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The Bird is the Word: Sophisticated Schoolyard Shenanigans

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Who is Sarah McBride?

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When asked to write about the future of American politics, Blogger Erik decided to write about Delaware state Senator-elect Sarah McBride. With so many other historical events defining 2020, Senator-elect McBride adds one more–making history as the first transgender senator. And, what better day to publish than today, Transgender Day of Remembrance 2020.

By Erik Bearman

On November 3rd, 2020, Sarah McBride, a renowned advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, defeated Steve Washington and is now set to become the U.S.A.’s first openly transgender senator. 

McBride’s victory is a defining moment in our country’s political history, especially for the LGBTQ+ community. McBride is only a few months away from becoming the nation’s highest ranking, openly transgender politician. As a senator, she will focus on legislation regarding trans-rights. This gives hope to the trans community because McBride will be looking out for their interests in the Senate and help pass LGBTQ+ protection bills. She will also try to block bills that may harm trans people or anyone else of the LGBTQ+ community.

But McBride is not only advocating for trans rights. The many things she is advocating for include accessible health care, criminal justice reform, renewable energy, and gun safety laws.

Andrew Cray, Sarah McBride’s late husband, tragically lost his life to cancer in 2014. This ordeal made expanding health care accessibility a priority for McBride. McBride has also stated that she wants “[to lower] insurance and prescription costs, and [fight] for comprehensive coverage for all of us” (sarahmcbride.com). 

McBride believes that correcting our criminal justice system will be beneficial for our communities. And, although much progress has been made in recent years, she does not want to stop just yet. McBride claims she’s “committed to . . . investing in training and employment for ex-offenders, and breaking down the school-to-prison pipeline” (sarahmcbride.com).

One of the biggest issues facing the country is the threat posed by climate change. Moving forward, McBride wants to create green jobs in green industries in order to boost the U.S. economy and communities as well as investing in renewable energy for the future.

McBride, like many of her voters, is a supporter of common sense gun safety laws. These types of laws will ban the sales of assault weapons and also require those wishing to purchase a gun to have a license before doing so. 

Overall, McBride’s election is a victory for the Democratic party moving forward and provides hope for members of the LGBTQ+ community everywhere.

Sources:

https://sarahmcbride.com/sarahs-values/

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/sarah-mcbride-become-first-transgender-state-senator-u-s-history-n1246211

Future of Politics Editor: Jake Sonderman

The Future of the Republican Party

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When asked about the future of politics, blogger Elizabeth Shay chose to write about the future of the Grand Old Party.

By Elizabeth Shay

There’s no doubt about it, the question on every Republican’s mind is: What does the future hold for the GOP? In the wake of the Trump presidency, one thing’s for sure; we definitely have not heard the last of him. The general consensus is that “Trumpism is here to stay,” says Washington lobbyist and longtime GOP campaigner Ed Stewart (Cityam.com). Trump’s highly passionate group of supporters won’t just disappear into thin air. Commentators are convinced that Trump will continue to be extremely influential within the party in the coming years, whether it’s through a new position as a kingmaker, or a re-run in 2024, “reinvigorated after four years of tweet-sniping from the sidelines” (Commondreams.org). This would not be the first time a president ran non-consecutively; Grover Cleveland was successfully reelected in 1893, four years after his initial term. It is not in Trump’s nature to roll over and die, and he will likely emerge in four years to launch another campaign, which poses the question of whether he will be the Republican nominee. But is there any Republican who could pose a viable challenge to Donald Trump, who has “so dominated the thinking of the Republican Party for the past four years that there hasn’t been any more room for new leaders to emerge, for new ideas to emerge to counter Trumpism or offer an alternative view point [sic] or way forward” (Stewart).

