After graduating, she wants to work for a PR firm or in social media management. Follow Grace on Twitter GraceM Navigate Left. Navigate Right. The Suffolk Journal. Share on Facebook. Share on Twitter. Share via Email. Search Submit Search. Activate Search. Opponents of stronger border controls argue the majority of illegal entrants are Mexicans seeking temporary work and pose no threat to national security.
After the September 11, terrorist attacks the U. Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force. The resolution authorizes the president to undertake war against al-Qaeda and its affiliates without Congressional approval. Since the law has been used to approve military conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
Proponents argue that the law is necessary to give the President the powers to act quickly in order to prevent another terrorist attack on the U. Opponents argue that all U. The Affordable Care Act is a federal statute signed into law in that introduces a sweeping overhaul of the nation's healthcare system. The act grants the federal government significant regulatory powers and price controls over U.
When the Affordable Care Act Obamacare was enacted in it required all states to expand their Medicaid programs to include people with incomes slightly higher than those allowed under traditional Medicaid, as well as groups, like childless adults, that had not previously been covered. In the Supreme Court ruled that forcing States to expand their Medicaid coverage was unconstitutional.
Since then 22 states have expanded their coverage and more than 35 have opted not to do so. Proponents of the expansion argue that it will lower healthcare costs for everyone by reducing the number of Americans without health insurance. Opponents argue that states should be allowed to run their own Medicaid programs without the intervention of the federal government. The WHO has led global public health efforts including the development of an Ebola Vaccine and the near-eradication of polio and smallpox.
The organization is run by a decision-making body composed of representatives from countries. It is funded by voluntary contributions from member countries and private donors.
Supporters of the WHO argue that cutting funding will hamper the international fight against the Covid pandemic and sap the U.
Single-payer healthcare is a system where every citizen pays the government to provide core healthcare services for all residents. Under this system the government may provide the care themselves or pay a private healthcare provider to do so. In a single-payer system all residents receive healthcare regardless of age, income or health status. Countries with single-payer healthcare systems include the U.
On January 29, , the CDC issued an Order that required face masks to be worn by all people while on public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and U.
The Order also required all people to wear masks while at transportation hubs including airports, bus or ferry terminals, train and subway stations, seaports, U. In January , the Trump administration announced that it would allow U. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for low-income Americans. Each state determines its own requirements for Medicaid eligibility.
In most states children from low-income households, pregnant women and low-income seniors are covered. Medicaid also offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, like nursing home care and personal care services. The Trump administration said Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin had requested approval to test programs including job training, job search, education, volunteer activities and caregiving.
In , officials in the U. In 64, people died in the U. To combat the epidemic cities including Vancouver, BC and Sydney, AUS opened safe havens where addicts can inject drugs under the supervision of medical professionals. The safe havens reduce the overdose death rate by insuring the addicted patients are given drugs that are not contaminated or poisoned. Since 5, people have overdosed at a safe haven in Sydney, Australia but no one has died.
Proponents argue that the safe havens are the only proven solution to lower the overdose fatality rate and prevent the spread of diseases like HIV-AIDS. Opponents argue that safe havens may encourage illegal drug use and re-direct funding from traditional treatment centers. In September of , US Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton released a proposal that would create an oversight panel that would protect U. Proponents of drug price regulation argue that drug makers raise prices to benefit the value of their stock and invest little of their profits in the development and research of new drugs.
Opponents of regulation argue that consumers rely on drug companies to develop new drugs and limiting prices will prevent new lifesaving drugs from being developed. In September President Biden announced that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration would require businesses with or more employees to make vaccination a condition of employment. Opponents argue that the rule is unconstitutional and cite evidence that people who already have natural immunity are at heightened risk of vaccine side effects caused by an augmented inflammatory response.
The government is currently prohibited by law from negotiating drug prices for Medicare. Medicare Part D is a federal government program which subsidizes the costs of prescriptions drugs for people enrolled in Medicare.
