News + Politics
We the people, by the people.
What I Want
Did you ever want something? Well here are a couple dozen things I want, today. I’ve always wanted something or other depending on my age and the situation at the time; a VW bus, a Nehru jacket, a lava lamp, some bell bottom jeans, a guitar, some blue suede shoes, a double breasted suit, out of the Army, all my family healthy and happy, the latest hot golf clubs and the ability to use them. Once again I’ve found some things I want. As I shuffle through my 83rd year these wants are compelling, don’t you think?
By Robert B. Jordan7 years ago in The Swamp
Can Art Save The World?
Right now, it feels like the world is on the brink of a global nuclear war. Korea has been flexing its military prowess. China has been slowly trying to move into certain sections of the South Seas. America has Trump's very aggressive cabinet in power, and Brexit's pressures have made the EU very unstable.
By Cato Conroy7 years ago in The Swamp
Apathy
The 2016 General Election set an all time low for voter turn-out at 55.4%. The highest turn-out in the past 60 years was 62.77% in 1960 according to The American Presidency Project. In the 56 years between1900 and 1956 the average turn-out was 59.5% by The APP. In 2016 there were 200 million registered voters – 92 million did not vote.
By Robert B. Jordan7 years ago in The Swamp
Here Comes The Smear Campaign Against Al Gore
Now that former Vice President Al Gore has released his new film, AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER, we can all expect, and are already seeing, an all-out attack on his character and on global warming science. The fossil fuel industry is regurgitating old stories, such as the story recently posted by "Salon.com" that Al Gore's house uses 34 times the amount of electricity than the average American, and so this supposedly makes him out to be a huge hypocrite. Of course, Al Gore's house is not the size of the average American's home, and is powered by solar panels that were upgraded in response to criticism that came after the release of the first INCONVENIENT TRUTH, not to mention that this is an ancient attempt to smear the former Vice President that was used over a decade ago after the first film was released.
By Scott Bowen7 years ago in The Swamp
Racism
According to Buck, white privilege was established in the USA. To explain it, she takes us back to the 16th and the 17th century. Before the construction of race that exists today, there were only two main classes of Europeans and Africans or whites and blacks. And the whites dominated over blacks using them as slaves. The Native Americans were also treated as inferior to the whites. They suffered from the same oppression that the blacks did. To support her rationales, Buck uses examples of historical changes like the Bacon’s Rebellion. “Given the tendency of slaves, servants, and landless free Europeans and Africans to cooperate in rebellion, the elite had to "teach Whites the value of whiteness" in order to divide and rule their labor force.” (P. S. Rothenberg, 32) After that rebellion, the Europeans implemented stricter voting rights that prevented Africans, Native Americans, and sub tribes who did not identify themselves as Europeans from voting. They even increased the punishment for white women who married African men, and black children of white fathers were given the status of slavery rather than 30 years of indenture. Many such punishments were implemented to maintain the status quo of white privilege.
By Beena Patel7 years ago in The Swamp
My Calling
Much of America and the world feels a tug. It is an anxious feeling like a ball in the pit of our stomachs. We all know that big changes are happening. We just don’t know exactly how it will all play out. I watch daily as conflicting stories flood the Internet. There is a great divide in opinions about the world, just as, there is a great divide in our relationships with each other. I feel an overwhelming need for unity. I believe this was put in my heart by God. To me, everyone should be coming together to help one another. It shouldn’t matter who you are. We will need each other. I feel like I am standing at the start line and God is saying, “Get ready.” Next, he will tell me to get set and go. This change is inevitable, and we will not like it. I pray we are ready, but I don't think we are.
By Sabrina Overbay7 years ago in The Swamp
Donald Trump: Despicable and Deplorable
I’m gonna blow. We have this thing called social media that let’s you sound off whenever something rubs you the wrong way. Hello, Donald Trump. But the election taught me how impulsive posts only elevates anger, alienates without resolving anything and makes Facebook fertile ground for unfriending. So my responses have been to encourage people to get involved rather than seething with each unsettling factoid. But after seven months, I just have to vent.
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in The Swamp
How to See the Bigger Picture of Trump's Role
I know that these days, it is the norm to see post after post showing Donald Trump saying something completely ridiculous or being mocked/hated by someone; however, from the perspective of a non-American’s point of view (my humble one), I’m going to play devil’s advocate just this time —and no, I don’t think he should be President at all, in fact I don’t think he should be in any management role ever, at least not if he is in charge of people.
By Grace Evelyn7 years ago in The Swamp