Monday, October 10, 2022

GOP Lead Midterm Elections?

 

(Source: FiveThirtyEight / Getty Images)

Recent Gallup polls imply good things for Republicans in the midterm elections. In the September 2022 poll, Gallup asked Americans to mention what they believe is the most important problem that the nation is facing. In a follow-up question, they ask the respondents to answer which party will better handle the issue that they just named. The latest data showed that 48% of the respondents believed that the Republican Party will do a better job, while only 37% believed that the Democratic Party will do a better job. This 11% edge is the highest it has ever been for the past 20 years. According to CNN Senior Data Reporter Harry Enten, in the five elections when they had the lead on who Americans trusted more, they won an average of 230 seats in the House of Representatives. According to the historical trend, this 11% lead implies that Republicans will gain seats in the midterm elections.

In other Gallup polls on Americans’ favorable opinion of each party, GOP’s favorable rating increased by 4% to 44%, while the Democratic Party’s rating decreased by the same amount to 39%. Historically, Democrats had been rated more favorably than Republicans. This change might pose concerns to Democrats in the midterm elections. In addition, Republicans hold a better image in the public’s view of maintaining the nation’s economy, 51% versus 41%. Americans are also significantly more likely to view Republicans as better at protecting the country from outside threats, 57% versus 37%.

GOP also seems to have a slight edge in the new Monmouth poll. The poll suggested that 47% of respondents prefer Republicans to control Congress, while 44% prefer Democrats. From 43% in August, Republicans gained 4%, while Democrats lost 6%, down from 50%. This might be due to the fact that 82% of respondents ranked inflation as extremely or very important, and the GOP policy agenda stresses the economic issue.

However, it is still possible that Democrats outperform what the poll data suggests. Polls are not exact measurements. Even the margin of error given by these polls understates the actual degree of uncertainty. Although the polls contain valuable information, they might not accurately reflect the results of elections, especially in close partisan elections. After all, the only “poll” that matters is the election results.

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North Korean Missiles

 

(Kim Jong Un walks away from what state media said was a "new type" of intercontinental ballistic missile. Source: KCNA / VIA REUTERS)

North Korea’s recent rounds of tests began on September 24, 2022, as the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group arrived in South Korea to participate in military naval drills. On Tuesday, October 4th, North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan without warning. This unannounced launch was seen as highly provocative, dangerous, and reckless. In response, the U.S redeployed Ronald Reagan back to the seas around the Koreas for a new round of naval drills, as well as numerous other military drills. On Thursday, October 6th, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the waters. On Sunday, October 9th, once again, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea. According to CNN, Sunday marks North Korea’s 25th missile launch this year.

In a press conference in Santiago, Chile, U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that if the situation continues to escalate, “it will only increase the condemnation, increase the isolation and increase steps that are taken in response.” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff “strongly condemned” and urged the North to immediately stop its launches, calling them “a serious provocation that harms peace and safety of the Korean Peninsula” and in “violation of the [U.N. Security Council] resolutions.”

However, on Saturday, North Korea defended its recent missile launches as a “regular and planned self-defensive step” against intimidating military drills between the U.S, South Korea, and Japan. North Korea’s defense ministry argues that U.S-South Korean military drills are considered rehearsals for invasion, especially if they involve U.S strategic assets such as the aircraft carrier Reagan. Therefore, the ministry claims that its recent missile launches are a “righteous reaction,” regardless of the U.S or South Korea’s claims of having no intention of invading North Korea. China’s Ambassador to the U.N., Geng Shuang, supported North Korea’s defense. According to Geng, the U.S deployment of military assets was to blame for “creating tension.”

Experts claim that recent launches demonstrate his push for weapon modernization. South Korean and U.S officials have warned that a nuclear test could come “anytime.” Earlier this year, North Korea argues to “never give up” nuclear weapons to counter U.S nuclear threats. Despite employing sanctions against North Korea, the U.S’s objective of denuclearizing North Korea seemed to have failed. Nevertheless, efforts of deterrence are still necessary. If Kim succeeds in his nuclearization plans, North Korea would outrun South Korea in an arms race. Abandoning denuclearization would likely set a bad precedent, and so other countries would be encouraged to seek nuclear weapons. In addition, this would drive a wedge between the U.S and its allies in the East, especially South Korea and Japan. Possibly, the allies would feel that the U.S has abandoned them, thus compelling them to develop nuclear weapons. With Pyongyang’s hopes of allying with Beijing and Moscow, Washington needs to continue with its firm stance against Pyongyang to strengthen its alliance and power in Asia.

Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/04/asia/north-korea-missile-japan-explainer-intl-hnk
https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/05/politics/us-north-korea-response/index.html
https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea-fires-suspected-ballistic-missile-11665252154
https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/08/asia/north-korea-missile-launch
https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/07/asia/north-korea-missile-testing-frequency-explainer-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/08/north-korea-has-fired-ballistic-missile-says-seoul
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/10/05/north-korea-missile-tests-military-drills/
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Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Latest Voting Rights Act Threat

 



(President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund Janai Nelson, center, speaks to members of the press after the oral argument of the Merrill v. Milligan case at the U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 4, 2022, in Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court heard oral argument of the case that challenge whether the new congressional map of Alabama violates the Voting Rights Act. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

On Tuesday October 4, 2022 Supreme Court Justices heard oral arguments for a case that challenges an Alabama voting redistricting map which could possibly eliminate the safeguards of the Voting Rights Act. The case, Merrill v. Milligan, examines whether Alabama’s 2021 redistricting map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act because it weakens the voting power of African Americans in Alabama. 


Black Voters make up roughly 27% of the Alabama population, but only one congressional district - which is about 14% of the state's population -  would be majority black in the plan drawn up by Alabama’s republican led legislature. Those in opposition to the map, claim the map should be redrawn to have an additional majority black district. Alabama Solicitor General Edmund LaCour argued the map was drawn “in a lawful race-neutral manner”, and that the Black voters suing the state failed to meet the Gingles test as laid out in the 1986 decision in Thornburg v. Gingles. 


The Gingles Test would show if the map is an illegal racial gerrymander. The first step of the test would be for the African Americans to provide a sample map demonstrating that their proposition is attainable. Voters rights plaintiffs then must prove that Alabama's white voters tend to vote in a manner which usually defeats the minority’s preferred candidate. As studied in class, African Americans tend to lean to the left whereas white individuals in the South specifically tend to strongly lean to the right. With this understanding, it would be appropriate to conclude that African Americans in Alabama have little voting power in relation to their white counterparts. Gingles then requires judges to consider if the state has a history of discrimmination. It cannot go unnoted that historically racial segregation and Jim Crow laws were most prevalent in deep south states such as Alabama. Alabama was also the setting for major civil rights events such as the Montgomery bus boycott and violence toward the Freedom Riders which drew the nation's attention to the racial hatred in Alabama. While the state is asking the court to change a law which has “governed redistricting for nearly 40 years” an opinion on the case is expected sometime next year. 


Sources: 

https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_audio/2022 

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/10/4/23387283/supreme-court-merrill-milligan-alabama-racial-gerrymandering-voting-rights-act 

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2022/10/04/alabama-case-that-could-limit-voting-rights-act-heard-at-u-s-supreme-court/ 


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"Women, Life, Freedom"

     

(An Iranian woman, during a protest in Istanbul on Monday, help pieces of her hair that she had cut off)

Since the death of Mahsa Amini, and the ongoing protests worldwide, pressure is being placed on the Islamic Republic to make governmental changes. Mahsa Amini was a young woman killed at the hands of “morality police” in Iran for reportedly disrespecting the clothing norms in Iran. As protests erupt, it is safe to say the regime is out-dated and must go. 


The regime’s goal is to “islamize” the Iranian people and culture, however in doing so many basic and fundamental rights have been stripped from the people; more specifically, the women. Women being the primary victims of the regime's institutionalized misogyny, patriarchal tradition and overall authoritarian Islamic ideology, have spurred great civil unrest and scrutiny which has great potential to create lasting change. For the first time in history, Iran is witnessing generational change, and more importantly, shifts in fundamental norms and values. Iranian Leader, Ali Khamenei, gave a speech attacking academics and the ongoing student movement, as well as encouraging police brutality to shut these movements down. The direct attacks against this generation demonstrate the passé culture of the current Iranian government.  


In past Iranian protests such as the Green Movement of 2009, clergy members were always present and leading, however, the current movement is not tied to the clery at all. By driving protests religiously, past demonstrations were working within the governmental structure, but the new uprising does not rely on religion, demonstrating how the protesters are objecting to the government specifically and calling for systematic changes. 


Now, it is no news that the totalitarian regime is hostile, repressive, and aims to marginalize women by enforcing the hijab, yet, the ongoing protests are bigger than wearing the hijab itself. Women in Iran are fighting the compulsory hijab. Iranian women are fighting to take control of their bodies and reclaim ownership of their bodies. They want to have free choice to wear what they want without the state or any other authority telling them what to do. In essence, women are fighting the dated, oppressive standards that the Islamic republic encompasses. So, while it may appear that current uprisings are in protest of the killing of Mahsa Amini, in reality they are a symptom of the out-dated authoritarian regime that needs to be replaced in Iran. It’s time the government began protecting “Women, Life, Freedom”



Sources:

https://apple.news/AfR7F-aOYRZyrjgB9L5a_FA 

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/09/mahsa-amini-irans-protests-rebellion-bodily-autonomy 

https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/how-irans-protests-differ-past-movements 

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-42954970 

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/22/world/middleeast/iran-protests.html?searchResultPosition=4 

https://www.nytimes.com/video/players/offsite/index.html?videoId=100000008553391

An Iranian woman, during a protest in Istanbul on Monday, held pieces of her hair that she had cut off. 📸 Sedat Suna/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
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Herschel Walker, an Anti-abortion Candidate, Accused of Paying for an Abortion

 

(Herschel Walker's statement after the accusation on Oct 3, 2022. Source: Twitter)

Recently, former NFL football player Herschel Walker, who is now running as a Republican candidate as a Senate representative for Georgia, was exposed for paying for an abortion by a former girlfriend from 2009. With such a strong anti-abortion view, such an action does comes as a surprise, but Walker immediately claimed the story as false. The Daily Beast, the accuser, is now facing the prospect of getting sued by Walker. Walker also went onto Fox News to publicly denounce the accusation, and claim that the Democrats are resorting to underhanded tactics to carry out their agenda. 