Opponents of Medicare Part D argue that it should be changed to allow the federal government to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies. Proponents of Medicare D argue that the government should not interfere with prices set by private drug makers who use profits for the development and research of new drugs.
The proposed plan would use tax credits to finance individual insurance purchases and cut federal payments to states which have been used to expand Medicaid. They demanded that the new plan should remove the ACA requirement that health insurers could not discriminate against individuals with pre-existing conditions. Under the ACA health insurers cannot deny coverage or charge higher premiums to individuals who have pre-existing conditions.
Opponents argue that the requirement will raise costs for insurers and cause them to drop out of the ACA healthcare exchange. Proponents argue that it is immoral to ban people with pre-existing conditions from getting health insurance. The above questions were selected because they give a broad sample of the most divisive issues being discussed this year in politics.
We continue to add new issues on a weekly basis. United States Speaking English. Tuesday November 3, Answer the following questions to see who you should vote for in the Presidential election. Science Issues. Should the government require children to be vaccinated for preventable diseases? Yes, but only for deadly contagious diseases. Yes, but with exceptions for those whose religious beliefs forbid use of vaccines. Yes, they are essential to protecting other children who are too young to be vaccinated.
Regardless, this should be decided at the state level. No, but require vaccination in order to attend public school.
No, fund public ad campaigns about the risks and benefits instead. No, but hold parents criminally liable for transferring deadly diseases to other children. Add your own stance.
This question is no longer relevant and should be removed. How important is this to you? Least Less Somewhat More Most. Do you support the use of nuclear energy? Yes, but with public subsidy.
Yes, and nationalize the industry. Yes, as long as there is no public subsidy. Yes, temporarily while we increase investment into cleaner renewable alternatives. No, we should invest in cleaner alternatives such as wind, hydroelectric, thorium, and geothermal. Should producers be required to label genetically engineered foods GMOs?
Yes, but I would prefer to ban GMOs. Yes, consumers have a right to know what is in their food. Regardless, producers should not be allowed to patent foods.
No, GMOs are the most promising solution to ending world hunger. No, we have selectively bred crops for thousands of years and labeling just adds an unfounded stigma to the science. Should the government fund space travel? No, not until we drastically decrease our federal deficit. No, we should focus on saving the Earth instead of leaving it.
No, the government should not fund any space exploration missions. No, the government should leave human space travel to private companies. Environmental Issues. Should the government increase environmental regulations to prevent climate change? Yes, and provide more incentives for alternative energy production. No, tax carbon emissions instead. No, and global warming is a natural occurrence. No, provide more incentives for alternative energy production instead.
Should the U. Yes, until other countries are held to the same standards. Should the government stop construction of the Dakota Access pipeline? Yes, and the government should never be allowed to acquire land by eminent domain.
No, but reroute the pipeline away from Native American land. No, but drastically increase the amount of fines the company must pay in the event of an accident. Should drilling be allowed in the Alaska Wildlife Refuge? Yes, but with very strict environmental regulations. No, not until we have depleted all other oil reserves. No, and increase alternative energy subsidies to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels. Do you support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources?
Yes, but increase oversight. Yes, but not in heavily populated areas. No, we should pursue more sustainable energy resources instead.
No, more research is needed to measure the long term effects of fracking. Yes, and deregulate the energy sector to let the free market determine the best energy sources. No, end all offshore oil drilling. No, and nationalize the energy sector. No, but maintain our current offshore oil wells. No, and provide more incentives for alternative energy production.
No, increase consumer incentives to recycle these products instead. No, but increase tax incentives for companies that make biodegradable products. Should the government give tax credits and subsidies to the wind power industry? Yes, wind power is the best alternative to coal and natural gas. Yes, the government should support more sustainable energy technologies. No, end all tax credits and subsidies to the energy industry. No, and the government should never support unproven technologies.
