Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
One Problem With the Constitution
Article 2 of the Constitution sets up the executive branch. In section 1 it specifically says “No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the same time of the adoption of this constitution, shall be illegible to the office of president…” This basically means that any person born in any country other than United States cannot run for president.
By aoirhg a;oeirhg;o8 years ago in The Swamp
Net Neutrality: A Balanced Approach to Both Sides
In one corner: The FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. And then there's the people, the group paying for things. Because let's be honest, those living in categories of prosperity and wealth might care but aren't nearly as affected by the possible (and I mean possible,not actual) downsides of certain parties having theoretical control over what we view. The issue for them would be price, which is not a practical issue for someone in the USA making over 75 grand a year.
By TLS Sherpa8 years ago in The Swamp
Syrian Santa
It wasn't long before Christmas in Amman, the capital of Jordan. I'd overheard a stranger talking about a Muslim Syrian refugee who was working as a Santa Claus actor in one of Amman's many malls. Using a little internet sleuthing, I managed to find the mall and get in touch.
By Alex Sinclair8 years ago in The Swamp
Trump's Forbidden Words: 'Fetus,' 'Transgender' Among Them
From the files of the insanity that is the Trump administration comes news that there are now certain words that are no longer supposed to turn up in any official documentation. Thanks to the Centers for Disease Control in the United States, the public at large can see the words that are deemed so terrible that they can no longer appear in government documents.
By Christina St-Jean8 years ago in The Swamp
Taken By Storm
As winter develops, we are getting our fair share of shitty weather here in the UK. A couple of months ago, we had warnings for Ireland & Scotland as Hurricane Ophelia advanced. It was the first storm of its magnitude to hit the UK in three decades — in fact, it was 30 years to the day since the last one. I remember that very well. It turned out that Ophelia wasn’t as hell-bent on destruction as the 1987 storm; it by-passed most of Great Britain without so much as a wheelie bin knocked over (Ireland was not quite as lucky — three people sadly died as a result of the high winds).
By Katy Preen8 years ago in The Swamp
The Crisis That is: Net Neutrality
What is Net Neutrality? Net Neutrality prohibits any form of internet service from increasing or decreasing internet speeds along with prohibiting them from blocking certain content or websites. Internet services such as AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, and Sprint would be able to charge their customers more money in order to utilize their services, thus stating that the internet would have to be paid for just like a utility payment — gas, electricity, water, etc.
By Chloe Larson8 years ago in The Swamp
People Like Us: The Proximity of Empathy
The trial of Ratko Mladic was in the news a few weeks ago, as we saw his lengthy trial draw to a close a full 22 years after he committed his terrible crimes. Justice has been served on many of the major players in the Bosnian War, although there are still some trials ongoing (and some peculiar outcomes). I was a child during the time of the war, and living in the UK, so what I remember of it was gleaned from half-remembered news reports in the early 1990's (I'm glad my parents didn't switch the news off when I was in the room—it's important for children to learn things through the media, rather than face the issues ill-equipped as adults). I didn't appreciate the magnitude and nature of the events at the time—either some things were not reported, or I didn't give the reports my fullest attention—but now I watch and read evidence of the atrocities and I am horrified. A mere 50 years after the Holocaust, there was another genocide within Europe, this one within my lifetime. Have we learned nothing from (very recent) history? The killings were systematic and large-scale. The scenes could easily have been from 1940's Germany or Poland. It feels too soon for history to repeat itself. I hope it never happens again.
By Katy Preen8 years ago in The Swamp
The Politics of World War 1 and How It Shaped Modern European and World History
World War 1, the often overshadowed war, was in my humble opinion, the most influential event in 20th Century European history, and possibly world history for that matter. Aside from all the wartime advancements, such as tank warfare, amphibious assaults, and aerial terror bombing, the political environment was completely reformed and shows us how a breakdown of these integral positions of leadership can lead to mass destruction and millions murdered in the most brutal of ways. What led up to it was a sheer lack of diplomacy.
By Drew Williams8 years ago in The Swamp
“UNICEF Report: Almost 50 Million Children Displaced”
Imagine being all alone, detached from your home and possibly your family. Fleeing from inevitable issues, wondering when you can ever return home. In present time, that is how life is for nearly fifty-million children around the world, according to a recent UNICEF—United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund—report. Notably, the reasoning for there being so many suffering children refugees is the impact of certain areas fraught of great political and economic disruption. With continually increasing rates of children refugees, it is fundamental to understand how this refugee crisis will not only impact the children.
By Chloe Larson8 years ago in The Swamp
Best Podcasts for Political Junkies
In these troubling political times, we need doses of sanity where we can get it, and that's where the best podcasts for political junkies come in. The best political podcasts blend policy discussion, insights, and a touch of humor. This day and age, it's vital to be entertaining and informative at the same time.
By Joseph Farley8 years ago in The Swamp
