United States of Secrecy

"New Obstacle to Senate Panel's Release of Report on Torture of C.I.A. Detainees"
Current Event of December 5, 2014

Taking of the Cape

          In recent news, there has been a disagreement between Obama's administration and Congress regarding the release of of a report to the American public. For a while now, the Senate Intelligence Committee, headed by Dianne Feinstein, has been working on writing the statement. The report covers how the C.I.A. was found to have tortured some of their captives. Everything was going well, and the statement was planned to be released next week. However, in the final steps, just days before the public was to know the truth, John Kerry, the Secretary of State, was reported to have called Ms. Feinstein regarding the issue. The executive branch did not believe that the release of the report would be beneficial to the country as a whole. With everything that is going on in the Middle East with ISIS, Obama's administration does not want to risk getting negative publicity. Regardless, the report will still be released in the next week as planned. 
          Public opinion has an immense impact on the actions of a national government. When people read the report about the torture of those held captive by a division of the U.S. government, there is bound to be unrest. This is partly why Obama's administration acted the way they did by trying to prevent, or at least delay, the statement from being accessible to the public eye. Dianne Feinstein held her ground as a member of the Senate and made it so that the average American will know the truth. This is an example of how people within the same party can sometimes disagree. Ms. Feinstein, representing liberal Californians, and Obama are both Democrats. It seems that their viewpoints would be the same. But, when it comes to individual issues, such as when to release a report to the public, things are no longer as black and white as the Republican and Democratic parties. 

Bop to the Top

When the Budget Gets Tense 
Mike Enzi Slides into the Spotlight

Who needs anything when they can chair a committee?

          As the year comes to a close, the tension within the Republican Party is growing. Soon, the GOP will be the majority party in Congress. In the case of Mike Enzi, he has proclaimed that he wants to be the chair of the Senate Budget Committee. But, this is easier said than done. Mike Enzi is not the current ranking member of the committee, although he is the member with the most seniority. In order to chair the committee, Enzi will have to push Jeff Sessions, the current ranking member, out of his spot. This is bound to cause controversy in the Senate because both men will not back down. Enzi refused to explain his tactics for how he plans on achieving the coveted spot, claiming that he does not want the media to have anything to do with the outcome. 
          Mike Enzi's intentions have not yet been discussed with Mitch McConnell, the current minority leader, or the other Republican members of the Senate Budget Committee. January is when the group will have a vote to elect the next person to chair the committee. Committee chairs, by far, have the most power as compared to the other members of the group. Their opinions can determine the actions of a committee as a whole. This is the perfect opportunity for Mike Enzi to shine, as the Republicans take control of the Senate. He has been in Congress since 1997, so he deserves to at least attempt to cement his place as the chair of a committee. As the new year rolls around, Enzi will have to fight for what he wants in order to end up on top. 

It's Match Point on the Supreme Court

"Why the Supreme Court should be the biggest issue of the 2016 campaign"
Current Event of November 28, 2014
From The Washington Post 

Left or Right?

          With the Supreme Court having five conservatives and four liberals, the next election could determine the makeup of the judicial branch of the federal government. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the Democratic justices, is the oldest member of the Supreme Court, having had a heart surgery at the age of 81. She has no plans to step down from her position before President Obama's term is over. This means that she is not guaranteed a liberal replacement. If the next leader of the United States turns out to be Republican and one of the Democratic justices retires, the number of conservatives in the court will outnumber the liberals 6-3. In contrast, if a Democrat is elected in the 2016 Presidential election and a conservative justice retires, then the liberals will gain better traction. Regardless of what happens, both parties should be concerned about the outcome of the election because it relates directly to our justice system. There will be an upset either way. 
          When it comes to the federal government, every aspect is connected. One of the principles that America was founded on was the separation of government into distinct branches. Checks and balances prevent there from being any funny business. Nonetheless, no matter how hard they try, the judicial, legislative, and executive branches become dependent on one another. In the case of the Supreme Court, the president is only meant to have the power of appointing justices. It just so happens that the next person to be given the job could influence the entire branch by tipping the scale, making the courts either conservatively or liberally dominated. It does not seem like a big deal at first, but major court cases are brought to the Supreme Court and their decisions have a huge say in what happens in this country. By giving the President the power to choose, the courts are now in the hands of the executive branch. 