Anyone who attempted to emulate Trump would probably not be successful and may not garner the needed support from his base. His unique rhetorical style and image as a businessman and not a traditional politician are part of his appeal. In a panel sponsored by USC regarding the future of the Republican party, conservative journalist Bret Stephens mentioned Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas as a possible contender for the 2024 election, referring to him as: “Trump with a higher IQ.” Stephens calls Cotton the “most intelligent expositor of Trumpist ideals,” and “other than Trump’s family, the most perfect heir” to the presidency. If this is the case, Tom Cotton may be the necessary person to retain the ardent Trump supporters while regaining some of the more moderate Republican votes that went to Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Author and historian Douglas Brinkley, also on the panel, made an interesting statement, referencing a possible ticket with Nikki Haley at the top. In order to placate Trump not to run, the ticket could also include Donald Trump Jr. or Ivanka Trump as VP.  This retains Trump’s base while moving in a more moderate direction. Several other panelists expressed support for former UN ambassador and Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, including Karl Rove and Bret Stephens. Another popular name was Dan Crenshaw, a representative from Texas and former Navy SEAL. 

In order for the mainstream Republican party to become more moderate, they’d likely have to experience multiple electoral losses over the course of several years. However, as the country’s demographics rapidly shift, the party may not be able to afford losses in multiple election cycles. States that have been traditionally red, including Texas, Arizona, and Georgia became critical swing states and are projected to remain that way in the future. In order for the GOP to remain alive, they need to move closer to the center quickly, as time is not on their side. Karl Rove stresses the need for the party to build on diversity, regain the suburban vote, and take a strong stand against QAnon. Trump surprisingly expanded the Republican voter base, and saw increased turnout amongst Latinos (especially Cuban Americans), African Americans, and the white working class. In order to win future elections, the party needs to retain and expand upon these votes. 

When you think of the GOP, the word “young” does not exactly come to mind. Bret Stephens says that Trump may have turned away young voters from the party for the rest of their lives. Members of Gen Z tend to lean left much like millennials (NPR). Nevertheless, conservative youth groups such as the Young America’s Foundation and Turning Point USA have significant membership, demonstrating a presence of young Republicans in the country. The Republican party needs to expand their young voter base in order to even be remotely successful in the coming years. According to The Atlantic, “. . . in 2024, the two younger generations are expected to equal the older ones as a share of actual voters on Election Day.” The Democrats have attracted the attention of younger generations in part because of their election of diverse leaders, in terms of gender and race. Interestingly, the average age of the Democratic leadership in the House is 72 years old, compared to 48 years for Republicans (Quorum).  And just this year, 25-year-old Madison Cawthorn won North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, becoming the youngest Republican elected to the House (New York Times).

How the Republicans will proceed remains to be seen. The ideological future is uncertain for both parties, and only time will reveal the answers to the questions that remain unanswered. One thing is certain, these years will definitely be studied closely by future historians. 

Sources:

‘Trumpism is here to stay’: The future of the Republican Party

https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/11/13/biden-will-fail-bring-back-normal-politics-whats-needed-now-populism-left

https://www.npr.org/2020/09/02/908350700/generation-z-in-the-gop-young-republicans-reflect-on-the-future-of-their-party

https://www.quorum.us/data-driven-insights/the-115th-congress-is-among-the-oldest-in-history/

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/10/millennials-and-gen-z-will-soon-dominate-us-elections/616818/

Future of Politics Editor: Jake Sonderman

The Squad: Who Are They and What Future Do They Represent in American Politics?

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The election has just (almost) concluded. Although we appear focused currently on the here and now, Editor Jake Sonderman chooses to look to the future of American politics. He’s assigned the Blog Staff to investigate and ruminate. Sara looks at an important up-and-coming group and ideology in American politics.

By Sara Habibipour

The Squad is a group of four women of color in the House of Representatives known for their efforts to push Washington Democrats towards more progressive policies. The four Congresswomen–Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts–seemed to gain more popularity on social media after their comebacks to Trump’s derogatory remarks regarding their heritage. He falsely implied that they weren’t American and suggested they “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came” (CNN). 

But, these women have made it clear they aren’t going anywhere. In fact, all four were recently re-elected.

Who Are They?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) (Rep. of New York’s 14th Congressional District–the Bronx, Queens, and Rikers Island)

AOC became the youngest woman (and youngest Latina) ever elected to Congress after defeating ten-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley (CNN). 

In addition to being a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, she introduced the Green New Deal, which “outlines the framework for combating climate change by creating millions of jobs in new green industries as well as transitioning to new energy sources and building new infrastructure” (Ocasio-Cortez.House.Gov). 

