Far too often, Americans simply vote for their favorite party’s presidential candidate or the person who appears to have won all of the final televised debates. While this may seem like a reliable way to vote, it can still fail us since no one candidate ever has all of the best answers. Furthermore, party platforms often have several political “landmines” buried within them – so it’s important to know if programs you consider critical for this country are already on the “chopping block.” It’s also wise to take highly successful third-party candidates seriously since a day may soon appear when one of them will be so well-financed that he or she may actually manage to win or “buy” an election. If you’re determined to vote responsibly, consider spending at least an hour (or more) of your time carefully reading through your favorite candidate’s party platform (and/or published personal stands on all critical issues) well before ever entering a voting booth. When we each simply vote “our feelings,” we can easily fail to properly evaluate each candidate, thereby crippling our democracy’s future. It’s also wise to check out your favorite candidate’s major opponent – so you’ll know what to expect if your vote fails to be a winning one – and various compromises might be necessary in the future. Here are a number of useful links and resources for learning more about the current candidates running for U. S. President in 2016. Of course, this list will soon diminish as primaries start coming and going. It will also shrink as candidates lacking any mature impulse control wind up destroying their own chances of being elected. ( Since this list is not intended to be comprehensive, you should still plan on doing additional research on your own ). Key internet resources for 2016 presidential candidates The Republican Party Platform The Democratic Party Platform Hillary Clinton’s stands on the issues Donald Trump’s political stance Jeb Bush’s opinions Bernie Sander’s views on all major issues Ben Carson’s political stance Chris Christie’s views regarding America’s most critical problems Jeb Bush’s stance Rick Santorum’s beliefs regarding America’s best future Carly Fiorina’s 2016 platform Ted Cruz’s answers for America’s most difficult issues (You can learn more about all other candidates by using Google or another search engine) Key issues that define candidates The economy . This will surely remain critical to every presidential election, especially now that many voters’ incomes are so far apart. Always look for clear-cut suggestions regarding our tax system, the minimum wage, proper handling of the deficit, and other related issues; Education. We have already reached a point where the poor and disappearing middle classes cannot obtain a good college education due to an absurd increase in tuition and other fees. Find out what suggestions your candidate is making? Are they likely to be turned into legislation? Immigration . What types of creative solutions – plural – is your favorite candidate offering? Is this person suggesting more than just building big walls or deporting vast numbers of people already here? Is s/he claiming we can instantly reverse any Constitutional amendments? If so, be sure to read up on what happened to the proposed – and failed E. R. A. Amendment ; Social issues . Can your candidate really think both abstractly and concretely about such topics as Medicare and Social Security? Does s/he have any strong ideas for diminishing the rampant racism that’s still so popular in this country – even if it’s usually hidden publicly? How does your candidate view women’s rights, the current Planned Parenthood debate, abortion, and fully paid pregnancy leave options? Even if these topics seem unimportant to you, the generations now approaching voting age will definitely be confronting them soon; Foreign policy . Does your candidate have any meaningful experience in this realm? If you’ll review what’s happened during the last four or five presidential administrations, you’ll probably notice that the lack of first-hand experience in this arena can prove disastrous for American interests. When a candidate hasn’t served in the U. S. Congress – or in any elected office – s/he is almost always going to make serious errors. A huge ego is never a good substitute for experience in foreign policy. Furthermore, we need strong leadership as we decide how best to interact with groups like ISIS and others that are sure to develop in the future; Equality . Does your candidate truly see himself/herself as one among equals in terms of America’s basic democratic principles? Does s/he even believe that all people are born with innate equal value – and deserve equal rights? Now that money alone can make you eligible to run for president in America, are we going to allow thinly disguised (and delusional) elitism to weaken our government? Politicians who clearly view themselves as superior to the masses are almost never able to provide meaningful leadership in office. Additional links and resources for 2016 Voters The Presidential Primary ; America’s electoral college Learning from our past elected presidents (government link); History.com The Library of Congress website; Ben’s Guide . This provides a great way to explain the election process and how our government is supposed to work to all young children; Six more great links to help you track the 2016 election as it unfolds, Should the 2016 presidential election prove highly exceptional, we may even elect a candidate confident and capable enough to honor the Golden Rule while in office: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Elizabeth Smith, J.D., M.A. is a freelance writer and graduate of both the University of Texas Law School and Fuller Seminary Featured image courtesy of Politico
