International

Five New Cases of Cholera Reported in Haiti

Justin Velez

On Monday October 25^, 2010, a United Nations spokesman has reported five cholera cases in Haiti. Public health officials in Port-au-Prince are working hard to control the spread of cholera in the sprawling tent cities where tens of thousands of people are still living as a result of he 7.0 magnitude earthquake, which hit on January 12, 2010. The quake destroyed much of the capital’s infrastructure and created a crisis in sanitation. Already 253 Haitians have died from Cholera, and 3,015 cases have been reported. Health experts are hopeful that since they caught this outbreak early, they can effectively contain it from further spread. Yet as a precautionary measure, officials are stepping up sanitation efforts and setting up quarantines in Port-au-Prince. USAID had pledged to provide additional supplies for the treatment centers, with some 300,000 oral re-hydration kits and purification kits to be used in the affected areas. The next few weeks will dictate how badly the outbreak spreads.

• Cholera: Caused by a bacterial infection of the intestine and, in severe cases, is characterized by diarrhea, vomiting and leg cramps. In such cases, rapid loss of body fluids can lead to dehydration and shock, and may even lead to death if left untreated within several hours of the first symptoms. People often contract cholera from contaminated water, especially after it has come into contact with feces.
• Quarantine: A period of time during which a vehicle, person, or material suspected of carrying a contagious disease is detained to prevent further spread of a disease. Government enforced quarantines are often conducted involuntarily, and are used by a country to protect the rests of its population.
• USAID: is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. USAID has been extensively involved in the relief effort in Haiti.

Additional Reading:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/10/24/haiti.cholera/index.html

United States

Women in the Race

Julia Newman

There are 160 women running for congressional and gubernatorial positions in the election this coming Tuesday, November 2nd. This high number has broken records, and many of these women are Republicans, including Sharron Angle and Nikki Haley. This would seem like improvement because the United States is ranked 90th in the world for the number of women elected, after Cuba and Afghanistan. However, overall the female candidates are doing poorly in the polls. Currently there are 13 Democratic women in the senate and only four Republican women. CNN polls show women voters are less likely and less enthusiastic to vote this year.

• Gubernatorial: Governor

Additional Reading:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/28/women.candidates/index.html?hpt=C2
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1274965/Election-2010-humiliated-women-.html

The Hill

Meek to drop out of senate race

Josh Fimbres

The latest news from the Florida Senate race is that former president Clinton attempted to convince Kenderick Meek (D) to drop out of the three-way race. Current poll numbers show Marco Rubio (R) winning the three way race by a margin of 7-10 points. Charlie Crist (I) switched parties because he was going to lose the Republican primary against Marco Rubio. Meek has had a lackluster showing in recent polls. The most recent shows Meek garnering about 15% in the three way race. If Meek were to drop out those numbers would presumably shift to Crist and allow him to pull off an upset against Rubio who is the favorite to win, according to recent projections. Democratic sources indicate that Meek has agreed to drop out of the Florida race and support Crist. However, Meek was said to have changed his mind and continues to do his best to win the senate seat. The argument being made is that Rubio’s views are too extreme for Florida. Meek, although a stalwart candidate, is drawing support that would otherwise allow Crist to win the race. To many Democrats the success of the Obama/Democratic agenda is at stake and losing this race to a Republican would merely aid in a Republican resurgence this election cycle.

Additional Reading

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20021117-503544.html?tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44337.html

California

There’s a Proposition 25?

Mckenzee McCammack

After examining the budget issues discussed on the October 13th, it is clear that the passage of the budget is pressing problem for California. As a result, Californian lawmakers brought Proposition 25 to the voters. The California legislature believes the California constitution is in, large part, responsible for the budgetary problems. Specifically, the constitution states there must be a 2/3rds majority in order to pass the budget, as opposed to a simple majority. This means that if there are 100 legislators, 60 of them must agree upon a budget. In politics, this is difficult to achieve. However, prop 25 would change the charter to require a simple majority, or 50% plus 1, to pass the budget. Another stipulation of this proposition would be to forfeit pay in the years that legislators fail to pass a budget on time. This amounts to approximately $50,000 per legislator per late day.

