... electoral reform and increased the number of councillors they have. Unless Ed Miliband finds a way to present himself as a leader that the public trusts soon, next time around David Cameron will be able to lead his own majority government. The AV result will increase the pressure on Nick Clegg, as the referendum was the main condition for entering the coalition government. Now that it has failed, it appears that many of the compromises Clegg has made were for nothing. It is possible voters would have forgiven him for supporting spending cuts and increased university tuition fees had there been electoral ... Last week was a difficult week for the UK's coalition government. Tensions in the cabinet over the AV vote were well publicised, and Labour made huge gains in the local elections. To top it all of the SNP won the first majority in the devolved Scottish Parliament. Will the coalition weather the storm? Or is this the beginning of the end ...
Tags: Politics | Coalition | Government | Clegg | Cameron | Miliband |

... too much tax and don't get what we should for that. It is not enough to merely be angry. Isn't it about time that we create a system that works by coming up with a thought out plan, making government more ... costs. Instead, the union masks the fact that it has been defending the present negotiated policy of laying off the most recent hires first, regardless of merit. The children, who deserve a great education, end up being pawns between fiscal responsibility, politics and planning. Couldn't that time and effort be better spent? In Long Island, the school budget process is equally absurd, where voters are asked to vote up or down a budget, which is rarely understood. Does anyone really believe ...
Tags: government budgets | teachers costs | estate taxes | real estate taxes | tea party | unions |

... disbanding the federal government, the argument is now about having more or less federal government, not a federal government or no federal government at all, but the core principles are the same. In fact, most of the Founding Fathers didn't think very highly of political parties at all. They'd be aghast if they saw the spectacle that is a Presidential election today. Nonetheless, many of the framers found themselves affiliated with one political party or the other during their government careers, because it is the nature of a voter to liken politicians to a specific party. As parties in American politics developed one party ... the other during their government careers, because it is the nature of a voter to liken politicians to a specific party. As parties in American politics developed one party would gain and hold power for many years much like the Republican and Democratic parties of today. Over the years, we have had 5 major parties at the forefront of our political machine in the United States. The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists were our first 2 prominent parties. They reigned from 1796 to 1828. The Federalists believed in strong centralized government, industrialization, the creation of a national bank, and government controlled and constructed roads ...
Tags: american politics | founding fathers | united states | federal government | tea party | political parties |

... nutshell. Progressives are always looking forward, coming up with new ideas to better society - so long as those ideas meet the above criteria. Progressivism is about reform - fixing what's broken, speaking for those without a voice, and holding government accountable. This is one of the reasons why we feel progressivism is important in American Politics - we're able to review what the government has done/is doing/plans to do, critique, discuss and debate it, and then advocate change when needed. One important aspect of progressivism we haven't touched on much yet is openness, especially in terms of discourse. Progressives are ... start with Teddy Roosevelt, who would form the Progressive Party of 1912 (otherwise known as the Bull-Moose party), one of the most famous and successful progressive parties in politics. Wisconsin Governor (and later US Senator) Robert "Fighting Bob" La Folette is also seen as a key contributor to progressivism. The early progressives and the Progressive Party stood for three main ideas: Social and Political reform, Direct Democracy, and to destroy the "Invisible Government". Some reforms the Progressive party advocated seem commonplace today: social insurance for the unemployed, elderly and disabled, workman's compensation, women's suffrage, direct election of senators, primary ...
Tags: progressive party | politics | government | political | progressives | progressivism |

... role in running the many branches of the government, then it is just necessary that a complete background investigation is to be conducted to each aspirant. This is one way of ensuring that every person entrusted by the general public to hold a government office are only those with noble intentions and no criminal liability. Every person who wants to hold an office in the government must possess an unsoiled behavior. Complete background check on every individual entering into politics is to be undertaken to make sure that only those deserving people are nominated in the government seat. Background examination is conducted to determine whether ... in the government office. Many of them are members of the different groups or organizations in the society. Since a politician plays a vital role in running the many branches of the government, then it is just necessary that a complete background investigation is to be conducted to each aspirant. This is one way of ensuring that every person entrusted by the general public to hold a government office are only those with noble intentions and no criminal liability. Every person who wants to hold an office in the government must possess an unsoiled behavior. Complete background check on every individual entering into politics is ...
Tags: government seat | background checks | background investigation | complete background | background check |