No, wind power is an inferior alternative to oil, coal, and nuclear power. Should researchers be allowed to use animals in testing the safety of drugs, vaccines, medical devices, and cosmetics? Yes, but not for cosmetics. Should cities be allowed to offer private companies economic incentives to relocate? Yes, as long as the local environment is not compromised. Yes, as long as the tax revenue will eventually exceed the tax incentives.
Yes, if the company promises to create new jobs by hiring local residents. Yes, but only if local citizens can vote on the amount of incentives to offer. Yes, but I would prefer lowering corporate taxes to benefit all local companies. No, but punish them for moving jobs out of the country. No, the government should never subsidize private businesses. No, spend that money on improving infrastructure and the community to attract companies. Electoral Issues. Should the electoral college be abolished?
Yes, and switch to a ranked voting system. Yes, and switch to a representative democracy popular vote system. No, but the balance of votes by population should be updated.
No, the electoral college ensures representation of the whole country instead of just major cities. No, but reform so that votes are distributed proportionally instead of the current winner take all system. Should foreigners, currently residing in the United States, have the right to vote? Yes, but only after living in the country for 5 years. Yes, but only after living in the country for 10 years. Yes, anyone who pays taxes should have the right to vote. Yes, but they should not be allowed to vote in local elections.
Yes, but they should only be allowed to vote in local elections. No, only legal citizens should be allowed to vote. Should a photo ID be required to vote? Yes, this will prevent voter fraud. No, and there is little evidence that voter fraud even exists.
No, and automatically register every citizen to vote when they turn No, this will disadvantage those who do not have the resources to obtain one. Was the US presidential election conducted fairly? Yes, there is not enough evidence to support widespread fraud. Yes, and because COVID required different procedures, this led to many unfounded conspiracy theories.
No, there was too much social media bias and censorship. Should political candidates be required to release their recent tax returns to the public? Yes, and also required to release their medical records. Yes, and require a public audit each year they are in office. No, their income is none of our business. No, tax returns have nothing to do with their ability to perform their duties. Should the minimum voting age be lowered? Yes, any citizen that pays taxes should be allowed to vote.
No, it should be raised. No, and voters should be required to pass a basic test demonstrating their understanding of politics in order to vote. Should there be a limit to the amount of money a candidate can receive from a donor? Yes, politicians should not be bought by wealthy donors. Yes, and ban all political donations and publicly fund elections. No, this is a violation of free speech. No, as long as all donations are public knowledge. Should a politician, who has been formerly convicted of a crime, be allowed to run for office?
Yes, as long as they have finished serving their sentence. Yes, as long as the crime was not committed while in office. Yes, as long as it was not a felony, violent, financial, or sexual crime. No, and disallow politicians that are under investigation for a crime.
Should corporations, unions, and non-profit organizations be allowed to donate to political parties? Yes, but limit the amount they can donate. No, these types of donations just turn into bribes. No, but allow donations from unions and non-profits. No, and political campaigns should be publicly funded.
Should foreign lobbyists be allowed to raise money for American elections? Yes, as long as all donations are public knowledge to ensure there is no conflict of interest. No, foreign interests should not be able to buy the influence of our politicians. Should there be a 5-year ban on White House and Congressional officials from becoming lobbyists after they leave the government?
Yes, and make it a lifetime ban. Yes, and ban all forms of lobbying. No, the current two-year ban is sufficient. Education Issues. Do you support increasing taxes for the rich in order to reduce interest rates for student loans? Yes, and increase government funding so every student receives a free college education.
No, but we should still reduce interest rates for student loans. No, and transition all current government student loans into privately managed accounts. Should critical race theory be taught in K education? Yes, but not until they are teenagers. Yes, and also add Intersectionality and the Project to the curriculum. Yes, we cannot end racism until we acknowledge that our institutions, laws, and history are inherently racist.
No, kids should be raised to be racially color blind instead of being taught they are inherently racist or disadvantaged based on the color of their skin. Should the federal government pay for tuition at four-year colleges and universities?
