ohmigod yes!
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Episode 4: US Government + $50 Million in Milk
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-government-buying-50-million-milk-dairy-farmers/story?id=57180332
Summary: The USDA is purchasing surplus milk, sending them to food banks and schools. A possible reason for this government decision is the uncertainty of milk farm markets.
Analysis:
Summary: The USDA is purchasing surplus milk, sending them to food banks and schools. A possible reason for this government decision is the uncertainty of milk farm markets.
Analysis:
This is a example of what modern government intervention looks
like. This ABC article mentioned that the need for government intervention was
not caused by President Trump’s latest tariffs, but by the fact that dairy is
becoming a failing industry. With hundreds of dairy farms closing in the
past two decades, people who make a livelihood from this specific industry have
faced hardship in marketing enough of their goods as other “milk” industries
rise.
This event strikes me as very similar to policies enacted by
President Franklin D. Rooselvelt during the Great Depression which saw potential
for economic growth through deficit government spending. Not that this dairy
intervention is deficit spending, but in many ways, it’s the modern U.S.
government’s attempt to stabilize the failing dairy industry. What is hopeful
about this is, as a citizen, this very much means that the US government is
willing to intervene into industries that contain many jobs. Looking at this
from a more obtuse angle, US policymakers do care and take into consideration economic
growth and how that directly affects the lives of US citizens and generations
to come.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Monday, July 30, 2018
Episode 3: SCOTUS -- Brett Kavanaugh's Nomination
Another New York Times article!~
Summary: President Trump has recently chosen Judge Brett Kavanaugh to replace Justice Antony M. Kennedy whom was a Republican. Judge Kavanaugh is a veteran in Republican politics. Important policies from abortions to the death penalty-- balances on such policies may fundamentally change, putting "dozens of precedents at risk" according to NYT.
Analysis: The process of a US President nominating someone he or she deems will bode well for the Supreme Court justice seat is both lengthy and skewed. Without supporting either of America's political parties, there is truth that many past and current conservative Supreme Court Judges have ruled to support corporations. For example, the Hobby Lobby case held a Conservative majority with Court Justice Scalia.
President Trump being a conservative himself nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh, also a conservative. The implications of a judge's party affiliation have directly affected many Supreme Court decisions and of course, depending on the Judge's own interpretation of the Constitution, there are exceptions unrelated to political party values. However, without a doubt, the nomination of certain people to be the next court justice holds immense weight in future Supreme Court decisions because our laws and their interpretations and implications for future generations depend on political party and character of a justice which are evaluated by the president nominating the next man or woman. It is absolutely crucial for this process to be unbiased, taking into account experience and personal character which Brett Kavanaugh does have being a US Circuit Judge for DC and having a Yale diploma. However, he is a part of America's top 1% and with just that background, the decisions he makes may not benefit the other 99% of US's population -- the citizens, people directly affected by future landmark decisions.
In conclusion, the choice of Brett Kavanaugh as the next Supreme Court judge by President Trump will have many implications that will most likely uphold conservative values for future generations.
President Trump being a conservative himself nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh, also a conservative. The implications of a judge's party affiliation have directly affected many Supreme Court decisions and of course, depending on the Judge's own interpretation of the Constitution, there are exceptions unrelated to political party values. However, without a doubt, the nomination of certain people to be the next court justice holds immense weight in future Supreme Court decisions because our laws and their interpretations and implications for future generations depend on political party and character of a justice which are evaluated by the president nominating the next man or woman. It is absolutely crucial for this process to be unbiased, taking into account experience and personal character which Brett Kavanaugh does have being a US Circuit Judge for DC and having a Yale diploma. However, he is a part of America's top 1% and with just that background, the decisions he makes may not benefit the other 99% of US's population -- the citizens, people directly affected by future landmark decisions.
In conclusion, the choice of Brett Kavanaugh as the next Supreme Court judge by President Trump will have many implications that will most likely uphold conservative values for future generations.
Friday, July 6, 2018
Episode 2: US Immigration Politics
Hello fellow readers!
This week is....
Link to Article - "US to reunite migrant families as immigration politics boil"
Summary: Following President Trump's "zero tolerance" policy which was met with resistance, is a court-order to reunite separated families with their children. Right now, according to Alex Azar who is Secretary of Health and Human Services, HHS will begin reuniting children under 5 with their families next Tuesday. However, according to Azar, there are "under 3,000" migrant kids under HHS care. With the help of DNA testing, hopefully this will speed up processing. While that is being carried by HHS, President Trump demands Congress fix immigration laws immediately.