When Old is Not Old Enough

"Landmark state pension law struck down by Springfield judge"
Current Event of November 21, 2014
From Chicago Tribune

This is the life 

     In December of 2013, the state of Illinois passed a state pension law requiring workers to wait longer for retirement and, in turn, their pension. The intention behind it was to reduce the $104.6 billion retirement debt that brings major issues for Illinois. Recently, a judge, John Beltz, has decided to bring this law to the Illinois Supreme Court. He, along with labor unions, has seen the problems with the legislation and are actively protesting it. If the pension law is repealed by the state's Supreme Court, the government will have to pay almost a billion more to the pension fund. But, if the the law is upheld, it will benefit Illinois as a whole. The problem with the law is that none of the workers agree with it. Regardless, the state needs some way to solve its major debt problem. Hopefully, some alternative ideas will be suggested in the next few weeks. 
       When it comes to money, Americans will go to every measure to protect their right to what they deserve. That is one of the defining characteristics of the United States. Work is life to many people. Their lives are dedicated to working long enough to retire and live with enough funds to be happy. When that dream is taken away through something like the Illinois pension law, people begin to distrust their government. Unions are in direct disagreement with the state legislature and individual workers know that the government may not have their personal interests at heart. The state faces the glaring debt that has been accruing for the last years. Somehow Illinois has to figure out how to best represent the common people while still staying afloat financially. 

Best Friends Forever

Enzi Works Well With Others (if they are Republican)

 Mike Enzi and His Pal, The Republican Party 

          If one thing can be said about Mike Enzi, it's that he represents the Republican Party well. He is known for being one of the most conservative members of the Senate and his relationship with the Republican Party is strong, to say the least. Enzi can be trusted to vote the way his party wants him to, as his conservative viewpoints are quite predictable. Since other Republicans view Enzi with acceptance, he has a plethora of "friends" in Congress. He works the best with other conservatives. John Barrasso, Wyoming's other senator, and Mike Enzi have worked well together to try to influence the federal government in a positive way. Slowly but surely, they are trying to bring little bits of the Wyoming legislature to the national level. 
          When it comes to logrolling, Mike Enzi is most likely to cooperate with other Republicans in the Senate who share some of the same viewpoints as him. For example, Enzi may not know a lot about one topic in particular, so he will give one of his votes to a trusted Republican to get one in return. In general, Mike Enzi is well liked by the masses, considering that he has been in office since 1997. His incumbency is due to all of the alliances he has made over the years. Mike Enzi's "friendships" have paid off and he is consistently supported fully by the Republican Party.

When Nature Strikes Back

"A US-China Breakthrough for the Planet--and the New Economic Growth"
Current Event of November 14, 2014
From Huffington Post

We're All in this Together

     Scientists have predicted for a long time that the earth will not last much longer because of the choices the human race has made regarding the environment. The earth is suffering and something needs to be done as soon as possible to reduce the negative effects people are having on the planet. Luckily, two of the most economically dominant countries have decided to stand up to combat the growing environmental disaster. President Obama, representing America, and President Xi Jinping, the leader of China, have made statements regarding how their respective countries plan to move forward. China wants to transition into using renewable sources for almost 20 percent of their energy. This change should happen by 2030. America plans to reduce its carbon emissions by about 27 percent by 2025. This is just the first step. In order to make a legitimate impact, the rest of the countries have to step up and take responsibility. Each country has an important part to play if the planet is to be saved. 
      The strength of relationships between foreign nations has always been debatable when it comes to American politics. While some believe that the United States should have no engagement with other countries, others see value in the union. In the case of this new development between America and China, it seems to be beneficial for both parties. Not only is there a shared incentive to save the planet, but also, by reducing the carbon footprint, economies will improve. By investing in clean energy, cities will become more desirable with a lack of air pollution. Also, the job market will expand to compensate for the new industry. America can't save the world on its own. It will need the assistance of the most prominent nations to make goals regarding the environment. Foreign relations are a necessity if this is going to work. 

America's Bright Future

"Obama to nominate Brooklyn federal prosecutor Loretta Lynch for U.S. attorney general"
Current Event of November 7, 2014
From Chicago Tribune

Looking Forward

          As the midterm elections were this week, President Obama has been busy making the changes he needs. For the office of U.S. Attorney General, he had to pick some one the country could trust. Loretta Lynch will be the first black woman ever to hold this position. She is extremely qualified and has been working in law her entire life. She is also known for having an even temperament in the face of pressure, meaning that she will be able to hold her own without causing too much controversy. Of course, Obama's decision has to be approved by the Senate for anything to come to fruition. Lynch will be replacing the current U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, if she is approved. Over the past 6 years, he has had a history of disagreements with the Republican members of the federal government. Hopefully when she is instated, Lynch will do a better job than Holder. 
        Obama is trying to impact as many aspects of the country as possible before his term ends. One of his contributions is picking a person for the job of U.S. Attorney General. As the Senate is going to be dominated by the Republican Party, he has to be careful in the the coming times. The government will soon be divided by a Democratic President and a Republican Senate. Another important piece of information about this current event is that Loretta Lynch is not only African American, but a female. It just shows how much progress has been made in the last years. There is hope that change is possible even in a place as corrupt as Washington D.C. President Obama has made the right decision by nominating Loretta Lynch. 
         

