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As we learn through the study of history, important issues are never stagnant, but ever-changing based on many catalysts of the day. Today, the perspective Americans have of the Middle East, the culture, and, more specifically, the people is a major question. The negative connotations associated with these individuals is unfortunate, but undeniable.If we look back in history, we see many of the same trends. From the first arrival of Europeans in the New World all the way into the early 20th Cent

I am the Central Florida spokesperson for Florida Independent Voting (fivorg.com). I have been elected to public office as a partisan candidate (state legislature) and also as a nonpartisan candidate (school board).All taxpayers, regardless of their party affiliation or no party affiliation voters, pay for major party primary elections under our current closed primary system. Over 2.9 million Florida voters are left out of the important choices made in primaries. I am one of the growing number o

With the November general election a few months away and several primary and special elections ahead, the Presidential Commission on Election Administration released a report in January outlining several recommendations to shore up voting lines, increase voter participation and registration, and improve the voter experience. The commission specifically called for states to encourage the use of schools as polling places. Yet, some state election boards and school administrations have pushed back

It seems that in every cycle there is debate about which states should hold the first presidential primary elections. Some state always seems to try to jump ahead of Iowa and New Hampshire. Since 1972, the Iowa Caucuses have been first in the nation and New Hampshire has been the first "primary" since 1920. There, of course, have been states that have attempted to circumvent Iowa and New Hampshire, claiming that they don't truly represent America as they are small states with seemingly narrow

As long as I count the votes, what are you going to do about it?  - William M. “Boss” Tweed, c. 1871 History shows that for as long as the right to vote has existed, that right has been threatened. Thomas Nast’s caricature portraying “Boss” Tweed leaning against a pedestal on which stands “the Ballot” symbolizes a dark time in late nineteenth century America, where the “playing field” of politics was leveraged by party bosses and machine politics at the expense of the voters. Tammany Hall-era p

Primaries first began in the early twentieth century as a response to increasingly strong party control over elections. At the time, voters wanted a larger say in who would be chosen as their candidate, instead of the long-standing tradition of party bosses choosing who would run for office. Progressive reformers viewed direct primaries as a way for constituencies to increase transparency and allow for citizens to participate in the electoral process. As primaries became a feature of local, stat

Can digital currency bring forth a new age in economics? Are the nations of the world ready or willing to surrender control of the monetary system or tolerate an unregulated digital economy? Bitcoin, the newest digital currency, is about to answer these question and raise many more. Introduced in 2009, Bitcoin is a new form of currency that exists in electronic form. According to Bitcoin.org, “Bitcoin is the first decentralized digital currency.” It is unregulated, open source, peer-to-peer cur

When one says the phrase “American Indian,” what comes to mind? Is it the fierce looking warrior on horseback or perhaps the individual in war paint holding a repeating rifle, ever ready for battle? We have so many political and societal issues being discussed in regards to 21st century American citizens, yet it is truly rare to hear any issues relating to present day American Indians. “Present day” being the key phrase. Isn’t it unfortunate that a group of people America forced to accept a Eu

There is one group in Washington that believes it is in the best position to bridge the partisan divide hampering many of the decisions in Congress. No Labels is composed of lawmakers and policy leaders of both major political parties. “A majority of Americans are so upset with all the gridlock that has stopped every sort of action that moves the country forward,” said Nancy Jacobson, a co-founder of No Labels. The organization was created after the Affordable Care Act passed without any Repub

More key provisions of the the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, are slowly rolling into effect after being passed by the 111th Congress in 2010. Perhaps most controversial among them is the individual mandate. The individual mandate, as associated by Obamacare, requires all U.S. citizens buy private health insurance or face a penalty, with some exemptions. Although Obama campaigned against the mandate during his 2008 campaign, the policy was ultimately added to the bill in order to