corruption
A prime locale to talk bribery, suspect campaign funding, and all other instances of political corruption. The shadier, the better.
Poverty in Guatemala. Top Story - December 2017.
When it comes to the term poverty, people often view the word as a person or people living in a state of extreme poorness. What most people do not know, however, is that there is an actual poverty line. The poverty line is the threshold, and it shows the minimum level of income that a country sees fit, and anyone that generates under this level of income is a person who is living in poverty. In Guatemala, which is a South American country riddled by poverty, the poverty line is around $3.20, which represents daily income. The surprising thing is that 59% of the Guatemalan population is living below this poverty line. This insurmountable amount of poverty did not happen overnight though, but rather, the problem has been increasing for years. The causes for poverty in Guatemala include civil war, social inequality, and forced labor.
By Zoe Vinacco8 years ago in The Swamp
The Event that Changed My Life
Throughout my life, I’ve experienced several events that have shaped my personality and point of view when I face bad situations. These events include the death of one of my closest friends, and the brutal repression in my country, Venezuela. This last one was the key to defining the moment where I stopped being a child and became an adult in a country of chaos, censorship and violence.
By Julio Villamediana8 years ago in The Swamp
Mob Rules
We’ve all heard the jokes about how all of cable TV is mafia owned and operated. What we don’t seem to acknowledge, at least within the auspices of justice, is how true this “joke” is and how criminal — questionable — the whole telecommunications industry is. For an example, let’s look at how people that make less than $30k annual seem to constantly have problems with phone and cable billing. It’s almost as if they are somehow sneaking in extra bills/payments, creating a 13-month billing cycle. But we know that these businesses wouldn’t be the crass, right?
By P. Craig Browning8 years ago in The Swamp
Black Robes, White Justice Part 1:
As you are reading this article from the palm of your hand or on the screen of your computer, take a trip with me down memory lane. Think back to when you were in college, or younger, or not as socially refined as you are now and may have broken the law. Whether the crime was in the benign class of a misdemeanor or a felony, think about how the entire trajectory of your life would’ve been altered if you were caught in the act of say, joy-riding in a stolen car, or purchasing drugs, or having a bar fight. Imagine how much more impacted your life would have been if the car you were in was chased and accidentally struck and killed a pedestrian; someone overdosed on the drugs you shared, or if that fight accidentally ended someone’s life. Imagine what it would be like if the entire sum of your life was evaluated, scrutinized, and discriminated against because you were convicted.
By Louis L Reed8 years ago in The Swamp
Where Does Authority Come From?
Where does authority come from? Legally, authority is shaped by the people, the people who vote, the people who are being voted for, the people who enforce laws, and the people who break laws. Authority is power. Authority is defined as “The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.”
By Clare Woodford8 years ago in The Swamp
The Hour Glass
As the sands of time flow downward the sea of change continues to ebb. It ebbs not with grace but with a velocity of a coming tsunami. The world that I once knew when I was young is unrecognizable now. Back at a time when memories were made has kept my compass almost on the straight and narrow. I lived through times of hardships and woe, experienced joy and adulation and through it all never have I seen what our world has come to today. Sure, there are scientific breakthroughs and technological marvels that have made an impact but, yet the world keeps shifting toward a more ominous outcome. Our world is more convoluted, complex and dangerous now.
By Dr. Williams8 years ago in The Swamp
Are the Days of Honest Debate Over?
Are the days of honest debate over? Are we on a decent to continuous confrontation? It is widely acknowledged that if you are in a debate, before presenting ideas that oppose those presented by another; you talk about the parts of their view that you can agree with. Then, when you present your opposing ideas, the debate is already a discussion rather than outright confrontation. Your opponent now understands that you can see some merit in his or her position and so they are far more likely to accept at least part of your views, even those they initially disagreed with.
By Peter Rose8 years ago in The Swamp
If You're Outraged at Harvey Weinstein, You Should Be Furious About Bryan Singer
As more allegations about the conduct of Harvey Weinstein surface, the USA is about to experience a tempest that could fundamentally change their society. The bubbling press waters are already being disturbed by the emerging truth reaching the surface and causing, for the moment, minor turbulence in the status quo. The United Kingdom has been through this turmoil already with our experience of Jimmy Savile, Rolf Harris, Gary Glitter, Stuart Hall, and many other men who used their power in the media to molest children.
By Johnny Vedmore8 years ago in The Swamp
Tory Views on How We Should Live
So, Tory Minister Dr. Phillip Lee has decided that we're all a selfish lot and don't care for our elderly parents enough. I wonder, is he talking about successful businessmen, etc. not paying out for nurses and home-helps for their parents? Is he talking about, for instance, high-flying government ministers who should perhaps give up those responsible positions to spend more time with their elderly relatives? (Can he provide an example of this happening?) Or is he talking about people with no money, or who work every hour they can to support their own kids, driving themselves further into poverty, and debt by taking on the care of their parents as well? I think you'll find it's the latter. And would I, when the time comes, want my kids to waste their opportunities just to make my dotage a little less miserable than it will, almost inevitably, be? Time the Tories stopped trying to tell the rest of us how we should live I think—as if they have any idea at all.
By Martin Reed8 years ago in The Swamp
Failed Democratic Governments That Collapsed into Dictatorships
Many people see the election of Donald Trump in America as the dissolution of the American Republic; that this is a sign that America is another one of the many failed democratic governments that collapsed into dictatorships. Thankfully, the American government's series of checks and balances have indicated that Trump's powers are being limited, and that, no, despite his best efforts, he is not the CEO of America.
By Nikkie Evans8 years ago in The Swamp