Pros:

• Less gridlock in the California legislature.
• Prevents rigorous spending before the budget is passed in an effort to push personal legislative agendas.
• Saves tax payer money by withholding the legislature’s pay as incentive to pass the budget.

Cons:

• Creates financial pressure upon the legislature to pass the budget, which could compromise the effectiveness of the budget.
• Opposes the purpose of the original 2/3rds majority rule, which was set up by the California framers.
• Isolates one political party from having a say in the budget, which could ultimately allow tyranny of the majority.

Additional Reading:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-poll-20101025,0,1234526.story

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_25,_Majority_Vote_for_Legislature_to_Pass_the_Budget_(2010)

http://ag.ca.gov/cms_attachments/initiatives/pdfs/i854_initiative_09-0057.pdf

Los Angeles

California food stamp program receives new name: CalFresh

Claire Goldberg

In 2008, Congress renamed the national food stamp program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and gave states the option of coming up with their own name and branding. This name did not test well in local communities because of its suggestion of a welfare program rather than a health and nutrition program. Thus, CalFresh became the new name for California’s food stamp program after its launch this past Saturday at a Long Beach event sponsored by first lady Maria Shriver. Officials hope this change will encourage more families to apply and receive a nutritional benefit. Changing the image of the food stamp program leads a large effort to increase participation in the program, which can offer up to $200 per month of food benefits to qualifying families. While more than three million Californians receive the benefit, fewer than half of eligible residents receive the benefit. It is estimated that every dollar in benefits results in as much as $1.84 in economic activity by increasing business for grocery chains, farms and transportation companies.

• National food stamp program: federal program that provides assistance via food stamps (food cards in today’s world) to low and no-income people and families

• Welfare program: government action that strives to promote the well-being of individuals in need as well as improve their financial situation and employment chances

Additional Readings:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-food-stamps-20101024,0,6748993.story

http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-us-food-stamps,0,2868002.story

Local Cultural Events

Mexican Revolution

Tina Pixler

From Nov 3-7, the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles is having a series of events to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. On November 3rd there will be a film screening of El Compadre Mendoza at 7pm. On November 4th there will be a panel discussion on The Cause, the People, and the Legacy of the Mexican Revolution from 7pm – 9:30pm. On November 7th there will be Family Day at the museum, celebrating Mexican culture. For more information and about the events and the museum please visit, http://www.nhm.org/site/activities-programs/mexican-festival. Come out and celebrate the Mexican Revolution or just learn more about it! (Admission with student ID is $6.50)

Directions form the entrance of LMU:

Turn right onto Lincoln Blvd

Right on Jefferson

Get on the 405 North

Take the 10 East

Exit Vermont Ave and turn right

Turn left onto Exposition Blvd.

The Museum is on the right

Arrive at The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Phone: (213) 763-DINO

International

The United States Sending Aid in Pakistan

Paulina Sagter

The United States Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton has verified her plan to provide Pakistan with two billion dollars in aid to help suppress the violence of Pakistani militants. This is not the first time the United States has sent aid to Pakistan, but it is the first time the aid has been structured as a five year plan that will pay for equipment needed in counter-insurgency and counter-terror operations, among other things. This plan is meant to show Pakistan that it can rely on the U.S. for long term support in their fight against counter-insurgency groups. Vali Nasr a senior advisor on Pakistan and Afghanistan in the State Department has said that the battle against Pakistani militants has expanded over the past year but the summer’s monsoon floods have crippled the Pakistani Army and undone a lot of their efforts against them. Although these efforts seemed promising, there is concern in Washington over how long term their progress will be. A White Hose Report sent to Congress stated "The Pakistan military continued to avoid military engagements that would put it in direct conflict with Afghan Taliban or al-Qaeda's forces in North Waziristan," referring to the region in north-western Pakistan seen as a Taliban and al-Qaeda haven. Washington officials have expressed that Pakistan’s inability to control terrorist groups is just as much a political problem as is ineffective and underequipped military forces. In regards to the cross-border attack, Pakistani officials have assured Washington that the solution is not pulling U.S. investment out but rather to help strengthen Pakistan’s military to build trust and ensure peace for the future.