Analysis: Looking at recent events, especially in our current political climate, immigration has been what most call an issue. Additionally, as a Vietnamese American who has grown up in Houston, TX, one of the most diverse yet segregated cities in the US, my experiences with immigration have been not only unique to experiences of those crossing our border today but those same experiences have shaped my views on US Immigration policy.
My thoughts on this topic are simply the following: President Trump's "zero tolerance" policy is not only immoral but is effectively setting the stage for targeted hate and fear of a group of people which I find is not so different from antisemitism experienced during World War II.
Isolating children from their families no matter the circumstance can be seen as immoral, and so much so, that US citizens have protested for the reunification of these children back to their families and to call for immigration reform. And honestly, immigration has been the backbone of American culture. The diversity of people hailing the US flag is immense and not it isn't just Hispanic people who want to come to the US but all types of people who seek opportunity, asylum, a "safer" country, and acceptance.
Even as a Southeast Asian, I have found that my experiences growing up here in diverse Houston were only enriched by Hispanic culture and its people. My El Salvadorian neighbors take me to and from school almost every day of last year. My program manager for a non-profit organization, Mi Familia Vota, is an inspiring man working towards instilling leadership skills and hope into students like myself. And before I knew what elotes en vaso was, I loved it.
The point is, Trump's demands for Congress to solve the problem is just too narrow. The entire process of getting Congress to enact immigration reform starts with the citizens and people who know what they're talking about, have lived the experiences, or be well-informed enough about both sides of the story to speak up. It's this type of process of commuting information that will lead to compromises rather than absolutes like President Trump's "zero tolerance" policy to achieve not only a more humane solution than separating children from their families but reform policies that are less targeted towards one specific group of people and encompass all types of people regardless of race. Very quickly, there is a trend of this information circulation throughout social and mass media.
US immigration reform today is a direct example of the relationship between Congress and the President to the people and what happens when people resist certain laws imposed. In this situation, people disagreed and strongly protested a situation President Trump ordered (children in separate camps) and so the same people who advocated for that situation refrained and are beginning the process of reunification, albeit gradually. And in the future, policymakers need to have a broad and open-minded view on US policies and their creation in order to set a healthy and aware tone for future generations.
This week is....
Link to Article - "US to reunite migrant families as immigration politics boil"
Summary: Following President Trump's "zero tolerance" policy which was met with resistance, is a court-order to reunite separated families with their children. Right now, according to Alex Azar who is Secretary of Health and Human Services, HHS will begin reuniting children under 5 with their families next Tuesday. However, according to Azar, there are "under 3,000" migrant kids under HHS care. With the help of DNA testing, hopefully this will speed up processing. While that is being carried by HHS, President Trump demands Congress fix immigration laws immediately.
Analysis: Looking at recent events, especially in our current political climate, immigration has been what most call an issue. Additionally, as a Vietnamese American who has grown up in Houston, TX, one of the most diverse yet segregated cities in the US, my experiences with immigration have been not only unique to experiences of those crossing our border today but those same experiences have shaped my views on US Immigration policy.
My thoughts on this topic are simply the following: President Trump's "zero tolerance" policy is not only immoral but is effectively setting the stage for targeted hate and fear of a group of people which I find is not so different from antisemitism experienced during World War II.
Isolating children from their families no matter the circumstance can be seen as immoral, and so much so, that US citizens have protested for the reunification of these children back to their families and to call for immigration reform. And honestly, immigration has been the backbone of American culture. The diversity of people hailing the US flag is immense and not it isn't just Hispanic people who want to come to the US but all types of people who seek opportunity, asylum, a "safer" country, and acceptance.
Even as a Southeast Asian, I have found that my experiences growing up here in diverse Houston were only enriched by Hispanic culture and its people. My El Salvadorian neighbors take me to and from school almost every day of last year. My program manager for a non-profit organization, Mi Familia Vota, is an inspiring man working towards instilling leadership skills and hope into students like myself. And before I knew what elotes en vaso was, I loved it.
The point is, Trump's demands for Congress to solve the problem is just too narrow. The entire process of getting Congress to enact immigration reform starts with the citizens and people who know what they're talking about, have lived the experiences, or be well-informed enough about both sides of the story to speak up. It's this type of process of commuting information that will lead to compromises rather than absolutes like President Trump's "zero tolerance" policy to achieve not only a more humane solution than separating children from their families but reform policies that are less targeted towards one specific group of people and encompass all types of people regardless of race. Very quickly, there is a trend of this information circulation throughout social and mass media.
US immigration reform today is a direct example of the relationship between Congress and the President to the people and what happens when people resist certain laws imposed. In this situation, people disagreed and strongly protested a situation President Trump ordered (children in separate camps) and so the same people who advocated for that situation refrained and are beginning the process of reunification, albeit gradually. And in the future, policymakers need to have a broad and open-minded view on US policies and their creation in order to set a healthy and aware tone for future generations.
