A Liberal Lives In Wisconsin

  America can and must learn from Jacinda Ardern . The youngest female prime minister in history, she has led New Zealand in the right direction. Much of her work has focused on cutting poverty. She has expanded free doctor visits and launched free school lunch, began offering free menstrual hygeine products at schools, raised the minimum wage gradually, increased pay for school teachers, made a year of college free, extended parental leave to 6 months, and launched the Provincial Growth Fund to invest in infrastructure in rural areas. Unemployment is now the lowest 15 years. Her response to the Christchurch mosque shooting was praised as a symbol of hope around the world, and in response she banned assault rifles in the nation. Her swift and calculated response to the COVID-19 pandemic limited the effects of the pandemic and earned her the highest approval rating of any New Zealand prime minister. She increased pay for nurses and doctors and repaired hospitals while opening a

There is no avoiding the subject: the death penalty involves cases of great emotional ordeals. Hearing stories of victims being raped, murdered, or otherwise brutalized invokes anger in any decent person, and usually Democratic governors even refuse appeals to save convicts. I akin it to if I were walking down the street and saw a man hanging off a bridge, a list of his deeds tattooed on his forehead. I would not save him and I know few who would. However, when laying the path for the futue of our nation, sentencing people to die is questionable at best. There is always the possibility that innocent people will be killed, and 5-10% of people sentenced to die later have their convictions overturned or are pardoned after death. That equates to hundreds of people murdered for crimes they did not commit. It is not effective at deterring crime. Murder takes place for money or out of pure hatred, and killing people is not a deterrent. If anything, the prospect of having to sit

The meat industry is an industry that is never percieved as harmful, but one that engages in practices worse than virtually any other formal market in the economy. I will not discuss animal cruelty, but abuses of environmental and human rights are impossible for any person to try to rationalize or condone. Livestock is responsible for 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions, nearly 65% of which is caused by cattle. In fact, nearly 86% of animals are humans and livestock, a startling figure of just how massive the demand for meat has grown. The loss of habitat is also tremendous: nearly 90% of Amazonian logging is conducted for the purposes of raising beef, and more grain goes to feeding animals than people, using tremendous land and food that could go to hungry nations. It also takes 3-9 times as much water to make beef or pork as it does to make fake meat, and agricultural runoff from cattle is responsible for massive dead zones, most notably in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to

George W. Bush added to his legacy of suffering, violence, hatred, and indifference when in 2004 he refused to renew the 10-year ban on assault rifles in the United States, and the impact of that has cost as many lives as those of Katrina, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In 1994, President Bill Clinton passed the Brady Bill, which mandated background checks and waiting periods on all guns, and the VCCLEA, authored by Joe Biden, among the many provisions of which was a 10-year ban on assault rifles. This ban kept the number of school shootings limited for a decade, as shown above, and school shootings have exploded in recent years. There is no reason to own an assault rifle. The second amendment was written in the context of 1787, when the United States had just won its independence using the power of militiamen who were able to be ready with a musket they kept on the mantle. Assault rifles are military-grade weapons (it is the Republicans who demand a massive military for the pur

          Justin Tudeau has certainly made an impact in his tenure thusfar. Here are a few examples of what has been achieved in Canada since 2015: 1. Advancing ocean conservation: Since Justin Trudeau took office, Canada has banned the shark fin trade, banned cetacean captivity, announced phaseouts of single-use plastics and the unsustainable salmon farm industry, multiplied the area of ocean under some type of protection from 1.5% to over 10%, and launched coastal cleanup and anti-IUU fishing efforts. 2. Improving infrastructure: Trudeau has nearly tripled what he promised in his campaign by creating a 12-year, $180 billion infrastructure plan focused on northern Canada, public transport, eco-friendly and affordable housing, and rural areas. 3. Legalizing marijuana: In 2018, Canada legalized marijuana for recreational and medicinal use, with the funds received to be used for public improvement projects. The process of expunging previous marijuana convictions has also begun. 4. Workin

