Detention Center Presented as Deterrent to Boarder Crossings (link in post again)

Detention Center

Jeh Johnson, the secretary of Homeland Security, recently announced the opening of the USs largest immigrate "detention facility." This facility, specifically designed to house women and children, contains cabins which house up to eight people. These cabins are furnished and contain things to care for children and even TVs. There is also a school where children go for five hours a day, five days a week. The government believes that being held in a detention center will act as a deterrent to boarder crossings. Additionally, people believe that facilities such as this will allow for immigrants seeking refuge a place to get back on their feet and seek help. People against this facility argue that it costs too much money or that we should be deporting illegal immigrants as opposed to housing them. Which side are you on and why?

Backing CIA (the link is in the post, I couldn't get it to work on my iPad)

Backing CIA

After the 9/11 attacks, the CIA used interrogation techniques such as confinement in a coffin sized box and "rectal feeding and rehydration" in order to get information out of suspected terrorists. Dick Cheyney, a proponent of the CIA interrogation program and former Vice President, states that he would "allow (the CIA to use these techniques) again in a minute." Cheneys defense for these tactics is that these suspected Al Queda terrorist inflicted torture on 3000 Americans during the 9/11 attacks so they deserve to be questioned in this manner. He also believes that the restraints on CIA activities should be taken off. Additionally, it has since been determined that 26 of the 118 suspected terrorists that the CIA put through this interrogation program were wrongly detained. Do you believe that the use of these investigation techniques was justified? Should they be considered torture? What restrictions (if any) should be placed on CIA activities or should they accomplish their goals at all costs? Do you believe the U.S. or the CIA should do something to appologize to the wrongly detained suspects who were subjected to these tortureous techniques?

Foreign lobbying oversight found lax

In the case of foreign lobbyists, laws are easily bypassed. We have analyzed in class some of the political strategies that lobbyists have used to get around laws but when it comes to foreign lobbyists, these restrictions are easily passed. The article explains how "lax" the rules on foreign lobbying are and the under-enforcement of lobbying laws exist in the country.

Russia’s Steep Rate Increase Fails to Stem Ruble’s Decline

In Russia, the value of the ruble, the nations currency has dropped significantly day by day reaching record lows. This has come about by western sanctions and the low oil prices. While Americans are enjoying the cheaper gas, the situation in Russia is heading for a economic crisis. The federal government has responded by printing more money, yet this will only increase the inflation as seen in Zimbabwe.

Washington DC on collision course with Congress over marijuana legalisation

With the recent passing of initiative 71 which would decriminalize marijauna in Washington D.C., the issues of Washington DC's lack of representation and the power of congress to control public funds in the city has reared it's ugly head. Do you feel that congress should have that kind of control over the city? Or do you feel that the city should be able to enact such an initiative without interference from congressmen from other states?

C.I.A., on Path to Torture, Chose Haste Over Analysis

The recent publishing of  previously classified documents outlining the CIA's "enhanced interrogation" program. What is your view of the use of "enhanced interrogation"?  Do you feel that Mitchell and Jensen should be considered war criminals?

With Hospitals Under Stress, Tennessee’s Governor Pursues Medicaid Expansion

Tennessee's governor wants to expand medicaid, a move that is very difficult and hard to do in today's political climate, especially in a red state such as Tennessee...

Obama Defends Progress Against Extremists

Obama has made much progress towards defeating ISIS, something both liberals and conservatives can rally around. Even though some conservatives say he hasn't gone far enough, Obama maintains that the way he has been handling this situation is for the best, and will ultimately pay off with the decisive defeat of ISIS and its affiliates, as well as other terror groups such as the Khorason group, all across the globe.

Week Later, Protesters Remain Vocal on Ferguson, Partly With Silence

Week Later, Protesters Remain Vocal on Ferguson, Partly With Silence

One week after the grand jury's decision concerning Darren Wilson, protesters gather peacefully in a variety of locations, referencing Michael Brown's death by raising their arms, sitting in silence, and even laying on the ground.  Organizers who view this time as an opportunity to push back against police brutality and racial profiling spent the last weekend determining next steps of action.  Additionally, the Ferguson Commission met on Monday, although the community did not accept its validity immediately.  What do these protests say about the American people?  What might come of the protests?  How should the larger issues in question be addressed by the government?  Will the Ferguson Commission impact the community positively?