Walker’s son, Christien Walker, said in a recent tweet on Twitter, “I know my mom and I would really appreciate it if my father Herschel Walker stopped lying and making a mockery of us. You’re not a “family man” when you left us to bang a bunch of women, threatened to kill us, and had us move over 6 times in 6 months running from your violence.” Herschel Walker has not made any comments regarding this statement. 


The Republican party has decided to support Walker, and denies the allegations made against him. Although some Republicans feel like supporting Walker is not the right choice, due to the existence of three of his children coming to light when Walker did not mention them publicly. Additionally, the evangelical Christians continue to support him, even after his supposed payment for an abortion. Dominic LaRiccia stated, “If y’all find a perfect candidate that has never had challenges in their life, I want you to bring them to me and let me meet him or her”.


This event highlights how political parties will often ignore atrocities and hideous behavior all to further their goals. Walker’s behavior is extremely questionable, but the Republican party chooses to ignore this and continue to stand by him. This is similar to how Trump was supported by the Republican party even after his erratic behavior, and the motivation for such is clear. After all, Trump appointed conservatives to the Supreme Court, causing Roe v Wade to be overturned. Political parties have gone to the extremes when it comes to winning fights for control, and this is no different. The Republican party is so bent on replacing the current Georgia pro-abortion senate member that they are willing to support anyone who will allow them to do so, even if that person has multiple allegations of assault and abuse. 


Political parties can have completely different views on topics. Being in a democracy allows people to decide which views should be considered and implemented in society. But when these views are completely incompatible with each other, and people refuse to reach a compromise, a battle for supremacy ensues. Political parties would rather use extreme methods to push their agenda than to put aside their issues and come together to find a solution which works for everyone. Political parties need to realize that they are not the only people in the world, and their bickering only serves to worsen the situation for everyone.


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Monday, October 3, 2022

The Effects of Alleged Voter Fraud

 


(Mike Lindell and Donald Trump in the White House Rose Garden in March 2020. Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP)

After the results of the 2020 Presidential Election, Donald Trump launched his “StopTheSteal” claiming fraud and rigging of the results in Joe Biden’s favor. His campaign included lawsuits, encouragement for recounts, and a refusal to admit defeat; however, in the end, he was able to accomplish little. It might seem in the past, but events from the election are still affecting the country to this day, especially in preparation for mid-term elections. In the aftermath of the election Demonion Voting System, a company responsible for the production of voting machines, filed a defamation lawsuit against the CEO of MyPillow Mike Lindell.

In December 2020 Dominion defamation attorneys would send a letter to Trump and on in February one to Lindell asking for $1.3 Billion in damages. Lindell has been one of the most prominent supporters of the claim that voting machines malfunctioned and gave more votes to Biden, although there is no evidence to support it. MyPillow supported marketing campaigns in favor of Trump and the expense of Dominion. Dominion has denied claims Lindell has made while also seeking action against other supporters of Trump-like Fox News. The case would make its way to the Supreme Court where on October 3rd,  2022, Judge Carl Nicolas would decline Lindell's appeal and the lawsuit will proceed.

Although the trial is not set to occur until further in the future, its proceeding sets the precedence for the future of American Democracy and the Presidential election. Voting is the cornerstone of America as a representative democracy and ensures the voice of the people are fairly represented. When politicians make claims about inadequate voting procedures with no evidence and get people to support them, they are compromising the integrity of this nation. People have begun to follow without logic or reason and uninformed voters are unable to hold up the value of democracy. One of the arguments against direct democracy is that the average citizen was not educated enough, thus the population would vote for more educated people to represent them. It seems like these ideas have crumbled as politics seems more like entertainment where each side insults the other with no reason or evidence.

The defamation lawsuit is a win for anyone who believes in facts and reason in politics. When companies and politicians make claims without evidence that damage real business and lives they need to be held accountable. In addition, striking fear in the public about voting fraud based on the machines with no evidence threats the ability to have elections that protect our democracy. 

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Sunday, October 2, 2022

Oakland School Shooting Raises Questions about Gun Control

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms officer inspecting school area
(Source: Ray Chavez, Bay Area News Group)

On Wednesday, September 28, six civilians were injured in a shooting at Rudsdale Continuation High school. Two adults were critically injured and subsequently hospitalized, one was in a stable condition, and the last three have fully recovered and been released from the hospital. Although there were no deaths, the fear incited by this event can be clearly seen, as all schools in King Estates Campus were closed on Thursday.

