Poverty in the United States

Short and sweet this week, take a look at the linked statistics along with the map above and develop some conclusions regarding poverty in the United States. Why does it exist where it does? What can fix it? Is it likely to get better? Worse? Why? What are some other correlating contemporary issues regarding poverty that would also be helped if poverty were to be targeted?

Guantanamo Bay

 

 

Sometimes it's easy to forget that places like Guantanamo Bay exist, but as this article makes perfectly clear, there is certainly a crucial conflict taking place at this secretive Naval Base and prison. How should the United States handle such a crisis? Do you agree with our government's usage of prisons in other countries? What does the revolt at Guantanamo Bay tell you about this prison system maintained by the U.S. Military and do you think there is a better way? Explain your thoughts. 

 

 

Another post on guns. Now that appears our Congress may actually debate and perhaps vote upon some gun-control legislation, it's time for them to yell at one another. The linked article discusses the concept of background checks and a registration for all legal gun owners. The argument for such an approach is to keep track of who owns guns and ensuring their sanity. The argument against such an approach is that it would allow the U.S. Government to have a catalog of people that it could follow. Is this an invasion of privacy? Does it violate the 4th amendment? The 2nd? What do you think? Lastly, do you think any of this legislation will ever be passed?