... specialized and increasingly dispersed among a larger number of people. In short, the power of knowledge comes from specialization and that specialization is no longer concentrated in a handful of metropolitan areas. This is where the impact of politics creates problems. Political solutions are frequently created and implemented by a central authority. This can be a city council, county agency, state, or the federal government. In each case, a council of experts are gathered by the political authority to study the situation and make recommendations. In some cases, public agencies become hotbeds for corruption and influence by corporate interests or unions. These ... situation is one where people in power have far too much power, and create initiatives that are (supposedly) well intentioned, but fail to produce results. One way to address this issue is to increase the number of representatives in government. Another option is to decrease the size and scope of government so that market-based solutions emerge. The notion of increased representation in government is appealing to many, due to the intellectual appeal of legislators who are members of our community. This is most certainly preferable to the current situation, but still carries the implicit problem of trying to make centralized decisions in ...
Tags: create | decisions | government | knowledge | number | people |

... zoning in politics as "Ya na agbian" which means 'eat and give a brother'. From the stand point of Nigeria politics today, no one can actually predict the future of this nation given the trend of democracy being practiced. If we (Nigerians) agree that it is game of the majority, then we are saying that the minorities have no part to play in the leadership game of a particular state or the nation. It was pure act of zoning that Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as vice which by fate becomes the president of this nation. Above all, the consistent change of government means ... indicates the importance of a leader in a group. It therefore means that, the people in a country can not co-exist successfully without a leader or president. Neither can the resources of a nation be managed and effectively distributed when there is no leader to see to running of government affairs. Therefore, leadership is central to every human group. However, the manner in which humans compete for leadership positions some times left much to be desired and in order to ensure fairness in assuming leadership, there exist processes of choosing leaders in different groups. Such processes are generally accepted and ...
Tags: leadership | zoning | nigeria politics today | nigerian politics | tiv politics |

... subject to questioning by these other two branches of government, even though the Constitution is structured to allow such questioning and separation of powers. Now we are just getting warmed up. Consider some words from President Obama regarding the need to respect each other and to get along even though we may have differences of opinion: "So we face big and difficult challenges. And what the American people hope - what they deserve - is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work through our differences, to overcome the numbing weight of our politics." Sounds good until you view it in the light ... companies. Issa wants to be sure that no illegal or other hanky panky deals were made to get support for the passage of Obama Care as part of the Congressional committee he chairs. One would have thought that this opportunity was consistent with the President's pledge of a transparent government, a major campaign selling point of his. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The President responded by saying most, if not all, of the Issa request would not be granted since it would harm the separation of powers and that it might weaken the executive branch of the ...
Tags: obama | nixon | democracy | government | judicial | president |

... in. Greed, corruption and outright fraud committed on Wall Street resulted in the collapse of our financial system and the implosion of housing prices. Millions of Americans lost their jobs and their homes, and many millions more struggle to make ends meet. State governments were spared financial calamity by federal government Recovery Act payments for the past two years. With federal subsidies to the states ending later this year, state governments are cutting services for the poor, going after the pay and benefits of teachers and other public employees -- but are still making good on many, many billions of dollars of ... Republicans are calling for austerity while the economy suffers from weak demand and anemic job creation. Banks got bailouts and are again making enormous profits while homeowners get foreclosed on, and have seen huge declines in the value of their homes. Well, it's time to change the narrative. The government has been living beyond it's means but it has done so largely to benefit the wealthy. Where are the bailouts for middle class families who have lost their jobs and homes? Middle class families need help to stay in their homes, pay for the health care they need, and ...
Tags: middle class | cut backs | recovery act | federal government bailouts | ARRA | middle class |

... domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism." Given the current state of affairs in our country, with party politics they way they are and the manner in which they affect our government; the accuracy of these passages that were delivered over two hundred and ten years ago is so profound that to me they border on prophecy. Look back over the last few election cycles and you can easily see our community having been agitated with ... peaceful transfer of power that exists in the Executive Branch of our government to this day. At this time, the two-party system was beginning to emerge. There was the Federalist Party, associated with John Adams, and the Democratic Republican Party, or anti-Federalists, led by Thomas Jefferson. Many of the differences between the two parties would be formed over the course of the Revolution and the ratification of the Constitution, and when Washington left office in 1797 they had become a potent force in the new America's politics. In these parties George Washington foresaw a danger to the new republic ...
Tags: Democrat | George Washington | partisanship | political parties | politics | Republican |

... public sector workers for what ails us. This narrative has flourished in our political discourse despite the facts to the contrary. And what this clearly demonstrates is that a fearful electorate can be easily manipulated by a corrupt and self-serving political elite. The most recent targets of anti-government forces are American unions, especially public sector unions. Why, you ask? It's a political calculation. Deny unions the ability to organize and collect union dues and you rob the Democratic Party of a major source of political campaign funding and muscle. And how are they turning American workers against ... the wrong question. The real question is why we don't all have what union members have. The answer is that powerful, special interests have taken over important government institutions, and turned them against the American people. Tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans seem to be winning out at all levels of government (federal, state, and local) over services such as health care, education, and infrastructure that are important to the middle class. A government that cares about people would dedicate itself to creating the conditions needed to grow the middle class, not allow more and more wealth to be concentrated in the ...
Tags: non union workers | union members | misplaced union envy | union benefits | union pay | blaming government |

... in areas that least can afford it. Then they the local schools argue that they are having trouble because the state cut funds, and the states "cry" that it's because the Federal government reduced their subsidies. And, in reality, does the individual taxpayer care who is taxing them, just how much the total taxes they have to pay are. It seems that no one in government or in politics takes any personal responsibility. It is the same in many organizations, where one individual blames another for anything that goes wrong, while often wanting credit for anything that anyone did that may have ... their hard earned funds on a lottery, for they could least afford the extra expense? It appears to be somewhat of a vicious cycle. Governments overspend so they overtax. Then the economy has reversals, and there is more unemployment or underemployment, so the government either runs up huge deficits that cause incredible side effects (such as the Federal Government), or if they cannot "print" money and must balance their budget, either keep adding taxes, or often cut their budgets, often in areas that least can afford it. Then they the local schools argue that they are having trouble because the state cut ...
Tags: personal honor | time almost memorializing | federal government | organizations | leaders responsibility |

... inefficiency with something more efficient, has certain ramifications. For example, when a government cuts the number of government workers it employs, many of those individuals must go on unemployment, and if not reemployed within a certain period of time, would then receive subsidized medical care, etc. Doesn't that also end up costing the government money? While many of the debates are about cutting funds, they are rarely ... whether it is in the "Right to Life" versus "Woman's Right to Choose" debate (which, of course is really about whether abortion should be legislated or left to the woman), budgets, unions, politics, politicians, etc. Isn't it about time to "cool it" with the rhetoric and ...
Tags: enough political rhetoric | municipal workers | private sector | government workers | budgets |

... . While I certainly hope I am wrong, I don't believe that we will be that lucky as a nation. There are many reasons a shutdown is likely, and several reasons you need to protect yourself from its effects. First off, it is important to understand the politics behind our current government gridlock and how those politics will lead to a shutdown. John Boehner, the Republican Speaker of The House, is still building his political credibility with the "Tea Party" constituency that wants him to strike a hard-line with the democratic Senate and President. To them a hard-line means cutting anything ... the Social Security and Medicare programs. The hard truth is, neither party has the courage to do that, so they are left to argue about token cuts. The cuts that Mr. Boehner and the Republican house have made include gutting the Environmental Protection Agency, Public Television, Laying Off 200,000 government workers, and reducing funding for certain types of public education. These are all non-starters. They are dead on arrival in the Senate, and Mr. Boehner (being a smart man) knows that full well. The two sides are so far apart that there is practically no chance they will find ...
Tags: Stock correction | government shutdown | market uncertainty | protecting investments | stock markets |

