Libertas

Politics 101: The Filibuster

The Filibuster: a parliamentary tactic through which a minority prevents the majority from passing legislation. Wait, what? Essentially, a filibuster stops congress from passing a bill. The minority party, or even a single Senator, can block legislation. The Senate allows for unlimited debate on a bill unless...

The Issue of Multiculturalism

As of November 29, 2009 following a referendum held in Switzerland, a ban on the construction of minarets was passed with 57% in favor. The ban is just the latest in a series of Islamophobic reactions coming out of Western Europe. Switzerland has 400,000 Muslims and four minarets and Swiss Muslims are among the...

The Ethics of Torture

Perhaps one of the most profound ethical dilemmas that has gained prominence in contemporary American political discourse is torture. Brought to us by the War on Terror, this issue has been contentious for years, but it recently resurfaced with the decision of the Obama administration to release previously…

The West Wing and the Death Penalty

In one episode of the popular political drama “The West Wing”, fictional President Josiah Bartlet managed to address one of the most difficult issues that this country faces on a regular basis- the separation between Church and State. The episode, Take This Sabbath Day, addresses the morality of…

Fake News of the Week: April 2, 2010

This weeks featured fake news story comes from Wednesday’s episode of The Daily Show, where Jon Stewart examines what President Obama has been up to since passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Including an arms treaty with Russia, expansion of off-coast oil drilling, and a trip to…

Cassidy’s Corner: Healthcare – One Step at a Time

Healthcare has rated high among internet searches over the past year. The Patient Protection & Affordable Healthcare Act, signed yesterday by President Obama, has elicited both celebration and vocal animosity. Inevitably, many against healthcare reform (to quote political analyst John Oliver) “would rather die of a curable disease…

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

I know not what joys await us there, what Radiancy of glory, what light beyond compare. Those are words from a Latin Benedictine hymn heaping praises upon the biblical city of Jerusalem. Today, this promised land of gold sits silently atop mounting frustrations and misconstrued faiths...

What Do I Know? I’m Just a Liberal Idealist.

Many conservatives say that those of us who are Liberal are idealists. Recently, after receiving this label for the nth time, I started thinking about what it actually means. The concept of labeling liberals as ideal became…

Corzine, Christie and the Media

As this election year heats up, the race for New Jersey’s Governor begins to tighten as both campaigns begin to push their messages via press releases, speeches, and political endorsements. Meanwhile, the media throughout the state and nation are taking notice. News outlets are now focusing on New…

Clinton Comes to Rutgers

On a beautiful October day two weeks before the most decisive day of his political career, Jon Corzine held a rally for Rutgers students at the College Avenue Gym. In order to gain momentum among student voters, Corzine had former President William Jefferson Clinton join him. Many of us Rutgers students remember Bill Clinton as the president of our childhood, so we were excited to see him appear in person at our fine school, whether or not we supported his policies.