Issues in American Politics

08Nov 2016 by Gravy

Win, Lose or Draw: Why I Don’t Vote (Diary of a Non-Voter)

First off let me say, as a teacher of Political Science, I understand the purpose of government, the role of voting, and the functioning of Democracy (or American Republicanism). But… The absolute worst thing I hear from people is: “if you don’t vote, you have no right to complain.” These people are idiots. This is by far the most ignorant comment I have heard on the subject of voting in American elections. If you pay taxes to government, you can complain rather you participate or not. Do you complain when you get crappy service at a restaurant? People who don’t vote may not choose what’s on the menu but when we’re paying, we have just as much of a right to complain as those who picked the restaurant. Voting…

31Oct 2016 by Gravy

For the Love of Trump: Why America Needs (and deserves) Donald Trump

Issues in American Politics

Before I get started, let me just say before the trolls and ignorance take over: NO I am not voting for Donald Trump. I don’t vote at all (coming soon). There. Now, that we got that out of the way, let me tell you why Trump is absolutely perfect for the 2016 election… First, Americans hate politicians. All of them. And last time I checked, Donald Trump is the only person running in this election who is not a politician. Hillary Clinton has essentially been a lifetime politician. She’s been vying to be President her entire life. Since Trump’s not a politician, he’s not captive to any one particular audience or constituency. Plus, people despise both political parties… And both parties hate Trump. This is a good…

12Jun 2016 by Gravy

Working Class Disillusionment and Ignorance

Issues in American Politics

Short story: So I’m at Red Robin. After the food comes, the waiter points in the direction of the “Ziosk” and says that if we’d like to order anything else that we can order on the screen, if we didn’t need anything else, we could check out on the screen as well. I couldn’t help myself. The poor kid was maybe only 20 years old. I was obligated. So I said to the young man, “You know this thing is going to take your job, right?” He laughed and replied, “No sir, these are just here so that customers don’t have to wait for a server all the time. It also really helps when we’re busy and people just want to check out.” I, of course, already knew the…

15Sep 2014 by Gravy

Babies Behind the Wheel? Problems of Driving in a Police State

Issues in American Politics

I make no quip about my driving skills. On a scale from 1 to 10 I’m probably closer to 20. The funny thing is, even after all these years I still find a way to impress myself occasionally with my driving skills. It puts a smile on my face. But there is one thing about driving that is NOT funny. Yes, there are a lot of terrible drivers out there. Way too many if you ask me. Yet, the more I drive, and the more places I drive, why am I starting to get the feeling that I am constantly being filmed, monitored and babied behind the wheel of my own car? A police state is one where the government exercises strict and repressive controls of its people. I can…

17Jun 2014 by Gravy

What Donald Sterling, Mark Cuban, and Justin Bieber Taught Us about Post-Racial America…

Issues in American Politics

#1 – Rich white people (and some rich Black ones too!), still don’t like or want to hang around with Blacks no matter how wealthy… Donald Sterling said what many rich, white country club goers, sport team owners, and record label owners think and say to themselves all the time. Sterling told a female friend, V. Stiviano, not to bring Black people to Clippers games during their conversation that was recorded. The recording sparked a torrent of outrage from fans, NBA players and commercial sponsors, several of which temporarily severed ties with the Clippers. Four days later, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver fined Sterling $2.5 million and banned him from pro basketball for life in an unprecedented rebuke that bars Sterling from any further association with the NBA or his…

13Feb 2013 by Gravy

Not so Tolerant After-all? How Today’s Progressives are the new Right

Issues in American Politics

There used to be a time that if you didn’t like a Black athlete or actor it meant you’re a racist; whether you really were or not. The same thing is going on today. In 2013 America, the racist hard right has been replaced by the intolerable hard left. I have found Progressive Liberals to be some of the most intolerant people in America today. Progressives claim to be so tolerant of alternative lifestyles, unless you disagree with them. If you disagree then you’re a bigot and unenlightened. Here’s a lesson about tolerance: it’s not tolerance if have to agree or else. Tolerance means “hey, I understand we have differences of opinion, I don’t like it, but I’m not going to crucify you for it.” I tolerate smelly…

21Nov 2012 by Gravy

It’s the Conservative in Me: A Message to my Other Half…

Issues in American Politics

Now that the election is over, I feel it’s necessary to offer my advice and support to my other, Conservative half. You see, as a registered Independent, I don’t necessarily identify with either major political party. Both parties are a joke and not so different from each other ideologically. I cannot in good conscience support a party filled with a history of racism and continued racist rhetoric at core of their platform. At the same time, disillusioned liberals and progressives are just as bad; using individualism to essentially lower societies collective standard by making everything politically correct and abandoning any resemblance of a moral and ethical society. Not to play Monday morning quarterback to why Romney lost, but the 2012 Presidential election was decisive and American progressivism can…

09Oct 2012 by Gravy

America: The Spoiled Teenager…

Issues in American Politics

My international relations class is filled with international students. In a class of 23, only three of my students are American born. With so many students from other countries and now receiving their education in America, one would think that words of admiration and unbridled enthusiasm for America’s way of life would pour out of their mouths. Some have come from war-torn, poor, and religious intolerant nations. Sound familiar? Yet with so much diversity, the feeling of anti-Americanism dominates the classroom. Discussion in the classroom centers on how America should not promote its values, way of life, or democracy on anyone else. “America has its own problems to figure out before they go telling other countries what to do.” And “Americans are immoral and selfish.” But, America also…

Category: Issues in American Politics