politicians
Reviews of the politicians kissing babies and running governments around the world; applaud and criticize the decisions they make and their implications.
The Republican Party Has a Mitch McConnell Problem
Mitch McConnell had a choice: he could let the house healthcare bill die in the senate, or he could craft his own. There was no chance the disastrous house bill could pass the upper chamber. GOP senators declared it dead on arrival.
By Joshua Guess9 years ago in The Swamp
#GA6 Was a Reminder - Not a Referendum
The special election held for the open congressional seat in the 6th district of north suburban Atlanta was supposed to be a movement. People I know as far away as California sent money to the Jon Ossoff campaign in hopes of beginning a revolution of sorts against the ideology of the Trump administration.
By Jennifer Gulbrandsen9 years ago in The Swamp
A Face Saving Rewrite of Named Person
Parts 4 and parts 5 of the children and young person Act (Scotland)2014, that are currently revoked from law and commonly known as named person and child plans, are making their way back to the Scottish Parliament for approval. This will cost another million pounds to retrain all relevant staff on named person and child plans.
By Harmony Flower9 years ago in The Swamp
Neutrality or Neutrali-tarianism?
The Problem The conversation about Net Neutrality seems like a simple one: Proponents say that without it, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will run amok and adopt unfair practices to keep ahead of their competitors. This would be a horrible miscarriage of justice… if we only had a single ISP for the geographical region. It could even be used to stifle freedom of speech…except that new networks also have deep pockets and they keep a keen eye on their viewership. In fact, it should be a problem by now. The internet providers have had decades to institute these practices that proponents of formalized Net Neutrality. So, if there were a profit in it, wouldn’t they steer things in a way that benefits them?
By Mickey Finn9 years ago in The Swamp
Head of Council Should Be Arrested for Grenfell Tower Fire
The leader of the Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington Council, Nick Paget-Brown, should be the first arrested for the Grenfell Tower fire and the local authorities immediate response. The responsibility for the Grenfell Tower fire is currently being batted around all the guilty parties. But the Conservative head of the local council Nick Paget-Brown has shown a complete lack of respect to all local residents. In his YouTube video entitled ‘Meet the New Leader’ which was uploaded 23rd May 2013, Councillor Paget-Brown sets out his vision for the future. He doesn’t once mention the safety or security of his council constituents, instead, he talks about cost cutting and cracking down on department spending. He speaks of remodelling and reshaping the post-war estates to make them ‘attractive’ places to live. In this 2013 video, on the Kensington & Chelsea YouTube channel, Paget-Brown talks of increasing the quality of the housing for residents but says nothing about increasing their quality of life.
By Johnny Vedmore9 years ago in The Swamp
Election Night 2017: Corbyn and the Robin of Hope
National voting has become a yearly endeavour in the United Kingdom. The election day rain filled the puddles that the democratic minded sploshed through on their way to the polling booths. The local church is being used to cast the votes for my part of Cardiff North. As you approach the building you can see the University Hospital of Wales just across the Motorway. I hope for every person who loves the NHS to be casting their ballot today, but I have as many doubts about this democratic process yielding a good outcome for the people. My polling station had an old gentleman greeting people in the doorway, making small talk with those locking up their bikes, which will soon help whisk them to a day of work. As always they can’t find my address straight away. The kind lady checks for me on the polling list repeating the name Vedmore verbally until her pen stops next to my details. As always I receive my ballot and I take it to the partitioned booth to stare at it intently. I know my choice like most folks, but I always take my time to read the ballot. I triple check where my pencil mark should go just incase I fuck it all up and vote for the Liberal Democrats. A mistake I had made two general election ago which led to the dreaded LibCon coalition less than a decade before.
By Johnny Vedmore9 years ago in The Swamp
Why Evangelicals Have No Relevant Message
On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in the landmark case: Obergefell v. Hodges. Same-sex couples and their supporters across the country celebrated what they considered to be a humane and just progression of domestic policy. However, a significant number of Americans protested the verdict and viewed it as an attack on accepted morality and even a suppression of religious liberty. Enter Kim Davis.
By Jesse Booker9 years ago in The Swamp
#Brexit for Beginners
On the 29th March 2017, Theresa May delivered the UK’s official notice of departure from the European Union, triggering article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. This was in the same week we saw protests in London & Rome against the referendum result.
By Jordan Catto9 years ago in The Swamp
The Conservatives Who Are Rewriting History on Wikipedia
The rule of thumb tends to be that the victorious rewrite history. At least that’s what we are told by those who we suppose to have been the winners. However, nowadays our history is written through collaboration and each example of this is an independent skirmish which makes up the wider global war. Wikipedia is on the front line of these daily battles. The modern encyclopedia is a one stop shop for knowledge on most subjects. Wikipedian's are well aware that they are strange creatures, who often revel in their own obsessive compulsive natures. They argue with each other over details that would bore the majority of normal folk. But hidden amongst the millions of pages of Wikipedian's conversations are many arguments over neutrality.
By Johnny Vedmore9 years ago in The Swamp
Choose to Survive
Choosing to survive is a key thing in life; you've either got it or you haven't, from a small amount to a large amount, we as individuals become one big family. We help and support the people who need it the most; this is for our communities that have come together, over the past few months and recently.
By Lizzy Arrow9 years ago in The Swamp
Vile People
As I woke up with a headache in the early hours of Thursday morning/late Wednesday night; I had turned to my phone as I do for a bit of comfort. I generally reply to my messages even though people maybe asleep. Sometimes I actually get a response from them unexpectedly; not all the time though, it's just a fluke to be honest with you.
By Lizzy Arrow9 years ago in The Swamp
Blue Crab Blues
Last weekend I drove down to Venice, La., the last town accessible by car before the mouth of the Mississippi River. It is popular among fisherman who put in there to fish the fecund waters of the Gulf. It is dotted with fish camps that extend from the levee into the wetlands and lakes that open up on the Gulf.
By Mike Bernos9 years ago in The Swamp