She has also worked with others, such as Bernie Sanders, on more progressive ideas like Medicare for All, a $15 minimum wage, and student loan forgiveness. She has called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to the harsh conditions in our southern borders’s detention centers (CNN). 

Rashida Tlaib (Rep. of Michigan’s 13th Congressional District–Detroit and its surrounding areas)

Tlaib is the first Palestinian-American woman to serve in Congress. Like AOC, Tlaib has embraced Progressive ideas like Medicare for All, a $15 minimum wage, debt-free college, and the abolishment of ICE. 

She has also gained a significant amount of social media attention after her controversial comments regarding sanctions and boycotts on Israel. 

Ilhan Omar (Rep. of Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District–Minneapolis and its surrounding areas)

Ilhan Omar is the first Somali-American ever elected to Congress. She and Tlaib are also the first two Muslim women ever elected to Congress. She came to the United States two decades ago after fleeing her homeland as a refugee. She then became a US Citizen at the age of 17 (CNN). 

Similar to AOC’s journey to politics, she ran with the support of the Justice Democrats (a Progressive political-action committee). She is also a proponent of Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, tuition-free college, and $15 minimum wage. 

Ayanna Presley (Rep. Massachusetts’s 7th Congressional District–Boston, Cambridge, and surrounding areas)

Pressley is the first black congresswoman to represent Massachusetts after defeating twenty-year incumbent Rep. Mike Capuano (CNN). 

Pressley’s passion for politics greatly stems from personal experiences. For example, she often speaks about her father being incarcerated for much of her childhood and how she is a rape survivor. 

Pressley is also known for speaking out about the poor conditions of detained migrants at the Texas border, and she has called upon Democratic lawmakers to take action. 

How Do These Women Represent the Future of Politics?

According to the New York Times, the Squad represents a more inclusive and representative future of politics. “The Squad understands that ‘diversity’ is meaningless if the measure of success is ‘sameness.’ The Congresswomen are choosing to do politics a different way because they recognize that Congress has never worked for their communities.” By bringing in voices from communities Congress has never heard from before, it is possible that the future of politics will finally serve communities of color rather than silence them; “…inclusivity means that people from different communities, backgrounds and ideological traditions will do their jobs differently and will bring new sensibilities, commitments and understanding with them when they sit at the tables of power. If they are doing their jobs, they will be accountable to people who sent them there, not maintaining the status quo” (The New York Times). 

The Squad also greatly represents the visions of the young people of our nation who tend to prioritize equality and climate change. Many say that the Squad’s ideas for Progressive policies represent the future of the Democratic party, even though the party seems to look more moderate at the moment. This is obviously frustrating for these Progressives, but according to Conor Lamb (Democrat Representative of Pennsylvania), more moderate policies are needed to unify the country in its current state (New York Times). The future could possess these ideals, especially as the younger generation starts to fill seats in Congress.

Sources:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/15/politics/who-are-the-squad/index.html

Image Sources: 

https://apnews.com/article/f80a96ce79934860936ebdc2127c28fc

https://i.insider.com/5fa2a2a469331a0011bc731c?width=1000&format=jpeg&auto=webp

https://tlaib.house.gov/about

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/08/where-ilhan-omar-failed/596743/

https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/03/30/ayanna-pressley-democrat-committee

Future of Politics Editor: Jake Sonderman

ASB Presidential Candidates

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By Holden Hartle

In anticipation of the upcoming ASB elections, I thought I would do an analysis of those who are running for ASB President, similar to a post that I did detailing those who were running for President of the United States. I interviewed each candidate as well as read their candidate statements from previous campaigns, whether that be for a cabinet position or a class representative. Here is a brief profile on each of the three people running for Palm Valley’s ASB President.

Hannah Makkai

Hannah, a rising senior, enjoys being a part of the decision-making process. She has held positions in student government since middle school. She also mentioned being a student at PVS since preschool. She said that because of this, she has watched the school grow and has adapted with it. She believes being a part of the Palm Valley community for so long will allow her to note the diversity of the student body and make decisions accordingly.

