Immigration Issues
What life in America is like for Syrian refugees who actually make it into the country.
Refugees in Africa are facing a crisis. The largest refugee camp in the world has been dealing with a threat of shutdown.
The Muslim Ban
An interview with Washington state governor, Jay Inslee, and his take on what's going on in the country right now. My personal opinion: Keep your eye on this man. He's going places...
Going into the latest judgement upholding the ban on the ban, here are questions that were probably considered by the judges.
The outcome of Thursday's court of appeals ruling and Trump's now-infamous response to it.
This could be an incredibly overreaching development, if it is allowed to be enacted. Keep your eye on this one...My personal opinion: I find this very disturbing and hope it's not allowed to see the light of day before it has to be taken to court and struck down.
Executive Orders
Executive orders are largely unregulated. Regardless of who or what party is in charge, is it time to look into making some changes in how they work and what they can and can't do? My personal opinion: Yes, it's time to look into this.
Trump passed three more executive orders this week. These ones haven't been getting much buzz on my social media.
An update on the Great Wall of Mexico and it's true cost on the American taxpayer.
Miscellaneous
This small town voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump. The hope is that he'll restore jobs to the impoverished region. Only time will tell, of course, if he'll manage to do that.
LGBT rights are being threatened on a state level in many different states, including Washington.
Net neutrality is once again in the news. The days of net neutrality may be numbered this time...
The GOP
Town hall meetings didn't go very well for the GOP this week...
Hypocrisy, thy name is GOP...
Hypocrisy, thy name is Donald Trump...
The Betsy DeVos Confirmation
Large, sweeping changes to the education system might be more difficult to enact than we might think.
Betsy DeVos was confirmed, against the best efforts of the Democrats. What will come of this?
The powers of the vice presidency and how they have changed over time.
While the country was focused on the Betsy DeVos confirmation, San Francisco did this...Pay attention to this one, readers, things like this have a way of spreading.
Pipeline Issues
It's official! Seattle has voted to divest its money out of Wells Fargo.
The Army Corps of Engineers has cut the time short for you to communicate with them.
The history of the Army Corps of Engineer's involvement in decisions like the Dakota pipeline.
Military veterans are heading back to Standing Rock.
The Elizabeth Warren Shutdown
What exactly is the rule McConnell used to shut Warren down?
Memes, social media, and feminism. In the aftermath of Elizabeth Warren's shutting down by Mitch McConnell, these are things that need to be considered.
This could all end up blowing up in the GOP's face, or it could be what they wanted all along. There is far more behind-the-scenes strategy than we will never be privy to. Everything we see on tv is for show, or at least it seems like it to me.
The Environment
Here is an idea about taxing carbon emissions and giving the money back to the people of America. By conservatives...I know, right?!
Scientists in Japan are working to create drones that could replicate pollination normally done by honeybees. With honeybees in crisis, this normally ridiculous-sounding idea is now sounding more necessary than ever.
Opinion Pieces
Will the Democrats follow in the GOP's footsteps and become the new Party of No? Is that even the best choice for them to make?
Protest Updates
I couldn't find any specific information about protests in Seattle in the near future, but I did find an interesting site. This looks like a promising website to find up-to-date information on protests around the country.
Civics 101:
In this week's installment of the Declaration of Independence-
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.
Video of the Week:
This comes courtesy of my friend Mika, who passed this along my way. It was too funny to pass up. Make sure to watch all of them, if you have the time!
Question of the Week: What is the nature of humankind, both conservative and liberal?
This comes out of a brief discussion I had with a coworker this week when he saw the book I am currently reading. I haven't finished reading it yet, but hopefully by next week I will be able to use it for my first book recommendation on this blog!
Anyway, the basic question posed by this book is: Is man inherently good or inherently evil? My coworker reacted in a way that made it clear he thought it was ridiculous that humans are inherently evil. It reminded me of something I have thought for a while, in terms of liberals and conservatives. This is deeper than Democrat and Republican. Liberals are often accused of being optimists, which means you would assume that they were people who think humans are inherently good, right? I am about to blow your mind: I pose this hypothesis-Conservatives are the optimists, people who think humans are inherently good, and Liberals are the pessimists, who think humans are inherently evil. Think about it; conservatives, generally speaking, want less rules, less regulations, more freedom. Why? Because they think people don't need a higher government power to keep them in line. They feel that people will do the right thing on their own, without being commanded to. Liberals, on the other hand, generally want more government regulation and control. Why? Because in their eyes, they know people will not do the right thing, if given the chance. People will always take advantage of each other, perhaps because they have been the victims of this too many times to believe otherwise.
There is not necessarily a right or wrong to this. It's just what makes the most sense to you as a person. Who knew that politics included so much philosophy? Spoiler alert, politics is philosophy.
Do One Thing:
Did I do last week's one thing? Yes I did! On Saturday, I went for a walk out at Northgate to find my new doctor's office. I had come from the food court at the mall and walked while eating a coconut ice cream cone. It was delicious and I didn't think about politics and all the garbage in the world right now. It wasn't raining and I was able to find the building and discovered it's really close to my new workplace, when we end up moving there!
So, for this week's one thing, let's see...Talk to a neighbor or a stranger. What about? Anything. The idea is to connect with somebody, anybody, even if just for a moment.
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