Mike Enzi Reigns Supreme (again)

The Elephant Takes the Cake

                                                        When the Game Stands Tall

As the polls came to a close on November 4th, the predictions made about Mike Enzi’s reelection became truth. Enzi, the incumbent, will remain in office until at least the next election cycle. With just around 150,000 voters, 72% of them voted for Enzi. Four candidates were up for the position, but the only person that came even close to overturning  Enzi’s rule was Charlie Hardy with 18% of the votes. Even then, Enzi was a shoe in. Of course, he had the benefit of incumbency. First of all, he has more publicity from simply being in office. Also, because there are no real scandals associated with Enzi, there is no reason that he should be removed. Wyoming is satisfied with his performance and didn’t want to rock the boat if they didn’t have to. The Senate continues to be dominated by Republicans. Wyoming has remained consistent in their beliefs as Mike Enzi, the House member, and the governor are all Republican. In this way, Wyoming’s views of the success of the Republican Party may have created a coattail effect, where the voters prefer the Republican candidates purely based on their party affiliation.  

To win the election, Mike Enzi and his campaign used various methods of campaign financing to gain money for his reelection. For his campaign, Enzi raised a little over $3 million from a combined effort of individuals and PACs. However, Charlie Hardy raised only $70,000 in total. It just shows how persuasive money can be in gaining support. A majority of the state of Wyoming would be considered supporters of Enzi's policy as he was successfully reelected. He has done a great job in the past and more time in office will give him the extra experience that will make him an even better representative for Wyoming.

From Snail to Racehorse

"America Pays More for Internet, Gets Slower Speeds, Than Other Countries"
Current Event of October 31, 2014
From Huffington Post

My slow is faster than your slow

          Compared to countries across the globe, America pays ten times the amount of money for half of the Internet speed. Korea has one of the fastest speeds available for a price of $30 as opposed to America's $300 service. To many people living in the United States, this is unacceptable. Because of the pressure that America feels to uphold national pride, many private Internet companies have decided to improve the speed of the connection for the people in this country. Prices are going down as new technicians in small towns work to solve the broadband problem. Americans are happy not only because they get to pay less for their Internet service, but the United States is moving up in the ranks once again. U.S. citizens can never have enough national pride. 
          What is particularly interesting about Internet speed and its relative costs, are the restrictions placed on cities by the states. At least 17 of the 50 states have made it illegal for cities to run their own public Internet services. Those people that do want the freedom to make a business out of it are facing a problem. The laws that prohibit people from having city-owned Internet networks are supported by major Internet providers because they do not want to have to deal with competition. This just shows how much of an influence large corporations and businesses have on the laws and policies that govern everyday life. States have to work to please those who have the most influence and funds so that the government receives support in return. The competition between Internet providers may seem inconsequential, but as technology becomes more prevalent in society, the government is beginning to pay more attention to those who have influence in that realm. 
           

What Ever Happened to Innocent Until Proven Guilty?

"Police to screen CTA train passengers for explosives"
Current Event of October 23, 2014
From Chicago Tribune

What Police Expect to Find

          Authorities in Chicago are going to start searching train passengers for explosives as a precaution. They are going to conduct random searches at checkpoints. Passengers are asked to hand over their bags so that they can be checked. If they agree, and give up their luggage, the police use a cloth to swab the outside of the bag. They then proceed to scan the cloth to see of there is any explosive residue. If the passenger refuses to let the police officer check for explosives, then the authorities have the full right to keep the passenger off the train. Chicago has taken a less evasive approach to searching for explosives. Some cities, like Los Angeles, actually open up people's baggage instead of swabbing the outside. The city of Chicago claims to want to protect the privacy of its train riders. 
           Even though the methods to prevent explosives from being carried on trains varies from city to city, the intent behind it is the same nationally. The new villain in America is terrorism. It makes sense after events such as the 9/11 attacks and the Boston Marathon Bombings, that the majority of the public would be concerned about explosives and the proper way to avoid further attacks. However, police officers seem to be encroaching on people's right to privacy. If a person refuses to let the police search their private belongings, they are not allowed to board the train. The reason behind this makes sense, because the federal government's main focus is to stop terrorism. But, whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? People are suspects as soon as they refuse to give up their right to privacy. They may not be guilty at all, but they are treated the same way as someone who is. There has to be a balance between proper security and the freedom of the common person to go as they please. 
          