One of her most defining achievements is the PVS Instagram page. I asked her if it was helpful or useful, to which she responded affirmatively. She did concede, however, that it is very difficult to make posts, considering the multiple hoops one has to jump through. It is something she would like to improve upon if elected President.

Finally, she has lots of ideas. She has the creativity to think up events, but has she thought of all the possibilities that could deter a night like “movie night” from taking shape? Expense? Enthusiasm? Availability? Moreover, it is possible that she is prioritizing ideas such as “movie night” and “team competition night” over ideas such as efficiency and democracy. Perhaps this is something that she will learn as President. Nevertheless, if you are looking for someone with copious amounts of creativity for fun ideas in ASB, then Hannah should be your choice.

Brennan Nick

When I asked Brennan, also a rising senior, why he wanted to run for President, he started by saying that it was a very difficult question to answer, but he went on to explain that he enjoys being a part of the decision-making process. He said that he did not agree with the 2017-2018 administration and some of the decisions made. He said that this year was a lot better than last year because the ASB process was more democratic. Along with being more democratic, he said that communication among ASB greatly improved, mainly due to the current president, Jackson Dean.

Brennan is a man of his word, and you can count on that. Last year, his campaign statement claimed that he was going to use Google polls to bridge the gap between students and ASB. He did just that. Honesty and transparency are rare in today’s political climate.

When I asked him if he had an edge over the other candidates, he said that he has experience at the second highest position that an ASB member can be, as he is the current Vice President. He also said that he has a document with all of the plans he has for the upcoming year. To me, at least, this shows that he is “on his game” so to speak. His pragmatism shows his motivation and willingness to be President.

My criticism is that if you want fresh eyes and a new way of thinking in ASB, Brennan might not be the way to go. The fact that he looks up so highly to Jackson means that he may model a lot of his platform and his style of leading after him. So if you are a fan of Jackson’s presidential style, then Brennan is the right choice, but if you want a fresh change, perhaps one of the other candidates would better suit you.

Caroline Scheil

Caroline, despite being a grade below the other two candidates, feels as though she can make a big impact in the school. When asked why people should vote for her, she said that her leadership qualities and ability to compromise set her ahead of the game. Also, being a grade below Hannah and Brennan protects her from the dreaded Senioritis that will most likely affect the senior candidates. Along with this, the other senior candidates will no doubt be stressing over college applications during the beginning of the school year, but Caroline said that she would stay motivated throughout that time and be dedicated to ASB.

My big question to her was whether or not she felt like an underdog. She said, yes, but she is still up to the challenge. This says something about Caroline’s character. The fact that even though she is afraid of a task, she has the ability to power through it.

Along with her status as an underdog, I wondered if her age would benefit or hinder her ability to lead a cabinet of mostly seniors. She said that it would benefit her, that her experience as a class representative would give a different perspective to the cabinet.

Her downfall, however, could be her optimism. She said that she is very “doe-eyed.” Perhaps this optimism could cloud her judgment to see a situation clearly. But, even if this is the case, her ability to compromise could counteract this, making her a fit choice for President.

Editor: Hannah Hall

Website Showcase: Pew Research Center’s Political Typology Quiz

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By Luke Langlois, Internet Explorer

Hello, faithful and loyal readers. I want to bring something brand new to THEBIRDONFIRE.ORG. I would like to start doing an occasional website showcase because the internet is a vast landscape, and, quite frankly, there are so many nifty websites or tools that most people have never heard of. Later on, we may venture into the wild west of the internet. I would like to present a political typology quiz in anticipation of the upcoming election. Many Americans make what is called a “latent” decision when election day comes. They make an opinion based off of split-second decisions. Which candidate’s name do I recognize? What has the news said? What are the polls like? To make an informed decision, an individual has to know what they believe. Additionally, an individual deserves to know what each party stands for, and what party they most closely align with. This is why I implore whoever is currently reading this to take Pew’s Political Typology Quiz. This short quiz will give you seventeen questions of two choices. You should pick the choice that more closely represents your belief, even if it does not 100% represent your belief. After all of the questions, the quiz will show you where you fall on the typical “left-right” spectrum. Do note that this quiz is courtesy of Pew Research Center, and your response will be anonymously recorded for their research purposes. Find the link below!

