Stuff YOU Should Know
“Perfect Storm” of Factors Paralyzes Atlanta
© Ocean/Corbis; the city of Atlanta was hit hard by unusual snowstorms recently. It caused real problem in a city not used to such weather.
A week after the Northeastern part of the United States was hit with its latest polar vortex chill, the Southern states experienced their own rare weather phenomenon. A two-inch snowfall in Atlanta, Georgia caused massive gridlock on the city’s highways, leaving thousands of motorists stranded in their cars and many schoolchildren forced to sleep at their schools. While only two deaths were reported, there were more than a thousand accidents.
The debacle has left many to wondering who to blame and wonder what could have been done differently. Many accuse the government, notably Mayor Kasim Reed, for failing to effectively lead. In defending himself, Reed pointed out that the state, not the city, is responsible for clearing the freeways. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s statement that they had been hit with an unexpected storm caused many to counter that the National Weather Service had issued a significant warning. Some say that salt trucks should have prepared the roads in advance, while others said that it is unreasonable for a southern state to be expected to have a fleet of trucks when it only experiences snow once every few years. Others believe that staggering school and business closings (or closing them altogether) would have alleviated the gridlock.
This week, another cold snap is hitting the Deep South. Governor Deal and other Georgia officials have promised that they learned their lesson from the first incident and things will go more smoothly this time.
Dig Deeper Find out what specific measures Atlanta plans to put in place to avoid such a mess again? Do you think it will be effective? Why or why not? See if you can find another southern city that has an effective plan in place.
The Latest on Immigration Reform
President Obama made immigration reform an important issue in both of his reelection campaigns. It was also one of the topics of his recent State of the Union address. In an attempt to make good on his promises, he is faced with a recent statement of principals generated by House Republicans while on a recent retreat. The document proposes that undocumented immigrants could come forward, be subject to background checks, pay back taxes and fines and develop proficiency in English and eventually gain their citizenship. It also includes a no tolerance policy for those who cross the border illegally, and proposes more visas to workers in high-skilled fields. In addition, Republicans insist that stricter border enforcement must be in place before they any further legislation is created. Critics say the proposal by the House Republicans a likely to create a group of noncitizens who will not be granted access to green cards.
The House have embraced the SAFE Act, a local law currently in place in Arizona and Alabama that empowers local governments to more easily identify and arrest those who violate federal immigration laws. Democrats in general do not like this law because they say it violates the civil rights of tens of millions of Americans. Despite their differences, both Democrats and Republicans seem more willing to have continued conversations and truly compromise on a solution.
What Do You Think? There are an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants currently living in the United States.
Hillary Clinton: Biggest Frontrunner Candidate Ever
Is it that time again already? Enough time has passed since the most 2012 election to reasonably start anticipating who will running for president in 2016. While it is no surprise to anyone that early polls show Hillary Clinton as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, a new poll shows her ahead of Vice President Joe Biden by a huge margin. When asked the question “If the Democratic Primary were held today, for whom would you vote?” 73 percent of those polled said Clinton. (Joe Biden had only 12 percent.) A significant early lead does not always ensure victory, however. (Clinton had a 22 percent lead over then-senator Barack Obama as early as December 2006.)
The recent poll is causing experts to debate whether the high numbers are merely name recognition or a deeper faith in Clinton’s ability to effectively lead. On one hand, as former First Lady and Secretary of State, she has a lot of experience in both domestic and foreign affairs. On the other, she has been deeply criticized for her role in responding to the attacks on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi.
What Do You Think? Some say that it is way too early to speculate on who will run in the 2016 election when the candidates themselves have yet to make official announcement. Do you agree? Why or why not? Name some challenges to both sides.
British Monarchy Running Out of Money?
In England, the Royal Family lives on a combination of private and public funds. This money is used to pay for the monarchy’s housing, staff, and travel. A recent report of Britain’s Public Accounts Committee suggests that the Queen of England’s finances are at a historic low. In order to meet current bills, the Royals has had to dip into a reserve fund, which has reportedly fallen from 35 million pounds in 2001 to around 1 million today. Buckingham Palace, where the queen resides, needs important repairs including a leaky roof and an out-of-date boiler system.
This recent news only intensifies the long-running debate over the value of the monarchy. While England was once ruled by kings, it is now a parliamentary democracy. The role of the Royal family is largely ceremonial. The arrangement of a publicly-funded monarchy dates back to 1760, when King George III, faced with a large amount of debt, offered Parliament a deal where he would surrender the profits on his land in exchange for a fixed annual salary and an exemption on inheritance tax. Today, the opinion of the value of the Royal family is divided. Some accuse the system of being outdated and undemocratic. These critics believe public money could be used for other things. Others believe the Royal family are an important tradition and create a great deal of income for the country on its property and tourism that far exceed its burden.