99% Chance, 100% Mike Enzi

What do the polls say?

I Believe That We Will Win

      According to at least four polling websites, Mike Enzi is almost guaranteed a win for Wyoming's seat in the Senate. Running for his fourth consecutive term, Enzi has all of the benefits that come along with incumbency. His name is well known and the state of Wyoming is a fan of his highly conservative ideals. Enzi is running against Charlie Hardy, the Democratic Candidate, but Hardy does not seem to be doing anything to weaken Enzi's hold on the state.

       RealClearPolitics, FiveThirtyEight, and Election Projection, three polling websites, report almost identical findings. Multiple polls are shown, but all of them support the idea of Enzi's victory. The polling firms are the same for all of the polling websites being conducted either by YouGov or Rasmussen. RealClearPolitics averaged, over a few different sources, that Enzi was ahead by about 47 points, a huge gap. FiveThirtyEight, while showing the same results, predicts that there is over 99% chance that Enzi will be reelected. Therefore, that means that his opponent, Charlie Hardy, has barely any chance at all. FiveThirtyEight actually weighted the different polls based on their own pollster ratings. That made the numbers slightly more accurate, by their account. The prediction remained the same across the board. Election Projection had data that reaffirmed that Enzi has a great chance of winning the election. On Politico, another website that has been monitoring the 2014 midterm election, Wyoming is rated as being safe Republican, meaning that it is almost impossible for Mike Enzi to not be elected.

        In general, across the board, it seems to be that there is common agreement that Mike Enzi will, once again, represent Wyoming in the Senate.

Life or Death? Pick one.

"Scott Walker Dodges Questions On Abortion, Birth Control"
Current Event of October 17, 2014
From Huffington Post

Scott Walker's Stance on Abortion Hits Hard

          Scott Walker, Wisconsin's governor, is a strongly conservative Republican that completely supports banning abortion. He has also expressed opinions about getting rid of birth control entirely. Walker holds the view that a human life begins while the child is still in the womb. Recently, however, Walker has been keeping quiet about his opinions regarding abortion ever since he started to run against Mary Burke, the pro-choice Democratic candidate. He wants to gain votes from people who may not completely agree with his point of view. Scott Walker, although expressing opinions strongly against abortion in the past, has toned down his thoughts in order to be reelected. He tries to avoid answering questions about it and often defers to other topics. 
         The actions of Scott Walker connect directly with what we have been talking about in class for the past couple of days. To stay in office, Scott Walker is forced to adapt his true ideals to keep the vote. It becomes more about the image a person is portraying than their policy. EMILY's List, the PAC that only supports Democratic women, has created an advertisement that puts down Scott Walker's views on abortion. They want Mary Burke to take over. The only way for them to do that is to point out Walker's lies and tell half-truths in order to keep him from being reelected. In order to counteract these attempts, Walker's supporters are forced to make advertisements as well. In the scheme of things, more and more money will be spent to make each of the candidate's look better than actually they are. 

From Distrust to Disengagement

"From Mid-Atlantic to Midwest, Voters Express Frustration and Fatigue"
Current Event of October 10, 2014
From The New York Times

Obama's Promise

          People all across the United States are dissatisfied with how the government is dealing with the country and its problems as a whole. A large percentage of Americans are upset with President Obama for various reasons from one side of the spectrum to the other. Some feel that Obama does not know what is going on in the small communities in isolated areas. In the last couple of years, foreign affairs have been the main concern in Washington DC. People in small towns feel neglected by the government because they can barely afford the necessities of everyday life. On the other hand, there are others that are opposed to Obama for different reasons. Some Americans promote a high amount of engagement with foreign nations. But, they view Obama as a wimp and think that he should be doing more to keep America at the top of the heap. Either way, there is distrust and dissatisfaction towards the national government. People feel as if their vote for Obama did not count towards any progress for the country. 
          It is dangerous when people become frustrated with their government. After a while, there is less participation because it seems like one vote will not change anything. Even though Obama won the election and is the leader of the country, the citizens of America do not think he is doing his job well. A distrust of government only makes the country more divided in the long run. Obama is viewed as having the capability of a superhuman, choosing not to help the country improve because he does not feel like it. In truth, however, he is only human and he can not be expected to do everything. Obama, although he has not done everything to bring the country out of the dark, has solved many problems. It is unfair to expect so much from someone who has so much to deal with. Only time will tell what the public will believe by the end of the next president's term. 

