It's Just Criminal to Hire Criminals

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/22/criminal-record-employment_n_5372837.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

States, cities, and counties around the country are adopting, or at least considering, "banning the box". This means that employers would be prohibited from asking about an applicant's criminal record. While some applicants would have a higher chance of being hired if a ten-year-old disruption charge was hidden, these laws cause some employers unease. They are frightened that they could end up hiring a person with strong criminal tendencies. Roughly seventy million United States adults have criminal records that can disqualify them for jobs, even if the offense happened many years ago and has no bearing on the work.

This relates to hiring practices and lawmaking.

I believe that banning the box, or at least postponing background checks, could be quite beneficial for the job system in our country.

Change in the Academic Climate of Oklahoma

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/15/oklahoma-rejects-science-standards_n_5333578.html?utm_hp_ref=politicsA new set of educational science standards was voted on in an Oklahoma House of Representatives committee that could induce children to believe in global warming. Those against the standards wish to allow the children to form their own opinions on climate change. They address the controversiality of global warming, and do not want to force students into any one belief. The director of science education for the Oklahoma State Department Of Education says that the standards simply educate students about climate change, still allowing various stances on the matter.

This relates to public policy as well as the way that a bill moves through a legislature.

I believe that the new set of standards should be implemented if it is up to par. Climate change, however realistic, is still just a theory, and should be taught as such.

To Test or Not To Test, or Maybe To Opt Out, Is the Question

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/nyregion/standing-up-to-testing.html?

After the introduction of Common Core, many parents have chosen to opt their children out of state testing, saying that their children should be educated and not simply taught how to test. While a few say that it could leave children disadvantaged for school admissions, many agree. Some parents have noticed that in courses designed around a test, their child's attention lags, and they become less interested in the subject matter. Quite often, a lecture leaves students confused and disinterested, or the subject is done with as soon as a child grasps it.

Legislation has been under way since President Johnson to amend this system, but even with the No Child Left Behind Act, but still nothing has changed and the system remains just as flawed. This is a demonstration of the incapacity of our government to amend the great flaws that it has, such as tests being the measure of both a child's and a teacher's worth. This degrades both of them, and is unbeneficial for the child's development and the teacher's prowess and motivation.

This is ridiculous. Teachers have no room for growth and creativity in the classroom. Children should be taught to learn and to love learning, and this system of education does not show them how to pursue their passions, just to pursue their percentages.

Independence Now Unheard of in America

http://www.newser.com/story/184433/obama-gives-americans-the-foreign-policy-they-want.html

We as a nation were founded on the notion that each country should be independent if they so wished. This belief has come into question as we barged into other nation's wars and intervened in their occupations. Since our very own war for independence, we have been in wars with unrelated parties involved. We have also BEEN the unrelated parties in question. Now that President Obama is taking steps toward reducing that role, Americans have had lower approval ratings for his foreign policy. 

We study this in Presidency.

I believe that these steps should be taken, for it is not our business whether or not a country decides to fight another. 

Extra! Immigrants' Trip to Doctors Imminent

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/09/us/obamacare-undocumented-immigrants/index.html?hpt=us_c2

The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, but there are over eleven million undocumented immigrants in the country specifically excluded from signing up. A new loophole into the laws shows that youths in The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program should be eligible through it to Sign up for health care. Because some states have a very high level of undocumented immigrants, it would actually benefit them to provide health insurance. The DACA provides immigrants with a way to stay in the country and work, even pay taxes. These things beg to say that the youths in the program deserve to be treated like at least partial citizens, and they deserve health insurance.

This relates to law-making and immigration reform.

I, a native-born Texan, find it strange not hearing about all the students who are going to see their family in Mexico over the holidays. I have always had an open mind to immigration, and I believe we should prove immigrants with health care.

The Next Great Compromise

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/02/politics/collins-minimum-wage/index.html

Maine Senator Susan Collins is attempting to define a clear cut compromise between the Democrats and Republicans when it comes to the minimum wage. Many arguments have been made, discussing poverty rates and job loss, and a solution is nowhere in sight. While Republicans argue that increasing the minimum wage from $7.25 would cause thousands of workers to be laid off, Democrats will not settle for a wage less than $10.10, arguing that the people need to be raised out of poverty.

This relates to the passing of laws, discussion in Congress, and political ideology.

I believe that the minimum wage should be increased to at least $9.00, to raise out country of poverty.

Bill of Argumentum Impudicitiæ

http://v4v6.cnn.com/2014/03/07/opinion/sutter-mississippi-lgbt-bill/?iref=obinsite

Iowa Representative Steve King said in an interview that such traits as cannot be defined on sight cannot be discriminated against and should not be protected in the Constitution. This insinuates that homosexuality must be easily verified in order for them to be protected from discrimination by law. The article says that the solution is gay-labeling laws.