     Police officers and those who wish to reform the police have one thing in common: they cannot stand police shows. For police officers, these shows skew reality. People get the impression that police work is an adventure, a drama that always brings definitive, quick closure, with no repercussions for anyone. The fact is that police work ranges from the mundane to the emotional, prank callers to victims of the most heinous crimes. There are lessons learned, and there are friends lost.      An estimated 1 in 5 people has police contact in a given year, which means that 4 in 5 draw their very perception of reality from media, which increasingly comprises television. These shows portray do-no-wrong cops who use brutality, violate the rights of defendants, and bypass rules in order to achieve their ends. This portrayal hurts law enforcement, for citizens often believe that law enforcement routinely does this, which can cause relations to deteriorate. On the flip side, some people think

     Participating in elections is the duty of every citizen. It is what makes a democracy work, and, beyond simply voting, there are other ways to take part: 1. Become a poll worker. Especially in the coronavirus pandemic, we are short poll workers. 2. Buy merch that serves as a walking advertisement to your cause and either garners support or ruffles a few feathers. 3. Encourage others to vote, either via absentee ballot or poll voting, in order to ensure that the full voice of America is heard. 4. Hold polite political discussions to spread ideas among friends. However, don't forget that the only person who would try to sway the opinions of an idiot is an idiot or a zealot. 5. Volunteer for a campaign, whether canvassing the neighborhood, participating in a phone bank, or petitioning for the party platform. 6. Buy yard signs. Much like merch, only these serve as a permanent testament to your beliefs and make a good statement. 7. Advocate for fair elections. We need to stand agai

  Mary Wollstonecraft was born on April 27th, 1759. Her father was a violent man and squandered the family wealth, including what the young Mary stood to inherit. She often found herself playing the role of protector for her mother and her sisters throughout the course of their lives. She soon developed friendships with intellectuals Jane Arden and Frances Blood, and she came to enjoy the debates and lectures that often took place among her friends as she continued to read independently. After working as an employee of a widow in Bath and providing hospice to her dying mother, she became what was called a governess in Ireland, serving essentially as a private tutor. Frustrated by the lack of career options, she soon began her career as an author, and with the help of a liberal publisher, set about translating books. She used the lack of female employment opportunities as the subject of her work Thoughts on the Education of Daughters in 1787. The following year, she published a

Lower taxes. Not exactly what people would consider a liberal statement, but dealing in absolutes as a Republican policy is the reason we continue to grow trillions of dollars into debt while Americans live a lower quality of life than some European nations. The solutions are common sense, but the majority refuse to accept them, owing to their xenophobia. Raising taxes on the rich is a first step in achieving this. Indeed people in these positions often give remarkable gifts to society and work hard. However, take Jeff Bezos as an example. He is worth $175 billion, meaning he could have 99% of his money taken away and still live a life thousands of times better than the average American. No person could conceivably spend that amount of money, and one must realize that expecting the well-to-do to contribute their fair share could cut the average tax burden in half (the top 1% control most of the nation's wealth). On the opposite end, we need to cut government spending

One oft-overlooked aspect of a thriving economy is a healthy environment. In job creation and money saving, this area is a powerhouse, sometimes in unexpected ways. Whale watching has experienced unprecedented growth, and, as of now, is a multi-billion dollar industry. The hunting of the grey whale was banned in 1946, and the commercial whale watching industry began less than ten years later. When commercial whaling was banned by the International Whaling Commission in 1982, whale populations began to increase, as did whale watching, and healthy industries soon developed in Patagonia and the Atlantic Coast. Resorts often make extra money taking people on tours of sea turtle nesting grounds, and, whilst doing so, deter poachers or others who would seek to harm or disrupt the nests. National parks annually draw some 330 million visits and have 20,000 employees, putting billions into the economy. Taking care of these ecosystems requires thousands of scientists and engineers t

Poverty is by political design. The greatest way to dissuade electoral participation is to make it an impossibility. People who have to work 3 jobs to scrape by while taking care of their kids are unlikely to register to vote and take time off to do so, not to mention volunteering in a campaign or contributing monetary support. In particular, Republicans cannot afford this. They've never had a good history with the popular vote to begin with. They lost the elections in 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016, and yet were able to put candidates in the White House by cheating. Add the fact that the only people with any reason to be Republicans are the elderly, the multi-generational wealthy, and the ignorant, all groups growing smaller, and desperation for the survival of one's party begins to sink in.   Minorities that have had their rights oppressed and those born less-well-to-do have no reason to vote red, and their participation poses a serious threat to the Republican party

