Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in The Swamp.

Poverty in America
A few months back, I was walking to class when I overheard a conversation in which one student said to the other, "You know, honestly, I think black people in America should have free college." I got such a massive headache from this statement. I get it that blacks in America have been wronged and I get it that free education seems like a great idea, but honestly more government handouts are the last thing we should be looking towards.
By General Noob8 years ago in The Swamp
Keep It in the Family
The Presidents of the United States are all related. It’s true. At least, according to an Ancestry.com entry by one Eric Dubay, for starters. And there's more. Burke’s Peerage, a British genealogical publisher that has been keeping up with the lineage of royalty and the like for over 200 years, sheds an even more revealing light about this revelation. This ruling bloodline is a one-way DNA street going all the way back to some of the most notable rulers throughout history. We're talking kings here people, European royalty! The same royal bloodline our forefathers fought to be free from.
By Donald Harris8 years ago in The Swamp
Taking a Knee for the Country
The United States is known for its first amendment, freedom of speech. Although this is one of the most popular and frequently used amendement, it also can be misunderstood and misrepresented. Recently in the NFL there has been peaceful protests which include kneeling during the national anthem. This has caused a lot of controversy throughout America. Is kneeling during the national anthem being disrespectful to those who made this country and those who fight for this country? Is freedom of speech enough of an explanation to protect these players? These are some questions that are constantly being debated.
By Monica Mae Cruise8 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
Trump's Travel Ban Gets Preliminary Supreme Court Approval
President Trump's blatant dislike of anyone of Muslim descent seems to have gotten support from the Supreme Court. The president's travel ban, which in its various forms has attempted to block the arrival of Muslims from six Muslim countries into the United States, has been a hotly contested one since he first put it forward not long after taking office. With various judges across states blocking the travel ban with the argument that it was unconstitutional, if not prejudicial towards the Muslim community, it comes as some surprise that Supreme Court justices have by a majority allowed, at least on a preliminary basis, for the travel ban to pass as it stands currently.
By Christina St-Jean8 years ago in The Swamp
5 Reasons Why Child Support Reform Is Long Overdue and Child Support Enforcement Destroys Lives
Child support is important. I am not disputing the importance of supporting your children. However, the system is setup to destroy families and men. It is hard to understand why it hasn't been addressed yet. Child Support Enforcement was enacted in 1975 at a time when our country was very different.
By Sherrie Pogue8 years ago in The Swamp
No Country for Young Men
Council meeting transcript for the Irish Council for Reproductive Rights. July 16th, 2016 (Note to non irish people - TD means Government minister)
By AJ O'Neill8 years ago in The Swamp
Most Famous Anti-Corruption Quotes
What makes a quote stay relevant in history for centuries? These are the most famous anti-corruption quotes that will forever be recognized for their powerful and resonating thoughts.
By Mark Turner8 years ago in The Swamp
Best Movies About American Politics
It's important for the world of filmmaking to marry with the world of politics. Why? Because it gives a completely different platform to the ideals that are so often spoken about, solely by politicians or news media. This way, consumers can receive the topics that are so relevant to everyone's lives in a new form.
By Kelsey Lange8 years ago in The Swamp
The President
The Presidency in the United States contains many components of which the office is deemed to be the most important and powerful in the developing world; but it does not act alone. Therefore, it is important to study the other branches of government that acted to create and implement policies when considering George W. Bush’s War on Terror. Even after all this time, the situation provokes polarizing arguments by two opposing beliefs; those who support, or those who dispute what Bush and his administration chose to do following the attacks on September 11, 2001. While controversy arose, President Bush was able to follow through with his foreign policy initiative and promote it as a global fight to end terrorism and not specifically a response to 9/11 (Boyle 2008, 191). Although the international impact and relevancy are essential and have thus changed global politics forever, I chose to focus in on the domestic aspects of this issue, instead. Particularly, Bush’s administration and the respective relationship they held with the United States Supreme Court. Though the Supreme Court did issue numerous decisions relating directly to the methods the United States used against detainees during the War on Terror (Wheeler 2009, 677), I will focus more proficiently on the relationship between the court in link with the President locally, and how it subsequently affected their relative powers. My question in place then is, how did the relationship between the office of the President and the United States Supreme Court lead to Bush’s ability to implement the War on Terror?
By Kayla Charles8 years ago in The Swamp
Political Awareness
Abstract Heroes are not born every day. Yet having said this, one can look towards the early mid 20th century and find a number of national heroes emerging in protest of Africa's wide colonial rule. What was it that made ordinary people such Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Robert Mugabe and this paper's ultimate focus, Patrice Lumumba rise to power? What enabled them to succeed and what precipitating factors within their respective countries push them to fight for self-governance? This paper will look into the life history of Patrice Lumumba to examine the factors that contributed to the awakening of his political awareness and will argue that it was ultimately the awakening of his political consciousness that enabled him to lead his country towards independence.
By Shelly Phillpotts8 years ago in The Swamp
John Oliver Calls on Us Gamers to Oppose Trump's Net Neutrality Changes — And It's No Joke
It's a Friday night and you're sitting at home watching your favorite stream. You notice the quality has begun to degrade, some of the content seems amiss, and the whole experience is just stuttering and unpleasant. And the next thing you know, the streamer abruptly ends their stream.
By Dustin Murphy8 years ago in The Swamp