org, over the next ten years the legislation will provide increased Pell Grants to students, which will now be provided by the United States government rather than private lenders.

Over the next ten years, the student loan legislation will add $36 billion dollars to the annual Pell Grant scholarship. Beginning in July of this year, the Pell Grant will be increased to $5,550 dollars per student and by the year 2017, will have gone up to $5,975 dollars; it will also provide 820,000 additional grants by 2020.

Essentially, the government will now be the direct lender of all federal student loans issued starting July 2010. According to the Congressional Budget office, the change will save taxpayers $61 Billion dollars over the course of the next decade and reduce the U.S deficit by a minimum of $10 Billion dollars. John Matulovich, a representative from Access Group, a company which offers private and federal loans, believes that loans through the U.S Department of Education is a good change: “because they will offer certain loan forgiveness programs that other lenders do not as well.” Yet what exactly is to be said regarding the effect on both new students, and students currently enrolled in a higher education institution who already have been issued loans?

According to a statement made by the White House, the students who have assumed loans after July 1^st, 2010, will now be able to “cap their student loan repayments at 10 percent of their discretionary income,” meaning the amount of income available remaining after the basic essentials have been purchased: food, clothing, shelter, and utilities. The statement goes on to say that students who are persistent in their payments will have the remaining balanced forgiven after twenty years. Bill Mack, a financial expert, says that for the students who have acquired loans prior to July 1^st, “will now borrow under the same terms, from Direct Lending.” Furthermore, these students, once graduated, will now be able to consolidate their loans into one single program. According to Kantrowitz, most benefits will benefit future students. “The main benefit, Kantrowitz says, “is [the government] mandating that all colleges be in a direct loan program.” This means that any student previously in the FFCF program in new or past loans, will also obtain lower interest rates. “But beyond that,” Kantrowitz continues, “[that's] pretty much everything.” Bill Mack agrees that the impact the program will have on current students will be minimal.

The legislation also is intended to distribute $2 billion dollars towards a grant program for community colleges that will develop and improve their educational and career training programs. $2.25 billion additional dollars will go towards historically black colleges and universities, including minority-serving institutions. Furthermore, the government plans to pledge $750 million dollars to fund programs intended to increase financial understanding, and $1.5 billion dollars towards federal loans.

A spokeswoman for the Republican Senator Antonia—Ferrier of Utah, Orrin Hatch said that the bill was “completely inappropriate, [as Democrats] used takeover of the student loan bill to pay for the health care.” Many Republicans throughout the country agree with the Senator: their disagreement with government control over health care meant disapproving the included educational refor, whether they supported it or not. A spokesman from Senator Olympia Snowe’s office in Maine, said, “The biggest reason for [Snowe’s] support for or against the student loan bill was more about health care…we opposed the student loan bill because it was put in with the health care bill.”

Democrats, however, with the exception of thirty-four votes against, voted in favor of the bill. Jeanne Shaheen, Senator from New Hampshire voted for the student loan bill in the belief that it will help middle and lower class students who, while deserving of loans, were unable to afford them due to their initial and surrounding costs. Shaheen, formally a teacher, trusts that the bill will provide a guaranteed loan to suffering students as opposed to leaving it simply to chance.

It has been 45 years since the government first began funding for higher education, with the Higher Education Act of 1965. President Johnson, who was in office at the time, stressed the importance that higher education must be available to all U.S citizens. On November 8, 1965, after a period of alterations to the proposed bill, Johnson's motion of financial assistance and improved resources at universities became public law. The irony, however, is that regardless of 45 years of educational and financial reform, there exists many students who still are unable to afford the expenses of a higher education.

Kathryn Solow, a sophomore at the School of Visual Arts in New York City remains concerned about the future of her education. “My main focus right now is on paying for college. I can only hope that whatever changes that are soon to occur will help ease my ongoing concern.”