“Social Security is politically untouchable, and both Republicans and Democrats know that a reduction in benefits is practically a non-starter. Unfortunately, as it stands now, America is trending towards a massive fiscal gap: the money it plans to spend grossly outweighs the money it is projected to take in in revenue. This gap is equal to 10 years’ worth of U.S. GDP. In an article from The Hill, John Goodman states it plainly: ‘This is fiscal child abuse, pure and simple.’”
“NAACP v. Moore could have long-term ramifications for North Carolina’s legislative and judicial landscapes, as it tackles questions on the General Assembly’s authority to pass referenda and judges’ discretion to recuse themselves from cases.”
Read More“From its earliest colonial roots, the United States has been a Christian nation. Even the establishment clause, which prevents the declaration of a federal religion and is codified in the Bill of Rights, was included with the understanding that there were so many regional denominations of Christianity in the colonies that to impose one of them as dominant would inhibit the freedoms of our fledgling nation. America was created by Christians, for Christians. Understanding that is the first step to understanding how we ended up with a comprehensive abortion ban in Texas that allows citizens to sue people they suspect have undergone or helped someone else attain an abortion procedure (SB8). It is also a realization that is needed to overturn SB8 and legislation like it in the future.”
Read More“After a long and arduous debate, this past Summer over whether or not to grant New York Times writer Nikole Hannah-Jones a tenured faculty position at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is investigating “structural racism” within the UNC System. Their investigation is focused primarily on UNC Chapel Hill, which the AAUP claims “mishandled” the procedure with Hannah-Jones. More broadly the committee will investigate what it sees as “a pattern of egregious violations of principles of academic governance and persistent structural racism.”
Read More“As Congressional Democrats try to pass the last piece of President Biden’s economic agenda, they have been met with many challenges including lobbying groups representing massive corporations, tobacco companies, and pharmaceutical companies, and infighting over the potential size of the bill.”
Read More“Although both political parties are showing support to curtail the influence and effect of Facebook and its products, we must question whether real change can happen. According to Steven Levy, author of “Facebook: The Inside Story,” there have been obvious solutions, such as increasing privacy protection, that have been known for years; however, Congress has done little to act upon them. With a convincing story and demanding evidence, one can only hope Frances Haugen’s actions will lead to the removal of the negative influence Facebook and its products have on society.”
Read More“The increased use of vetoes seems to indicate that the Governor will only accept bills that enjoy strong bipartisan support. So, with a lack of a veto-proof majority in the legislature, the Republicans are forced to play by these rules even if they believe the Attorney General does not.”
Read More“Chinese President Xi Jinping is incredibly eager to reunite the two entities during his rule, stating that “bringing Taiwan under Beijing’s control cannot be left to the next generation.”
Read More“Culture and art’s role in social movements is just one of the many reasons why recognizing, protecting, and learning about cultural practices and sites around the globe are important. There are a variety of potential reasons why a country may want an aspect of their culture showcased and protected as culture encapsulates society and history.”
Read More“The dispute currently playing out is no isolated incident, but rather the most recent episode in a decades-long fight against a discriminatory system that speaks to broader questions about who bears the burden of ecological crises and the fight against climate change.”
Read More“Breaching the debt ceiling will result in the U.S. government defaulting on debt payments. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated that the government would run out of funds on October 18th. An economic crisis would certainly be born if the U.S. failed to meet its debt obligations for the first time in history. As it stands now, it is unknown if the ceiling will be raised or not.”
Read More“As the polls closed, Germans awaited what may be their most monumental election in the post-WWII era. Now, the SPD and the CDU seek the support of smaller parties, striving to form a coalition. This zero-sum game will not only revolutionize Germany’s political landscape but also the country’s role as a burgeoning world power amidst a declining Pax Americana.”
Read More“A three-judge panel recently struck down North Carolina Senate Bill 824, a law enacting a photo voter ID requirement, saying that it would unfairly target Black voters and is therefore unconstitutional. How did we get here and what is next for voter ID requirements in the Tar Heel State?”
Read More“Biden and his administration find themselves in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic, facing an influx of refugees from a country rife with political turmoil, and situated in a political landscape so polarized that one group has compared the actions at the border to chattel slavery, while on the other extreme, Tucker Carlson of Fox News accused Biden of purposefully attempting to change racial demographics in the U.S. through immigration.”
Read More“The Biden Administration announced last week that travel restrictions will be lifted in November for travelers fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This new policy will allow thousands of foreigners into the United States, which will ease American tensions with Europe.”
Read More“Decreased funding for public education in North Carolina is only one example of the much larger issue of school privatization. Yet, it is the most pressing because it directly affects students in the classroom. As legislators continue to view charter schools as an adequate alternative to traditional public schools, the public schools across the state suffer.”
Read More“North Carolina remains without an updated state budget this year, as legislators have not yet decided on a new state budget for the fiscal year. Negotiations between the governor, the House, and the Senate are set to start this week, at the beginning of October.”
Read More“The monthly debates, although contentious, allow each side to ensure that their voices are heard on this highly controversial issue. It also allows the current policy to be continually tested to show its strengths and weaknesses, allowing the board members and parents to weigh each side.”
Read More“Our environment has dramatically changed since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. We have increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere by 48%. Although we are developing sustainable, renewable technology, there are those that still oppose the transition to cleaner energy. If we are to preserve our environment for generations to come, we must have global leaders that are reducing environmentally unfriendly practices and switching to cleaner, sustainable sources of energy.”
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