San Francisco passes first-in-nation limtis on worker schedules

San Francisco passes first-in-nation limits on worker schedules

A new law in San Francisco affects chain store employees by discouraging their employers from editing work schedules less than two weeks in advance.  This change accompanies a "Retail Workers Bill of Rights" that passed despite some opposition.  Across America, states and cities have considered adopting more active roles in determining workers' rights.  Union leaders, working increasingly through the political arena, are optimistic about improvements in work standards, although these measures will likely not lead to greater numbers of union members.  Should more cities take initiative similar to that of San Francisco?  What might this new role for unions mean in the future?

Government Spending on Ebola Vaccine and International Aid

This article is about the recent push by Obama for the U.S. to not only develop a vaccine for Ebola, but also to invest more money in sending aid to countries in Africa. The president would like to greaten the number of treatment centers for the disease in Western Africa, as well as improve the currently existing facilities.  Although Ebola has been pushed out of the news by more topical, domestic issues such as the Ferguson, Missouri case, and because no Americans are infected any longer, it is still a growing international crisis. Yet even so, is it the responsibility/obligation of the United States to get involved? Couldn’t the $6.2 billion proposed by Obama to go towards Ebola aid and research be better spent on domestic issues such as healthcare and job creation?

Failure to Indict NYPD Officer Who Killed an Unarmed Suspect

This articles discusses the decision by a New York City grand jury to not indict an officer with the NYPD after killing a man suspected of illegally selling cigarettes. The decision was made despite blatant video evidence in which the officer clearly puts the suspect in a chokehold (a technique forbidden by the police department) until the man is no longer able to breathe. This all comes within weeks of the extraordinarily controversial decision to not indict a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri for killing another unarmed African American man, which led to a global outcry where some even claimed it was proof that racial discrimination still does exist in the United States. Does some sort of new, modernized racial reform need to be introduced or maybe some sort of reform to the legal system that seems to be habitually letting police officers get away with murder of unarmed subjects?

Gillbrand Seeks Another Vote on Military's Handling of Sexual Assault Cases

Sexual assault cases have made headlines recently, and so Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand is pushing for another vote on a bill that would remove sexual assault prosecutions from the oversight of military commanders. Although  many members of each party are in favor of this bill, voting earlier this year could not break a filibuster. In addition, there is concern that if this bill is passed, it opens up the door to other bills being passed. These complications with the bill are slowing down and threatening bipartisan legislation on a large defense bill that must be passed before the end of this year. Should Congress attempt to incorporate these bills into the legislation at the risk of the key bipartisan legislation being passed?

House Republicans Crafting Plan to Avoid Shutdown

Republicans are preparing to take control of Congress in January, but first they must overcome an obstacle. Funding for many federal programs ends very soon, and a shut down of the government could occur next week if new plans for funding are not approved. The big issue with passing the new funding programs is that the Republicans want to attach a symbolic vote to destroy Obama's executive action. Because not all Republicans are going to vote for this new funding plan, the Republicans need some help from the Democrats, but the Democrats do not want to diminish President Obama's legal authority. How do you think the Democrats should act in this situation? Do they support the Democratic President and risk a government shutdown, or do they bite the bullet for the sake of maintaining a working government?

Supreme Court appears unlikely to protect Facebook threats

Four years ago, a Pennsylvanian man was sentenced to prison for threatening his ex-wife and, later on, an FBI agent on Facebook. He argues that he was merely ranting and blowing off steam. The case has been appealed to the Supreme Court. However, none of the justices seem to side with the poster. This is the first case to test the limits of free speech in regards to social media. Should those who make threatening statements on the Internet without serious intent be held responsible under federal law or hould prosecutors have to prove malicious intent when someone is charged with making a threatening statement? Does the increasing popularity of social media and the Internet warrant a redefining of what constitutes free speech?

Critics say Obama’s law enforcement reforms don’t go far enough

This Al Jazeera article details plans laid out by Barack Obama and Eric Holder to reform law enforcement in response to the grand jury decision regarding an increase in public concern due to These steps include demilitarizing the police, bringing an end to racial profiling, and forming a task force to find further solutions. According to the article, numerous activists are left unsatisfied by these proposals and instead believe the role and training of police should be re-examined.

What are your thoughts on the proposals set forth in this article? Would the plans of the administration, in particular, be effective? Are there other solutions or are none needed?