For many Americans the cost of continued military presence in Afghanistan greatly outweighs the benefits, yet the withdrawal of American forces scheduled for 2014 has various organizations warning of imminent financial issues facing Afghanistan.

Those of you who come to IVN.us regularly know that things are changing quickly here.  But what we are building at IVN is more than just another news source.  Our goal is to create both a forum and an atmosphere that promotes discussion among those do not see eye-to-eye on every issue.

In the coming weeks, expect rapid change and the addition of new features such as personal blogs, author political tendency charts, better e-mail updates, and dashboard tutorials to assist writers in making the most of their posts.

Today's News - Romney's Tax Plan, Rio+20, Supreme Court and Health Care, the Fed, and Super PAC Spending.

The Atlantic – Romney’s Two Principle Tax Plan Isn’t That Simple

Arizona's Secretary of State Ken Bennett made national headlines last month for threatening to keep Barack Obama off the Arizona ballot in November, still unconvinced in the authenticity of the president's birth certificate released by the White House last year. After public ridicule, it seems like the No. 2 elected official in Arizona has given up on the birther issue and is now developing a conspiracy theory to ensure that President Obama is sent home, "wherever home is," he adds.

Over 50,000 lawmakers will meet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, or Rio+20, this week. It marks the 20-year anniversary of the first Earth Summit. Topics will include ending fossil fuel subsidies, reducing plastics pollution in the oceans, and protecting ecosystems that risk extinction from population growth.

I know that Google is keeping a record of your searches and returning individualized results, because my searches are different than my colleagues. And after I make my search, promotional ads that relate to that search are suddenly everywhere on my screen. It is kind of neat that they can target you that accurately– it is also worrysome.

Does privacy exist on the Internet? No– absolutely not. Does privacy exist in your home? Not if the powers that be really want to find something. Privacy is gone– but at least we can speak up about the abuses happening, right?