• Counter-insurgency: political and military action to suppress rebellion.
• Pakistan’s Monsoon Floods: a flood caused by summer monsoons in the areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. More than 400 deaths, and 400,000 displaced from their homes.
• North Waziristan: mountainous region of Northwest Pakistan.
• Cross-Border Attack: U.S air raid that killed over 30 Pakistani insurgents, caused increased violence from Pakistani militants against NATO forces.

Additional Reading

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/

United States

EPA Rules

Julia Newman

The Obama Administration, Transportation Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency, on Monday October 25th, set standards requiring greater fuel efficiency for trucks and buses, starting with 2014 car models. The Administration requires a 20% reduction in emission on heavy vehicles by 2018. This entails boosting the average heavy vehicles mpg from 6 to 8. Heavy vehicles, like trucks and buses, make up 4% of transportation in the United States. The goal of the new emission standards is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and money spent on oil.

• Mpg:Miles per gallon
• Greenhouse gas: Gases in that atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation, causing the greenhouse effect

Additional Reading

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/10/25/25greenwire-slide-in-epa-clean-water-criminal-enforcement-83471.html

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-diesel-trucks-20101026,0,3839160.story

The Hill

Tea Party Announcements

Tess Wafelbakker

According to a memorandum reviewed by The Wall Street Journal and released by Tea Party leaders, the Tea Party plans to keep a close eye on candidates that it has indirectly supported, even after the upcoming midterm elections come to an end. As stated in the memorandum, the Tea Party Patriots, one of the leading groups within the Tea Party movement, will work with 3,000 local groups around the United States to plan a “multipronged campaign that includes advertising, polling, hundreds of rallies, and a summit of newly elected members of Congress early in 2011.” Leaders of the group claim that they will attempt to block Democratic progress during the rest of their lame-duck congressional session. The Tea Party Patriots have very ambitious fundraising goals – upwards of $2.8 million – and they are planning to promote two thousand tea parties on April 15, 2011. This group is making it clear that the Party is fed up with the current leadership – even that of currently serving Republicans – and that it is ready to launch a political campaign, emphasizing accountability and the need for change in Washington.

• Memorandum: a written record or statement of something; can outline actions to be taken in the future.
• Tea Party: United States protest movement focused on fiscal conservatism.
• Lame-duck: refers to the period during which a governmental body is thought to be inefficient or incapable of getting much done due to the fact that a successor has been elected.
• Incumbent: the current holder of a given governmental post.

• The summit that is currently being planned aims to hold the new representatives accountable for what is expected of them, as Americans have become increasingly concerned with the direction in which our nation is headed, especially in terms of the economy and high unemployment rates.
• Mark Meckler, a co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots, stated in an interview that incumbent Republican members of Congress and the party’s national leadership will not be invited.

Additional Reading

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/24/tea-party-group-looking-maintain-pressure-new-members-congress-elections/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303864404575572341160902392.html

California

President Obama visits USC

Justin Velez

On Friday, October 22nd, Barack Obama visited USC’s campus to encourage 37,500 Democratic voters to “fight on.” The move comes after election experts predicted that Democratic voting would suffer in the upcoming election. Furthermore, Republican spending has far outpaced Democrat efforts, with governor hopeful Meg Whitman spending over $140 million thus far compared to Jerry Brown’s $32.6 million. The President directed his speech to young voters, urging them to vote in this election, and in the years to come to help shape California and the country as a whole. The trip also served as a fundraising campaign for U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer and attorney general candidate Kamala Harris. They, along with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown, spoke briefly before Obama’s speech. With only 8 days until the election, both Republicans and Democrats are scrambling to get last minute votes.

Low Voter Turnout:

• Registrars have estimated voter turnout to range somewhere between 35-40 percent. Primaries and gubernatorial elections have historically had low turnouts.
• Some experts attribute low voter turnout to negative ad campaigning from candidates. This has created voter apathy to the candidates and issues.
• Campaign ads can often be misleading and confusing, causing voters to feel frustrated and unsure how to vote on an issue.

