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We hear it all the time. It is probably one of the most discussed issues in American politics -- money and its influence. Why does money have such power in our electoral and governing processes? (According to a June 2015 New York Times / CBS News Poll, 84% believe money has too much influence.) The answer is actually quite simple. The reason is staring at us from the mirror. We, the voters, allow it. Power can be the result of position. Elected officials at all levels have power because of the

While a majority of Americans - 52 percent - now favor weed legalization, the federal government has done very little to act on the changing views of the nation. Many states, however, have taken matters into their own hands, passing legislation to better represent the changing attitudes of their residents. Today, 4 states - Oregon, Colorado, Washington, and Alaska - plus our nation's capital, Washington, D.C., have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, 24 states have legalized medical ma

In June, Bernie Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont and candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, made waves in the world of political punditry when he suggested in a letter to the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee that the party should sanction more primary debates, and that some of those debates should even include Republican candidates for the presidency. Paul Singer of USA Today wrote at the time that “Sanders said inter-party debates would show a clear co

It is time for America to rethink its position on grass. While one notorious weed commands attention from the media, the government, and the public, another less assuming grass is quietly exacerbating some of America’s most pressing issues — without any partisan baggage.Since the advent of the suburbs, American homes have featured green, manicured lawns -- as much a staple in the imagery of the American Dream as white picket fences, mailboxes, and smiling children. But with drought, air pollut

Since the release of the book, Clinton Cash, by Peter Schweizer, a conservative scholar and Republican consultant, Hillary Clinton has faced scrutiny over whether contributions to the Clintons and their charitable initiatives influenced her behavior while secretary of state. Schweizer’s discussion of the book itself generated a donation-related micro-scandal. Shortly after his appearance on ABC’s This Week, where the host George Stephanopolous declared that ABC News had found “no proof” that an

Jeb Bush is expected to announce he is running for president in 2016 -- at some point. Right now, he is reportedly skirting campaign finance laws in order to build a super PAC that is "unprecedented in size and scope," according to Politico. Bush is not the only candidate in the race who is challenging whatever campaign finance laws the U.S. has left after a number of Supreme Court rulings over the past few years. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that at least one super PAC is making plans

The Washington Post recently shared the story of Joseph Rivers, an aspiring businessman with dreams of hitting the big time. He set out for Hollywood with $16,000 in life savings, hoping to start his own music video company -- his shot at the American Dream. However, he never made it. As Rivers was about to set out from the Albuquerque Amtrak station, a DEA agent boarded his train. The agent asked several of the passengers about their destination, including Rivers. Maybe Rivers was a little too

Over the weekend, several potential Republican presidential candidates met for a fundraiser in Las Vegas, Nevada. One of the more noted attendees, casino owner Sheldon Adelson, may be leaning toward supporting one of the GOP aspirants. Adelson, whose net worth is estimated at more than $30 billion, received notoriety in 2012 when he reportedly donated $150 million to Republican candidates. When asked about wealthy benefactors contributing to the political process, Adelson said in 2012, "I'm ag

Controversy over Indiana's " Religious Freedom Restoration Act" is being heralded as a bellwether for national opinion by some LGBT advocates. The bill gave businesses the right to deny service to someone if providing that service conflicted with the owner's religious beliefs. After national backlash, Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed a revision to the law specifying that private business owners cannot use it to justify discrimination based on sexual orientation. "I think everyone on both si

1 = 499. This is not a true or false math quiz. It is a statement of fact. One person not associated with any special interest group, dedicated to the idea of election reform, willing to expend the time and effort to get something done rather than waiting for someone else to act equals Nevada State Senate Bill #499. Back up to September 2013. Nevada has closed partisan primary elections for county, state, and federal elections. No group working election reform in the state had a legislative pl