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Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in NY

by Morgan Wieziolowski

Widener University Political Science Major

New York State has decided to support a new initiative by the RGGI or Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to cap major power plants on their environmentally damaging gas emissions. The proposed changes in the initiative would cut these gas emissions by 2.5 percent per year, cutting overall gas emissions that damage the planet’s climate by 20 percent within ten years.  This is not a new topic for New York or any state. The state of NY was one of the first ten states that supported the RGGI when the gas emission cap was first adopted. The RGGI is hoping that other states in the region will push for use of green energy and carbon pollution reduction. The Northeast has a growing concern for the devastating affects the pollution causes to the global climate. This topic is fresh in everyone’s minds due to the recent devastation caused by Super Storm Sandy, and the State and local governments are not letting the environment sit on the back burner this time around.

RGGI is also supposed to boost the State’s economy. Within the first two years of participation in the RGGI there is the possibility of created 16,000 jobs and increasing economic output significantly. Investing in stronger, more effective RGGI would be very beneficial for the State of New York, not only for the environment, climate, and power sources but also for the job stimulation, creation of new technologies and economic prosperity. Governor Cuomo has “committed” to strengthen the cap and ultimately push for a better economic policy. I think this is a great example of public policy in play with environmental issues. The state is already participating in the cap and prevention strategies but they definitely can be strengthened. Governor Cuomo stated he wants to do this, but has not actually laid out a plan of clear action to ensure these changes. I guess we will have to wait and see, but for the most part I like the RGGI and what it’s trying to do for the carbon pollution problems.

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An Opinion Primer on Syria

by J. Wesley Leckrone

Associate Professor of Political Science

Widener University

As Congress prepares to deliberate on President Obama’s request for limited military strikes in Syria the following might help clarify the various positions on the issue.

First – if you’re not too sure about the whole Syria situation check out Max Fishers’ “9 Questions About Syria You Were Too Embarrassed to Ask” from the Washington Post.

Nickolas Kristof of the New York Times argues for military action from a human rights perspective in “Pulling the Curtain Back on Syria”.

Thomas Friedman, in Same War, Different Country (New York Times), argues that the problem is a lack of pluralism in the Middle East and that nothing we can do will help solve the problem in Syria.

Finally, Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal gives a conservative opinion opposing military strikes in “Why America is Saying No.”

Finally “Shift in Congress Undercuts Support for Syria Strike” from the Wall Street Journal shows how more libertarian Republicans and less conservative Democrats in Congress have changed the body’s perspective on military action.

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Fiscal Cliff, Debt Ceiling, Balanced Budget, Oh My!

by Erica Szpynda

Widener University Economics Major

It is the beginning of the month and your bills are starting to pile on the table.  You have every intention to pay them, but your money is tight.  If you end of not paying a few of those bills, what happens?

Well, the utilities have been used and the goods and services, bought on credit, have been received.  This is the same as what the government was up against, until Wednesday. The House decided to temporally raise the debt ceiling to cover the bills the United States has accumulated.

Everyone in Congress knew that if the US defaulted, for the first time in history, it could bring detrimental hits to their credit rating and have the possibility of sending the world into a depression.  Bringing a sigh of relief, Republicans backed down on their demand that they would only raise the debt ceiling if spending cuts were taken in the same amount.

Nevertheless, in less than four short months, Congress will still have to decide on spending cuts and rising taxes. This is the true debate that is splitting the nation, not just elected officials.  We have moved past the fiscal cliff raising taxes across the board and Americans will have less money in their pockets.  It is agreed that spending cuts need to happen at some level, but do we raise taxes again?

We just need to remember two simple formulas:

1.       Revenues = Spending (Balanced Budget)

2.       GDP = Investment +Consumption + Net Exports + GOVERNMENT SPENDING

With these in mind, remember we are still recovering from a recession and how much should we decrease an important variable?

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Politicians are really stupid, wealthy, immature children…..

by Matthew Caputa

Widener University Political Science Major

“Ew, like oh my God they never get anything done” and “Ugh, why can’t they just get along for the good of the country”, “Like, even I could vote yes”.

Congratulations America, we did it.  Somehow throughout our entire lineage of patriotic prosperity and economic freedom the people in this wonderful land have come full circle.  U.S citizens actually, and no this is not a joke, have given congress the approval rating of a cockroach.  And based on the polarization of the media’s coverage of Capitol Hill, this statistic isn’t quite as alarming.  It appears that the population in America has lost hope in its representatives and nothing is ever going to get accomplished because hey, “congressmen are selfish pigs without the people in mind”.  While that might hold true, it is certainly not appropriate for the former, but rather the latter of those two.

Congressmen are accomplished legislators, businessmen, lawyers and many other respected positions.  Most of the members of the House, and all of of the Senate, ran a campaign which garnered the trust of the majority of their constituents to hold the prestigious duty of representing them.  Boom!, they made it, and have reached the highest run of society.  So tell me how I, an undergraduate still trying to figure out if my peach fuzz will ever turn the appropriate color on my face, is in any position to judge my representative on what he does.  Yes, we have specified interests and chastise Congress at any opportunity for not delivering, but seriously, what do we really know about our legislature?  The truth of the matter is that the true majority of America knows nothing.  They read a headline on CNN and all of the sudden morph into Karl Rove for the day.  “Gun control? I say congress agrees and lowers crime” “Congressmen X,Y,Z are all dumb because they listen to their party”.

The American people need to get over themselves and let our politicians do their job.  But if you really feel the need to criticize congress then read the Constitution, and spend 8 years of higher education learning about how it really works. Most importantly though, stop pretending that you would actually be anything different.

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Presidential Election Debate Watch & Live Chat October 3, 2012

Come to the Widener Pride Cafe tonight to watch the Presidential Debate. The Political Science Faculty will be live chatting during the debate on

http://www.facebook.com/WidenerPoliSci

Twitter: @WidenerPoliSci

Twitter: #WidenerVotes2012

If there are any federalism implications in tonight’s debate I will blog about them tomorrow.

Debate LiveChat Oct3 2012 – Flyer 1

Debate LiveChat Oct3 2012 – Flyer 1

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Rubio’s Blessing

Rubio’s Blessing

by Jonathan Perkins

Widener University Political Science Major

Senator Marco Rubio of Florida endorsed Mitt Romney on Thursday. This endorsement is seen as a big win for Romney, because of Rubio’s recent rising fame in the Republican Party. Rubio, a son of two Cubans, has given several speeches that not only give positive light to the Republican Party platform but is good at speeches, too. Jeb Bush has even said, “He is the best orator of American politics today, a good family man. He is not only a consistent conservative, but he has managed to find a way to communicate a conservative message full of hope and optimism.

Rubio can be considered the Chris Christie of Florida due to his popularity and pressure to run nationally. Many republicans see Rubio as a good Vice Presidential candidate, and Rubio’s endorsement has signaled which candidate he wants to run with. Just like Christie, Rubio doesn’t want to run nationally and prefers Florida issues. The only thing that maybe proving a Vice Presidential bid is an autobiography Rubio is releasing this summer. Republicans see a benefit if Rubio runs: an increased Latino vote for the party. A recent poll showed that with Rubio on the ticket that about 25% of Latinos would vote for Romney.

After giving his endorsement, Rubio stated the reason he gave it to Romney. Rubio sees that the clear winner is Romney, but he also knows that none of the three candidates will back down till the convention. Rubio would prefer to end the negative attacks on each other, so the Republican Party can prepare for Obama.