Environmental concerns are making their way more and more into U.S. public consciousness. And few states are feeling the need for major environmental change more than California. After all, this is a state that is in the middle of a historic and debilitating drought . On the automotive front, the most practical of the current options to reduce carbon emissions is to promote electric vehicles. To jumpstart this process and raise awareness, California began offering a rebate program in 2010 to buyers of electric vehicles manufactured by such companies as Nissan and Tesla Motors. However, state regulators have now restricted the rebates to households earning less than $500,000 per year. Here’s what you need to know about the decision. The figures The Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, which is overseen by the California Air Resources Board, has so far given 242 million in rebates to over 100,000 folks who purchased hybrid or electric vehicles. This money comes from portions of the California smog fee and vehicle registration fees. But although the cash comes from all California motorists, the subsidies seemed mostly to benefit the wealthy. A study from the Center for Sustainable Energy, showed that up until last May 6% of rebate recipients earned $500,000 a year or more. Some 28% earned between $200,000 and $499,000, and 43% earned between $100,000 and $199,999. The fallout What got the rebate so much attention was that most of the subsidies were going to folks who by any definition are wealthy (California’s average household income is $60,000.). Bob Huff, a Republican legislator from San Dimas, argued against diverting money from lower-income families to benefit wealthy drivers. Even staunch supporters of the rebate program, like Michelle Kinman, who works for Environment California, admits that the higher-end earners would have purchased their electric vehicle regardless of the rebate. With so much agreement on both sides, it only made sense to set an income cap on rebates. The future Despite setting the cap at $500,000 per household, many think it should be lower. A coalition of state environmentalists argued for a $400,000 cap, but the 12 members of the California Air Resources Board voted against it. The trickiest part of the issue is, obviously, cost. With a Tesla-model electric vehicle retailing for around $75,000, higher earners are naturally the target consumer base. But advocates for the rebates maintain that as time passes and the cost of these vehicles goes down, the rebates will be distributed much more equitably. What do you think: should taxpayers foot the bill for electric vehicle subsidies, or should the auto companies be forced to subsidize themselves?
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January 28, 2018 According to an October 27, 2017, announcement, the Los Angeles jeans company, True Religion, exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy with about $357 million less debt, debt maturities extended, cash to implement a growth plan and a positive outlook for the future. The company emerges with a reduced retail footprint and an exit loan of $60 million from Citizens Bank, the same bank that provided the initial cash during the reorganization process. At the peak of the company, True Religion jeans were selling anywhere from $150 to $250 a pair at their nearly 140 stores and online. The brand also sold at upscale department stores, such as Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom and at other locations in the U.S., Mexico and South America. Around 2013, True Religion, like many other apparel stores, struggled for success, watching sales decline as it competed with the internet, online shopping and competing discount retailers. The rapid growth in the trend of athletic wear for leisure caused the sales of blue jeans to quickly decline. Behind $192,000 on rent for its California office headquarters and drowning in major debts owed to creditors, manufacturers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and malls around the country, True Religion filed for bankruptcy on July 5, 2017, in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. At the time of filing, the company had 128 stores in the United States and 11 stores outside the country. The company made some major changes, hiring John Ermatinger as CEO and president and bringing on a new chief marketing officer and a new vice president of sourcing. They also reduced costs, streamlined processes and closed unprofitable stores. John Ermatinger publicly thanked the company’s supporters — consumers, employees, vendors and suppliers — for their ongoing commitment and devotion to True Religion. He expressed his excitement regarding the future of the company, which includes implementing new growth strategies through innovative partnerships, expanding True Religion’s digital presence and refining its marketing operations. You do not have to be a major corporation to file bankruptcy , Like in the case of True Religion, bankruptcy allows individuals to emerge in a better financial position than before. Our legal team can help you navigate through these difficult times.
