The Silver Ink

Monday, January 20, 2020
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Obama bats for mandatory voting, terms it ‘potentially transformative’

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US President Barack Obama on Wednesday floated the idea of mandatory voting in the country, saying it would serve as a ‘potentially transformative’ step towards revamping the political and democratic system of the United States.

The President made the remark while addressing a civic group in Cleveland on Wednesday.

When asked about the money influence during the elections in the United States, Obama underscored the issues in the voting system and related laws in the US that are barring the people, mostly younger generation, from participating in the electoral processes. He said that the country should work efficiently in direction of making it easier for the Americans to exercise their voting rights.Barack Obama

Calling the mandatory voting “potentially transformative”, Obama said, “If everybody voted, then it would completely change the political map in this country. Not only that but universal voting would counteract money more than anything.”

Obama said the reports suggest that Americans who skip the elections are disproportionately younger, lower-income, less literate and generally immigrants or minorities.

“There’s a reason why some folks try to keep them away from the polls,” the President said in an indirect reference to the process of voter identification and related laws in several states in the country.

As per the figures of United States Election Project, less than 37 percent of eligible voters excercised their franchise during the  mid-term polls in 2014. According to a Pew Research Center study, those who opted out of the polls last year were mostly younger, less educated, poorer, and more racially diverse class.

At least two dozen nations, including Argentina, Belgium and Brazil, have some form of compulsory voting laws. In several systems, the absconders are stringently asked to provide valid reason for their absence or face a fine. There are few nations that have laws on the books allowing for potential imprisonment.

 

Illinois state Sen. Darin LaHood announces plan to run for Schock seat

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Illinois state Sen. Darin LaHood on Wednesday revealed his plans for contesting for the seat of embattled Rep. Aaron Schock after the congressman leave the position at the end of the month.

“I’m gonna work as hard as I can to run in this district, and I’m sure there’ll be other top quality people there, but I’m gonna stand on my record in the state Senate,” LaHood said in his interaction on CNN-affiliate WMBD Radio in Peoria, Ill.

The announcement came as no surprise for the residents as supporters have hugely suggested his name as a potential runner for the seat soon after Schock made announcement of his resignation on Tuesday.

Schock will step down from his position on March 31.

LaHood, who is the son of former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, said that Schock’s decision of resigning made him “absolutely surprised”.

“I was stunned, I really was. I thought we’d never see that. It was indeed “sad” for the district,” LaHood said.

LaHood, however, turned up to appeal the residents as well as his supporters to back his poll ambitions.

“Voters want someone that will represent them well, vote the right way, work hard and hopefully not get in any trouble,” he said.

He expressed his commitment to ethics reform while making an appeal for his candidature.

“I’ve been one of the strongest advocates for ethics reform in the Illinois state Senate, and I’ll continue to be that way if I’m fortunate enough to run and win in Congress,” LaHood added.

LaHood is being seen as a frontrunner for the seat, which is largely influenced by Republicans, because of his politically recognized family.

 

Debbie Wasserman Schultz opts out from contesting Senate seat

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Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Tuesday made final announcement that she is opting out of the Senate race for Florida seat in 2016.

Schultz, who is the chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, revealed her poll ambitions at CNN’s program, Wolf Blitzer.

During the interview, Schultz said that she has planned not to seek re-election for her House seat and will continue to serve out her full term as DNC chairperson.

She is slated to complete her service term as DNC chairperson in January 2017 and the speculation has been rife around a possible run by the congresswoman.

According to Schultz, she has received tremendous encouragement from the constituents in her district, donors and Floridians. However, she ultimately chose not to contest the Senate elections.

Former Governor Charlie Crist, a Florida Democrat, has also announced this week that he has planned not to run for the Senate seat which is currently being held by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who is up for re-election in 2016.

According to the reports, Rubio is actually eying to contest the presidential election in 2016.

Recently, he has said that he would not be campaigning to retain his Senate seat if he opts for the presidential bid.

With Schultz’s announcement, the chances have turned bright for two of her Democratic colleagues– Reps. Patrick Murphy and Alan Grayson– in congressional delegation in Florida who are considering a Senate run.

 

 

Obama asks youths to care more about climate change than weeds

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US President Barack Obama has once again came in support of saving the environment as he pitched his voice for giving more attention to the issue of climate change than legalizing marijuana in his message to younger generation.

In a stern message to the youth about their political priorities, President Obama said that care should be more given on the degrading climatic conditions and lesser to the issue of giving marijuana constitutionally legal status.

“First of all, it shouldn’t be young people’s biggest priority… Young people: I understand this is important to you, but as you be thinking about climate change, the economy and jobs, war and peace, maybe way at the bottom you should be thinking about marijuana,” the President said during an interview to the international news channel ‘Vice News’.

The remarks came in response to a question about the issue of legalizing marijuana being viewed as a top item for the young Americans when considering the President’s legacy.

Obama has been in favor of decriminalising marijuana for a long time and has also openly supported pot smoking in high school. He, however, has never backed legalizing the controversial drug.

The Democrat President has always batted for reform in the criminal justice system and laws meant for disproportionately incarcerating African Americans in case of non-violent drug offences, such as marijuana possession.

The US Justice Department under Obama administration has adopted a hands-off approach in order to enforce a federal ban on the use of the controversial drug in states like Alaska, Colorado and Washington where the use of marijuana for recreational purposes has been legally allowed.

“We may actually be able to make some progress on the decriminalisation side. At a certain point, if enough states end up decriminalising, the Congress may then reschedule marijuana,” Obama said.

If marijuana is rescheduled, the drug would be reclassified under the less dangerous substance category.

 

 

President Barack Obama’s Key Job Ratings Increased

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President Barack Obama’s Key Job Ratings Increased

President Barack Obama has increased his key job ratings after many Americans stated that they are actually satisfied with the country’s economy right now. In fact, it is the best economy within the past 10 years.

As of now, the overall president’s job-approval number stands at 46 percent. This is the highest rating since the month of October 2013, which is known to be the period of government shutdown.

Another thing is that 49 percent of the Americans actually approve on how the President handles the American economy. However, there are still Americans out there who think that the United States is in a state of decline.

President Obama Was Accused of Undertaking Class Warfare

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President Obama Was Accused of Undertaking Class Warfare

With the plan of President Barack Obama to increase taxes on wealthier Americans in order to help those average or middle-class Americans, he was accused of undertaking class warfare by the top tax law writer of the Senate.

According to Orrin Hatch, a Republican Senator and the Senate Finance Committee’s chairman, Obama’s plan regarding tax increase on wealthy Americans would definitely breach the principles of revenue neutrality and simplicity. Hatch re-emphasized that these principles are actually the key factors to any of the real tax reforms.

The plan would need the support and approval of the Congress, which is known dominated in both chambers by Republican, in order to push through.

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