To fund, or not to fund?

 Mike Enzi Gets Support (Sometimes)     

The Truth About Interest Groups

         When it comes to interest groups, there are people that are completely for the ideals set out by Mike Enzi and there are those who would prefer to have him removed from office.
          One example of an organization that is a proponent of Mike Enzi is Gilead Sciences. This biotechnology based company is known for its methods in the therapeutic field. Through Gilead Sciences, there are fourteen products for sale to help cure different ailments. In the past, Gilead Sciences has donated $24,048 to Mike Enzi's campaign, landing him the spot if top recipient. They obviously support his conservative values and want to see them in action. They tend to fund Republicans over Democrats and Enzi was the only Senator to receive money from them. In this way, Gilead Science is in full support of what Enzi stands for.
           On the other hand, there are those who are opposed to Mike Enzi. Grassroots Netroots Alliance gave Mike Enzi a 0% rating, the lowest that they could possibly give a person in either the House or the Senate. As explained by Project Vote Smart, "The GNA is a new nationwide effort to build up a netroots and grassroots army of millions of radical but practical-minded voters and activists." Obviously a group bound and determined to have radical minded people in charge is not going to like the conservative, Republican Mike Enzi. Since the only other person they rated in Wyoming was also a Republican and they gave him a 0% rating along with Enzi, it is better to look to see who they support that is not a part of the state of Wyoming. One person that they do agree with is Nancy Pelosi. It makes sense because she is heavily associated with the Democratic Party and she supports very liberal thinking on most issues in debate. 

Who Runs the World? Girls.

"In a first, 3 women pass Marines Combat Endurance Test, toting 80-lb. packs"
Current Event of October 3, 2014
From The Christian Science Monitor

Girl Power

          In order to be a part of the Marine Corps, one has to pass the Marines Combat Endurance Test (CET), a grueling assessment designed to weed out the weak. This program has always had the reputation of being a brutal test of both the body and the mind. Before 2012, only men were allowed to even attempt to pass the CET. Since then, women have been trying to become leaders on the front lines. After the most recent test was given, it has been confirmed that three women have passed. This is a new record, as only one woman in the past has passed the CET and she ended up dropping out during the second phase. As society continues to change over the years, there seems to be more promise for the equality of the genders. 

          In light of the recent events regarding women desiring to join the Marine Corps, the federal government has had to rethink the way that it deals with the requirements needed to pass the test. Women, naturally, tend to have less strength than men, based primarily on their biology. But, many females want full equality. Option one is to lower the standards for women, so that more of them have a chance, while option two is to keep the requirements the same for both men and women to promote complete equality. The three women who have recently passed the CET were expected to perform to the same extent that the males were expected to perform. This issue continues to remain a debate throughout the nation, as women continue to want more of a voice.  

Mike Enzi's Waltz with Committee Membership

Enzi Works for the Good of the People          

Mike Enzi with other committee members

        Running for his fourth term for senator, Mike Enzi has had his fair share of experience when it comes to the political world. Over his time, Enzi has been a part of both the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP) and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

        Because Enzi is Republican, his party has minority in the Senate. In the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Enzi is a minority member. He is, however, a ranking member of Children and Families, one of three of the subcommittees under HELP. Its primary purpose is to protect the rights of families in America. Under this subcommittee, a piece of legislation called the Family Medical Leave Act was made. Enacted in 1993, this allows anyone who is working to take up to twelve weeks leave if they, themselves, have a serious illness or are helping out someone who desperately needs it. In recent news, the government has redefined the term spouse as it relates to FMLA. It seems to be having a positive effect on the workplace. 

         In addition to his efforts to promote the welfare of families, Enzi has been actively involved in the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Once again, because of his party affiliations, Enzi is a minority member. This committee focuses on smoothing out the relationship between the federal government and small businesses. In 1980, the Paperwork Reduction Act was passed. It managed to reduce the amount of paperwork a small business had to fill out for the federal government's approval. It was amended in 1995 so that agencies would have to provide information both to the government and to the public. 