Thankfully, due to proper lockdown procedures and immediate action taken by teachers who heard the gunshots, injuries were kept to a minimum. After a 1 hour lockdown, the authorities arrived to evacuate everyone and secure the campus. The suspect or suspects, who fired off a combined amount of more than 30 rounds, have not been apprehended.

Authorities believe that the shooting was related to gang activity in Oakland. Even though Oakland authorities report a lower number of crimes compared to last year, crime remains an issue in East Oakland’s poorer areas. Oakland already experienced a shooting earlier in August, albeit by a gun that accidently went off. 130 school shootings have already happened this year throughout the nation, with 30 of them ending with injuries or deaths. Furthermore, the lack of a reliable and protective policy against gun violence at schools has led to a widespread fear for the safety of the children.

People are now demanding that stricter gun laws be implemented. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff released a statement on Thursday, claiming that the county of Oakland will try to prevent such a tragedy from happening again, citing the federal government's job to do so, along with pointing out “[t]he unbridled access to firearms in our country is inexcusable”. Oakland’s police chief has made clear his intention to increase the number of officers on patrol, and redeploy the police force in an effort to prevent gun violence. The Oakland Unified School District has re-evaluated the safety of its school campuses, and got a 2/10 on the Facilities and Condition Index. A predicted $747,304 worth of security improvements are needed, and funding for such a project is unclear. The district has decided to enact a program to train school staff to respond appropriately in the event of another school shooting. The Oakland Police department struggles with funding, suffering from shortages as a result.

As we have seen from the United States v. Lopez case, the federal government must be careful with how it implements gun control, as an overly controlling policy of guns within states could be seen as an abuse of power and therefore unconstitutional. That view has changed, as reducing the amount of restrictions removes the issues with the 1990 Gun-Free School Zones Act. Recently, federal requirements for background checks and increases in age limit have been going through, although it may not be enough.

As seen with Oakland’s situation, it is one thing to implement policy, but to enforce policy on such a larger scale is an entirely different matter. Oakland struggles with finding enough personnel and obtaining the funding necessary to increase security measures. Furthermore, increasing the response to gun violence doesn’t actually fix the root cause of the issue. Figuring out how to control gun possession is something that the federal government and states must work together to do.

First, finding out the cause of gang violence in Oakland is one of the necessary steps that must be taken to prevent further incidents like this. Next, the state and federal government need to figure out how to effectively enforce gun control policy. Since the federal government cannot directly enforce gun control laws, it could try to help states by offering categorical or block grants, and have the states figure out how to best implement additional gun control for their individual situations. Finally, improving Oakland county’s law enforcement’s ability to protect the people is crucial in establishing a sense of security and comfort. Angelica Nodal, the mother of a boy who was at school during the shooting, says, “It’s scary…There’s kids, not only mine in there. Everyone matters in there”. Children are the hope for the future, and protecting their lives instead of giving them lasting trauma is crucial.


https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/28/us/oakland-ca-school-shooting.html


https://abc7news.com/oakland-school-shooting-fontaine-street-sojourner-truth-independent-study-police/12276357/


https://kfor.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-at-least-6-people-wounded-in-shooting-at-school-in-oakland/

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Saturday, October 1, 2022

Hurricane Ian: The Politics of Natural Disaster

 

(Hurricane Ian on Florida's Gulf Coast, Souce Associated Press)

As Hurricane Ian rages through Florida with the possibility of being the most expensive storm in state history, both state and federal governments have been scrambling to handle the issue. Almost a tradition for the state of Florida as hurricanes destroy property and ruin lives, the governor has to deal with the issue. But as any public figure is criticized and ridiculed, Governor DeSantis has been a hot topic in American politics. DeSantis is a public figure in the Republican party and in the discussion for the 2024 Presidential race. He has been criticized in the past for his stance on "critical race theory", the "Don't Say Gay" law, and general pushback against President Biden's policies. All these past issues coupled with the national disaster of hurricane Ian have demonstrated the polarization of American politics in recent years between the two parties. 

In preparation for the storm, DeSantis had warned specific counties to hunker down, in addition to declaring a state of emergency and preparing the Florida National State Guard, and the Emergency Operations Center. DeSantis believes that in times of national emergency politics should never come before aid and support. “My view on all this is like you’ve got people’s lives at stake, you’ve got their property at stake and we don’t have time for pettiness, we’ve gotta work together to make sure we’re doing the best job for them”

Before the arrival of the Hurricane on Tuesday President Biden had reached out to multiple Florida cities about the issue, but not DeSantis. In past cases like the Texas winter storms, the President has contacted state governors first to discuss federal aid and the issue at hand. When asked about not contacting DeSantis, Karine Jean-Pierre White House Press Secretary stated that "He really wanted to make sure that the mayors knew that he had committed the full force of the federal family".  By Thursday Biden would meet with DeSantis, and although the full truth cannot be determined the situation demonstrates how politics and parties influence every decision a leader makes nowadays.

