Search query: pennsylvania

It is no secret that the two major parties in the U.S have actively worked to rig the election system for their own benefit and so they can drown out any independent voices. I was reminded of this fact earlier this year when the Florida legislature was unable to come up with a new district map after the previous one was found to be illegal. Inspired by my home state, I want to shed light on a few other obstacles the parties put in front of our democracy. Things like... Gerrymandering. It used t

On October 20, shortly after the Democratic presidential debate, former U.S. Senator Jim Webb (D-Va.) decided to withdraw from the 2016 Democratic primary. If your first thought is bewilderment over who Jim Webb is, it only highlights how the media has overlooked this presidential candidate. Jim Webb is acutely aware of the current percentage of independent voters to Democrats and Republicans, and not only in the interests of a possible run as an independent candidate. He knows that it is the i

Earlier this year, now-presidential candidate Bernie Sanders proposed a bill to spend $1 trillion over a five-year period in order to "rebuild America’s crumbling network of roads, bridges and transit systems." Yet his refrain about the need to repair the nation's "crumbling infrastructure" invites the basic question, just how bad is America's infrastructure? The most comprehensive and authoritative diagnosis comes from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Its 2013 report card assess

Anti-BDS resolutions, legislation, and advocacy claim that BDS is the main influence on an 'alarming rise in anti-Semitism.' Is there a rise in anti-Semitism, and is the cause the BDS movement?, Jewish citizens in the U.S. are most likely to be victimized by religious hate crimes. Religious hate crimes make up 17% of all hate crimes, and 60% of those are aimed at Jewish citizens. According to FBI statistics Many polls measuring anti-Semitism have come out recently. Most shocking is the Anti-De

The latest headlines on nonpartisan voting rights from California and across the nation. Enjoy. Lawmakers, Election Experts Talk Voting Rights At CA Nonpartisan Primary Summit / Elections summit takes stock of California’s nonpartisan, top-two primary reform Sources: IVN and CA Fwd My Take:  Straight forward, these two pretty much tell the story of the Summit, held in Sacramento and co-sponsored by the Independent Voter Project and California Forward. Letter from Nationwide Legislators: We

BDS means Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions. In 2005, the movement rose out of civil society in Palestine as a call to the world for solidarity against the illegal actions of Israel toward Palestinians, and the unequal treatment of Palestinians inside the state of Israel. Recently, U.S. states started passing legislation and resolutions against the BDS movement and its supporters. The definition of BDS in the bills and resolutions is disparaging, contending that BDS is anti-Semitic and seeks t

There was general consensus among the public that Carly Fiorina won the first GOP "happy hour" debate and the poll numbers showed it. Now, even with high poll numbers, Fiorina is at risk of being relegated to CNN's undercard debate in September. "Despite being solidly in the top 10 by every measure, the political establishment is still rigging the game to keep Carly off the main debate stage next month," Fiorina's deputy campaign manager, Sarah Isgur Flores writes. According to Fiorina campaig

After weeks of pressure to release detailed policies regarding his positions on immigration, Donald Trump published a slate of reform ideas. Among these is the call to "end birthright citizenship," whereby children born in the United States – including those of immigrant parents – automatically become American citizens. Approximately 400,000 children are born to illegal immigrants in the U.S. each year. Trump has decried the problems of "birth tourism" and "anchor babies" – a term he defends, i

My heart rate suddenly increased, the casual conversation with my uncle had just crossed the line into politics. Not knowing exactly how I got here but deeply aware of one startling fact; I just breeched the topic of medical marijuana with a religious conservative. Shaking his head, my uncle expressed his grievances over the recently passed medical marijuana bill in the Pennsylvania Senate. He had an impressive grasp on the cannabis jargon, citing low-level THC strains, edibles, cannabinoids an

The first round of the Republican primary debates will be held Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The field of Republican presidential candidates stands at 17, but only 10 will be included in the primetime debate at 9pm ET, while the other seven will compete in an undercard debate at 5pm ET. The 10 candidates who will appear at the prime-time debate are: Donald Trump, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, retired n