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.