The current situation echoes some of the original founders' issues with political parties. People have fallen into supporting one party based on a few values and there only being two major ones. As a result, modern-day politics have become a war between the democrats and republicans for control, leaving the average citizen to suffer. Both parties have become so polarized in America the possibility of a President refusing to talk to a Governor of a different party during a time of emergency seems possible. Whether one agrees with DeSantis or not, he should have been contacted quickly regardless of his political party. The government's job is to protect and aid its citizens and when it would rather make the opposing party look worse than do what is essential for success speaks to the downfall of the American political system. The major American political parties need to do more to compromise and spend more time caring for the people rather than focusing on their political gains. The parties need to be able to work together to properly deal with the issues of today and prepare for the future. 


https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/hurricane-ian-cuba-florida-1.6598339

https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/28/politics/desantis-hurricane-ian/index.html

https://nypost.com/2022/09/27/biden-calls-florida-mayors-but-not-desantis-as-hurricane-ian-nears/


 

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Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Covid-19 Relief Fraud, Minnesota Organization Entangled in 250-Million-Dollar Scam

 Alarming signs of Covid-19 fraud have been cropping up by an unprecedented amount the past year, with scammers obtaining money off relief programs such as the pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), non-existent small businesses requesting and receiving multi-million dollar grants, etc. Because of the desperate need for timely covid relief, federal relief systems have operated largely on an honor system, lacking general oversight and made it very easy to hack and exploit. One extreme example has taken place in Minnesota, where 47 individuals, through Feeding Our Future, an organization meant as a sponsor for underprivileged children, fraud scheme were accused of siphoning 250 million dollars off the government’s Federal Child Nutrition Program over the course of the pandemic. They used this to buy “jewelry, luxury cars, real estate” and more. 

Fraudulent activity exposes the multiple defects in various stages of the rashly stitched-up system, including outdated technology and a lack of enforcement. In regards to the Minnesota fraud, according to the first source, Republicans have criticized the handling of the situation by Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and company; they claim that he and other leading Democrats should have done more in preventing the fraud, such as pushing for FBI attention when they found out about the fraud. 

Meanwhile, the second source contains criticism of the federal government’s handling of the federal relief programs, asserting that the Department of Justice should have funded more watchdog groups and have smarter IT systems that used technology to prevent fraud. It makes the argument that the federal government should have done more to prevent the fraud in the first place, instead of planning on blindly dispersing money and then tracing illicit activity afterwards, because there aren’t enough resources to catch ‘em all, including the smaller-case scammers, whose defrauded payments really add up to the 100+ billion dollars stolen from the government.


The state responsibility and federal responsibility is contended in the sources. I believe this shows the dynamic of cooperative federalism and how it is difficult to balance the responsibilities between federal and state. Government grants may be hard to follow through on due to state and local cooperation. Along with this, the incompetency of the government’s prehistoric technology is obvious, and more investment in these systems would make systems more efficient and less prone to fraud.



https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/09/25/covid-pandemic-relief-fraud-response/


https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2022-09-26/gop-attacks-minnesota-governor-in-250m-food-fraud-case
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Monday, September 26, 2022

Near-total Abortion Ban, Dating Back to the 19th-Century, in Arizona is Reinstated

 

Protestants gather in Tucson, Arizona in 
opposition to abortion ban (Source: The Guardian)

    On Saturday, a new law that bans abortions past 15 weeks of pregnancy must now be enforced by all Arizonian residents. Judge Kellie Johnson of Pima County Superior Court released a ruling that now bans almost all abortions for women, including victims of rape and incest. The strict abortion ban dates back to reproductive policies in the 19th century-- setting the country, quite literally, over a century back. 

    After the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June of this year, legal abortion as a federal right was dismantled and threatened legal protection for women's reproductive rights. To what extent does the federal government actually care about the bodily autonomy of half the population of the country? Well, at this point, it seems like longstanding Constitutional rights are insignificant to the highest federal court in the judiciary of the U.S.

Dr. Jill Gibson, medical director for Planned Parenthood
Arizona, is legally obligated to stop performing abortions
after the Supreme Court Ruling (Source: NY Times)
    
    Undoubtedly, the overturn of Roe v. Wade is a green light for individual states to ban abortions entirely. It is no longer a fear, but now the horrid truth, that women would lose the freedom of their own reproductive rights.  As a result, governors hostile to abortion may advocate for the legislature to consider new abortion bans. 