Link: http://www.people-press.org/quiz/political-typology/

http://www.people-press.org/quiz/political-typology/

Editor: Holden Hartle

Who is Running for President?

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By Holden Hartle, Blogger and Future White House Chief of Staff

Some of our blog followers will be able to vote in 2020 for the next President of the United States, and, of course, the adults that follow the blog have been voting for years (at least I hope you have been). In any case, I feel as if you should look beyond what party your candidate is a part of, and actually do research into who these candidates are and what they believe in. So, here is a brief description of each of the candidates that have said they are running as of February 25, 2019. My source is The Washington Post. You can find more information by going to their website that is updated daily. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/politics/2020-presidential-hopefuls/?utm_term=.b2ec254a97e7

Democrats

  • John Delaney–Back in November, he was the first person to announce that he was running for President. He served three terms as a representative for Maryland’s 6th District. His platform, like many other Democrats, involves health care, but not universal health care–like other Democrats are proposing, but rather he is using his background in finance to come up with a “more reasonable” set of federal benefits and a way to afford it. For further information, go to https://finance.yahoo.com/news/heres-a-democratic-health-care-planwithout-medicare-for-all-131930755.html.
  • Andrew Yang–Our current President has started a trend in which candidates with little political experience have a shot at gaining the presidency. Likewise, Yang has no experience in politics. He is an entrepreneur who started Venture for America, a nonprofit that helps recent college graduates make a living through startups that can “revitalize a city.” His website can be found here: https://ventureforamerica.org/. In terms of his platform, he has an idea for a universal basic income for all adults of $1000 per month. His idea is that if people have more money, they will spend more money, and the economy will grow.
  • Tulsi Gabbard–She is currently the Representative for Hawaii’s 2nd District and a combat veteran. She is no doubt a trailblazer, as she was the youngest person elected as a Hawaii representative at 21; she was the first American Samoan elected to Congress, as well as the first Hindu. She prides herself on being an environmentalist and a proponent for LGBT+ and women’s rights.
  • Julian Castro–He is the current Mayor of San Antonio and served as the 16th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Barack Obama from 2014 to 2017. He is very anti-Trump, as he recently held a rally near the site of the new wall, as well as publicly bashed President Trump’s State of the Union Address.
  • Kamala Harris–Simply through observation, Harris already seems like a very popular candidate. She is one of the current senators of California. According to her website, she will “provide sweeping tax cuts for the middle class,… raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, make higher education tuition-free for the vast majority of Americans,… protect the legal rights of refugees and immigrants, and expand access to affordable, quality health care with Medicare for All.” Her website can be found at https://kamalaharris.org/.
  • Marianne Williamson–Williamson, along with Andrew Yang, has no experience in politics. Rather, she is a spiritual teacher and author. She is running for president after an unsuccessful run as a representative for California’s 33rd District. Though she doesn’t have any experience in the government, she is no stranger to activism, as she has started several nonprofits for various social problems, such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the ‘80s.
  • Elizabeth Warren–Her platform is very Bernie-esque. The current Massachusetts Senator fights for the middle class. She has been in the news a lot recently for her opposition to President Trump and for President Trump’s critical view of her. She definitely has lots of name recognition due to the media.
  • Amy Klobuchar–Klobuchar is the current Senator for Minnesota and feels as though the views of the midwest have been unheard or misrepresented by the federal government. She is also very family oriented. In an article in The Economist, that can be found here https://www.economist.com/united-states/2019/02/16/democrats-should-take-a-good-look-at-amy-klobuchar, she is described as being “the opponent Donald Trump would least like to face” because she is the antithesis of the President. She promotes the small towns in the midwest, while he focuses more on urban areas. This may lead her to a surprising run.
  • Bernie Sanders–Crowd favorite Bernie Sanders is the most recent candidate to announce his run. His ideas that originated in his 2016 presidential run are prevalent among the other candidates that are running this year. It will be interesting to see how he fairs against some of the other “young guns” whose platform is very similar to his.
Tulsi Gabbard
Bernie Sanders

Republicans

  • Donald Trump–As you will notice, the list on the Republican side is rather small. As of the time I am writing this, February 25, 2019, the incumbent President is the only one who has announced that he is running again. He has also said that his campaign slogan will be “Keep America Great.” Though it does look like he will be experiencing some roadblocks in the future. There are other candidates who are exploring bids, like William Weld, or even people who are simply looking like candidates, like John Kasich, but President Trump is the only person to officially announce his run.

