Articles by Michael Hoang

American citizens are entitled to the freedom of association: to affiliate with any group of like-minded people to promote and advocate toward a collective goal. During the 1790s, America witnessed the birth of its first political party system, comprised of the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party. The initial purpose of the party system was to create a system that encouraged the unification of like-minded think tanks for an efficient execution of the legislative process. In thi...

Over the long weekend, I got to thinking about leadership and about U.S. presidents -- both past and present. Our country has celebrated 44 presidents, and while good and bad decisions were made, the tremendous achievements of our leaders are undeniable. Biases aside, our former presidents possessed traits of leadership, commitment, and dedication to our country that are timeless. In identifying these traits, we can better build an ideal for future leaders. Leading our country to independence, ...

Yesterday, in a classroom of about 400 people, my professor asked: “Are you free?” America is the Land of Freedom. People come to the U.S. assuming that their choices will be respected, exercising their human right to the unconfined pursuit of happiness. I answered "Yes," anticipating being among the majority. To my amazement, 60 percent of my class answered "No." Now that’s worth writing about... The very first written record of freedom is “Amagi,” an ancient Sumerian cuneiform originally mea...

When looking at politics in a marketing perspective, there are several interesting facts that a politician could really learn from to improve the dynamic interrelation between the supply and demand market of political participation for the American people. Given the mass coverage of public appearances, social media, and advertising during the 2012 elections, around 57.5 percent of the voter population cast a ballot. We know around 20 percent of these voters are political junkies, so the questio...

Recently in my political science class, my professor started out the lecture by asking: “What makes a person an American citizen?” Besides a few orthodox answers regarding citizenship (green-card, documents and territory), there were an overwhelming amount of answers mentioning “experiences” and “values.”Not races. Not language. Not origins. Regardless of our differences, living in the land of freedom and pursuing the American Dream is what ties us together. No matter what language we speak, wh...

Whether you support or oppose his controversial acts, Edward Snowden’s revelations of the NSA surveillance program resurfaces the issue of government intrusion, and reminds us to be extra cautious when disclosing tightlipped information across different social media platforms. You could be a dedicated housewife who secretly enjoys the excitement of weightlifting, a masculine energetic athletic who appreciates the art of sewing, or a Republican who believes in equal marriage. Regardless, you and...