Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
The 8th Amendment
The 8th Amendment to the United States Constitution is about not having excessive bail to get you out of trouble. Excessive bail is not supposed to be a thing, especially heavy fines, or cruel punishments inflicted. Cruel and unusual punishments are not directly specified in this Amendment. It means to measure a punishment’s cruelty or unusualness. In 1689, England adopted their Bill of Rights that prohibited “cruel and unusual punishments,” well before the 8th Amendment cropped up 100 years later in 1791. The first version of the Constitution, however, when ratified didn’t have a prohibition against cruel and unusual punishments, which was not added until the Constitution was ratified.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
Canadian Diplomats in Cuba Continue to Contract Mysterious Illness
This month marks the 14th Canadian diplomat to become ill while working in the Canadian embassy in Cuba. In total 27 diplomats and their families have reported contracting a type of mysterious illness in the same way their American counterparts in Cuba have also been experiencing. The symptoms include nausea, dizziness, headaches, nose bleeds, and trouble concentrating. The complaints began back in the spring of 2017; Canadian diplomats simultaneously began to experience the same symptoms and were complaining about a strange sonic boom like noise around the time the symptoms started. The victims realized that they could be suffering from the “Havana Syndrome” the term that explains the mysterious illness that had previously affected around 24 American diplomats and their families while in Cuba.
By Shelby Cheveldayoff7 years ago in The Swamp
Equivalent Exchange
“Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy’s first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world’s one and only truth.” - Hiromu Arakawa, Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1
By Alexander Martin7 years ago in The Swamp
The Banking Industry
It was deja vu in a truly high stakes, high drama meeting. It was reminiscent of a depression era Reconstruction Finance Corporation meeting of seventy-five years ago. On that day, nine large bank CEOs were told by US Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson, Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, and FDIC Chairman, Sheila Bair that it was in their own best interest to agree to the partial nationalization of their banks by the US Treasury Department. When the meeting was over, the CEOs had agreed to a $125 billion stake by the US government in their firms. They had no choice and history was made again.
By Matthew Evans7 years ago in The Swamp
Hypocrisy U
A few years ago, there was a furor over a baker refusing to bake a cake for a gay couple. Those that supported the baker said that forcing him to bake the cake would infringe on the constitutional and religious rights that the country allows him. Yet that support seems to be very one-sided because when someone they agree with is denied service, those same people are up in arms and throwing fits about what is right and what is wrong. It's no longer a personal choice because their rights are being violated.
By Edward Anderson7 years ago in The Swamp
Personal Injury Law Myths and Misunderstandings
Our torts system is an extremely important part of the laws of our nations and states. The ability to sue another person is an important right, because it gives citizens who have been wronged by others the chance to see justice done. Yet lawsuits, and particularly personal injury lawsuits, get a bad rap in popular culture. To most, they represent the worst things about human nature and the law.
By Claire Peters7 years ago in The Swamp
2020
With the United States government in complete polarization between both parties, the wheels of progress have almost come to a complete halt. In a bygone era when just compromise was inevitable, the wheels of progress rolled right along. Sure, there were bumps along the way, but none so high as to stop the way. Now, as we head toward 2020, much has to be done, not only to secure a better future, but to make sure there is a future.
By Dr. Williams7 years ago in The Swamp
