Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
There Are Blacks and Latino People Who Don't Trust Kamala Harris
When Kamala Harris won her seat in the senate, Black people across the country were happy to see a woman of color in office, but at the same time, there are Black people who don't trust her. If anybody wanted to tell you about Senator, Prosecutor, or Attorney General Kamala Harris and how she is; the people of California could probably tell you better than anybody. The residents of the cities of San Francisco and Oakland Metropolitan area (also known as the "Bay Area" or "The Bay"). Kamala Harris had a stiff and staunch stance on truancy and wanted to keep more kids back in school; because she had grown tired of the number of truant students rising in the state of California year after years after comparing the rates, numbers, and percentages against the other states in the country. Now, Harris champions herself as a "pioneer for reform in criminal justice," but her approach of how to keep students from being truant. She would start her "crusade on truancy" she started this back in 2010 campaign for Attorney General. She explained that the point of her campaign was to focus on chronic school absences. Harris sponsored a bill and to took it to the state and was passed. Harris' sponsoring of this bill made it a misdemeanor for parents of kids who missed more that 10% of the school's calendar days. This misdemeanor would consist of a $2,000.00 fine, up to a year in jail, or both. This law sent a lot parents to jail and even in some cases made the truancy problem worse. Harris was interview by Pod Save America and stated, "In some cases, the arrests and jail sentences were 'unintended consequences' of the state law that she championed her anti-truancy campaign on." She put black and brown parents behind bars while enforcing this anti-truancy law throughout California.
By A.J. Jones6 years ago in The Swamp
The Unlikely Story of How I Became a Socialist
You know who I have to thank for me becoming a socialist? It’s the last person I would’ve ever expected to be honest. Joe pot-smoking, conspiracy-believing, MMA-loving Rogan and his famous podcast. Which I religiously watch on YouTube almost every morning.
By Landon Girod6 years ago in The Swamp
Monikers
Gold and platinum balusters with encrusted diamonds sparkled like bioluminescent creatures. The king and queen stood at the top of the stairs and walked with elegance and precision. They journeyed down the spiral case with as much splendor and care as befitting royalty. Their black skin shone against the white garments that covered their bodies. The queen showed honey brown skin and donned a full length gown. She displayed relaxed, flowing blonde hair. The king’s skin showed medium brown and he sported short locks with a pristine mess dress uniform. Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, a gaggle of photogs snapped pictures with flashes lighting up like bottle rockets. They made their way to the grand ballroom stage where everyone in attendance shot to their feet. “The Star-Spangled Banner” played from the live orchestra. This was America.
By Skyler Saunders6 years ago in The Swamp
Make America Think Again (Pt. 2)
If impeachment is necessary as claimed by the Democrats in the House of Representatives, everyone, regardless of political alignment and feelings for the President, should want the process to be transparent. Love him or hate him; you should care about the process. Why? According to Representatives Pelosi, Schiff, and Nadler, the evidence shows that the President has violated the law and oath of office. If so, they are obligated by law to impeach if this is true with a full House vote then place him on trial in the Senate. Otherwise, it should be dropped due to the lack of evidence. While they cite the mandate by the US Constitution, most proceedings are not laid out in the US Constitution at all. The Constitution is a framework “to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America (The Constitution of the United States, 2015).”
By Bill Croft6 years ago in The Swamp
Electioneering and Truth
Electioneering and truth. Can any election speech be truthful? Accepting the lies and fake news from your own side while condemning it from opponents will just perpetuate and encourage politicians (and their professional speech writers, spin doctors and financiers) to continue to try and drench any election in a mist of half truths, lies, disconnected personal insults, etc.
By Peter Rose6 years ago in The Swamp
Millennial Flow in America
America is a young government even though its independence from British influence is more than 200 years old. The history of the United States of America is a legacy for every family within its borders... documented or not... Native or not... willfully immigrated or forcefully immigrated... a family story has been told—and is being told—of how they came to America.
By Bonnie Simpson6 years ago in The Swamp
Make America Think Again
On any given day in my professional role, I receive complaints against licensed practitioners. In some cases, the individual calling might be considered a whistle-blower since they are also calling about the facility. Regardless, we give every complaint due process. Before launching a full investigation, which includes issuing a subpoena, the complainant is questioned regarding their knowledge of the events. It may go in several ways.
By Bill Croft6 years ago in The Swamp
The Great Black Migration
The 2015 announcement of Donald J. Trump's running for president made the racial dynamic in the United States diminish the whole post-racial society conversation, and it led to cries for safety from black people, especially the black men. Black and brown people in the US have come under a barrage of racial resistance due to #45's views on minorities and immigrants. Since #45's election, we've had the Charleston, SC Church Shooting, The Charlottesville Massacre, The El Paso Shooting, The Las Vegas Shooting, and Dayton, Ohio Shooting. All these shootings were racially motivated by the racially charged rhetoric of the commander and chief. The shootings and the latest immigration legislation has a lot of black people not feeling safe in the US. Black males feel the sting of all this racial storm the most. Black men are the most criminalized, profiled, and murdered men in the US.
By A.J. Jones6 years ago in The Swamp
James Reviews: 'Vice'
Adam McKay has quite the career for himself, serving as writer and producer for various comedies over the years. However, he surprised everyone in 2015 with The Big Short, a serious drama that delved into the 2008 housing crises and the men who bet against the banks and profited off of it. Now he's back with another topical, based-on-a-true-story, biopic about George W. Bush's Vice President, Dick Cheney. All around, it's an interesting look into the infamous politician's life and rise to power, but fails to maintain a consistent tone.
By James F. Ewart6 years ago in The Swamp
Are the Results of Far Left Governance the Same as Far Right?
Are the political aims of far left the same as those of far right? Do left or right politics differ? All things have both negative and positive aspects. Call it yin and yang, positive and negative, left and right or even good and bad, everything contains both.
By Peter Rose6 years ago in The Swamp
Bryan Watch: Halloween
Obviously the big news of the week is that the House made the impeachment of Donald Trump official, setting up the rules for further proceedings. It was a party line vote, 232 to 196, with only two Democrats (Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Dan Drew of New Jersey) voting against. Steil and every other Republican voted against the investigation. (RC 603 and 604, H Res 660, October 31). Rep. Steil always answered at his party's call this week, going 21 for 21 on party-line votes.
By John Heckenlively6 years ago in The Swamp
Jealousy, Envy and Fear—The Emotions of Politics
Jealousy. In the dictionary this is defined as—suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rival. Envy is defined as—a feeling of grudging or some what admiring, discontent aroused by the possessions, achievements or qualities of another. The desire to have something that is possessed by another.
By Peter Rose6 years ago in The Swamp
