politics
Politics does not dictate our collective cultural mindset as much as it simply reflects it; We've got to look in the mirror sometimes, and we've got one.
Flowers & Thistles
Flowers, Thorns and Thistles—Lessons from 1968 By: Andrew L. Hogue It is a fact in history as well as a promise from biblical scripture that “whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” In taking a retrospective look at the last forty years, this fact becomes more and more evident to me. Reviewing the political wins and losses of each of the two major political parties—the Republicans and the Democrats—I feel it an accurate conclusion to state that this present political climate is one whose beginnings are found not in 2008 but in 1968. I would like to point to some less costly and priceless lessons we ought not to have forgotten from our recent past.
By Drew Lindsey8 years ago in The Swamp
Pulling Rank: Best Strategies for Preventing Gun Tragedies in America Listed From Pick up a Tablet to Lift up the Nation
When shots rang out during a video game conference, the jovial, buoyant atmosphere turned to dread. Yet another shooting had rocked a sector of the United States. The Jacksonville, Florida NFL Madden Championship Series gaming tournament became the scene of carnage. Police sirens blared and officers patrolled the premises as medical professionals carted off the wounded and the dead. What stands as stark is the fact that more and more quotes from people at the scene reverberate about more gun control, mental health for the future perpetrators (the tourney killer took his own life), and the push for politicians to do all of this work.
By Skyler Saunders8 years ago in The Swamp
Opinion Polls—Are They Sound Advisers for Policy?
Opinion polls—are they sound policy advisers? Why is so much money and attention given to them? Definition of an opinion poll: obtaining the opinion of a selected sample of people regarding a specific subject, and collating the results into a table of opinions.
By Peter Rose8 years ago in The Swamp
Can Federalism Survive?
The ideas introduced though new doctrines can at first seem wonderful, such as federalism. The Founding Fathers’ idea that there could be a document that has a set of guidelines for government to follow along with a separation of a state and federal governments truly seems appetizing. The key word is "seems." Federalism seems great, but there is a structural pitfall, one that has the potential to kill the tantalizing essence of federalism. The structural pitfall is that the federal government trumps the state governments. The states can have their own laws; however, if the federal government makes new legislation, that is the law of the land. It is nearly impossible for states to dispute a federal decision. Today, there is an increase in centralized policy-making in the federal government. This creates a danger for federalism because the centralization of policy is an example of the pitfall discussed before. Centralization of federal policies diminishes the power of state decisions, desires, and determinations which eventually creates a unitary system of government—a concept the Founding Fathers despised considering their revolution against an authoritative king. The eradication of federalism is a reinforcement of executive abuse of power, an elimination of democracy, and an infringement of the Constitution.
By Tasia Kieffer8 years ago in The Swamp
Poverty Becomes Cyclical in Canada
The old saying is the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I reflected on this in my everyday life and realized the privilege that people experience when they have money. The options are greater and there's room for making mistakes.
By Brian Anonymous8 years ago in The Swamp
An America Divided
In 1789, A small group of colonies just won their independence from a monarchy across the Pacific Ocean. Now they were faced with a dilemma; How should the government be running and who should be in charge with carrying it out? A group of delegates considered that the government should be powerful enough to protect its citizens. They went by the name Federalist. Another group decided that the government should provide a militant force but other than that stay out of the American citizens' economy. These delegates were named, creatively, the Anti-Federalist. This split in the ideas of the founding fathers lead to the remaining delegates scrambling to join one side or the other. To belong to a party meant you were an opponent to the other. However, what happens when you do not fully agree with either side? You’re an outcast and forced to assimilate. This system leads to total control by two parties without input from others with other views. Although this system has been rooted in the American government, it is time to work to give everyone a voice by dismantling the overpowering two party system.
By Bryan Grayson8 years ago in The Swamp
Utilitarian Standpoint: Issues Where I Stand Neutral
Hey Guys, Today I want to talk about neutrality, and the top ten social issues that I stand neutral on. I wrote something similar where I listed top ten things which people are irrationally sensitive about. It was not accepted because it was too broad and not specific enough. So bear with me while I make the list, short and simple. Welcome to another post in the us series where I talk about subjective matters aiming towards an objective solution. It is a story that affects all of us.
By Heeta Joshi8 years ago in The Swamp
Playing Football?
In recent years, especially since the election of Jeremy Corbyn first in 2015 after Labour's disastrous defeat in the general election and then again in September 2016 after a coup—this time with a larger majority—the Labour party has been accused of having a disease, that’s rotting the party to the core. The disease? Anti-Semitism. Many have claimed that the party has seen a huge increase in anti-semitism, although is this really true? In reality, it would seem that the issue of anti-semitism is nothing more than a political smear campaign which has become the deciding factor in the ever-widening Labour party split. It would be wrong to deny that anti-semitism doesn’t exist, but what is clear to me is that anti-semitism is being used by the right wing of the Labour party to wedge the newly elected leader out of office. The evidence is overwhelming. How could the Labour party be anti-semitic when a Jewish man led them for four long years and then into the 2015 general election? What we the electorate must realize is that political party leaders, in the words of Boris Johnson, are taking us for ‘mutton-headed’ idiots. They are using serious problems within society as a form of political football. Is this really what British politics has come to? These constant attacks towards the Labour party, and more accurately towards the Labour leader from other politicians, including ones from the Labour party itself, are undermining British democracy. This upsets me because at such an important time in British history, can we really afford to take our eye off the ball?
By Lucas Jackson8 years ago in The Swamp