         Through all of these efforts, these committees seem to be doing their job to better the country. 

 

The Violence of the Human Psyche

"Police: Woman beheaded in Oklahoma warehouse attack" 
Current Event of September 26, 2014
From Chicago Tribune

Only one of the sources of violence

              Yesterday, there was an attack on two women in an Oklahoma food distribution warehouse made allegedly by a man named Alton Nolen. Of the two victims, one was beheaded and the other was stabbed repeatedly with a knife. The latter is currently recovering in the hospital. The suspect of this crime worked for the company but was fired right before the attack took place. Nolen went into a fit of rage and attacked at random. When other workers were interviewed about Nolen, they said that he had tried to convert them all to Islam. Nolen was shot by a police officer and is expected to live. His criminal history was nonviolent previous to the attack and the only crimes he had committed were drug related. 

            Violence has been a huge issue faced by the American public in the recent years. In most cases, the instrument of crime has been guns. The federal government and the states have been battling over the issue of gun control and the second amendment for a long time now. One of the arguments for gun control is that guns stimulate violence in people and lead to terrible occurrences. But, when one looks at the recent attack in Oklahoma, there is an obvious discrepancy. Nolen killed and maimed another with only a knife. That does not mean that guns are not to blame for horrible events that have taken place, because they are. When America faces the issue of violence, however, they can not rule out other causes like the human psyche. If the nation is to address crime as a whole, it can not stop with gun control.   

To Pass the CAHSEE is to Pass at Life

"California Students match record pass rate in high school exit exam" 
Current Event of September 19, 2014
From Los Angeles Times

Education in a Nutshell

               In recent news, students in California's public school system are continuing to improve at standardized testing. The California High School Exit Examination, also known as the CAHSEE, is used to asses the skills of all of the students in the state on a generalized playing field and is required for graduation. Sophomores are administered the test and they have until the end of their high school career to pass. Since the exam was implemented in 2006, the pass rate has increased by five percent across the board. It is currently around 95 percent. African American, Asian, Latino, and white students have all either remained equally proficient or improved upon the last years. Minorities are closing the gap between their pass rates and those of the white students. In other words, public schools are doing significantly better as the years go on. 
             The CAHSEE relates to the how education is being valued in America during this time. The easiest way for the state to test proficiency in a subject is through standardized testing, but that is not always the most accurate portrayal of the truth. The federal government continues to value results, as it did while No Child Left Behind was still enacted. The test scores are what matter because America wants to look better than the rest of the world when it comes to education. Pride comes into play and what is upsetting is that schools teach to the test, so that they can satisfy the state, and therefore the country. The federal government should care more about practical skills than how well a student can fill in the required bubbles. The education system still has some kinks to be worked out before any real progress is made. 

Who is REALLY in charge?

"Britian asked people to redesign the pound coin. The response was brutal."
Current Event of September 12, 2014
Found on The Washington Post

Potential New Design

          Recently, the British government has opened up a competition to the common people in order to gain ideas for the new pound coin. This, in itself, was harmless. The government was only trying to stimulate national pride. While it would seem that many people would be proud to design something that would represent their country, the entire competition turned into a political battlefield. Alexander Salmond represents those in Scotland, who are interested in independence from Britain. Right now, that is a very touchy topic. Designs with Salmond's face instead of Queen Elizabeth II's were submitted as an insult to the British government. Many other offensive designs were suggested as well. The pound coin designing competition turned into an outlet for the disgruntled. 

          Particularly the part about Salmond relates directly to American government. It is amazing how one group, or faction, can get the attention of the people so efficiently in this day and age. This competition is just another way for the idea of Scottish independence to get out into the world. In the same way, certain interests groups in America can get their ideas across by taking advantage of what people see everyday. The common person's perception on an issue is directly linked to how well that side is advertised. After this competition and its recognition by many people, it is certain that more people will know about Salmond's cause. 

