politics

Politics does not dictate our collective cultural mindset as much as it simply reflects it; We've got to look in the mirror sometimes, and we've got one.

Who Is Still Supporting the GOP?
If you have been watching the news, then you know about the recent events in the world of national politics. The special election of Alabama, the US decision of recognizing Israel, and Congress' determination of passing its controversial tax bill. All of these events surely have people thinking one thing: How is the GOP still here?
By Sierra George8 years ago in The Swamp
Taken By Storm
As winter develops, we are getting our fair share of shitty weather here in the UK. A couple of months ago, we had warnings for Ireland & Scotland as Hurricane Ophelia advanced. It was the first storm of its magnitude to hit the UK in three decades — in fact, it was 30 years to the day since the last one. I remember that very well. It turned out that Ophelia wasn’t as hell-bent on destruction as the 1987 storm; it by-passed most of Great Britain without so much as a wheelie bin knocked over (Ireland was not quite as lucky — three people sadly died as a result of the high winds).
By Katy Preen8 years ago in The Swamp
Russia Banned From Winter Olympics
The decision to ban Russian Athletes was made due to the law of the executive committee in Lausanne (Switzerland). The exclusion is explained with the state system of concealing positive doping tests. The I.O.C. also ordered the R.O.C.(Russian Olympic Committee) to reimburse the costs of conducting investigations and to pay $15 million to create an independent testing system.
By Mike Johnson8 years ago in The Swamp
Economics On Trial: Defending Capitalism
As a millennial, I hear time and time again from my counter-parts that the free-market system of America, capitalism, is wrong, immoral, even selfish. Capitalism exploits workers and turn us into robotic slaves. If capitalists love freedom so much why do they force lower classes into labor? But are these claims true are these fair accusations? Is capitalism really a system for the rich, greedy, and power-hungry? I say no, and here's why.
By Brian Chilcoat8 years ago in The Swamp
Nigel Farage Goes To Hollywood - But Is This A Smart Move?
In the United Kingdom, Nigel Farage — a British Member of the European Parliament who has been campaigning for Britain to leave the EU for decades — is a controversial figure. 2016 saw Farage's vision come closer to being fulfilled than ever before, with the UK voting to leave the European Union (EU) in a referendum in a move known as "Brexit." In the aftermath, Farage has been treated as the Messiah by some, and as the Devil by others. Public attitude is so mixed about Farage that he recently claimed he's afraid to go out for a beer without bodyguards!
By Tom Bacon8 years ago in The Swamp
Aboriginal Crisis In Canada Dissected
People who are of First Nation descent have been stuck in an oppressive cycle for decades, yet it seems like the Canadian government only cares when it suits their agendas. There have been attempts of reconciliation over the past few years between the government and First Nation communities, but is that enough? Where is the funding that they have promised? And why haven't they tackled the daily living conditions of those communities? It seems like it takes a state of emergency for officials to take notice of what is really going on in Canada.
By Nat Morrissette8 years ago in The Swamp
Once Upon a Time a Liberal Married a Republican
I recall when I met my husband; we would talk about everything including politics and every word would be enlightening. Now, he is silent. Over the last year we have watched so much change and divisiveness consume our country through our politics. It now seems that political parties are nearly like street gangs. This evolution sparked my husband’s switch of political parties. This was a shock to me; he is what he refers to as a “Reagan Republican"; apparently that is the best kind to be. I didn't know such a thing existed. In my mind, changing political parties is no big deal, but again, I am apparently clueless. He has been questioned by friends, family, and strangers who happen to overhear the conversation, all interested in knowing what form of witchery would prompt such a change. His response is always, “I voted for his family." This response has prompted hissing and booing the likes of which I have never witnessed outside of a sports event. The fact is, he does not feel that the current administration sees value in minorities, and he is raising biracial children, black children.
By Cheri La8 years ago in The Swamp
Democracy and Regime Changes
Between 1917 and 1991, Russia was a single-party state led by the Bolsheviks, later to be known as the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) (Service 2009, 62). From the beginning, the CPSU had authoritarian tendencies that were built into the communist institutions of the Soviet regime. They held a monopoly of political and economic power in the Soviet Union in terms of having a “Leninist party dictatorship, a transformative ideology, central planning, and state ownership of the means of production.” (Bunce 1999, 22). By the time Gorbachev took the office of General Secretary in 1985, the Soviet centralized economy required major reforms in order to increase the quantity and quality of industrial output that would meet the levels of the United States and Western European states (Service 2009, 441). In 1987, Gorbachev introduced two reforms: perestroika (reconstruction) and glasnost (openness). Glasnost opened the space for the airing of grievances, for more information to be available, and for media to be freer. While the Soviet Union was once capable of repressing nationalism, Gorbachev’s social reforms led many ethnic groups of the Soviet Union and the Soviet Bloc into nationalist mobilization (Service 2009, 456-458). On December 26th, 1991, the Belavezha Accords effectively ended the Soviet Union and were signed by the Russian President Yeltsin, Ukrainian president Kravchuk, and Belarusian parliament chairman Shushkevich (Service 2009, 506-507). Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia experienced a triple transition, meaning a political and economic transition and a transition in statehood, in which Russia was recognized as a sole state. While Yeltsin played an essential role in the development of an embryonic Russian democracy, his later years were marked by a partial retreat from the development of a truly democratic political system. The difficulties of the economic transition and the political complications that ensued convoluted the task of creating a solid foundation for a democratic society in the Western sense (Service 2009, 529-534). The results were perverse, as there was a rise in oligarchs, this term “refers to a small group of leaders in the largest financial and industrial structures who are closely tied to the regime” (Zudin 2000, 5).
By Kayla Charles8 years ago in The Swamp
Democrats Are No Longer the Party of FDR and LBJ
The Democratic Party often times reminds voters and republicans that the GOP is no longer the party of Abraham Lincoln, as the Republican Party have begun to use dog whistle racism as a tactic to energize their base. I have no problem with reminding the Republicans of this fact, it's true that if Abraham Lincoln ran today he'd have been called a RINO and would not have had a shot in the primaries. He would've been lucky to win a nomination for a local race, much less the Presidency. But Democrats also need to remember that they are no longer the party of Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson.
By Ryan Golden8 years ago in The Swamp
Socialism in the 21st Century
Socialism: some thoughts on its relevance in the 21st century. Socialism is defined as an economic theory or system in which the means of production, distribution and exchange are owned by the community collectively, usually through the state.
By Peter Rose8 years ago in The Swamp
Trump, Brexit and the Politics of Isolationism
This year has been a tumultuous one for British history, defining the final breakaway of the United Kingdom from its somewhat rocky marriage with the European Union. Winston Churchill’s idea of a United States of Europe seems more impossible today than even when it was first proposed.
By Abdullah Masood8 years ago in The Swamp
Allowing Totalitarian Regimes to Take Over
The causes of totalitarian regimes taking power: In Germany, between 1930 to 1940, there was starvation, there was extreme poverty, there was total despair, and no one did anything to help the suffering except one man who came along in the name of the National Socialist Party. He promised salvation, food, strength, power, and pride. What would you do? Assume you have no knowledge of history, you are living in despair, and your children are starving. Would you follow someone who gives hope? You have nothing to lose.
By Peter Rose8 years ago in The Swamp