Post by Fox News on Feb 8, 2016 10:58:22 GMT -6
Welcome to the fact checking thread for AP Macroeconomics lectures. Here we will fact check anything seemed worthy of fact checking. Anything brought up during class, either by the instructor or by a student will be scrutinized and researched. Feel free to fact-check this fact-checking thread! But remember, your statements will be analyzed and you must provide at least 2 credible sources for what you are saying.
The purpose of this thread is not to knock on the instructor of this course but rather to engage in 1st amendment-based learning through discussions and develop HISD-sponsored 21st century critical thinking skills and digital literacy skills. Fact-checking rooted in skepticism is necessary in a world where Donald Trump can run for president and can have good numbers in election polls. We must foster skepticism because it is a critical skill in today's world, so go ahead, be a skeptic and fact check this. Feel free to use quotations and discuss.
Lecture Date: 2/8/2016
Claim #1: Obama wants to put a $10 tax on the price of each barrel of oil.
We felt the need to fact check, not because we believed it would be bogus, but for clarification purposes.
Verdict: Indubitably true. 'Nuff said.
Sources:
www.politico.com/agenda/story/2016/02/obama-oil-tax-budget-000038
money.cnn.com/2016/02/04/investing/obama-oil-tax/
www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/04/obama-propose-10--barrel-oil-tax/79838620/
Claim #2: It will have a negative effect on the financial standing of low-income people.
Verdict: Probably.
Obama has not elaborated on how the plan will affect the price at the pump but news sources estimate that this tax might translate into an increase of $0.25 per gallon. Taxes are not being directly paid by the consumers but rather by the exporters and importers of oil. Oil companies will be the ones paying for it, but this may lead to them rising gas prices at the pump. While the price of gas might increase by like a quarter per gallon, the money raised through taxes will be used to invest in the development of renewable energy. This may be beneficial in the long run for low income families as it may guarantee that as the scarcity of fossil fuels increases there will be an alternative source of energy to use if gas prices spike up again. Moving from fossil fuels to more "green" energy sources may make our economy less dependent on oil exporting countries and our environment less susceptible to damage by fracking (The oil extraction process that has lead to low prices in recent years.)
We must also take into consideration the political intentions of trying to pass a bill like this one. Obama knows he is a lame duck president in a congress controlled by Republicans in either house of congress. Obama might know that this plan might definitely not get passed. Chances are, the $10 tax might never come to be.
Sources: The same sources from claim #1.
The purpose of this thread is not to knock on the instructor of this course but rather to engage in 1st amendment-based learning through discussions and develop HISD-sponsored 21st century critical thinking skills and digital literacy skills. Fact-checking rooted in skepticism is necessary in a world where Donald Trump can run for president and can have good numbers in election polls. We must foster skepticism because it is a critical skill in today's world, so go ahead, be a skeptic and fact check this. Feel free to use quotations and discuss.
Lecture Date: 2/8/2016
Claim #1: Obama wants to put a $10 tax on the price of each barrel of oil.
We felt the need to fact check, not because we believed it would be bogus, but for clarification purposes.
Verdict: Indubitably true. 'Nuff said.
Sources:
www.politico.com/agenda/story/2016/02/obama-oil-tax-budget-000038
money.cnn.com/2016/02/04/investing/obama-oil-tax/
www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/04/obama-propose-10--barrel-oil-tax/79838620/
Claim #2: It will have a negative effect on the financial standing of low-income people.
Verdict: Probably.
Obama has not elaborated on how the plan will affect the price at the pump but news sources estimate that this tax might translate into an increase of $0.25 per gallon. Taxes are not being directly paid by the consumers but rather by the exporters and importers of oil. Oil companies will be the ones paying for it, but this may lead to them rising gas prices at the pump. While the price of gas might increase by like a quarter per gallon, the money raised through taxes will be used to invest in the development of renewable energy. This may be beneficial in the long run for low income families as it may guarantee that as the scarcity of fossil fuels increases there will be an alternative source of energy to use if gas prices spike up again. Moving from fossil fuels to more "green" energy sources may make our economy less dependent on oil exporting countries and our environment less susceptible to damage by fracking (The oil extraction process that has lead to low prices in recent years.)
We must also take into consideration the political intentions of trying to pass a bill like this one. Obama knows he is a lame duck president in a congress controlled by Republicans in either house of congress. Obama might know that this plan might definitely not get passed. Chances are, the $10 tax might never come to be.
Sources: The same sources from claim #1.