    Quite frankly, it is appalling that federal policies no longer protect Constitutional rights. The abortion ban in Arizona is merely the tip of the iceberg because, to no one's surprise, the state is only 1 of 14 that have outlawed most abortions. Well, to put it simply, this really proves the fragility of the fundamental rights and freedoms of Americans; furthermore, the democracy of the country is now delegitimatized and the Supreme Court is acting in its own self-interest as opposed to public opinion. It is an assault on democracy and does not represent the ideology of the majority of Americans. 
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Moore v. Harper Will Determine The Fate For State-Conducted Elections

gerrymandering picture explanation

In 2021, the Republican-controlled North Carolina legislature passed a partisan gerrymander, which is an adjustment of district borders in order to intentionally benefit one political party over another in the context of the structure of the electoral college; in this case, the Republican party. 

In this case, it would essentially secure the Red win of North Carolina in the 2022 congressional elections, but it was overturned by the state court and has been taken on by SCOTUS in June 2022 because of its significance in the future of state-conducted elections. 


To illustrate the situation of gerrymandering, even if Democrats and Republicans got the same amount of votes, 10 out of the 14 congressional seats would still be given to Republicans. Gerrymandering has been used by political parties to secure partisan wins in the past, and is a big threat to democracy as it does not accurately reflect a state’s voter scene. 


This new map was debated in state courts among voters, since SCOTUS has ruled that federal courts cannot judge partisan gerrymandered maps. The North Carolina Supreme Court rejected the new map. The contention in the form of Supreme Court case Moore v. Harper (legislators vs the state court) is hinged in independent state legislature theory: referencing the Elections Clause, which basically renders federal elections a state power. In reference to the Elections Clause, the usage of the word “Legislature” is the core of the debate. Does it mean that state legislatures are fully in charge of elections? Does it mean, as the first source points out, that “When it comes to federal elections, legislators would be free to violate the state constitution and state courts couldn’t stop them?” 


If SCOTUS rules in favor of the legislators, it would be so. The first source (which seems more biased towards SCOTUS overturning independent state legislature theory) illustrates the outcome of adopting the idea of independent state legislature theory: state constitutional restrictions on how elections should be run, as well as rules set in place for fairness, would be rescinded. It would make it “nightmar[ishly]” possible that state legislatures could just ignore all the rules and pick the winner themselves, with barely a glance at the popular vote. This theory was one that Trump and his supporters rallied behind in an attempt to overturn the election, calling on states to determine the winner of the election themselves. According to former federal judge J. Michael Luttig in this first source, this theory is just the “Republican blueprint to steal the 2024 election.” It essentially diminishes the voting power of the people and gives more power to the people’s representatives, entrenched with the ideals of a republic versus a democracy: should the people’s opinions matter more, or their higher, mightier, and wiser reps, as the Framers meant it to be?


Another source illustrates the opposite perspective: conservative-run organization Honest Elections Project claims that the “2020 election was marred by… undemocratic efforts to use courts to weaken voting safeguards and skew the rules for partisan advantage.” PBS references the official statement from the executive director of this project, who claims that the opposing side “ignore[s] the history and text of the Constitution, sew[s] chaos and confusion, and put[s] faith in elections at risk.” I see this statement as relatively ironic and nebulous, as the problem that they are opposing reform to is gerrymandering, which is the glaringly clear culprit of the loss of election integrity. 


It essentially boils down to the interpretation of the Constitution. Though SCOTUS has had a history of turning down the independent state legislature theory, the stakes, of the balance in states’ election powers, are high this time, and three justices have historically supported this theory. The consequences of allowing state legislatures to have full control over federal elections, including inevitable manipulation of voter outcome in the form of widespread gerrymandering, seems detrimental to democracy, a core value of the country.


Source 1: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/moore-v-harper-explained 

ISLT explained: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/independent-state-legislature-theory-explained 


Source 2: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-the-outcome-of-moore-v-harper-could-impact-federal-elections
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Thursday, September 22, 2022

Former President Trump and DOJ Fight Over Power of Appeals Court in Access to Mar-A-Lago Classified Documents


                           

Department of Justice shows recovered documents labeled 
classified at Trump's Mar-A-Lago home (Source: WP)

    In further investigation of Trump's handling of classified documents after his presidency, the federal judge was tasked with reviewing the seized documents from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago residence as a result of Thursday's court filing. District Federal Judge Raymond Dearie states that the Department of Justice must provide unclassified documents for review. 

    Trump denies any fault, arguing the documents are declassified. ​​Trump claims “you can declassify just by saying ‘it’s declassified,’ even by thinking about it”. Yet, the former president has yet to provide any evidence concerning the classification of said documents-- raising the question of what power he currently holds to declassify such material.  

    District Judge Aileen Cannon, whom the former President had appointed himself, ordered the removal of the classified documents from the special master's review. As I see it, it is a legally baseless, privileged review. Undoubtedly, her ruling seems to be irregular since such review lies within the duties of the Department of Justice, a part of the Executive branch, all while Trump is no longer president. To what extent does corruption impede the government's efforts to maintain national security? As I see it, Trump's efforts look to be a painfully obvious attempt at cheating the legal process given the special privilege of once being president. 