Yes, but only for partial tuition. No, but provide lower interest rates for student loans. No, but provide more scholarship opportunities for low-income students. Should the federal government fund Universal preschool? Yes, but funding should come from states instead of the federal government.
Yes, as long as parents also have the option to send their child to private school. No, use a voucher system instead. No, and all education should be privatized. Do you support charter schools? Yes, but only if they are non-profit. Yes, but not at the expense of funding public schools.
Yes, and our entire education system should be privatized. No, and education should not be privatized. No, we should focus on improving our public schools and increasing teacher wages instead.
Do you support Common Core national standards? Yes, I support the concept but not the current implementation. Yes, national standards will help improve our national average and better prepare students for college. Yes, I support a national base standard but allow states and local districts to customize their implementation.
No, teach to each student's potential instead of uniform testing. No, education should be handled at the state and local level instead of the national level.
Should the government decriminalize school truancy? Should the government offer students a voucher that they can use to attend private schools? Yes, but only for low income families. Yes, but I would rather privatize all education. Yes, but only for students with exceptional athletic, academic, or service achievements. No, and ban private schools. No, we should focus on improving our public schools instead. Social Issues. Should the government continue to fund Planned Parenthood?
Yes, as long as funding is not used for abortion procedures. Yes, their services reach far beyond abortions and can save many lives through cancer screening, prenatal services, and adoption referrals. No, and the government should not give funds to any organizations. No, and the government should not give funds to any organizations that perform abortions. What is your stance on abortion?
Pro-life, and I also oppose abortion for victims of rape and incest. Pro-life, but allow in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother or child. Pro-choice, but ban after the first three months. Pro-choice, and providing birth control, sex education, and more social services will help reduce the number of abortions. Should health insurance providers be required to offer free birth control?
Yes, except for religious organizations and charities that oppose the use of contraception. No, it should be covered like any other prescription. No, the government should support abstinence programs instead. No, the government should not decide what services a private business can provide. Should transgender athletes be allowed to compete against athletes that differ from their assigned sex at birth? Yes, but only if their hormone levels are equivalent to those in the gender category in which they compete.
No, athletes should compete based on the biological sex that is listed on their birth certificate. Yes, and the government should do more to protect minorities from discrimination. No, and repeal anti-discrimination laws for private companies. No, there are only two genders which are genetically not psychologically determined. No, we should address gender identity as a mental health issue and provide funds for more research and care. Should the federal government institute a mandatory buyback of assault weapons?
Yes, and we should also demilitarize local police departments. Yes, but start with a voluntary buyback and ban on purchasing assault weapons before enforcing a mandatory buyback. No, this is a violation of the 2nd amendment.
If we work together as a community and increase voter turnout, then our state and national legislators will listen to our needs. Education, healthcare, immigration, infrastructure, the economy, our veterans, etc. By working together to increase voter turnout, our community will benefit through job growth, better healthcare, better education, better infrastructure, a better economy, safer neighborhoods, and most importantly a better quality of life for our families. Its time to change the status quo and improve the lives of everyone we care about through voting, because our voice matters.
Even if you went to a polling location and only voted for one person, it will be counted. By law your vote has to be counted. Your ballot cannot be skipped or ignored otherwise it is unconstitutional Sometimes elections can come down to a small number of votes which greatly affects how your city, state, and nation are run.
Your vote counts, vote! People have died defending this right. When you vote, you are taking an active role in deciding issues regarding health care, immigration, equal opportunity, voting rights, infrastructure, jobs, education, social security, neighborhood safety, taxes, etc. This money can be used for education, youth programs, healthcare, veterans, creating jobs, the environment, etc. This is not enough! But writing in a name doesn't mean that vote will count.
Many states require that write-in candidates file paperwork before the election. Otherwise, the state won't count the person's votes. Check with your state election office to find out the rules for your state. Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They'll get you the answer or let you know where to find it.
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