January 16, 2018 A Fresno State professor who intimidated a pro-life group was ordered to pay $17,000 and attend training on the First Amendment. He was recorded on video in an attempt to harass pro-life students who were drawing with chalk on the sidewalk. He also asked students from his public health class to assist him in his efforts. He claimed they were outside of the campus free speech area, but no such area has existed on campus since 2015. The sidewalk messages suggested pro-life options for students. The president of the club stated that the First Amendment gives students the right to speak on campus. She documented an incident between herself and the professor on video. He can be heard telling her that she is not in a free-speech area. However, she claimed that she had school permission to be there and to be speaking. The professor began erasing the sidewalk messages with his shoe. He told her that she did not understand the areas where free speech was permitted on campus. Alliance Defending Freedom acted as legal representation for the group, the Fresno State Students for Life. The professor must pay $1,000 to the president and $1,000 to another student as well as legal fees. However, he said that the money was paid by his insurance company, so he is not concerned about the legal fees. He does not admit to any wrong actions but is willing to attend the training so that he can learn the opinions and thoughts of others. The president expressed her relief that he will not be able to harass them again and explained that the case was not about winning money. She was extremely surprised at his actions, especially on a public campus. She further opined that professors should encourage and not prohibit free speech. Legal counsel for the pro-life group stated that the professor’s behavior flagrantly violated the First Amendment He added that school officials do not have the right to restrict freedom of speech on campus. The school did not comment about the case. If you believe that your First Amendment rights have been violated, you will need experienced legal representation to defend you. Contact us so that we can discuss your case.
January 5, 2018 The complexities of any divorce include dividing money, property and assets between both parties. While this might not be as complex for a millennial as it is for a couple who has spent their lifetime acquiring possessions, both types of divorce require finding a qualified family lawyer to deal with the personal issues. Legal experts report that stereotypes claim that other generations are more loyal than millennials who don’t really value traditions. She continues that even though they wait to marry, they still place a high priority on the institution. However, she added that they will not tough out a relationship the way their parents did. This by no means makes a divorce any easier for millennials. They feel just as hurt and disappointed as any others who divorce , but their outlook for the future tends to be more optimistic. Although marriage rates in the U.S. continue to decline, divorce rates are also dropping. Millennials delay marriage until later in life, placing an emphasis on education and careers before taking this significant life step. Millennials tend to be more open to diverse relationships, including living together. In the past, prenuptial agreements held a negative connotation as if one of the parties expected the marriage to end. The more-practical millennials, who prioritize acquiring and preserving wealth, see the prenup as a planning tool and communication map to manage financial expectations and interests. Creating a prenup with a lawyer realistically deals with the uncertainty of the future and helps a couple draft specific plans. Millennials choosing to live together instead of marrying can benefit from an attorney’s expertise when drawing up a cohabitation agreement, protecting both parties and their assets in case the relationship ends. When couples know the laws regarding cohabitation , marriage and divorce in their state, they tend to be ready for even unexpected contingencies. Whether a couple plans to cohabitate, marry or file for divorce, planning for a big relationship step helps the individuals prepare for the future, no matter what happens in the marriage. Consulting with a knowledgeable, experienced family lawyer sets up both parties for success.
December 23, 2017 The 32-year-old mother entered the high rise in downtown Memphis as a memory tugged at the far corners of her mind. Suddenly, it came to her. She had been in this very building with her own mother for the same purpose — to file bankruptcy . She anguished over the decision but a court order had recently enforced a judgement against her that allowed a company to seize a portion of her check. With her struggle to make ends meet, the judgment would put an unbearable strain on her already overburdened finances — the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Despite the stigma, she decided that bankruptcy would stop the vicious cycle of juggling bills each month so that she could now start fresh. She even dreamed of becoming a homeowner one day. While the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee in Memphis funnels millions of dollars to the court, the lawyers and the creditors, the debtors for whom the entire system exists don’t fare so well. The clients are stuck in a vicious cycle. Most people choose to file Chapter 7, which allows the person to start over from square one without seizing any debts. In contrast, Chapter 13 requires monthly payments while stopping car repossessions and home foreclosures. This method is most common in the South and was what this mother chose. She didn’t understand the difference between the two. However, filers who opt for Chapter 13 must continue making payments for five full years. Most cannot even last 12 months under the program. These individuals went through each and every step of the bankruptcy — paying filing and legal fees and dealing with a seven-year blemish on their credit record — but do not ultimately benefit from the program. Once they have defaulted, they revert back to all unpaid debts with interest rates higher than ever. When comparing Caucasian filings with African-American filings, the latter usually file under Chapter 13 but cannot complete the program. Some return for repeat filings, with a few filing Chapter 13 up to 20 times during their lifetimes. They view bankruptcy as a last resort. If you are considering bankruptcy, talk to our knowledge attorneys about which options — Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 — is best for you.