Voting information:

http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/

Additional Reading:

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/23/local/la-me-1023-obama-20101023

Los Angeles

President Obama Beats Traffic in L.A.

Emmett McOsker

President Barack Obama visited Southern California this week, making appearances at political rallies and fundraisers as the 2010 mid-term elections near. With the President's Friday schedule requiring him to crisscross the Los Angeles area, there was concern that his travel would cause traffic delays. President Obama's motorcade shutdown the road ways for hours when he last visited Los Angeles in August. Hoping to avoid a repeat of the anti-Obama sting caused by August’s traffic closures, the president used a helicopter to traverse the city. The presidential helicopter, Marine One, carried the president from LAX to USC; where an estimated 37,500 people attended a rally. Soon after, the chopper flew to Bob Hope Airport in Burbank where the President Obama recorded an interview with a Spanish-language radio station. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), there were no complaints of traffic delays. Any closures were "only momentarily to whisk him through to his location," a CHP Spokeswoman said.

• Obama in Los Angeles: President Obama visited Los Angeles to rally support and fund raise for the upcoming election. A rally of 37,500 gathered for him at USC on Friday.
• Traffic Delays: Obama's motorcade caused massive traffic shutdowns when he last visited L.A. To avoid delays and public inconvenience, the president traveled in a helicopter this trip.

Additional Reading:

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/23/local/la-me-1023-obama-traffic-20101023

Local Cultural Events

Women’s Art and Activism at the Bellarmine Forum

Meg Patch

This year’s Bellarmine Forum at Loyola Marymount University is the first to focus on women. The forum is a weeklong celebration of women artists and activists. This week (October 24-30), poets, painter, musicians, actors, performance artists, dancers, and scholars from Los Angeles will be brought together to discuss and display art, which exemplifies the relationship between art and politics, and to honor the accomplishments of women. Examples of events this week are a performance and lecture by the Guerilla Girls on Monday at 7:30pm with an introduction by Gail Wronsky in Ahmanson 1000, afternoon teas Monday through Thursday from 4-5 with various music performances, readings from writings of Afghani women, and conversations with Pulitzer Prize winning playwrights. There are many different interesting lectures and performances going on through out the week that cover a wide variety of topics, so make sure to check out the pamphlets located in the top floor of University Hall as you walk in (next to the Political Science Village). There is also an ongoing art exhibition titled The Purpose of Being located in the Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. Student Art Gallery that is open from 10am-5pm daily with a reception given by the L.A. artists and LMU student collaborators on Friday, October 29^th from 5pm-7pm. Each exhibit focuses on women and their efforts to create social change through their art form.

http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/thebellarmineforum.htm

International

UK to Announce its Largest Budget Cuts in Decades

Justin Velez

On Tuesday, October 19th, British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced that major reductions would be made in government spending. Reductions across departments would amount to up to 25 percent. Additional welfare cuts are also expected. In addition, it is projected that approximately 500,000 jobs would be removed from the public sector. A separate report, outlining an eight percent cut in defense spending was also issued on Monday, amounting to a loss of 42,000 jobs in the Ministry of Defense. Child benefits for higher rate taxpayers are already in the process of removal. School budgeting will remain relatively unscathed, but social housing budget will be cut in half. The UK has also been affected by the economic downturn facing the United States. Whitehall argues that this move is necessary to combat the economic downturn. Yet many are accusing the coalition government of using the recession as an excuse to change ideology on spending. The proposal would mark a dramatic departure on spending values for the British government.