Monday, July 2, 2018
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Monday, June 18, 2018
Episode 1: Biden is Back
This week we will cover political action committees by looking into Biden's recent choice to upstart one himself.
Summary: Joseph R. Biden, former Vice President, plans to create "American Possibilities" political action committee (PAC) for the Democratic Party. This PAC will support two governor's races this November and future midterm elections. So far, he has been backed up with many aides through his past connections including Greg Schultz who played a crucial role in President Barack Obama's White House campaigns. According to this New York Times article, the creation of this PAC will keep open the prospect of Biden running for president a third time in 2020. However, that goes on unconfirmed.
Analysis: A political action committee (PAC) is an organization created with the sole purpose of raising. Before reading this article and researching more about PACs, I had thought little of how campaigning runs in the U.S. However after doing so, I found that PACs and their creations play a large role in affecting the perceptions of potential voters, basically garnering support for a political party. That's sweeping to know about because today, with two main political parties running the U.S. government, the more funding a campaign has, the more likely that the candidate will win the election. Putting that into perspective, the outcomes of both large scale and small scale campaigns all have some form of PAC back up to shift the number of seats either to the Democrats or the Republicans from provinces, counties, cities, and states which in turn affects the type of policies enforced and created: conservative or liberal.
With Biden creating a new PAC to support Democrats, not only will this decision help solidify his own name on a potential presidential ballot but also help shift upcoming 2018 elections and beyond to the Democrats, affecting future policies and decisions made throughout the country on local, state and federal level. So essentially, PACs have been a silent but powerful overseer of campaigns almost, however, good thing is they cannot intrude into actual policy-making decisions. Our country's campaigns may have some or most of their aid from PACs but our country isn't allowed to be run by PACs, which helps us hold in our breakfast every morning.
Monday, June 11, 2018
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Gynecology Scandal Aftermath at University of Southern California
"Brief" Summary: Two Fridays ago, University of Southern California's president Mr. Nikias resigns from office amidst the latest scandal allegations arising from Dr. Tyndall, the school's gynecologist, who is accused for harassing the University's students. Dr. Tyndall's incident has not been the first in such sexual misconduct. USC's medical school dean was involved in drugs and sex with prostitutes. The next incidence occured when the man that replaced the medical school dean sexually harassed a researcher. These events including Dr. Tyndall's scandal led faculty, alumni, and students to call for Mr. Nikias's resignation. The call for action was moved forward when 200 high-ranking professors signed a letter stating Mr. Nikias no longer had the "'moral authority to lead'" and had repeatedly failed to protect the university's students and faculty from "'pervasive sexual'" conduct. Mr. Nikias failed to make public the results of the investigation he had done on the USC's medical school dean incident.
Analysis: what are your thought on the topic? How is this relevant to you? related to course?
I think the pushed resignation for Mr. Nikias is clearly justified. In more ways than one, how universities deal with their health and social problems from drugs to sex to alcohol and harassment and more actually set precedence for how both governmental and other established, esteemed institutions will deal with the same topic. When I say deal, I really mean the form of consequences that the university promises on delivery for certain types of misconduct, consequences that set a sort of standard for future rulings.
One of the driving reasons that universities are huge players in setting society standards is because they contain millions of young adults who will become part of society soon after they graduate. Depending on how a university rules certain misconduct cases set the tone for how the student will perceive their world, their surroundings to be: if a university were lax on a clear sexual harassment or rape case where the harasser or raper was cleared after paying a fine and jailed for 6 months, then the student may feel the rest of the world does not take and charge such indecent acts seriously and that if, perhaps, the student were to practice such acts too, the cost of getting caught wouldn't be too high enough to not risk even. That is why Nikias's resignation holds higher moral ground. The victim's traumatizing experiences does not equate to a bail or to jail time less a number worth weight in years or a simple "walk-out" only to be replaced with someone else just as... sexually harassing. Especially if the victim is a young adult, a time equally as vulnerable and heavy in character development as his/her teen years, coming out of any sort of misconduct or being on the receiving end of any form of "misconduct" both physically and mentally.
In today's modern world where the call for human rights and equality are louder than ever, when it comes to sexual allegations not only is a public, thorough investigation needed, but it is the job of esteemed, credible people, citizens, even victims to come together and make sure plenty of weight and consideration and time is put into ruling such cases. Otherwise, the future's social environment will remain tolerant to such clear injustices, ruling cases with unequivocal consequences to the damage done.
This was Ngoc. Your... thoughtful young reporter. ^_^
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)