Wednesday, May 24, 2017


Article

   On May twenty-second, an article was posted about water pollution all over the United States. It talks about the water problem in Flint Michigan and how it isn't getting fixed. It also brought up two other instances of water pollution such as the one in Navajo where it is a matter of getting clean drinking water from miles away or risking the chances of getting cancer from the water since there was a uranium mine built there ages ago. The last location it brought up is in Charleston West Virginia where the water has been banned from consumption after some officials discovered a licorice smell coming from the water after a chemical leak. The reasoning behind nothing really being done for these people is because of our unequal economic system, systemic problems, and negative stereotypes towards people causing little to nothing being done for them. 

   This is relevant to what we are doing in class because water pollution is the topic for the project I am making a video for. This shows what can happen because of water pollution which can help me and my partner on our video. These stories also give us insight into how we can help stop it and possibly end it in the US. While looking for this story I also found other interesting articles that could help our research for the video and make it more credible. This article has indirectly helped me a lot with this video we are making in class.

   I think this article is important because if people are having trouble with the basic thing needed for life on earth we should try and help them not leave them out to dry and deal with it on their own when they can't. Even if they are a lower social class or different race they should still get the same things the rich white people do in America. I think it's a disgrace to have people struggle with finding water in a country as advanced as America. Even though it's a problem in America there are far worse problems in other countries but this article brings light to the problems in our own country. We should at least try and help these people rather than blame their problems on them when it isn't even their fault, it's the fault of the failing government we made and how riddled with corruption and corporate funding controlling it.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017


Article

   Today, the Justice Department appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian interference with the election. Mueller has authorized to prosecute federal crimes in the federal investigation. This appointment was supposed to be used to calm the public after Trump fired the last FBI Director James Comey. Most of the White House does not agree that giving him special counsel is a good idea. Meanwhile, some officials such as Rosenstein believe that special counsel is necessary for the investigation to be thorough and effective.

    This doesn't really relate to what we are going over in class but it relates to Congress and the Executive branch which we went over during course work. Since he was elected after the previous one was fired it shows how Congress would rather use someone with experience over someone with new ideas. Since they can't decide one whether or not to give him special counsel shows how bi-partisan our government is and how they make every little thing difficult. This whole situation would be easier to deal with if Russia didn't get involved in the first place.

   I think this is important because it could be something Trump is remembered for like Nixon is remembered for Watergate, and Clinton is remembered by Monica Lewinski. It could be his downfall or it could lead to a bad situation between the U.S. and Russia. Most likely it will turn out to be nothing and a big waste of time for both parties involved. I just hope once this investigation is over we will start using our resources wisely and for a good purpose or cause. It just seems to be an ongoing process that doesn't have an end in sight, or maybe it is actually being used to cover up something else that the government doesn't want to be leaked.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Article

   On May 2nd, 2017, an article was posted on CNN about a group called The Urban League. They talk about how Trump is jeopardizing a lot of progress that was mad while Obama was in office. The Trump administration is wanting to move funding from public schools to the defense program. When Obama was in office 15 million new jobs were created and "high school graduation rates soared." In response to hearing Trump's budget plans The Urban League is calling for his administration to put $2 trillion into job training, education and health insurance in specified areas. They are also asking for another $2 trillion to go into infrastructure improvements as well as raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

   This relates to what were are learning in class because it talks about Trump influencing public policy. Trump has very heavy and strict policies on specific groups to benefit the US as a whole. Some people don't agree with his ideas and think efforts should be put somewhere else. The Urban League is trying to get the word out that Trump isn't helping out Americans rather he is just protecting them from outside dangers but we have to fend for ourselves. Since Trump has used many executive orders he is essentially taking out the people's voice in these controversial matters since the people elect their representatives in congress.

   I think this article has good and bad ideas in it. It is right that we aren't focusing on fixing the US rather just protecting it. But it needs to take into account many people work on the budget and can't just give away $4 trillion to benefit what a small group of people want. There need to be changes made on both sides of this matter, the government needs to focus more on its own people rather than focus heavily on immigrants and terrorists. While on the other hand, the people need to take into consideration that the people who work for the US government have years of experience and years of schooling behind that to be able to work as a government official and are more qualified to handle situations than the average citizen or interest group.