FORUM ON POLITICAL PROCESSES AND PARTIES
The Democratic and Republican parties have long held power over American politics. However, there is a long history of ups and downs of various parties and a history of changing principles. While it might seem like the two party system is written into the constitution, it is not. In fact, the Republican Party was founded in 1854, in part as an anti-slavery party. There have been significant challenges from other parties: Bull Moose Party (Progressive Party 1912), Socialist Party of America and Libertarian Party. The Green Party is one of the newer parties, active since the 1980s. Right here, right now in Pierce County a new chapter of this party is being formed: the Green Party of Pierce County. Read more
FORUM ON POLITICAL PROCESSES AND PARTIES
The Pierce Progressive is hosting an online Forum on Political Processes and Parties and you're invited! In addition to reading articles we publish, consider writing an article yourself. Topics we expect to feature include: a history of the two-party system; third parties past and present both here and abroad; ranked choice voting; proportional representation voting; how to become a candidate; public financing of campaigns versus corporate funding; and more. If you would like to submit an article, please go to the Writing for Us tab for our Guidelines for Contributors, write and submit your article. Then watch this space for periodic forum articles.
FILM REVIEW
This documentary film about the young man Joseph Kibler, disabled from birth by HIV, demonstrates the current faces of both disability and AIDS. The film makes the point that AIDS is not cured. More than a million Americans are infected. While the medications available to treat the disease mean that it is no longer the death sentence it was, they still live with the threat of a compromised immune system and disability. The effectiveness of the available treatments has led to AIDS receding into the background as a media story. Read more
FORUM ON NATIONAL SERVICE
November brings Veterans Day, a day to honor the men and women, living and dead, who joined the Armed Forces of the United States. Some were sent to fight in foreign lands, while others served during times of peace. Both groups take pride in serving their country, in performing their patriotic duty. This is but one form of national service, albeit the most dangerous, the most horrific, and the most sacrificial. There are many ways to serve our country, to give back to a land and a society from which we benefit. The Peace Corps, VISTA, AmeriCorps, a career in education or medicine, and many other approaches allow us to recognize our debt and gratitude to our country. Why choose the military as a way to express one’s thanks to the United States for the opportunities it provides us? Why does our government steer young people toward fighting people in other countries? There are many questions about this nation’s expectations that we must 'fight them over there so we don’t have to fight them here'. Read more
The League of Women Voters has rolled out a new tool. Based on the internet at
http://www.vote411.org the website guides each voter to answers to a whole series of questions. Literature released at the LWV of Tacoma-Pierce County meeting at the North Tacoma Police Substation promises answers to the questions:
- How do I register?
- Who is on my ballot?
- Where/How do I vote?
- How do candidates respond to real questions from real people?
and much more….
Read more
FORUM ON NATIONAL SERVICE
As we honor people who serve our nation in the military in time of war, let’s not forget the family members who stay behind and make it possible for our military men and women to serve. If they are spouses, they must parent their children, maintain their houses, tend their yards, do the shopping, and pay the bills on their own – often while holding down a job. Family members of all kinds have to deal with the anguish of absence and fear about the safety of their loved ones serving in dangerous places. Will their spouse or child or sibling survive? If they come back injured in body or mind, will the reunited family members be able to live with and support each other’s changed beings? And it is not just the ones who experience the trauma of war directly who suffer from post-traumatic stress. Family members at home do, too. Read more