... worth all other books which have ever been printed." We must return to our first love and humble ourselves before God. We must return to our foundation of God first and constitutional government second. We need to forget about the political parties and align ourselves with the Light of the World and let Him shine through us. Jesus Christ is our chief ... has ramifications not only for us but for our posterity. As Christians how should we vote? Should we vote? What significance does the political process hold? Is God involved in politics? Does HE care about the mundane aspects of county budgets, local taxes, or noise ordinances? I believe HE does care and our views of God and our faith should ...
Tags: Politics | repentance | god | faith |

... that wants to disentangle ourselves from foreign affairs, and reverses the current trend of preemptive warfare, and focuses on internal issues, and defenses, such as missile shield satellite systems that can destroy ballistic, or near-ballistic missiles as they are being launched. Focus on reducing the size and scope of government, so that the people can get this economy roaring again, that way our beloved Nation will once again become the envy of the world, and not simply the policeman. Face it, in some bad neighborhoods, even the good guys still distrust the police. With good reason, usually. ... Donald Trump has seemingly decided to run for President of the USA. While a great businessman would be a great answer to the current crop of government thugs, I am not so sure he is a good candidate. Neither does David Limbaugh. He has, on more than one occasion, shown that he supports many Democrat ideas about larger government, and the same "Compassionate Conservatism" that Dubya began during his first term. Problem is, it's basically Socialism-light, or progressivism. It doesn't matter whether you're on the right, or the left, if you're a progressive, I don't want ...
Tags: budget | elections | freedom | government | healthcare | liberty |

... 2) Second, the President never says that these increased taxes will be directly set aside to pay down the debt and the deficit. The increased taxes will likely just go to the government and the political class that operates it, which will undoubtedly spend it it on wasteful projects. He would have had a lot more credibility if he set up a virtual lock box ... stood up and faced down the hard choices that would make the country better, more unified, and got it moving in a positive direction. It is just his same old style, typical politics time after time. Unfortunately, given these trying times, being timid, selfish, not inspirational, and leading from the rear is not what we need today. We will ...
Tags: federal income taxes | bush tax cuts | obama | political class | government | politics |

... power actors and actresses had in shaping our national discussion and politics, and we both agreed it was paramount to get it right. One of the topics on our list was "government corruption" and in discussing this he noted; "Well, for the item of government ethics, I would add how government corruption is ambiguous and generally does not get past finger-pointing between candidates pre-elections." Indeed, this is totally true, and yet everyone I think realizes it's not one side, political party, nor is it one level or branch of government. In fact, government, the politicians to the bureaucrats all come from our own ... bureaucrats all come from our own society, and there are people on the streets of Hollywood that would steal your bicycle outside of Starbucks to folks who'd pull a financial scam. So, it's not as if we need to be trashing on government. And still, the "government corruption" is not only in the US, it's every government, ours actually happens to be often the least corrupt, although you wouldn't think that from reading the scandalous accusations at times. We must admit the media has a field day with it all over the years, often blowing out of proportion every ...
Tags: Government Corruption | government employee unions | government ethics | think tank | lance winslow |

... rear their ugly heads early and often. Some might say that it's because "democracy is messy" as Obama said in his State of the Union Address. No, I'd say that Chicago Mafia style dirty politics is messy, and it's no way to run the greatest nation in the history of mankind. "This is not a perfect world we live in!" No, it's not, but that doesn't mean it can't be, or that we can't do better with our Federal Government than we have in past periods. Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this. ... interfering in regulatory investigations, etc. etc. 3.) A pay-to-play government, for lobbyists, corporations, unions - without the ability for a citizen or small businesses to express their concerns. If the system of checks-and-balances has been corrupted, then in reality it does not exist, without it, the natural human tendencies will rear their ugly heads early and often. Some might say that it's because "democracy is messy" as Obama said in his State of the Union Address. No, I'd say that Chicago Mafia style dirty politics is messy, and it's no way to run the greatest nation ...
Tags: US Federal Government | Not Perfect | Should We Expect More | corruption | revolving door | bureaucrats |

... of those little bitty death traps, they'd still take a loss. Unions had their time in the beginnings of the industrial revolution, where employers were still pretty much the only game in town.. These days, however, the only time that's the case is when some moron in the government decides its their business to run your life (again). These days, unions are a waste of space, unless you're a politician that wants their voting power.
Tags: freedom | government | liberty | mistakes | osha | Politics |