Mike Enzi's Home State: Wyoming

 "Big Wonderful Wyoming"      

Sweet Home Wyoming

          Mike Enzi represents to state of Wyoming. Placed in the Midwest, Wyoming is rather large, yet is home to a little over half a million people. The exact number is 582,658 people. Of those residents, there is little diversity. 93% of the population are white Americans while 78% attribute themselves to being Christian. A variety of other ethnicities and religions make up the remaining percentage. English is the most commonly spoken language. On the political scale, Wyoming is a red state, siding with the conservative point of view on many issues. While they do have Democrats actively working in their government, all three of the senators that represent Wyoming are Republican. Tourism and mineral extraction are the main streams of income in the state. The federal government owns about half of the entire state's landmass. National parks such as Yellowstone keep visitors flowing and money circulating. Coal mining and the production of natural gas is what keeps the state afloat, economically. Wyoming, unlike many other states, does not have an income tax. The state has one seat in the House of Representatives and three votes in the electoral college. Wyoming is made up of 23 counties but over three-fourths of the population are found in one of the nine metropolitan areas. The most pressing issues that Wyoming faces have to do with wildlife conservation and debates over the mining of coal. In a recent article from Wyoming's local news, the pressing issue of the protection of wolves comes up. Most people do not want to make radical changes involving how wolves are handled, only substantiating the fact that most of people are opposed to change. 

Ebola Strikes

"Ebola is Taking a Second Toll, on Economies"
Current Event of September 5, 2014
Found on The New York Times

The world's prespective on helpfulness

          Ebola has already taken the lives of countless Africans since its outbreak in the last year. Those not yet struck by the disease are still suffering the economic consequences. Particularly in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone things are heading downhill. Farmers do not have the adequate work force and are expecting only a fraction of their agricultural products to come through this season. African countries that are known to manifest Ebola are being isolated from bordering countries. Airports are being shut down and there is no commerce in and out of these infected countries. This leaves little hope for improvement as the economy is quickly plummeting in countries with the presence of Ebola. Because of the scare, farmers are not receiving loans because no one trusts them to live long enough to pay them back. 
          It is important to look at what is going on internationally in order to remain informed as a citizen of America. Naturally the question, "What would America do if this kind of crisis happened on home soil?", comes up. If Ebola struck only some of the states, would the national government try to quarantine the infected states? The federal government would have to create blockades and stop commerce so that Ebola would not spread throughout the entire country. States should also have the right to keep their borders open if it came down to an Ebola epidemic so that people could come to seek refuge or leave and not become infected, whatever the case may be. It is state versus national power. Issues like this are debated all of the time. It is interesting to speculate. 

What happened on August 29?

"White House Reportedly Considering Pushing Deportation Changes to Post-Election"

Current Event of August 29, 2014

Found on Huffington Post

Appealing to Congress

Obama has promised a review of the government’s deportation policies since the beginning of this year. In light of the elections in November, however, the Obama administration is considering waiting until after the elections are over to make immigration reform. The Democratic party is in jeopardy of looking bad if any false moves are made or the reforms made to immigration fail. In the mean time, the government plans to increase immigration enforcement and make more dramatic changes after the election. President Obama remains firm on the issue and may administer executive action to reform immigration to keep his promise. If he was to act immediately, he would face the wrath of the Republicans, who have a far right viewpoint on the issue. If he waited, Obama would have to deal with all of those who believe deportation should have been handled a long time ago.

This relates to the study of government, because not all of the branches get along all of the time. In this case, the President and Congress are at odds when it comes to immigration reform. The President has the power of executive action if Congress decides to do nothing about an issue. Also, there is change going on related to the laws that govern our country. Change in legislature is seen over the years because of the development of social and cultural values. Some people, including Obama, see deportation as a bad thing in today’s society. They are working to change the laws in order to make them more compatible with life in America.

The Truth About Mike Enzi

Mike Enzi: U.S. Senator for Wyoming 

Mike Enzi Hard at Work 

Biography: Born on February 1, 1944, Mike Enzi attended both George Washington University and University of Denver where he received advanced degrees in accounting and retail marketing. His background is in accounting and owning small businesses. He served on the Wyoming Air National Guard. Enzi became the mayor of Gillette in 1975 and served for four terms. He and his family have strong ties to the Presbyterian church and Enzi strongly associates himself with the Republican party. He is concerned with issues related to keeping the family whole and finding a source of renewable energy. Mike Enzi became the U.S. senator for Wyoming in 1997 and is currently still holding the position. He is running for reelection this coming fall. 
       Mike Enzi has been considered one of the most conservative members of the Senate because of his stance on many pressing issues. Topics that are of interest to him include health care reform, family welfare, mining, and energy sources. He is against abortion and gay marriage and fights to protect gun rights. He chaired the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which is what gave him more say in important issues. Enzi supports policies such as privatizing Social Security in the future. 