• Higher Rate Taxpayers: The 40 percent tax bracket earning more than £43,875 per year. Households will lose up to £1,000 in child benefits.
• Social Housing: Socialized housing for low-income workers. The budget cuts will dramatically affect this bracket, with reduction reaching to 50 percent.
• Whitehall: Road in Westminster in London. It is recognized as the center of the British Government, as it contains many of the government ministries, including Parliament and the Prime Minister’s Headquarters. It is often used as an alternate name for UK governmental administration, like Capitol Hill is used for to refer to Congress.
• Coalition Government: Form of government where several parties share the government leadership. Coalition governments often emerge when there is no clear party majority after an election cycle, and are therefore needed as a compromise in distributing power. Britain only recently created its coalition government with David Cameron as the Prime Minister. This is its first coalition government since 1945.
• Chancellor of the Exchequer: Title for the head Cabinet Minister responsible for economic and financial matters

Additional Reading:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11579979

United States

Christine O’ Donnell

Julia Newman

Christine O’ Donnell is the Republican Senate candidate from Delaware who is a favorite of the Tea Party Movement. This election is of particular note because the current acting Senator of Delaware, Ted Kauffman, was not elected but rather appointed when Joe Biden vacated the seat to become Vice President. O’ Donnell beat out the Delaware Representative, Mike Castle, to get a place on the ballot. O’ Donnell has run for Senate three times unsuccessfully, has worked as a media consultant, and is head of a pro-abstinence group, Saviors Alliance for Lifting Truth. This time, she claims to be running on a platform of fiscal responsibility. O’ Donnell has made headlines lately by questioning the separation of church and state, stating that religion should have a larger role in the government. Other controversial statements, including that one should not feel lust, even with oneself, before marriage.

• Tea Party Movement: A political movement that started in 2009. Began as series of protests against the current administration.
• Pro-abstinence: In favor of waiting to have sex till marriage.
• O’ Donnell’s candidacy is impressive because she is running for a Democratic seat and beat out a more experienced candidate. Many see this as sign of how frustrated the public is and want completely new people in government.

Additional Reading:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/10/delaware-senate-coons-odonnell.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/10/first-amendment.html

The Hill

Gaps Closing?

Joshua Fimbres

In Senate races across America it appears that gaps Republicans had opened in the previous weeks are back in play for Democrats. For example in Pennsylvania, Toomey (R) has been leading Congressman Sestak (D) by a margin of nine percent over the course of many weeks of polling. Recent polls this week show his lead down to several points or even with Sestak in the lead. Senator Feingold (D) has also been favored with new polls showing him in a dead heat with Ron Johnson (R) in the state of Wisconsin. In Colorado Ken Buck’s (R) seven point advantage has dwindled to a mere point or two. Kentucky is back in flux with Jack Conway (D) eating away at Rand Paul’s (R) decisive lead merely two weeks prior. It is possible that the President’s rally to the Democratic base is pulling the tide in favor of Democrats in these key states. The majority of contested seats this election cycle are concentrated in states that President Obama carried handily as of two years ago; races in New York, California, Connecticut, Washington, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Republicans are facing an uphill climb in order to reclaim a majority in the Senate as the battleground is not the most fertile for such a takeover.

Additional Reading

http://www.weeklystandard.com/

http://www.nationalreview.com/battle10

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-senate-landscape-20101020,0,2988256.story

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/

California

Decriminalizing Marijuana

Mckenzee McCammack

Proposition 19 is one the more controversial initiatives on the ballot for this November. Many Californians have been fighting to legalize marijuana and this ballot measure would be the first step in that becoming a reality. The consumption and sale of marijuana was actually legal until 1937 in most states. It was when the government began to implement a tax stamp on the possession and transfer of cannabis that there was a movement to ban it altogether. The ultimate decision by the U.S. Congress to outlaw cannabis began with a newspaper article by William Randolph Hearst who had intentions of increasing the post-war textile sales of a business called Dupont Inc. By heavily taxing hemp and cannabis products, this business’s products would become more affordable to consumers. Another argument is that Dupont Inc. began to develop modern plastic, which created too much competition with the natural cellulose content of hemp. To compound the problems with cannabis, Henry Anslinger instilled fear into America’s government and citizens with statements such as "Marijuana is the most violent drug in the history of mankind." This type of negative rhetoric continued during the Reagan era, when both Reagan and his Drug Czar linked marijuana use to homosexuality, AIDS, and brain damage. However, Californians are taking back their cannabis with Prop 19, which in addition to legalizing the substance would also allow cannabis to be properly monitored and taxed in a similar way to alcohol.