Special Master Raymond Dearie
(Souce: WP)

    The power struggle between the Executive Branch, and the former president seems unprecedented since Trump is no longer in a position for a special master's review. I guess one may say that the distribution of powers in a federal government may never be perfect. Moreover, Trump's abuse of public power for personal gain screams political corruption and exposes the flaws of the U.S. federal government. 

    It appears to be our federalist government is prone to corruption due to the power struggle present among America's elected government officials. The additional layers of government which make up a federalist structure may impede the central government's efficiency and call into question the pros and cons of such government. 



Sources: 




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Monday, September 19, 2022

Will History Repeat as Hurricane Fiona Strikes Puerto Rico?

   

Fixing a downed power line on Sunday (source: NYT)

5 years after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, Hurricane Fiona threatens a similar rampage. Hurricane Maria caused $90 billion in damages, destroyed 80% of the country's electricity grid, and left more than 3,000 dead. 

    What responsibilities does the US owe to Puerto Rico as a territory? Surely, if a state like Hawaii was severely threatened by a natural disaster, the federal government would devote billions to ensuring the islands' safety (climate change notwithstanding). 

   Well, obligations aside, the US devoted $63 billion to help Puerto Rico in 2017 after Hurricane Maria. Seems generous, but humanitarian crises  require immediate and significant funding. Yet 4 years later, 71% of this aid hadn't been received by Puerto Rico, and the territory was still struggling to rebuild. Tens of thousands flocked to America. So, the question is: What can, and should, the US do to help avert a humanitarian crisis in our territory of Puerto Rico? 

As Hurricane Fiona begins its tear through Puerto Rico, the US territory, we are left to wonder if Puerto Rico and the US will implement a better response than before.

Without roads, transportation means are limited

    The US already has 300 emergency helpers in Puerto Rico, but with 70% of households and businesses lacking access to potable water and 2 people already reported dead (and almost certainly more to follow), is this enough?

    As a wealthy neighbor to Puerto Rico who benefits from their tourism industry, culture, and immigration, it's only rational for the US to step in and provide significant aid to our territory. 

Besides, if Florida can spare $12 million in plane costs to kidnap migrants, we can undoubtedly find room in the budget for an island which desperately needs support.

Sources:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/puerto-rico-four-years-hurricane-maria-far-recovery-rcna2073 

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/09/19/us/hurricane-fiona-puerto-rico?login=email&auth=login-email


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Thursday, September 15, 2022

Florida Governor Flies Immigrants to Massachusetts in Immoral, Corrupt Political Stunt


Immigrant Victims Taking Refuge in Martha's Vineyard Church - Credit: CBS

On September 14th, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis flew two planes filled with Venezuelan immigrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, a small island off the coast of Massachusetts. According to the migrants, a Spanish speaking member of DeSantis' staff, in the guise of a shelter worker, lured the migrants onto the planes with the promise of expedited work papers. Many of the migrants, including several families and small children, had no idea they were being flown to Martha's Vineyard. Some migrants later revealed to reporters that they had families remaining in Venezuela and now had no way to return to help them.

One might assume that at the very least, DeSantis would have given Martha's Vineyard advance warning to prepare for the migrants' arrival, but no, the Florida governor appeared content to surprise the island's officials and residents with the two planes full of migrants who needed food, water, and shelter.

Was this just a political stunt?  Was it a savvy attack on liberal immigration policies?  Was it more like a kidnapping of the migrants themselves?  However it might be characterized, this move by DeSantis is part of a pattern of Southern Republican states sending migrants to unknown destinations with no support. In particular, these past weeks we have seen busloads of migrants sent from Texas to northern "sanctuary cities," and even to the doorstep of Vice President Kamala Harris. Was DeSantis targeting former President Obama? The Obama's have a home on Martha's Vineyard, which might lead one to think that DeSantis' actions are not even for any rational cause, and are instead partisan attacks on the former Democrat President at the expense of migrant workers.

If the goal of DeSantis' stunt was to show that liberals, and particularly those in sanctuary cities, are not as compassionate towards immigrants as they publicly profess, he was immediately proven wrong. The members of the island acted quickly to come together and provide food, blankets, clothing, and even emergency shelter in a church. 

DeSantis' actions are an alarming indicator of his willingness to sacrifice humane morals in order to push a political point and leave many, like myself, wondering how his grand scheme was concocted...

Well, the recent stunt unfortunately echoes similar antics of politicians in the 1960's who transported Southern African Americans to northern cities under empty promises of jobs. The deception used against African Americans in the 60's had a similar goal to DeSantis' actions today: remove the people of color from Southern states and attack Northern liberal policy that welcomes minorities. When we take a step back and compare what DeSantis has done to what happened in the 60's, it's hard to ignore the pattern.

Finally, Florida plans to spend $12 million in taxpayer dollars on actions like the Wednesday kidnapping (let's call it what it is) of the Venezuelan migrants.