9 out of 10 police officers are good people. Just today, a stranger walked into my home, and the police dealt with the situation promptly and with great concern, and I would especially like to compliment the chief for his work. It is the 1 out of 10 that is particularly troubling, and I am unfortunate enough to have encountered him. While I cannot name names both because it is an active investigation and for liability's sake, I can recount what occurred. I was working a shift at a fuel station, and I chased after a suspected drive off. When I stopped him, he reached in his center console as if to draw his gun, claiming that he would teach me a lesson. At this point, I fled to my job, and he followed me. He explained to my manager that he was a police officer and tried to claim that he was merely going to show me his badge. I could not have known, for he was off duty in his pickup truck. It is not just the visibility of these instances that has caused a deterioration

Hillary Clinton is often targeted for the tragedy that occurred in Bhengazi. In that event, 4 Americans were killed and, despite the claims that "Hillary Clinton slept," she was in the situation room working with top military and cabinet advisors alongside the president. 4 investigations were conducted and not a single one yielded any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Secretary Clinton.   Blatant hypocrisy by the GOP is revealed when this is compared to the Hurricane Maria response. 3,000 Puerto Ricans, American citizens, were killed, and the economy of the island was devastated. Two years after the hurricane, only one-third of relief funds reached the island, and, of the 9,000 requests for aid FEMA received, only 190 had been settled. Now, the earthquake and COVID-19 pandemic have pushed the already-high unemployment line above 40%. How many investigations have been launched into this situation? 0. These are millions of Americans suffering, and Trump has in

  The Civil War was about states' rights... to own human beings. Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanan tried to appease the Southerners that represented less than 20% of the population, despite being from New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania respectively. Fillmore passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which subjected any Northerners who refused to return fugitive slaves to treason charges; Pierce passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the Missouri Compromise and led to a violent reignition of the slavery debate; Buchanan intervened to ensure the Dred Scott Decision's outcome and refused to intervene when the Southern states seceded. Nowhere is blind nationalism with no regard for human suffering more blatant than in the states that love the Confederate flag, a symbol of the aforementioned treason. The flag, which is oddly the naval flag of traitors who sought to preserve among the worst instances of human cruelty in history, has become a symbol of

  According to PBS , around 40% of people in the United States are non-white, and by 2055 there will be no majority race. Just a few years ago, only 10% of film actors represented them, a number that has since jumped to 20%. Even with the drastic improvement, there is still a disparity of 100%, a number unacceptable in modern society. Why does giving a few actors jobs even matter? It's not about that... it's about all the people watching. According to a student at Etiwanda High School, "You start to wonder, 'why don't I see anybody like me?' It kinda brings you down." A student from Black River Falls High School brought up another good point, "A lot of the gays you see in Hollywood are over-the-top," and, indeed, the only representation of gays and non-white people has often been in animated sitcoms that were created for the purpose of culture stereotypification.      Minority representation allows people to feel valid. It makes them feel

America's gun statistics are simply ridiculous. When compared to other nations, our gun death rate is higher than all but 7 or 8 nations and is the highest of any developed nation . This includes all gun-related deaths, from homicide and suicide to self-defense and accidents. Because America has by far the largest population of any of the top ten nations, we also have by far the most gun deaths. The most startling statistic is the frequency of school shootings: the United States has 57 times as many school shootings as the other G7 nations (Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, and the UK) put together. In the past decade, hundreds of children have been killed at school, making the job of student more deadly than that of active-duty soldier. The same party that doesn't allow women to get abortions (while simultaneously touting individual liberty) doesn't seem to care about children dying in school shootings, because expressing such concern would be a slight