Properties of Prop 19:

• Adults 21 years and older can possess up to one ounce of cannabis with consumption at home or in a licensed establishment.
• Gives the state ability to tax the sale of cannabis for consumption.
• Increases the penalty to the sale of cannabis to minors, banning its consumption in public, around schools and in the presence of minors and maintaining strict penalties for driving under the influence.
• Cuts off funding for violent drug cartels who generate 60% of their revenue from the criminalization of marijuana.

Additional Reading

http://college.holycross.edu/coca/jadisant/jadisant/history.html

http://www.legalize.org/history-of-cannabis-prohibition/

http://yeson19.com/about

Los Angeles

Howard Hughes complex gets a $50 million makeover

Claire Goldberg

The Playa Vista complex where aviator Howard Hughes once housed his headquarters is about to get a $50 million makeover. Hughes’ former complex is in the process of being turned into an office campus for media, entertainment and technology businesses. The seven-story structure will eventually contain five sound stages that can be used simultaneously. The complex includes the hangar where Hughes built his infamous airplane. Around the time of World War II, Hughes built a plane out of birch with the hopes that it would be able to carry seven hundred fifty armed soldiers from Honolulu to Tokyo. The two hundred ton plane flew for one minute in 1947 and is known as Spruce Goose and Hercules. The area has been used as a sound stage for movie and television production; most of the 3D epic “Avatar” was shot there. The new development will be called ‘Hercules Campus’ in honor of the plane. The makeover will take about three years to complete and the buildings will be made energy efficient with fuel-cell and solar technology.

• Hangar: a large building with extensive floor area, typically for housing aircraft.

Additional Readings:

http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-playa-vista-20101015,0,5702847.story

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hughes-history-20101015,0,6889354.story

http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-hughes-history-pictures,0,5051456.photogallery

http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-playa-vista.eps-20101015,0,1476371.graphic

Local Cultural Events

77th Annual Los Angeles Bach Festival – “Bach To The Future”

Garrett Snyder

This Friday as part of the 77th Annual Los Angeles Bach Festival, the First Congressional Church of Los Angeles will be hosting a laser show tribute to the music of 18th century German composer Johann Sebastian Bach entitled “Bach to the Future”. Featuring lasers, spotlights as well the soaring gothic architecture of First Congressional Church the show will be a mind-bending performance starring world-class artists Adam Petit on Guitar, Moni Simonov on Violin, Soloists from the Los Angeles Bach Festival Chorus, and the CSUN Wind Ensemble, conducted by Laurence Stoffel. It will be a very unique and worthwhile experience combining classical music and modern technology. For more info visit: http://www.fccla.org/music

First Congressional Church of Los Angeles

540 S. Commonwealth Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90020

-Take the 405-N to 10-E

-Take the Vermont Ave. Exit

-Turn Left at Vermont Ave.

-Turn Right at 6th St.

-Turn Left at Commonwealth Ave.

-Destination will be on the right

International

Germany’s Multicultural Society

Paulina Slagter

Rising fear of immigration in Germany has sparked heated debate on the matter within political ranks and amongst German citizens. Chancellor Angela Merkel claims that a multicultural society where different ethnic groups live side by side doesn’t work and that immigrants need to try harder to integrate into Germany society, specifically by learning the German language. There has been intense debate over multiculturalism in recent months with a poll showing 30% of Germans feeling that their country was “overrun by foreigners.” Germany’s unemployment seems to be related to anti-immigration feelings. There is constant pressure by German citizens due to a wide consensus that immigration has harmed the country. This is, in part, stems from the beliefs that foreigners come to abuse Germany’s welfare state and that are becoming a growing minority within Germany’s political parties. Many Germans believe that Muslims are a burden on their economy. The biggest source of tension is the large Turkish population that was invited to Germany to work but not to stay. As anti-immigration positions gain popularity in Germany, it offers the United States a view of what the potential responses may be of Americans to a multicultural society.

• Chancellor: the head of Government in Germany, like a Prime Minister or President
• Multicultural: acceptance of different ethnic groups in one country, commonly referred to as “multikulti” in German popular culture.

Additional Reading:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11532699

http://www.allvoices.com/news/7048712-charged-debate