http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/02/us/politics/paul-ryan-budget.html?ref=us

Republican, Paul Ryan designed a budget plan that cuts $5 trillion in U.S. spending over the next decade. He plans on creating a balance between government spending and taxes by 2024. What does the House Budget Committee chairman have in store with his plan? On one hand, he plans on increase spending on defense. However, does the country need to increase our defense system? On the other hand, he plans on making cuts to the following:

• Medicare and Food Stamps
• Affordable Care Act
• Domestic Programs

What do you think? If the Affordable Care Act is fixed and citizens become more pleased with the program, will the Republican Party still want to abandon it? What about Medicare and food stamps, should they be released to states as block grants?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/20/us/politics/racing-to-deadline-white-house-plays-to-young-in-health-care-push.html?ref=us

The New York Times article is focused on the target audience for health insurance. Recently, Denis R. McDonough, the White House chief of staff to attract young people to sign up for health insurance through the media. According to McDonough, a new website that features games, videos, and athletes that explain the benefits of health care. Ultimately, the Obama administration has created a new kind of HealthCare.gov. Why the change? By March 31, the administration has to acquire another 1,000,000 sign ups to meet their goal for the end of the enrollment year. Originally, seven million were bought into the insurance, but after its crisis, more than 1 million had cancelled their health care with the administration. In order to attract young men, the White House is using March Madness to advertise health care. I chose this article because I find it interesting about how politics have become more social and less political. What is your opinion? Do you think that this website is positive or negative? Will young people sign up without learning about the cons of health care because the website appeals to them?  

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/14/us/gop-moving-to-ease-stance-on-sentencing.html?src=me

Is this article showing more of a shift in Republican ideas? Often known for their tough on crime stance, Republicans seem to be easing up on mandatory minimum sentencing to save money. Is this a foreshadowing and reflection of the ease up on Republican ideas? This trend seems to be following as the GOP seems to be backing away from the majority of their major issues, including immigration as a major player. The article talks about the penal system not doing it’s job. This brings into question the sentencing for the ‘war on drugs’ which Republicans are so active in. As marijuana is beginning to become legalized, is this potentially a step to Republicans agreeing with decriminalizing the drug in order to save money?

Generational Political Ideologies

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/11/us/politics/social-issues-splitting-young-republicans-from-their-elders.html?_r=0

The article above talks about how the republican party is being split by social issues when it comes to "young" and "old" republicans. What is so interesting about this topic is the fact that the republican party over the years has had a difficult time giving the party something to get excited about and that is because the republican party is still stuck in their old ways. I feel that todays world is very similar to to the 1960's when the civil rights act was put into place. In today's world issues like gay rights, abortion, legal use of marijuana, and much more are major social issues. I believe when the Republican party decides to rearrange their ideologies we will see more of a libertarian party then a republican party. The said thing is in my eyes today's social issues are not the most pressing priorities in our country. I believe that foreign affairs, immigration, health care, and the economy are the problems worth focusing on. I am a registered republican and may consider my self to be a libertarian but I am a republican and it frustrates me when people make a decision on who they will vote for based on issues that arent important right now. I believe there are more pressing needs that the United States needs to take care of. With that being said I do think social problems are important but not to the point where I dont vote for someone based on their beliefs on the death penalty when immigration is a bigger problem.

So my questions are. Why do people base their vote on social issues over issues that show real importance right now?

My next question is do you agree that like the 60's times are changing and the republican party is heading towards libertarian ideologies or the republican party will find a way to show importance in todays society?

Immigration Reform

Hello All,

Now I am not an expert on immigration reform what so ever, nor can I consider myself fully updated to the current stance proposed by Boehner and the Republicans. With that being said, I am writing this blog post to become more informed on the current positions on both sides of the political system (Democrat and Republican). So if there are any experts on this subject please comment after the post to add more information, thanks.

So it seems that the issue on immigration reform is back as a hot topic in the political world. From what I have read, the current Republican House members as a whole are looking at "a mass deportation of 'illegal' immigrants" with numbers reaching 11-12 million. Deportation would be a result of a person without citizenship in the U.S. not meeting the standards of being a legal citizen proposed by Mr. Boehner. If I understand correctly, "DREAMERS", or children of illegal immigrants, would be safe under the proposed legislation which is certainly a plus. But looking at this in the sense of our country being built by immigrants seems silly when considering what some are proposing. If a said "illegal" person passes the standards to become a citizen (not unrealistic standards) they should be able to have the chance to become thriving members of our economy legally. Not to mention even though these citizens of America are looked at as legal they still contribute to roughly $600 million in taxes each year.

Now I understand that the way I am presenting this information is rather broad but that is because I am searching for more information on the topic. So I am asking the class here, what is your stance on immigration reform? Do you know any additional information on this topic that I did not elaborate on? Please feel free to put in your opinion I am not offended easily. Thanks

Zach

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2014/03/12/rubio_immigration_reform_unlikely_under_obama.html

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2014/01/republicans-and-immigration?zid=309&ah=80dcf288b8561b012f603b9fd9577f0e

Regulation or not?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/03/10/1283610/-Louisiana-legislator-and-the-governor-seek-an-abortion-databas

The choice of having an abortion is a personal decision. But if that record is kept in a database with others who have had previous abortions constitutional. Is this an invasion of privacy? Is Louisiana proposing this bill to regulate abortions to stop the turn out of abortions in Louisiana? This brings in many what ifs and many people wondering, how much government regulation is needed? It may be a product of a particular party or interest group trying to push the bill threw.

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