  The events on September 11th, 2001, were undoubtedly tragic, and they marked a major shift in America as a nation. The Patriot Act and other measures allowed unmitigated intrusion on American everyday life. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security led to a living nightmare for people of Middle Eastern descent regardless of whether they made weapons for ISIS or owned a flower shop and never even got a speeding ticket. Most strangely, the nation has decided to spend half of its budget fighting a threat that kills less people than falling vending machines and pianos while ignoring the destitute in the name of "fiscal conservatism." Sadly, this was all preventable in the worst sense of the word. Increasing markedly during the administration of Ronald Reagan, America aided rebels like Osama Bin Laden in their efforts to fight the Soviet Union in the Middle East, thereby indirectly fighting the USSR while evading a war. The Taliban was also a recipient of our

  Donald Trump has had some pretty pathetic responses to 9/11 over the past few years, all of which showcase a growing sense of self-importance and a diminishing grasp on reality. 2015 was a big year for him, the one in which he launched his campaign to be president. It was also a big year for his crackpot 9/11 statements. He claimed that thousands of people were cheering after the towers fell, a complete lie to push Republican paranoia that all people who look different than an old white man are infidels who seek to cause America harm, easily spoon-fed to their troop of ignoramuses. He also claimed to have persponally witnessed people jumping. Nevermind that his apartment was over 4 miles away... he took a tragic event and tried to make it about himself. He has since increasingly tried to claim that he was a critical part of the 9/11 response. In 2016, he said, "I helped [clear the rubble] a little bit." That last part designed to diminish one's ability to

     I often get the feeling that Republicans do not understand abortion. It is never an easy decision, done out of sheer indifference toward the sanctity of life. Nobody likes abortion, but those who deal in absolute and cry "murderer" when any attempt at a civil debate is made are hard to convince otherwise. These are difficult decisions to make, and the only reliable estimate of the reasons can be found below : 1. 74% of women are worried about the impact it would have on their lives. This includes women with jobs or school who cannot afford to give up their education or their career or divert attention away from the children they already have. 2. 73% of women are financially incapable of raising a child, and those who suggest adoption ignore the fact that 9 months of prenatal care and the act of delivery costs tens of thousands of dollars thanks to the flawed health system our nation has. 3. 2% of women say it was the result of rape or incest, but the fact of the matter i

Even great presidents can fall to events in their administration. Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon, depite being the right move to heal the nation, was seen as Nixon getting off, and an economic recession that began in his administration sank him and Jimmy Carter, who also had to deal with nuclear issues and the Iranian Hostage Crisis. George H.W. Bush was criticized for passing new taxes despite his promise not to, overshadowing his achievements. Each of these presidents served only one term. When Abraham Lincoln ran for president in 1864, his slogan urged voters not to switch out their horse midstream; that is, to change leaders in the midst of a crisis like the Civil War. This worked, but as shown above, has failed to hold true when americans are unhappy. And, unlike the men above, Donald Trump is far from a great president. During his first three years in office, he rode on an economic growth that first began under the Obama administration, an administration in w

     There is no bigger idiot, no bigger hypocrite in the entire United States than someone who doesn't support the Black Lives Matter movement.      Kneeling. It's a simple statement, but one that draws ire from those who fail to realize that a country is not a flag, but a group of people. Kneeling is not even a statement against the United States, but against a verse in the national anthem that glorifies slavery. (It's a lot longer than the small portion we know.) An even better point is that opposing kneeling is disgracing those who served to protect that right.      People who use the statement "All Lives Matter" while pretending not to be racist are the classic example. All lives cannot matter until black lives matter. Saying you like tea isn't an anti-coffee statement, and the Black Lives Matter movement never said that all lives don't matter. However, black people are being killed by the police, and pretending this is not the truth is willfull ignor

Immigration is a tough issue, and by no means was the policy of the Obama administration perfect. However, Trump seems hellbent on racism, cruelty, deceit, and virtually every other atrocity possible. The worst site of this cruelty is the Mexican border. Here, six children have died in just over two years thanks to the incompetence of the Trump administration. They are separated from their families and put into cramped cages without sanitary products, reportedly having to drink from toilets. No children died during the Obama administration because he pursued a policy of recognizance bond and keeping family bonds. Trump increased the bond for immigrants by upwards of 1,000% and dramatically increased the amount of separations while turning away several million asylum seekers. For up to 2 years, immigrants seeking to enter the country legally are essentially held in concentration camps. Most notable, however, is his policy of trying to build a wall. Despite the obvious