Rounds Under Fire

Link
The article titled "South Dakota candidates target Rounds" discusses many issues in the current Senate race. The main point that is focussed on discusses how Rick Weiland and Larry Pressler are targeting Rounds concerning the EB-5 visa program. The program was designed to lure foreign investors to South Dakota with visas as long as they invested $500,000 in local projects. While this appears to be a sound plan, there are corruption charges that are currently being investigated by federal authorities.  Rounds has defended this plan which was instituted while he was governor causing the influx of political attacks from Pressler and Weiland.

The article is all over the place in areas but is well written when it describes the EB-5 program and why it is so vital to the race. It is being used as fodder for candidates who are desperately attempting to catch up to the frontrunner Rounds.  In my personal opinion, I do not approve of the corruption that has occurred in the project, but one has to let the full investigation be completed before making a decision about a candidate solely based on this issue It almost seems to me that this series of attacks is being used as a desperate, last attempt to gain votes before election day.  

Senate Race is Heating Up in South Dakota

The Senate race in South Dakota is heating up with three candidates that have the potential to win.  An article from the Huffington post (Link) gives an unbiased guide to how each candidate feels about certain issues. Going over the answers to each question that was given to each candidate really helped gain perspective on the race.  Looking at these, one can see that each candidate is very loyal to the beliefs of their respective parties with the Independent Pressler leaning more towards a Democratic stance. The issues discussed included a wide variety of issues from climate change legislation to gay marriage to health care legislation.

Overall, the article is a great guide to voters as it clearly states the opinions of the candidates in a way that voters can easily understand.  I will now be able to vote with more confidence since I know how each candidate feels about issues that matter to me.  This election will be influential as the balance in the Senate may be shifting greatly shown in the following graphic (Link).

First Victory in New Cold War?

Link
Summary- According to the Secretary of State John Kerry, Russian forces have begun to withdraw from the Ukraine region. Kerry stated, however, that a larger Russian withdrawal will be required before the United States lifts its crippling, economic sanctions on Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko within this week. Hopefully, this meeting will help ease the tensions between the two countries with the current war claiming the lives of about 3,400 lives.

Analysis and Opinion- I found this article to bring to light a key turning point in the relationship between the East and West. It is a political victory for the U.S. as Russia backed down from their aims first. The meeting between the heads of state of both Russia and the Ukraine will, optimistically, encourage the use of diplomacy instead of violence to solve this issue. I am personally pleased with the decisions made by the Russian high command since I am now eligible for the draft.

The "Key" to our Energy Problems

Summary- My current event this week discusses a mainstay issue in Congress for the past few years, the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.  The pipeline would help move crude oil from Canada and the northern states of Montana and North Dakota to oil refineries mainly located in southern Texas (Map and Quick Facts).  The propsed pipline would help free up the energy gridlock in our country and reduce the effects of a lack of consistent oil due to violence in the Middle East.  Most senators including Senator Thune from South Dakota support the building of the proposed pipeline (News Report). However, the proposal has not yet been passed due to the majority leader in the Senate and President Obama blocking it for the past few years.

Analysis-  I am entirely for building the pipeline.  The economic benefits for the communities located along the pipeline would be enormous as it brings capital and jobs to dying towns.  It will also help ease the energy gridlock as our underdeveloped and poorly maintained rail system can not handle the stress of increased oil traffic.  The technology used will make sure that no negative, environmental impacts will be felt.  All in all, the Keystone XL pipeline needs to be built to help the United States come closer to achieving economic independence.