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These days, it seems like we are provided with new evidence of the American public’s desire for Independent and third party alternatives to the Democratic and Republican parties on a regular basis. A Fox News poll released late last week found that a 57% majority of respondents think it would be a “good idea” if a third party were formed to run candidates against the Democrats and Republicans at all levels of government. Incidentally, an astute 4% minority noted that such parties already exist

Luis Gutierrez, the Illinois congressman leading the push for comprehensive immigration reform, still believes that a bill of some sort will pass before the November midterms.  “Immigration reform is still possible this year...The American people demand law and order and secure borders and comprehensive immigration reform is the only way to get there,” he said in a written statement. He added that President Obama will make it incumbent upon Congress to pass a bill soon.  He also touted that pas

On July 1, the federal government and dozens of states set up temporary “high-risk” health insurance pools for people denied health insurance due to so-called pre-existing conditions. These pools were one of the major provisions included in federal health care reform signed into law early this year. However, this is only a temporary fix intended to provide health insurance to individuals without coverage until the law goes fully into effect in 2014, when insurance companies will no longer be ab

With less than three weeks until Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveils his revised budget plan for the fiscal year starting July 1, he and the Democratic majority Legislature have done little to reduce the state’s projected $18.8 billion budget shortfall. Almost the only thing they have accomplished is agree that increasing taxes won’t be part of whatever solution they stitch together over the next 10 weeks.  “In this budget I refuse to raise taxes because there are so many other areas where Sacr

Republicans and Democrats are beginning to exit the two-party system in significant numbers.  According to USA today, there has been a veritable explosion of voters registering as unaffiliated since 2008, and the trend looks to intensify in 2010 and beyond.  Here are some of the more eye-opening statistics of the review, covering the period between 2008 and the present: 9% increase in independent voters in Colorado 11% increase in independent voters in Florida 13% increase in independent vote

Illegal drug traffickers and alien smugglers from Mexico are never running out of innovative ways to accomplish their goals.  Concerning illegal operations taking place across the border, these individuals are always looking to stay one step ahead of immigration enforcement officials in executing their logistics. In a Washington Examiner report, drug traffickers are now utilizing a new type of deception in their operations, with a cunning twist. This includes them now using cloned versions of

The most heated debate in Sacramento during the past two years hasn’t been budget cuts depriving poor children of health care or awarding billion-dollar tax breaks to corporations.  It hasn’t even been California’s massive multi-billion dollar budget shortfalls. Generating far more public outcry is the mandatory spaying and neutering of cats and dogs. In 2008, unsuccessful spay/neuter legislation logged some 32,000 letters and e-mails either in support or opposition -- many thousands more th

Forty-eight states face or have faced multi-billion dollar budget shortfalls and many are mirroring California, targeting state parks for savings. Supporters of the closures say parks are less essential than paying teachers, providing health care to the poor and continuing to offer other governmental services. Opponents argue that park closures don’t save much money, harm the economies of neighboring communities, and deprive residents of low-cost recreation. Last May, on the heels of a previo

Most everything we do is dependent in some way upon electricity. Without it, as we’ve all discovered during blackouts, our modern life screeches to an immediate halt, affecting everything from traffic lights to internet access. The California ISO (Independent System Operator) is a key link in the system that keeps the electricity flowing. They are a non-profit public-benefit corporation that manages most of the high voltage power grid in the state, moving huge amounts of power along the wholesa

California’s effort to fight global warming may be caught on the horns of a dilemma.  While the state (and especially Governor Schwarzenegger) wants to lead the nation in all things green, the matter of poor economic conditions and high unemployment has become an unexpected roadblock. Big Oil is all over the problem, wishing no harm to the environment but seeking only to protect unemployed Californians by canning the entire bill.  Schwarzenegger opened the door to their entreaties recently by