The Cheat Sheet

Are you a member of Generation Screwed?: On other social networks we qualify this question with things like “are you riddled debt?” and “No job prospects?”, but considering we’re on Tumblr, probably all of you are members of Generation Screwed. Tell us your story. We’ll collect them and publish them on our site. 

For inspiration, here’s our Newsweek story on the problem. 

Photo: Parissah Lin, age: 19, occupation: College student

“My parents came to this country as immigrants and worked really hard. [But] I’m anticipating being in debt for many years.”  (Spencer Heyfron for Newsweek)

Frontpage: Tuesday, Mar 20th

1. Grand Jury to Hear Trayvon Martin Case: A grand jury will hear the Trayvon Martin case on April 10, the Florida Attorney General announced on Tuesday. Norm Wolfinger said that the state will use the grand jury “investigative resources” to figure out if criminal charges should be filed in the death of the 17-year-old. 
2. Syrian Opposition Accused of Abuse: Human Rights Watch on Tuesday said the Syrian opposition has taken part in abuses that include kidnapping, detention, and torture of Syrian security-force members. Sarah Leah Wilson, the New York–based group’s Middle Eastern director, said the Syrian government’s “brutal tactics” do not justify the alleged abuses by the opposition groups.
3. Romney Faces ‘Must-Win’ in Illinois: It might not be Super Tuesday, but this Tuesday could be crucial to Mitt Romney. The Republican candidates face off in Illinois on Tuesday, with 54 delegates at stake—a victory Romney desperately needs after being pounded last week in Alabama and Mississippi.
4. House GOP to Release Debt Plan: House Republicans will release their $261 billion deficit-reduction plan on Tuesday, with a focus on tax cuts. The plan, written by Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan, would simplify the tax code by collapsing the current system of six tax brackets down to two marginal rates, Republican aides said Monday. 
5. At least 39 Killed in Iraq Blasts: At least 39 people were killed and 188 injured in a series of car bombings throughout Iraq on Tuesday, hospital sources told MSNBC. The deadliest attack occurred in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Kerbala, where a health-department spokesman said 13 were killed and 48 people were injured in two explosions.

Read More Cheats

Photo: Brazilian Olympics team member Cesar Castro trains for the upcoming games in London. (SERGIO MORAES)

First, the Republican hypocrisy. I hope you are aware by now that they don’t actually care about deficits. They just care about money being spent on things they don’t like, which outside of overpriced ships the Navy probably doesn’t need and more reinforced steel for the border fence includes pretty much everything. If, say, instead of seeking to spend more money for transportation, Barack Obama had proposed cutting the top marginal tax rate down to 8 percent, well, that would have had a completely disastrous impact on future deficits. But you wouldn’t have seen Republicans complaining about that, because the rich deserve more of their money back.

Michael Tomasky thinks the GOP has a hypocrisy problem when it comes to the deficit. 

winstonwolfe:

Answer: Birthers. Birth Certificates. Hoax Births.

Question: What are words & phrases people use for self-promotion & page views?