Recent News: "Sen. Mike Enzi Wins Republican Senate Primary In Wyoming"
           Mike Enzi had a recent success in the senate primary on Tuesday night. Enzi was up against four other competitors and yet he prevailed. Wyoming is supporting him because they agree with the policies he is trying to enact. Enzi wants to gain a balanced federal tax budget. He also has been advocating for Internet sales tax for a very long time. Having  been a Senator for so long gives Enzi an advantage over the other contenders. Only time will tell whether he is reelected or not. 

The Politics of Everyday Life: A Review of Political Blogs

           One can tell quite a bit about a political blog by looking at a few key factors. The layout and organization of the overall website contributes to how stories come across to the readers. Every blog has something like a front page story that catches the reader's attention. Political bias can be quite evident depending on the language used in certain articles. The intended audience of the blog helps the reporters narrow down an idea of what issues they should address. Three political blogs: Blue Hampshire, Power Line, and The Huffington Post are just a sampling of the politics of everyday life. 

Blue Hampshire:

Layout/Organization: Blue Hampshire is not only simple, but limited. There is not a whole lot in terms of news stories. Articles are organized by date instead of by importance. It is simple to navigate but the content is lacking. Not much national news is covered, although they claim to be attentive to it.  

Headliner: "THE 'DIRTY DENIER' OF THE DAY: SCOTT BROWN" This is the most recent article posted on Blue Hampshire. The author primarily focuses on the corrupt aspects of a man named Scott Brown who is running for Senate. He had some bad dealings with oil companies in the past and it is advised that he should not be reelected. The author makes their opinion quite clear over the course of the report. 

Political Bias: By just looking at the name of the blog, one can determine that the use of the term 'blue' indicates an association to the Democratic Party. Blue Hampshire is strongly left-leaning; its nickname being "A Progressive Blog for the Granite State". From just looking at a few articles, it can be seen that the people of New Hampshire who read this blog are completely against overspending federal funds.  

Intended Audience: The audience is primarily the residents of New Hampshire. Not many of the articles have anything to do with other issues that stretch outside of the state. There are only a few people that actively comment and react to the articles, leading one to believe that Blue Hampshire is not a particularly popular blog. However, for a state affiliated political blog, it seems to be doing pretty well. 

Power Line:

Layout/Organization: Right off the bat, Power Line seems to be more organized than Blue Hampshire. There are a plethora of articles with visuals that correspond to the headlines well displayed on the front page. With respect to content, it seems like national news is the preference. Advertisements are present, which leads to the conclusion that this blog has a wider readership. 

Headliner: "Science According to Steyer"  is the most recent, and therefore prominent, headline on the home page. It is concerned with the upcoming election and climate issues. There is a condescending tone to this article that does not come off kindly. Ironically, this article is very similar in topic to the one in Blue Hampshire because it mentions Scott Brown. Tom Steyer, a Democrat, is aiding an organization called NextGen Climate with financial support. The author of this story does not agree with Steyer's approach and makes that apparent.

Political Bias: Power Line is strongly conservative. It is critical of all liberal thinkers and will often accuse them of having bad morals or corrupt ideals. Those who publish their thoughts on this blog are not always in full support of President Obama and tend to over analyze his speeches. Being right-leaning, Power Line gives many Republicans an outlet. 

Intended Audience: There is a much larger audience intended for Power Line. The amount of feedback that an article gets through comments shows that it is a relatively active site for political discussion. It has even been recognized by Time magazine. Those with conservative beliefs will fit right in here. 

The Huffington Post:

Layout/Organization: There has obviously been a lot of work put into this political blog to make it more user friendly. The pictures are more prominent than the headlines, which is visually appealing to the viewer and will get their attention more quickly. The front page consists of a cover story and many other sub-articles underneath it. Not only does the Huffington Post deal with politics, but it covers many other areas as well. 

Headliner: "Hagel: Threat 'Beyond Everything We've Seen'" This headline is the most eye-catching piece on the front page. The article that corresponds to it is the cover story for the entire blog. The story is presented relatively neutrally. There is no obvious voice that sways the reader to one opinion or the other. It concerns the relationship between the United States and the Islamic State militants. It is written primarily to report and not to comment a particular viewpoint regarding the news. 

Political Bias: The Huffington Post is liberal or left-leaning. The articles, however, are not particularly sarcastic or demeaning. What is interesting about this blog is that it concerns itself with world news, which was not as apparent in Blue Hampshire or Power Line. Reporting seems to be its primary purpose. 

Intended Audience: The Huffington Post is one of the largest news sources in the country. It caters to all people who want to learn about the world around them. As well, a variety of subjects besides politics are covered throughout the blog.