Obama's Executive Order

As the republicans maintain control of the house and regain control of the senate after the midterm elections. There are many questions as to how President Obama will keep his promises to the american people. On the issue of illegal immigration, President Obama is being pressured into enacting an Executive Order that will allow millions of illegal immigrants to continue to reside in the United States with Legal Status. However, this is facing a good amount of criticism from republicans and constitutionalists alike. They are saying this would bypass the constitution, since it is congress, not the president, who is required to write and pass laws. It will be interesting to see whether or not President Obama moves forward with any executive action regarding illegal immigration with all of the roadblocks that are now in his way.

College Students Not Receiving History and Government Education

In many 4 year colleges, students are failing to learn basic information about U.S. History and U.S. Government. There are many factors that have led up to this, many colleges actually do not require courses in Economics, U.S. History and U.S. Government. This may be having an effect on today's youth and their perception of Politics and Economics. If a nations youth does not have an understanding of these topics they can not make informed decisions while voting. This also generates can generate disinterest in the american political system. Most youth are apathetic when it comes to politics. This creates the low voter turnout and a political system that does not work for young americans. Only 49% of americans believe that college students are getting what they pay for. Something needs to change because the situation is not getting better, more and more students are entering college and leaving not prepared to enter the workforce.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/articles/study-finds-many-colleges-dont-require-core-subjects-like-history-government-1413345842?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsForth

Apathy for the 2014 Elections

Voter turnout is speculated to be one of the lowest ever this midterm election. Voters want to see change in washington, but see more of the same in both political parties. Negative campaign ads increase as the only thing candidates are running on is "I'm better than the other guy." As this apathy increases among voters, campaigns are trying to figure out new ways to appeal to them. 

Voters are becoming more and more agitated with those in Washington. This is making it harder to win as an incumbent. During Eric Cantor's, the republican house majority leader, reelection campaign he was defeated by a relatively unknown tea party candidate David Brat. Because he is a congressman with such a high ranking within the republican establishment, it shows that there is a lot of discontent from people within their own party. This is also true for democrats, many have either switched their vote to republican or even looked to third parties. This election maybe a wakeup call to those in both parties, they need to figure out a way to excite their bases and restore trust in Washington.

Climate Science is Uncertain

Over the past decade, there has been a strong divide in the debate regarding global climate change. There are those who believe in global climate change and others who are called climate "deniers." However this issue isn't so cut and dry. Science is very far from being able to predict the climate over the next year, let alone next 100 years. That being said, we do know that humans play a role in affecting the climate, particularly in carbon emissions. Although it may be minimal, there are ways we can create policy to help curb our impact on the environment.

However these regulations and policies, if put into place, can have an impact on the global economy. It is important that we take this and many other things into consideration before we act. Since climate science is not certain, we should not over regulate and stifle economic production while the threat of climate change is not imminent. What can be done instead, is set long term goals which lower the human impact on the climate.  This can be done by encouraging alternative energy and continuing to lower carbon emissions with developments in technology. The fear mongering on this issue has created the notion that if we do not act quickly against climate change, we are all going to be doomed. This is utterly not true.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/articles/climate-science-is-not-settled-1411143565?mod=trending_now_4

Healthcare Law Will Not Be A Crucial Issue In The Midterm Elections

In the upcoming elections, republicans and democrats are directing their campaigns toward the top concerns of today's voters. Over the past year, republicans have been hammering away at the Affordable Care Act.  From the trouble with the website launch to people being unable to keep their doctor or insurance, this bill has become very unpopular. While the bill still remains widely disliked, many voters do not consider it as their top concern in the voting booth in 2014. The economy is likely to be the issue that will drive most of voters in November.

As the priorities of the voters change, the campaigns for both parties candidates are starting to react and change their strategy. Republicans on one hand, are trying to broaden their approach by not just attacking the healthcare law but by attacking Obama's liberal philosophy as a whole. They are trying to convince people that Obama's policies have failed. The democrats, since the launch, have been reluctant to talk about the law and have simply avoided it. Recently, they're  slowly starting to show support in campaign ads. They are using personal success stories to try and change the way voters view the law.

All in all, The Affordable Care Act will probably not be making up anyones mind in the voting booth during the midterm election. It will still maintain a widely debated topic but not at the forefront of the political campaigns this November.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/articles/health-laws-election-impact-is-dimming-1410911768?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

G.O.P. Presidential Hopefuls on Foreign Policy

While President Obama is busy preparing his strategy on how to deal with ISIS, G.O.P hopefuls try to set themselves apart in an effort to show there superiority on foreign policy. Senator Rand Paul and Ted Cruz are both first term senators like President Obama was before he was elected.  Both of them have a lot to prove if they would like to be seen as viable candidates in 2016. They are all trying to throw their opinion out when it comes to dealing with ISIS

Rand Paul has been straying away from the view of his father Ron Paul, who is known as a strict Isolationist, when it comes to foreign policy. However, Paul is not trying to alienate his libertarian non-interventionist base. Paul claims that he is nor an interventionist or an isolationist, he believes that when there is a threat to the United States we must respond Constitutionally and with Strength. This echoes Reagan's philosophy of peace through strength. This means that he would go through congress to declare war and decide the actions that must be taken to destroy ISIS. This however is not a very clear insight as to what Paul would do in this situation, which may jeopardize his credibility when it comes to foreign policy.

Others like Ted Cruz have taken a very aggressive stance when it comes do dealing with ISIS. Cruz has suggested that we "bomb them (the Islamic State) back to the stone age." This may sound good to many conservatives who like a strong foreign policy, but it is not a comprehensive enough plan that will show he is knowledgeable on foreign policy to voters in 2016.

Sources: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/10/us/politics/republicans-presidential-election-2016.html?ref=politics&_r=0
 http://time.com/3268581/rand-paul-i-am-not-an-isolationist/
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/08/31/cruz-fires-up-conservatives-says-bomb-islamic-state-back-to-stone-age/