As DeSantis grows in popularity among the Republican Party and appears to be a leading candidate in the 2024 presidential election, we are left to wonder if disrupting the lives of dozens of immigrants to prove a political point is the best use of millions of taxpayer dollars. To many like myself, DeSantis' grossly corrupt use of government funds demonstrates his clear incapacity to govern his state, much less the US as a whole. Florida, which almost leads the nation in homelessness among an excess of other social, economic, and political problems, clearly has more pressing needs for millions of dollars in state funding. 

Despite the transparent use of state funds for a racially motivated political gimmick, the island of Martha's Vineyard leaves us with hope for humanity. It's fortunate that the migrant workers received such generous care from the residents of Martha's Vineyard - much more generous care than they would've received anywhere in Florida.

Sources: 



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Sunday, August 7, 2022

Go Dons

 I came across this graphic today cleaning up my desktop in anticipation of the school year and reflected on the ongoing challenge of teaching and learning about a range of opinion when voices across that range of opinion are actively seeking to purge anyone flirting with an opposing view. The long history of this blog makes me proud of our students for modeling what democratic discourse can be when the liars and bigots don't have a loud mob backing their degenerative idiocy. Also, Hitler in pajamas on a rainbow sled is hilarious for some reason I don't understand... 


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Monday, May 23, 2022

Biden says the U.S. would defend Taiwan militarily in a China invasion

 


President Joe Biden speaks during a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Akasaka Palace, Monday, May 23, 2022, in Tokyo.

Evan Vucci/AP


On Monday, President Joe Biden said the U.S. military would intervene if China attempted to forcibly overtake Taiwan. However, the White House said it doesn’t anticipate a change in U.S. policy. Biden stated that, while the U.S. agrees with the One China policy that acknowledges Taiwan to be part of China, the policy doesn’t acknowledge Beijing’s control of the island. While the U.S. has supplied weapons to Taiwan, it hasn’t made itself clear on whether it would militarily defend the island in a Chinese attack. Biden has been visiting various countries in Asia in efforts to unite them in the fight against China’s efforts to increase its powers with surrounding countries. 


China responded by expressing “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition,” maintaining that it won’t tolerate meddling in its “internal affairs.” Xi Jinping maintains that “reunification” will occur between Taiwan and China. Tension has been high with the Chinese military’s war planes close to the island.  


Biden also likened China’s potential invasion of Taiwan to Russia’s attack on Ukraine and continued with warnings against China, stating that efforts to forcibly shift the status quo will not be accepted. 


Questions: 

  1. Why do you think Biden made such an unequivocal warning that surprised even his top administration officials?

  2. Do you think the U.S. would intervene militarily in the circumstance of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan? Explain. 


Sources:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/23/politics/biden-taiwan-china-japan-intl-hnk/index.html 

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/23/1100655012/biden-says-u-s-intervene-with-military-to-defend-taiwan

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Shanghai to lift lockdown on June 1

 Shanghai announced that its months-long lockdown will end on June 1. 



People queue for COVID-19 tests in Shanghai. 

Wang Gang/VCG via Getty Images. - Business Insider


In compliance with China’s zero-COVID policy, Shanghai implemented a stringent lockdown on March 28 to curb the growth of Omicron cases. However, the lockdown, which spanned seven weeks, quickly spiraled into a dystopian-like nightmare, as travel became extremely limited, thousands of people were sent to quarantine centers following a positive test or exposure, teams of people in white suits entered homes to spray disinfectant, and complaints regarding shortages of food and other resources arose. 


The Communist Party restricted discussion regarding its approach, stating it would not accept criticism. As shops and factories were closed, the economy suffered heavily. Shanghai factories will need to pick up production again with the lockdown lift, which may be difficult: for instance, Tesla shut its Shanghai factory for three weeks, but despite reopening, challenges obtaining parts have slowed its production. Shanghai’s port is also struggling with a tremendous backlog. China’s statistics bureau reported that retail sales by more than 11% year-over-year in April. Many analysts foresee a GDP slump: according to CNBC, “Goldman Sachs analysts reduced their forecast for China's GDP from 4.5% to 4%, adding that they do not expect to see an increase before the second quarter of 2023.” Furthermore, there are fears that China’s extreme lockdown patterns could decrease investments in China.


While Shanghai’s lockdown will end soon, the long-term ramifications of the economic shutdown it caused will continue to affect people and businesses. As consumers and businesses learn to adapt to these changes, shifts may result. 


Questions:

  1. How have/will global manufacturers adapt their production in consideration of the Shanghai lockdown?

  2. How do you predict consumers’ purchasing habits may change following the Shanghai lockdown?

  3. Summarize the Shanghai lockdown’s impact on the economy using terms we studied in macroeconomics, including the impact on its GDP, employment, investments, etc. 


Sources: 

https://www.businessinsider.com/shanghai-lockdown-restrictions-starbucks-apple-economy-supply-chain-2022-5 

https://www.bbc.com/news/59882774 

https://www.bbc.com/news/59882774 


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