This relates to our study of culture clashes and the verification of laws, as well as civil liberties. I believe that a new amendment should be ratified protected all members of the LGBT community from discrimination.

Duke Spills the Beans, and Also the Ash

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-grand-jury-to-examine-nc-coal-ash-spill/

On Februrary 2nd, a storage pond for Duke Energy released 39,000 tons of toxic coal ash into the Dan River in North Carolina. This coal ash has been shown to contain chemicals that could cause mutations in fish, or even cancer. Duke Energy admitted in an interview that it was to blame for the spill. We will discuss how Duke Energy claimed that the river was private property and how this relates to eminent domain. I think that Duke Energy should be fined, at the very least, and forced to pay for all attempts to clean up the river.

Skirting the Law

colbertnation.com

The video I watched was titled "Legal Upskirting in Massachusetts". In the video, Colbert discussed how Michael Robertson found a loophole in the state "peeping tom" law, which allowed for pictures to be taken up a person's skirt without their knowledge. The loophole was created because the law says that it is only a crime if the person is naked. His lawyer argued this, and he was found not to be a peeping tom.

This shows the ways that we need to be more secure in writing our laws, and in considering the times when doing so. This relates to writing laws and the court system.

I believe that this is idiotic, and they should quickly amend that law to include upskirting.

Let Them Eat Pizza!

http://v4v6.cnn.com/2014/02/26/opinion/rocco-pizzeria-arizona/?iref=obinsite

Rocco DiGrazia, owner of a pizzeria in Arizona, decided to show his disapproval of the bill to allow owners to refuse service based on the sexuality of the customer under the premise of religion, by hanging a sign saying that he reserves the right to refuse service to Arizona legislators. He was ecstatic when the bill was vetoed, saying that he "cannot condone discrimination against one group of people."

We will learn about this while studying the people's rights, and we already learned about peaceful protest, as was this case.

I am glad that he spoke up, because LGBT rights are a serious issue and we need to protect them, as a country.

Religion vs. Rights

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/t/story/arizona-governor-held-meetings-rights-bill-22688951

The governor of Arizona vetoed a bill that passed both the state Senate and House, that would allow business owners to refuse service to customers on the grounds of religious beliefs. This bill caused an uproar over the hypothetical effect on LGBT rights that it would have, and many people and companies urged Governor Jan Brewer to veto the bill.

We learned about this when we studied checks and balances and separation of powers.

I believe that this bill could lead to heavy discrimination, and I am glad that it was vetoed.

Privacy is Hidden in the Terms and Conditions

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57618006-83/how-big-brothers-going-to-peek-into-your-connected-home/

Personal security has long been questioned, but with the growing number of smart devices in our lives, it has become more and more uncertain. It is becoming easier for our technology to be hacked into, everything from cell phones to baby monitors. People have been notified of many of the hacks and information leaks, but they are not aware of any more. Now that we are in a time when smart homes are a distinct future possibility, the people need to be assured that they still have privacy.

This relates to our study of the argument between small and large government, as well as the debate over personal security.

A Rainbow Russia

http://abcnews.go.com/International/russian-lawmaker-suggests-gay-athletes-prosecuted-2014-winter/t/story?id=19829868

Just before they were to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, Russia banned "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations." Although it is worded in a seemingly non-offensive way, the statement is burning with anti-LGBT implications. Tension is thick between Russia and many other countries, because any openly gay athletes could be prosecuted. The national government has stated that it will impose federal punishment against those who show any sign of homosexuality or support for the LGBT community. President Obama even chose three openly gay U.S. athletes to lead our nation in the Olympics. (The Colbert Report) Our country shows its support for its people, no matter what, and it will protect them.

Our class this semester will talk about interaction between countries, such as this issue. 

I wish that we as a country had boycotted these Olympics, although I know we didn't and wouldn't. I stand against any discrimination, and hope that the people of this country will do the same.

Women's Rights Questioned

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/us/politics/parties-seize-on-abortion-issues-in-midterm-race.html?_r=0

Abortion, and women's rights overall, have been tested lately, and are coming into play in the 2014 midterm elections. Democrats are hoping to portray the other party as callous to women, while Republicans hope to excite their main supporters with new bills. Aware that many of their candidates, such as Todd Akin for example, have hit a sour note on women's rights and health care, Republicans aim to show voters how taxpayers would be the ones paying for these abortions and birth control pills.

In this class, we will study political parties under Unit 2. Then we will learn about the differences in the main two, and the way that they show up in the media. Their main beliefs define them, and we will study just what those are. It seems as if each party is complete in their belief on women's health care rights, but we will learn that not every Republican is the same, and vice versa.

Many Republicans do indeed seem to be indifferent towards women, disregarding the circumstances that may cause the women in question to need an abortion. Although I understand that not all Republicans are like this, I do agree that they seem heartless on this subject.