This is a place where current and ex-students of my "We the People" program can touch base with each other on important current issues. Publish your comments by clicking on "comments" under a post, then "post a comment". You can register, or just post a comment anonymously. WARNING: I make less of an attempt to be "fair and balanced" in this blog than I do in class. Feel free to take me on though, I don't have all the answers and I love to hear your opinions regardless of your perspective.
The Supreme Court issued three different opinions in this case, but I really think the Court made the right decision on this case of police putting GPS tracking devices on suspects cars without first obtaining a warrant.
MLK Was More Than a Dreamer:
In the years since his assassination I have been troubled by what I consider to be the co-opting of Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision. What has troubled me over the years is how his revolutionary message has been hijacked, compromised and relegated to being that of just a dreamer.
People are comfortable with dreamers. Why? Dreamers are safe and in a restful state. Dreamers are docile and easy to manipulate. To cast King in the light of a dreamer allows people to be convinced that substantive change resulting from clear vision and direct action is not necessary.
For those of you thinking about the themes of civil discourse, compromise, political parties, etc. this article just posted by USA Today is a must-read. I actually think it is good for everyone to read.
On the other hand, National Public Radio ran a story yesterday claiming After A Year of Struggles, Obama Finds His Footing. One note in his favor after a very hard year is that his poll numbers have risen a bit since the battle with House Republicans over the bill to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits for another two months. Gallup: Obama's approval rating at 5-month high
Was Congress that bad? Well, I might be biased, but I think the polls showing the approval rating for Congress at about 12% tell us a lot. NPR also ran a very interesting story asking experts to evaluate the job Congress has done in the past year. This Year In Congress: Much Drama, Little To Show
How would you evaluate the job the President and Congress have done?
The department said a new South Carolina law that would require voters to present photo identification would disproportionately suppress turnout among eligible minority voters.
When President Obama signed a budget bill on Friday, he issued a signing statement claiming a right to bypass dozens of provisions that placed requirements or restrictions on the executive branch, saying he had “well-founded constitutional objections” to the new statutes.
Only the second leader of communist North Korea, Kim Jung-il died yesterday at age 69. Most believe he will be succeeded by his son, Kim Jung-un. The first leader of communist North Korea was Kim Jung-il's father.
Monday, the State Legislature was back for a "special session" that was called by Governor Christine Gregoire to deal with the $2 billion dollar budget shortfall.
That is $2 billion more than they expected when they passed the budget in the spring, which already made deep cuts in state government programs such as K-12 education, state universities, and health care services for the state's poorest residents.
So, lots of people showed up to protest the state making any more cuts. Here was the scene at the State Capitol on Monday:
Last week, Governor Gregoire gave a forceful, and passionate speech urging the legislature to increase the state sales tax by 1/2 cent to cover some of the shortfall. The legislature can't do that with a simple majority however, so Gregoire has asked them to put it on the ballot as a referendum to be voted on by the people of WA in March.
I'm with the Gregoire on this one, except in my perfect world, the solution would be to institute a state income tax, which would fall most heavily on those able to pay. A sales tax hurts the poor, unemployed, and lower middle classes much more.
What do you think the government should do? Do you think the legislature will raise taxes, or make deeper cuts?
