"Isms" & Their Influence
An Ominous Threat to Liberty By Andrew Scott
“How much are we willing to give away? What must be preserved?” Mr. Scott uses these and other questions to clarify the differentiation between political parties, particularly outlining the Libertarian approach to such inquiries. In “An Ominous Threat to Liberty,” Mr. Scott details what it is to be a Libertarian and how ignorance has left many in the United States to align themselves with a party they know nothing about. While carefully explaining Libertarian decrees, Mr. Scott also poses the notion that many have sought the Libertarian Party as a scapegoat for their political identity.
The Effects of Cultural “isms” on the Fate of Democratic Institutions By Lainie Frost
America is essentially the poster child for the mantra “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Such qualities are considered key aspects of democracy – one of America’s most well-known social institutions. In “The Effects of Cultural ‘isms’ on the Fate of Democratic Institutions,” Ms. Frost ponders what cultural aspects affect the political atmosphere of a specific country allowing a democracy to flourish in places like The United States while it ceases to exist in other countries?
Where Do Women Stand In Politics By Ashley Fleishman
In reaction to women’s suffrage, burning bras of the sexual revolution in the 1960s, and the fight for gender equality in the 1980s, women struggling to defy the glass ceiling of sexism have received a poor reputation in the eyes of Ms. Fleishman. In “Feminism and Sexism,” she deconstructs the meaning of feminism, its relation to sexism, and how the latter ideology, by associated, has tainted the former philosophy.
Even Print is Black and White By Hope Ditto
While the 21st century is much more than a freedom march from the Civil Rights Era of the 1960s, overcoming prejudice against minorities has long been a major stain in America’s history. Although a plethora of legislation has been amended for race equality, has anything really been mended? Is it possible that this group of people is still subjected to similar prejudices when faced with employment in high-esteemed political occupations? Ms. Ditto acknowledges such issues and weighs in on how these questions are affecting the fate of an African American’s ability to become the next President of the United States.
Libertarianism: A Constitutional Principle By Ben Cole
Drug use policies, industry regulations, and welfare are all initiatives which have begun on federal levels. Mr. Cole imbues his insight into the antithetical nature of such programs to accomplish the Founding Fathers’ goals of individual rights and freedoms. In his article, Mr. Cole contextualizes his argument through Libertarian principles, Objectivism, and citations of historically organic American documents.
Realism in American Politics By Tim Little
Mr. Little defines the concept of Realism and how it has and continues to affect American policy. He unearths a new understanding of the philosophy as he shows its presence in context to globalization, America’s political environment post 9/11, the theory’s moral imperatives, and how realism will affect international affairs in the future.
Who put the ‘Fun’ in Fundamentalism? Addressing the Mass Appeal of Radical Thought By Niketa Brar
While the tragic events of September 11 renewed people’s interest in the theories of Fundamentalism, Ms. Brar points out that the radical philosophy has been written about for ages. Through the Federalist Papers, the beliefs of philosopher John Locke, and through the modern vantage point of Dinesh D’Souza, Ms. Brar juxtaposes antiquated and contemporary approaches to Fundamentalism.
Defining Penal Populism By Jesse Mayer
The United States will spend almost $30 million over the next five years on prisons. With such an alarming statistic, Mr. Mayer asks how politicians – even the fiscally conservative—allow such expenditure. He suggests the answer is simply due to penal populism, also known as the political cliché ‘being hard on crime.’ In his article, Mr. Mayer describes the policy in its current implementation as well as its roots and how such a course of action adds appeal to political candidates.