Weekly Quiz: Test Yourself on this Week’s Events

The weekly quiz is now live in Mypoliscilab. Good luck!

Weekly Poll: Your Opinion on Occupy Wall Street

The Occupy Wall Street movement has gained support in many cities in the U.S. and around the world; however, it appears politicians in the U.S. don’t seem to know how to respond to the demands of the movement. What do you think?

Shockupy Wall Street Fad

Occupy Wall Street protesters have a right to peacefully assemble, and the police have a right to disassemble them into pieces.

Colbert To Occupy Wall Street: ‘Go Home!’ (VIDEO), posted with vodpod

Video Glossary: Bicameral Legislature

MPSL VLog: Frontloading to Pick Frontrunner

The national government selects the date of national elections, but states decide how to run elections within each state. There is a trend to set earlier primary dates.  Professor Gaffaney explains the significance of frontloading primary elections.

Warren Buffet’s 2010 Tax Returns

President Barack Obama and Warren Buffett in the Oval Office, July 14, 2010.

In theory, the federal income tax rate is based on the progressive taxation system.  A progressive tax is a type of tax system in which the tax rate increases based on level of income. In essence, the wealthy pay a larger tax percentage compared to those with lower incomes. However, as Warrant Buffett’s 2010 tax returns revealed, the federal income tax rate in practice actually decreases on those making significantly large incomes. Buffett earned $63 million last year, yet paid around $7 million in federal income tax and a mere $15,300 in payroll taxes. All said Warren Buffett, who is worth around 50 billion dollars, paid 17.4% in total federal taxes (income and payroll taxes) while the average American worker paid around 33%.

Warren Buffett has been championing increased taxes on wealthy Americans for years. Back in 2007, Buffett offered a million dollars on NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw to any member of the Forbes 400 that could prove they paid a greater tax burden than their employees.

“I’ll bet a million dollars against any member of the Forbes 400 who challenges me that the average tax rate for the Forbes 400 will be less than the average of their receptionists.”

Not one member of Forbes 400 has taken Mr. Buffett’s million dollar challenge. Greta Van Susteren of FoxNews posted on her blog several ways Warren Buffett could better spend his time by voluntarily paying more taxes.

Meanwhile, the nation is in the middle of a tax debate concerning the exact fairness of the federal tax code. From Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 plan to Occupy Wall Street, the American people are divided on whether or not the American wealthy is paying too much or too little in taxes. However, the majority of the current debate is based on economic theory and political ideology. Should the debate be placed on hold until more members of the top 1% release their tax returns?

-TERRANCE MULLINS

Weekly Quiz: Test Yourself on this Week’s Events

The weekly quiz is now live in Mypoliscilab. Good luck!

Weekly Poll: Your Opinion on Withdrawal of Troops From Iraq

While many Americans welcome the president’s decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011, some critics think it is a very risky move since the country is still very unstable. What do you think?

Video Glossary: New Media

The Commander-in-Chief vs. Commanders on the Ground

Article II of the Constitution clearly identifies the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the United States.  For better or worse, the founding fathers believed that it was preferable to constitutionalize control of the nation’s military forces under civilian control.  Presidential command and control of actual operations in conjunction with Congressional control of military funding enables the participation of both branches in deciding how and when U.S. military forces will be used around the world.

In the years following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and through the subsequent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it was common to predicate decisions concerning operations in both countries upon the judgments of military commanders on the ground—whether it was General David Patraeus or General Stanley McChrystal.  With the recent announcement by President Obama that the last remaining military personnel in Iraq would be pulled out by the end of the year, there are those who are questioning the President’s decision, citing the recommendations of various commanders on the ground.  Just a few months ago General David Patraeus testified that the proposed draw-down of troops in Afghanistan would make it difficult for the military to meet all its goals.

With all due respect, there are no military goals in war that are not the extension of the foreign policy agreed to by the President and Congress of the United States.  Commanders on the ground serve at the pleasure of the President, subject only indirectly to the power of the purse of Congress—a good argument for why elections matter.  Douglas MacArthur wanted to invade China as part of the Korean War.  William Westmoreland arguably failed to honestly portray the situation in Vietnam to President Johnson and Congress (or the American people).  I for one fear the day when a general decides the foreign policy of this nation.

–DENNIS FALCON