opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
The Budget Does Not Compute
For the past three years I've said over and over again to people complaining about wages, "It's not the wages. It's the Rent Prices." Some understood and some didn't. I was homeless for a long time and I searched high and low for affordable "housing" which means a rent that can be paid each month with the minimum wage. It was nowhere to be found. That is a serious problem. The minimum wage set by the federal government is at $7.25 per hour. I am a recipient of Social Security. A full-time minimum wage worker and I have about the same budget to work with each month. What does that mean to us? It means that unless we live with our parents, a spouse, or a generous roommate, we will be homeless. Something is very wrong with that picture.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman4 years ago in The Swamp
Addressing Politics
INTRODUCTION If you have been paying close attention to the development of COVID-19 since the first report from Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019, then you know how quickly it grew around the rest of the world and the impacts it has had economically speaking. COVID-19 was dubbed a hoax by the republican parties President Donald Trump. As the spread of COVID-19 was ignored in 2020, there were many things that developed as a result.
By Zachary Pierce4 years ago in The Swamp
White Privilege Does NOT Exist & I Am Not A Victim
I find it astonishing how many white people are just as uninformed, misinformed, and just ignorant (and ignorant using the proper definition of the word) as most people on this planet when it comes to race.
By Frederick Emerson4 years ago in The Swamp
Police, Soldiers, and Lawyers Oh My
As a freshman college student, I might’ve had a ‘thin blue line’ sticker on my laptop, except that it was 2012 and policing hadn’t yet become such a controversial issue. I was a cookie cutter conservative at the time and had yet to own my beliefs. Politics seemed so horribly partisan back then but was tame compared to today. Now, almost a decade later, I can’t say that I am very supportive of the police. I mean yeah, I hope they catch the ‘bad guys’ and put them in jail and I hope there is minimal loss of life in that process, for both the police and the presumed criminals… I say “presumed” because the American justice system enshrines “innocent until proven guilty” as key to justice.
By Farah Thompson4 years ago in The Swamp
Why the Right to Life Must Include the Right to Die
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
By Lucy Richardson4 years ago in The Swamp
The Wean Out Of A Suck
The Wean Out Of A Suck: When I’m being asked, what is that one thing you love so much about Nigeria: It is always the "suffering and smiling" for me. We may perceive this to be negative, but trust me, this is part of our major strength, and what distinct us by far from the rest of the world. To be born and brought up in Nigeria alone is a sign of conquest, I mean, to be alive, well and healthy with all the ordeals faced is a great deal. To abuse Nigerians as a foreigner you are is inhuman, and it shows nothing but cruelty. Why not live our life first, and let see maybe you’ll survive; then, you have the might to criticize a Nigerian. No matter the hardship, you’ll still get a smile. This make us look unserious at times giving a burlesque treat to our society, because matters that requires our attention and optimum seriousness on the state of our nation are being found humorous most times. You won't have to blame Nigerians for this, thoughts on the state of the national affairs alone can result to frustration of the greatest magnitude.
By Ọládiméjì AdélaNí4 years ago in The Swamp
Stoicism and Minimalism Are Great When They're Optional
The popularity of stoicism among the techgeoisie of Silicon Valley has been remarked upon by many. Most often the tone of such commentary takes a distinct form, befuddled praise. The befuddlement is expressed as wonder at why men (and they are almost always men) who seemingly have everything and want for nothing would subject themselves to voluntary deprivations. The praise flows from this amazement as it is then suggested that such a thing must require a great deal of self control, and humility, and other characteristics that these men most definitely do not possess. What they do not realize or choose to ignore is the fact that much like its still trendy sub genre minimalism, stoicism is a school of thought which is only available to the elite. When you have no fear of illness driving you to bankruptcy, can eat whatever you want whenever you want, have children who go to the best schools, and live in the safest neighborhood you don’t ever actually suffer. You are never actually deprived of anything except by choice. The nice thing about choosing to ‘suffer’ or choosing to deprive yourself of something or some things is that you can quit anytime it gets too hard. Go back to your life of privilege content in the knowledge that you now understand how the ‘other half lives.’ But you never really do, you never even come close, because you can’t understand. You simply are not capable of understanding, and probably never will be. If you did understand you would realize that pretending to be something you are not is the surest sign that what you are sucks.
