Stuff YOU Should Know
Fourth Debate Shapes Up
It’s October, and you know what that means? It’s almost time for the fourth round of Democratic debates. In this round, twelve candidates have qualified. Rather than split the event into two nights, all of the candidates will take the stage at the same time. Up until now, the limit on stage has been ten, but it’s hoped that holding the debate in one night instead of two will increase viewership, which is likely to be in the millions. The location for the crowded October debate is Otterbein University, a small college in Westerville, Ohio, which is a suburb of Columbus.
So who can we expect to see on stage on October 15? The following candidates have all met the Democratic National Committee’s fundraising and polling requirements: former Vice President Joe Biden; Sen. Cory Booker (New Jersey); Mayor Pete Buttigieg (South Bend, Indiana); former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro; Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii); Sen. Kamala Harris (California); Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota); former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (Texas); Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vermont); businessman Tom Steyer; Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts); and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. Despite suffering a heart attack and an unplanned heart procedure last week, Sen. Bernie Sanders still expects to participate in the debate, though his campaign activities until then have been put on hold.
Here’s who didn’t make the cut this round: Sen. Michael Bennet (Colorado); Gov. Steve Bullock (Montana); former Rep. John Delaney (Maryland); Mayor Wayne Messam (Miramar, Florida); Rep. Tim Ryan (Ohio); former Rep. Joe Sestak (Pennsylvania); and spiritual adviser Marianne Williamson.
It’s likely that this is the last time we will see so many candidates on stage at one time; in order to qualify for the November debates, candidates have to hit 3 percent in four polls and raise money from 165,000 donors.
Dig Deeper So far, five Democratic candidates have already qualified for the November round of debates. Who are they? Use Internet resources to help you figure out the answer.
Singapore Passes “Fake News” Law
Here in the United States, we hear a lot about “fake news.” But we are not the only place where trying to separate factual information from spin or outright lies is becoming more and more difficult. And Singapore has decided to do something about it. Last Wednesday, the Singapore parliament passed the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act, which will require online platforms to remove false information or to at least issue corrections. This law would apply to everything from online news sources to social media. If you don’t comply–even if you’re just an individual posting something to social media–you could face still fines (up to about $60,000) or up to a decade in prison.
So what’s the problem with a law that requires everyone to simply tell the truth? Actually, a lot. The key issue is that truth can be a very subjective concept. In the case of the Singapore law, it’s the government that will determine what is true and what is false. And there is an election coming up in March 2020. So what is to stop the government from fining or imprisoning people who speak out against it? Opponents are concerned that the law will erode the public’s right to free speech, as well as giving government officials the right to remove any content that they don’t agree with.
Singapore isn’t the first Southeast Asian country to come up with a law like this one. Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Vietnam have all passed similar legislation.
What Do You Think? Should people have the right to say anything they want online, even if it’s false? Do you think that laws insisting on “truth” impact your free speech rights? Explain.
Driver’s License Requirements Changing
Getting ready to fly somewhere on vacation? Don’t forget your clothes, toiletries, something to do on the plane . . . and your REAL ID.
What’s a REAL ID? It’s like a special driver’s license. You get one by paying extra when you get your driver’s license and by showing some additional paperwork, such as your birth certificate, Social Security card, and more than one proof of address. The idea for the REAL ID came about in 2005 when Congress passed the REAL ID Act because they were concerned that it was too easy to get a fake driver’s license, which poses a security risk for flights.
Starting October 1 of next year, if you don’t have one, you won’t be allowed to board your plane. And this is a problem because 3 out of every 4 Americans still don’t have one. It’s estimated that on October 1 alone, this will cause about $40 million in lost travel expenses. The REAL ID won’t be the only acceptable form of identification to use–one will also be able to board using a passport or military ID–but most people don’t have those alternative forms, either. One suggested alternative to forcing everyone to run out this year and get the ID is to allow people who have enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program to board regardless of whether or not they have the REAL ID. But that idea is still being discussed.
So why has it taken so long to implement a law that was passed in 2005? Many states have objected to it, saying that it’s too expensive. Others have a problem with the idea of the REAL ID itself, which they argue is the same thing as a national ID, versus a state ID. Regardless, the change could make for some longer-than-average lines at your local DMV.
Dig Deeper What is required to obtain a REAL ID in your state? What is required to obtain a regular, non-compliant driver’s license?
Worst Traffic Jam Ever
If you’re angry at the government, what’s one way to get your message across? Shut down a major highway during rush hour. That’s what thousands of Dutch farmers did last Tuesday. The reason? Climate change. Some Dutch legislators have proposed cutting back on the number of permitted livestock in order to help reduce the negative effects to the environment. (Livestock require large grazing spaces, which causes deforestation, and also release harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.) The Dutch government wants to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, and while no specific actions have been taken toward farmers yet, the idea of “halving the herd” is being discussed and debated.
So ten thousand Dutch farmers staged a national day of protest last week. They slowly drove about 2,200 tractors along major highways and other busy traffic arteries throughout Tuesday’s morning rush hour and into the mid-afternoon, causing more than 700 miles of traffic jams in what the Dutch government is calling the worst traffic jam that has ever happened there. Three people were arrested as a result. Despite the inconvenience, however, the Dutch people stand by the farmers, with about 89 percent of the public in support of the protest.
The farmers are asking for two things: first, that they not be required to reduce their livestock herds, and second, for an independent party to measure the gas emissions to determine how much of a problem they really are. They also want to be listened to by their government, and to protest the negative image of farmers that they feel the government holds.