Editor: Makena Behnke

Holden Rants About a Topic That Isn’t Really Relevant But is Still Kind of Interesting Part 3

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The National Milk Producers Federation: Got Milk?

By Holden Hartle

Now, I love milk just as much as the next person, but would I dedicate my career to lobbying for it? Well, no, but Randy Mooney would. He is the Chairman of Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., which works within the interest group the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). I’ve never thought about it, but the dairy industry is booming in America (we do love our butter).

The NMPF is big on issues like the selling of raw milk. As you may know, milk must be pasteurized so as to get rid of bacteria. And, apparently, it is within the bounds of the law to sell raw milk that can make the consumer sick. In 2018, The NMPF has brought down legislation that makes raw milk more available, such as Amendment 30 from the 2018 Farm Bill. This amendment would have removed the restrictions that are currently in place that prevent the interstate sale of raw milk. But, the NMPF, along with Paul Ryan and Nancy Pelosi, shot down the amendment, stating that it would be, “an unnecessary risk to consumer safety and public health.”

The NMPF is also big on helping the environment. They are in the process of developing the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC). This is in place to clean up oil and fuel spillages on farms. Also, they started the National Air Emissions Study (NAEMS), which measures the pollution emitted by dairy farms and is finding ways to limit them.

Possibly the issue that the NMPF cares about the most is the price of milk. The Federal Government stopped regulating milk prices, meaning that the prices are very volatile based off of supply and demand. Instead of allowing milk prices to go up so that the milk industry can make more a profit, the NMPF is working on an “insurance-based federal safety net program to give farmers an effective tool to protect their farms in times of extremely low milk prices or high feed costs.” In short, instead of milk prices getting too low and farmers not making money, the NMPF is working on a way to prevent farmers from going bankrupt. Instead of being pro-industry, the NMPF is more concerned with the financial well-being of farmers.

On a separate note, if you are interested in doing graduate research on the dairy industry, the NMPF has a scholarship just for you, the NMPF National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program. The past winner was Isaac Salfer, who is in the process of getting his doctorate in animal sciences and is studying the effect of nutrient intake on circadian rhythms in the mammary gland of dairy cows.

In my research of the NMPF, I have come to the conclusion that the NMPF is adorable. As far as I can tell, the National Milk Producers Federation is genuinely interested in selling milk that is “safe, wholesome, and nutritious.” Nothing Federation members do, at least the things they promote, project them as money-hungry and greedy. They are active in changing legislation that promotes animal cruelty, and they care about the environment. And, on top of all that, they are creating a safety net for farmers if the price of their product falls too low. And on top of all that, they have a scholarship for graduate students who are pursuing a career in the dairy industry. Their actions seem like a certain brand of milk–wholesome.

If you would like to learn more of the NMPF, the link to the website referenced is http://www.nmpf.org

Editor: Leo Milmet

The U.S Bureau of Consular Affairs

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By Luke Langlois

Today, I am going to share a resource with you. If you were to collect one million bucket lists, you would likely read of people’s desires to “travel the world” many, many times. However, the U.S Bureau of Consular Affairs, a branch of the Department of State, would most likely tell “world travelers” to hold their horses. You see, the Bureau has a little something called the Travel Advisories, the links for which can be found below. These websites gives the world’s countries a 1-4 ranking, based on how suitable a nation is for American travelers.

Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Level 4: Do Not Travel

Let me break down these ranks. A Level 1 country is normally safe to travel to; you would just need to take the usual precautions. Level 2 countries are also usually fine places to travel. They are marked as such due to a slightly higher rate of petty street crimes or an increased risk of terrorist activities. Level 3 countries are not the ideal travel destinations. They usually are marked as having high rates of crime or increased risk of terrorist activity, which is relatively similar to a Level 2 nation. However, Level 3 countries are set apart from Level 2 due to domestic strife. For example, Haiti is marked as Level 3 due to political and civil unrest; the high rates of crime are a result of this. Traveling to Level 4 countries is an extreme risk. If you are bent on traveling to a Level 4 nation, expect resistance at every step of the way. It is important to note, though, that people are only explicitly banned from traveling to the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea; everywhere else is “fair game.”  The Bureau, quite literally, recommends that travelers write their wills, as well as check on their life insurance, before they travel to a Level 4 country. Level 4 countries are usually rampant in crime, especially towards outsiders from the west.  Level 4 countries are, most likely, experiencing deadly domestic conflict, or are under the rule of a violent dictator. Some of the Level 4 countries are even in the midst of a civil war. There are only eleven countries with this designation. The Bureau advises those that travel to Level 4 countries to stay in certain, safer, locations within the nation. These areas tend to be densely populated regions that are somewhat under control of the local government, which makes it easier for a response in case something were to happen to the traveler. There is much more to be seen on the website itself, but this hopefully has given you a good idea of the rankings system.

I am not a traveler, but I enjoy checking the Travel Advisories every once in a while to see what is going on in the world. You see, the media does not tend to focus on domestic foreign affairs unless they’re large and publicized issues that Americans are interested in. To get an idea of what is going on in the world, you would have to really pay attention to the media, or you would have to find international outlets. While nations with stability have credible news sources, many nations do not have seriously credible sources of news.  In short, seeing the state of countries around the world is not an easy thing to do. With this resource, you can see the world at a glance. If you at all are curious, check out the Bureau’s websites below. There’s always something to learn.

https://travelmaps.state.gov/TSGMap/

A map view of the world, with rankings.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

A list view of the world, with rankings.

Editor: Holden Hartle

The Easy Solution to the Partisan Problem

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By Political Commentator-Blogger Luke Langlois

The United States, like always, is divided. There is quite the ideological split between “red” and “blue,” Democrat and Republican. Democrats tend to dislike Republicans and vice versa. Optimistic citizens seem to believe that the issue of division will resolve itself and patriotism will reign supreme. This will never happen. Therefore, I offer a simple solution: split the country.

So, if political parties seem to believe that they can run the country better, they should prove it! First, as democracy is very important, there will be a vote in every state. People will vote on what party they want their state to be governed by. The winning party will be the only party allowed to govern the state for the period of the split. For the sake of consistency, there will be third parties on the ballot. Though, we all know how successful third parties are. After the vote has happened, there should be a relatively even split between Democratic and Republican states. Now, I will address all of your questions. Yes, all of them. First, I must address the issue of the United States territories and Washington D.C. The United States territories will be auctioned off to other countries to help pay the national debt. Washington D.C. will be airlifted, via helicopter, to a safe location, probably Canada. Now that that simple issue has been dealt with, let’s dive into the logistics.

The country will be split for a period of 50 years. Both groups will receive their own federal government modeled after the former United States federal government. Then, the governance will BEGIN! The states shall govern themselves for this period of 50 years. After the period of 50 years, a winner will be chosen and the winning party will govern the United States for the rest of her days. There will be a highly complex process for choosing the winner. First, political figures from each side will be dropped into the ocean and will fight to the death with water guns. Then, the two groups will be measured side by side with a variety of factors. We’ll get an unbiased allied country to look at GDP, unemployment rate, overall happiness levels, et cetera. The winner will be determined by the latter factors. In the extremely unlikely case of a tie, the party with the most survivors from the ocean battle will run the country.

After a winner is determined, Washington D.C. will be retrieved from Canada, again with a helicopter, and governance will go back to normal, except there will be only one party controlling the United States. One day, I hope this dream will be realized.

Editor: Makena Behnke

Confused? Here are the Propositions in a Nutshell

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By Political Correspondent Senior Blogger Holden Hartle

I’ve seen several ads throughout my life saying “Vote yes on Prop 5” or “Vote no on Prop 11.” But what is the “prop” I’m voting for? I know the majority of us can’t vote this midterm, but it’s nice to know what’s on the ballot and what may happen to our state, or even our country. Also, there is some terminology that was confusing to me, such as a bond is like another word for debt. Below are the propositions that will be on the 2018 midterm ballot.

