Chris Dixon - page 3

If you speak to any political activist operating outside of the two-party mainstream, a common point mentioned is how party politics compromises principles. Republicans often sacrifice conservative principles to advance the party elite. Although individuals such as House Speaker Paul Ryan or Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are considered leaders in the Republican Party, conservative activists generally do not consider them standard bearers of their cause. Case in point is the failure to legitimately repeal Obamacare. The same is said for many liberals and progressives in terms of the Democratic Party. Instead of nominating someone more devout to their cause… Keep Reading

After weeks of endless speculation by observers, pundits, and politicians, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would be leaving the Paris Agreement. With this move, the ongoing climate change debate exploded. The political left erupted with intolerant rage, spreading hyperbole about the end of the world and how the Trump Administration is ushering it in. Is the end really near? Before this specific argument can be addressed, it is important to understand the nature of the claim. By stating that a treaty is all that stands between the Earth and the apocalypse, climate change alarmists are alleging that… Keep Reading

One of the most controversial figures in American politics over the last year didn’t run for President. Now former Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey has repeatedly drawn the ire of either side of the political spectrum. Undoubtedly, given the stakes in a presidential election, his position was a no-win scenario. He was faced with allegations of mishandling classified information involving one candidate and improper foreign connections involving another candidate. At what point does the F.B.I. intervene with its progress and when does it decide to stand back from potentially influencing the election? For Comey, these questions likely weighed… Keep Reading

Certification requirements are sometimes logical constructs. When it comes to the medical field, one would like to know that a surgeon who is operating on their bodies knows what they’re doing. Of course, certification does not necessarily mean one will not make mistakes or make bad decisions. Then there are more absurd licensing requirements for professions that shouldn’t even require government certification. For example, in Washington state to become a certified manicurist, one must perform 600 training hours and pay $150 to take a test, costs that could amount to several thousand dollars. Why is this necessary if someone knows… Keep Reading

Since before the legislation known as “Obamacare” was even passed, Republicans have vowed to oppose the Democratic Party’s legislative attempts to take on healthcare. Since passage, it has been one of the few topics most Republicans could agree on to some degree. When opposing former President Barack Obama’s re-election and then-former-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Republicans pushed the message of repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Given all the fiery and loud rhetoric that has remained consistent over the years, many expected more out of a Republican Party that controls both chambers of Congress and the White House.… Keep Reading

Politics has its reputation as being extremely polarizing and many everyday Americans avoid it as a result. For some, it’s a simple game of partisan politics. For many, it’s a matter of life and death, with policy proposals and enacted plans affecting their everyday lives. Because of this, many issues are taken seriously and sometimes to a point of extreme intensity. One of those topics is vaccination. At first glance, many would be caught off guard with this fact. Why is guarding against disease such a controversial topic? Most humans agree better health is a good thing. Keep Reading

The nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch by President Donald Trump has put Democrats in a difficult position. After Republicans successfully blocked Obama nominee Merrick Garland, Democrats are prepared to return the favor for Republicans. The threat of the nuclear option still lingers and Democratic opposition to Gorsuch could trigger Republicans to use it, resulting in a greater headache over time. But Senator Elizabeth Warren, the progressive hero who backed Wall Street favorite Hillary Clinton, has other concerns: the Russians. Keep Reading

United States Senator Angus King is a popular politician in Maine and has become an important figure in Senate politics. As an Independent, he has successfully portrayed himself as standing above the partisan fray. Despite his liberal leanings, establishment Democrats have a troubled relationship with liberal Independents in Maine. In 1993, Senator King abandoned his lifelong Democratic Party registration and ran as an Independent, edging the Democratic candidate a year later by a percentage point. Four years later, he would easily win re-election 59-19% over Republican James Longley, Jr. Keep Reading

The Obamacare repeal was supposed to be a bigger moment for the Trump Administration and Republican majorities. Since passage of the controversial Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, conservative Republicans have used it as a rallying point for the right. The federal overreach in the healthcare market has been detrimental and thus should be repealed, with either a Republican replacement or the free market altogether. Instead, the Republicans failed. Speaker Paul Ryan tried to rule with an iron fist like his predecessor John Boehner and failed miserably. The package advanced by party leadership was labeled “Obamacare Lite” by conservatives and… Keep Reading

Senator Rand Paul has had an interesting relationship with President Donald Trump, dating back to the days of being a longshot candidate to now. When both men were both candidates vying for the Republican nomination, Senator Paul was a vocal critic of a man viewed by many others to be an inconsistent conservative with dangerous potential. When the longshot candidate became the party nominee, Senator Paul softened his tone and walked carefully. While President Trump had secured the party nomination, he was still quite the controversial topic in the party. As a result, taking a position on the candidate was… Keep Reading

In the modern era of technology and digital communications, the issue of leaks has become more prominent. Hackers can access internal documentation and communication that, in the past, would have been unavailable. This point was on full display last year, when whistleblower website Wikileaks released a series of dumps containing e-mails from Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. The contents of these e-mails ranged from questionable campaign tactics to revealing actions by politicians and media figures alike, but overall provided an intimate glimpse of the inside. Other times, it can reveal activities of questionable legality and constitutionality. Perhaps the most… Keep Reading

Since it’s passage several years ago, The Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act, otherwise known as “Obamacare”, has been a controversial piece of legislation. It’s widely considered the greatest accomplishment of former Democratic President Barack Obama, but it’s also been a political target of the Republican Party since its introduction. Obamacare features a series of debates ranging from politics to philosophy. Touching upon the latter: does government truly have the right to govern healthcare? Even more at the heart of the debate: is healthcare a right? This has been a major point of libertarians, who believe in free market capitalism… Keep Reading

It’s no big secret that Hollywood is dominantly liberal. When it was clear that President Donald Trump was a viable force in the political mainstream, the celebrity elite entered a state of total meltdown. Although it has yet to occur, many liberal celebrities even pledged to flee the country to Canada if the controversial businessman ever found his way to the White House. Now that he’s President and able to enact his agenda, Hollywood’s cries have grown worse with stronger meltdowns. The extremes those within the celebrity mainstream will go to know no lows. Keep Reading

Throughout the election cycle, Donald Trump often clashed with members of his own political party over policy and tactics. A number of proposals by the controversial then-candidate were unsettling, and the tactics would put career politicians in uncomfortable positions. When Trump was a candidate, it was easier for politicians to disavow him. Believing he was never going to win made it easy to keep him at a distance. Now that he’s President, Republican politicians have been forced to come up to bat and play ball for Team Trump. Some, like failed presidential candidate Senator John McCain, refuse to work with… Keep Reading

Fake News was a hot issue during the presidential election. As President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continued to escalate tension, the threat of fraudulent news sources only worsened the partisan divide. As has been shown time and time again, the fake news threat isn’t in the so-called “alt-right” movement or a product of conservatives. Fake News is actually on the rise in the mainstream media, the most trusted source of news for many Americans. The dishonesty among propagandists disguised as journalists is a betrayal of American trust. When people turn on the television or open… Keep Reading

Rewind back to the months prior to the stunning presidential election and the picture we find is much different from today. The defeated and divided Democratic Party stood in an arrogant position of superiority. As countless polls seemed to paint a picture of imminent success, the Democrats positioned themselves to stomp the Republican Party. Assuming the polls were right, there was an offensive against the Republican Party. A common storyline throughout the election cycle was the balance of the Supreme Court, which former President Barack Obama sought to tilt to the left to complete his legacy. Merrick Garland was his… Keep Reading