By Everyday Junglist4 years ago in The Swamp
Fascist America
We only need to look at pre-WWII Germany to understand the repercussions of letting violent fascists off lightly. Yet, even after the events that took place on the 6th of January, Americans have largely been content to move on. This is not a strategy that worked well for the aforementioned country.
By Richard Belarde4 years ago in The Swamp
The Big Badd Vaccine
Greetings! Everyone, I'm going to start off by saying, lets have a very, smart and productive day! Let's be real guys, what are your thoughts, that comes to mind, when it comes up to taking the vaccine, you know the one I'm talking about Guys! The Big Bad Vaccine! The one and only Covid-19 Big Bad Vaccine! Ok now, Let's talk then... What are your thoughts! On this Big Bad issue. Why are people this afraid and brainwashed, into believing that it is bad, for you and why would they want it to be. Just because you have the freedom, and the privilege to not take it does not make it just. But I guess, that's just me being Human... Just because one has, the freedom and the privilege to not do something, if it's not in the best interest of "Mankind", and the "World" we live in, then that is considered inhumane.. Let's Talk!..it is wrong!! You just committed Genocide! And don't even realize it! Vaccines has been around for quite sometime now! We took those vaccines when we were babies, while growing up. We were required to take those same vaccines, by the government in order to go to school, remember Guys! Now ask yourselves! Did you drop dead, or maybe turn into a freaking, Zombie! No you did not! You are still here... and if you're not here...Then maybe, just maybe you should've taken the vaccine! Guys! we are fighting 3 viruses now! Covid-19 and his brother the Delta-Variant, and the( Misconception of the Covid-19 vaccine.) The most powerful virus we have to fight right now, is the "Disinformation"! millions of American's is consumed with believing! It has caused many of us to kill ourselves, in the most unusual, genocidal, way ever! There's nothing bad about the vaccine, only bad people making it out to be bad! Wake Up people! Don't be ignorant, Don't be Selfish! Instead be Human!, Be Compassionate! Take the vaccine! I took it! Because it is my Responsibility! as a Human Being, to Protect and Preserve Earth and Mankind! it is my Duty and it should be yours too! Not because of the freedom you possess, to not take it, but simply because it's the right thing to do! So, go run and vaccinated! I promise if I turn into a Zombie, I'll let you'll know!!! But that will be very, very, Unlikely! Fake news and Propaganda is what I believe has poisoned many minds, against the effectiveness of the vaccine, which has instilled a lot of, distrust in people. I believe most people, take their freedoms and beliefs, to a whole other planet sort of speak. Some of them believes that the virus is a made up joke, and chooses not to wear a mask. Yikes! People are dropping dead all around them, and they choose to still not "Believe" that this virus is real, it's killing people by the millions, all because their freedom allows them to not wear a mask, if they choose not too. The people are getting played, and screwed, chewed up, and spit out, by the hands of the wicked, propaganda media, and it's cronies! Allowing them to inadvertently kill themselves, through false and misleading information about the virus and it's vaccine. Why is it, that most people choose not to wear a mask, if we're upon a deadly virus , why is it, that they feel inferior, when in fact you're keeping yourself safe, while protecting those around you as well! Right Wing, Left Wing, propaganda misery, blind to those who refuse to see! This situation can simply be resolved, by doing your research and applying common sense. This simple technique can save your life and others, along with this breakthrough technology called the Covid-19 vaccine. I can honestly say, I'm truly blessed and fortunate to have been given the opportunity, to take the vaccine, and safe from the possibility of becoming extremely ill, and die. People, need to understand that they have an obligation, that calls for an patriotic response! Do what needs to be done, for the safety of all involved! We all are people, white, green, purple etc. etc. and we all got to live here and share this one space called "Earth" and if no one decides, to do what's right for the betterment of "Earth" and "Mankind" then it definitely won't be long before humanity cease to exist! Not just from the virus, but a lot of other factors as well, such as climate change, poverty, and famine!
By The Poetic Butterflyyye4 years ago in The Swamp
