The Independent Thinkers

Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Health Care Law

rafaelefierro — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:23:52 +0000

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge by 26 Republican governors and attorneys general that the new health care law passed by Congress and signed by President Obama is unconstitutional. To read the story follow the link below:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204190504577037932371519676.html

I welcome your thoughts on the health care law, the arguments made by these Republican governors and attorneys general, and the Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case.

U.S. Justice Department Claims South Carolina Immigration Law UnConstitutional

rafaelefierro — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:34:28 +0000

The Obama Administration filed a lawsuit on November 1, 2001 claiming that a South Carlina law requiring immigrants to carry a certificate of registration and that gives law enforcement agents with reasonable suspicion the authority to determine whether a person is legally in the country is unconstitutional.

The law is set to take effect January 1, 2012. The Justice Department contends that only the federal government has jurisdiction over immigration policy. South Carolina governor Nikki Haley who in June signed into law the state legislature’s Act No.69 said, “This state can no longer afford those who don’t come here the right way and we are now going to do something about it.” For the full article, please click on the link below:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-01/south-carolina-immigration-law-challenged-by-u-s-in-lawsuit.html

For students in U.S. Constitution and American Society, please respond to the following question: Do you think that this South Carolina law is unconstitutional? Please refer to the text of the Constitution to support your answer.

The Wrong Inequality

rafaelefierro — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:09:55 +0000

David Brooks wrote an interesting piece in the New York Times, The Opinion Pages on Novemeber 1, 2011. His argument is that there are two types of inequality in the United States today. He calls them the red and the blue inequality. For the most part, Brooks contends, the media tends to focus on the blue inequality, which concerns the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans becoming much wealthier than the bottom 99 percent. This type of inequality has formed the foundation of the “Occupy Wall Street” protest. The red inequality has commanded much less attention; it deals with the great economic and social divide between those who graduate from college and those who do not. The differences are startling! Please click on the link below to read Brooks’ piece:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/opinion/brooks-the-wrong-inequality.html?hp

Of course, if the message here is that Americans must go to college and get their degree, then it must be read alongside the fact that college costs have skyrocketed over the last generation. This reality makes the red inequality much more pronounced because only those who can afford to go to college will do so. The rest will be left behind unless dramatic changes occur. This also means that the blue inequality about which Brooks writes will become exacerbated as well.

In any case, please comment on the Brook’s opinion piece or any other portion of this post.

Reflections on Slavery Video (9/29/11)

rafaelefierro — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:19:22 +0000

For additional class partifcipation points, U.S. History I students can reflect on the rather powerful video depicting slavery in the American colonies from 1619 to 1739. Feel free to post as many comments as you wish, both reacting to the video, but also responding to each other. Please make your statements as clear and cogent as possible.

rafaelefierro — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:36:38 +0000

Mitch Daniels spoke recently at the Conservative Political Action Conference on how to address the nation’s growing budgetary problems. Here is what he had to say:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vJ9mcwQ_oI

Governor Malloy’s Tax Increase Proposal

rafaelefierro — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:18:35 +0000

The Yankee Institute for Public Policy, an independent think-tank in Connecticut, has come up with a list of all tax hikes the Governor is proposing. As you can see, they are numerous. The piece also includes the elimination of several tax exemptions the Governor has included in his budget. Here is the link:

http://www.yankeeinstitute.org/2011/02/gov-malloys-twenty-one-tax-increases/

Video on the Role of Government

rafaelefierro — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:20:30 +0000

I have posted a new video from C-SPAN 3 on the role of government in American life. American Government students in particular should check it out.

Wave of Protest

rafaelefierro — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:05:36 +0000

It should come as no surprise that a wave of protest has occurred in Middle Eastern and North African nations from Tunisia, to Egypt, to Yemen, and now Jordan. Amidst economic turmoil disaffected people living under autocratic rule will eventually take to the streets demanding reform. And in an age of Facebook and Twitter these protests can very quickly cause a chain reaction and reverberate well beyond the region. Even China has clamped down on the internet in recent days for fear of internal dissent.

These protests are somewhat reminiscent of the 1848 Revolutions in Europe when virtually the entire continent was engulfed by mass demonstrations, and this in an age without mass communication. The events of 1848 also were caused by an economic crisis that turned into political protest.

Today’s protest may serve as the harbinger of democratic reform in the impacted areas, a development that the United States may or may not welcome depending upon who obtains power in these countries.

Vietnam War Class Discussion

rafaelefierro — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:24:57 +0000

In this post, students will comment, question, or criticize the course reading.

America since 1945 Discussion

rafaelefierro — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:40:31 +0000

This post is for students to enter comments, questions, and criticisms of any and all of the assigned reading. Feel free to comment respectfully and intelligently to the assigned readings.