  1. Authorizes bonds to fund specified housing assistance programs. This helps veterans, farmers, and homeless people in general.
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      Proponents argue that Prop 1 gives housing to those who can’t afford to buy housing on their own. And, what’s more, proponents say, Prop 1 would not raise taxes.

    • Opponents argue that this is on the ballot because there is such an influx of people coming into California, and to solve this problem requires a much larger solution.  
  2. Authorizes bonds to fund existing housing programs for individuals with mental illnesses. The state will use $140 million per year in mental health funds in order to pay back the $2 billion in bonds.
    • Proponents argue that Prop 2 doesn’t raise taxes. It will also provide help to those who previously couldn’t get help for their mental illnesses.
    • Opponents argue that the actual logistics of how the project will be funded would put many more people onto the streets.
  3. Authorizes almost 9 billion in bonds to fund projects for water supply and quality, watershed, fish, wildlife, water conveyance, and groundwater sustainability and storage.
    • Proponents argue that there will be more clean water in California, fixing of unsafe dams, and drought protection.
    • Opponents argue that the bonds go to private organizations and none of it directly goes to creating clean water.
  4. Authorizes $1.5 billion in bonds to fund construction for better children’s hospitals.
    • Proponents argue that Prop 5 will provide the latest technology for children battling all sorts of diseases.
    • Opponents argue that we are giving these bonds away with interest and that we need to find a better way to get children better care.
  5. Okay. So I’m gonna be completely honest with you, I’m not sure what Prop 5 is about. It has something to do with senior citizens paying property taxes and how this takes away from funding in other areas.
  6. Eliminates certain road repair and transportation funding and requires certain fuel taxes and vehicle fees to be approved by Congress.
    • Proponents argue that Prop 6 will lower gas prices, repealing the last tax instituted via the state legislature. Do you really need anything else?
    • Opponents argue that if you vote yes, roads and bridges will continue to deteriorate, clean-air laws will stagnate, and it is possible that more accidents will happen due to deteriorating roads and freeways.
  7. Conforms California Daylight Saving Time to federal law, and it allows state legislature to request a change to Daylight Saving Time Period.
    • Proponents argue that the act of going through a time change is detrimental to the human body, and that fewer injuries and deaths will happen if you were to vote yes.
    • Opponents argue that people will go to school/work in the dark. That’s it? Really?
  8. Regulates the amounts clinics charge for kidney dialysis treatment.
    • Proponents argue that companies are making bank from the costs of dialysis treatment, but they don’t invest in basic needs like sanitation. Voting “Yes” means costs will be regulated.
    • Opponents argue that Prop 8 will put many clinics out of business, which means that fewer people will get treatment, which means that more people will die.
  9. Prop 9 was taken off of the ballot by the Supreme Court, but basically it said that California would be split up into three different states.
  10. Expands local governments’ authority to place regulations on rent control of residential properties.
    • Proponents argue that Prop 10 will make rent increases more fair. Voting “Yes” will help the tenants.
    • Opponents argue that Prop 10 will make the housing situation worse. It also gives the government access to place fees on top of your rent.
  11. Keeps the past regulations of private emergency ambulance employees on call during work breaks so as to respond to emergencies.
    • Proponents argue that Prop 11 will continue saving lives and that seconds matter in a life and death situation. Therefore, we should keep the process in place.
    • Opponents argue that this could mean EMT’s are less likely to be available during emergency situations, which could lead to less immediate emergency care.
  12. Establishes new standards for confinement of certain farm animals as well as bans the sale of non-complying farmers’ products.
    • Proponents argue that the current way we treat animals is inhumane and that establishing minimum requirements would be a step in eliminating this cruelty.
    • Opponents argue that Prop 12 would not eliminate cruelty, as animals, such as hens, could be enclosed in as little as a one-square-foot cages.

 

If you would like to know more about any of these propositions, go to http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/

Editor: Bella Bier