Sunday, November 17, 2019

Sworn in President Jeanine Añez Put In a Tough Position of Power

Link to Article

Former Second Vice President of the Bolivian Senate Jeanine Añez was sworn in as new president of Bolivia as of last week after the resignation and exile of Evo Morales along with other Bolivian politicians ultimately striving to "unite the country and restore it to the path" saying to reporters. So far according to critics she has done the complete opposite.

Recently, this past Thursday as a way to restore order to the country Añez "issued a presidential decree exempting the military from criminal prosecution." The next day coca farmers were protesting against the government in the city of Cochabamba where police opened fire on many protesters resulting in several injuries and 9 deaths. 



Unlike former president Evo Morales, Añez is Catholic and she has made it a priority to have Catholicism as part of the government by "swearing in her ministers in front of a large Bible and making speeches shadowed by an aide carrying a cross." For the majority of Bolivia the main religion is Christianity however, Catholicism within politics is often associated with the conservative governments that were notorious for treating the indigenous population like second class citizens. This transition creates discomfort for the rather large indigenous population in Bolivia based on the history of Catholic based governments as well as how the constitution of Bolivia is classified as secular. 

Since being sworn in she has altered foreign policy by appointing a new foreign minister, Karen Longaric and has immediately cut ties with the alliances of former president Evo Morales such as President Maduro of Venezuela and Cuba. Recently deporting hundreds of Cuban doctors working in the country ultimately breaking off any socialist alliances with Bolivia. 


Some questions:
1) If Añez's goal is to unify the country, is breaking off all the alliances that are affiliated with Evo Morales aligned in the best interests of Bolivia?

2) How will Añez's Catholic backed government overall affect the prominent indigenous population of Bolivia overtime?

3) Will Añez be successful in creating a transparent election process? Why or why not?

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Supreme Court may side with President Trump in the  canceling of DACA.


In September, 2017 Homeland security Elaine Duke, announce the cancellation of DACA for one sole reason; "that the policy was unlawful and unconstitutional". Since then their have been fear in the Dreamers in what would be their future. This Tuesday the Supreme Court held hearings and was set to get a final verdict in the end of June 2020, in the heat of the 2020 elections. 

Conservative say that the president had all legal right in canceling the DACA program. However, the democrats and the lover courts sated that the decision of ending DACA was "arbitrary and capricious". The battle still stand in whether that President administration followed the requirement in giving a reason of "changes on the sound reasoning that is explained to the public".


Due, to President Trump already leaving his mark in the Supreme Court, the chances of winning is minimal. It is 4 v 5 in the position in the Supreme Court, in where the republicans party have the majority.  Chief Justice John Roberts is the key vote in the final decision. He voted against President Trump in his effort in adding a citizen question in the 2020 census. Even if the court rule in the favor in calcining the DACA, Trump said that he would still negotiate with democrats. Although, he would ask for  fund to his wall.




If the ruling would to favor Trump administration, it would hinder the 700,000 people in DACA, with out a place to in america. But, if a Democrat win the presidential election, the new president could reverse ruling in reenactment of the program.


Can the public appose the ruling of the Supreme Court for it to be reconsidered?

Who is the most likely to win in the supreme court decision?

Do you think that the democrats would need to cave in to President Trump demands to at least give another status to the dreamers? Or would they need to run on a democratic president to win the 2020 election to reverse the decision?


If the Dreamers win, what other tactics do you think President Trump would do to get his funds in building his wall?



Monday, November 11, 2019

Are Firearm Companies Liable for the Aftermath of Shootings?

Are Firearm Companies Liable for the Aftermath of Shootings?


The Supreme Court will decide by the rule of four whether to grant a writ of certiorari for the families of the Sandy Hook victims against the manufacturers of Remington Firearms. The families of the Sandy Hook victims are hoping that the Supreme Court will hear their case, and find gun companies liable for shootings based on how they market their product. 

The Protection of Lawful Commerce passed in 2005 protects gun manufacturers from being liable from crimes that involve their products. The families claim that Remington was advertising to disturbed young men. They also claim they used the military and incited violence in their advertising for one of their rifles.

                             Image result for gun protests

This is ruling can have a huge impact on the firearms industry and second amendment rights. If the Supreme Court decides to hear the case they can reverse one of the gun industries biggest wins in legislation. Also the NRA has said that the law will make the firearm industry disappear. 
If the Supreme Court decides to hear the case it can be very controversial with the court, and the outcome can have a very big impact on second amendment rights. If the Supreme Court rules that firearm manufacturers are liable for shootings it will become very difficult for firearm companies to sell their products. Also it will set precedent for further cases that can eventually cause the firearm industry to run out of business. 

1. What would be the benefits to having firearm manufacturers be liable for the aftermath of shootings?

2. Would it be successful to restrict marketing techniques of firearm manufactures in order to prevent mass shootings?

3. Would Trump be considered more of a success with the right if the Supreme Court heard the case and decided to not rule in favor of the Sandy Hook families?

Monday, November 4, 2019

Supreme Court blocks 2020 census citizenship question for now, handing Trump administration a major defeat


Immigration activists rallied outside the Supreme Court in April as the justices heard arguments on the Trump administration's plan to ask about citizenship in the 2020 census.
The Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census Thursday, giving opponents new hope of defeating it.
The ruling by Chief Justice John Roberts questioned the rationale for the administration's effort, just as challenging states and immigrant rights groups have done.
In a complex decision with several dissents and concurrences, the court's four liberal justices said they would have struck down the citizenship question outright, while the court's four other conservative justices said it should have been upheld.
The court's decision doesn't end the dispute. A separate challenge to the administration's motive for asking the citizenship question remains alive in another federal district court. That inquiry could drag on for much of the summer, jeopardizing the timetable for printing the census questionnaire.
Opponents contended that adding the question was an effort to scare non-citizens into avoiding the census. That in turn would require expanding largely Democratic congressional districts, potentially reducing their overall number. It could cost California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois and Arizona seats in Congress. 
Though it had appeared during oral argument that all the court's conservative justices were on the administration's side, Roberts proved the deciding vote.
The lower court judges – all named by President Barack Obama – described acts of subterfuge and misleading statements intended to obscure the real reasons for asking the citizenship question.
1. What are arguments made for the side that favors implementation of the citizenship question on the new census?
2. What are arguments made for the side that does not favor implementation of the citizenship question on the new census?
3. What past Supreme Court rulings provided the current justices with a precedent for which to help make their decision? Did they make the right decision?