Croft Commentary

Apparently these congressmen and women of the grand 'ol party are against the pork spending of earmarks, even if they put the earmarks in themselves. Here's a clearer way to put out your message: don't propose them in the first place. I understand the purpose of earmarks. If congress passed a separate bill for each bit of spending it is their job to dispense, everything would be too bogged down and menial to get anything accomplished. Congress works slow enough as it is, let it multi-task. Earmarks also serve an integral part in the negotiating process of getting votes required for passage. Sometimes these concessions go too far and they should be pointed-out and criticized, but often times they help in the consensus building process. Earmarks, like the filibuster, are integral to the proper functioning of a democratic legislature. But fair warning: you can have too much of a good thing. GOP senators will vote against own earmarks : "Two prominent Republicans v...

Introduction Terrorism has become a priority topic in law enforcement. Our nation has waged wars, detained prisoners, created a new government department and stepped up national defense measures in order to better combat the threat of terrorism and prevent another attack on our soil. Our first line of defense against attack on our soil does not lie with the CIA, FBI or the United States military; it lies with our local law enforcement agencies. Local police will be the first on the scene in a response and in the best position to stop an attack before it happens. A good national security strategy would provide support for these local enforcement agencies as they endeavor to keep their communities safe. Using data from a US Department of Justice Study in 2004, this paper will analyze where local law enforcement agencies have made improvements, where they have remained stagnant and where they have backtracked as we face this new threat to our safety. Emergency management is the proc...

Introduction Lately, the world has been infatuated with the idea of green technology and sustainable practices. Urban and regional planning is not immune to this trend. Since the 1970s, planners and scholars have been theorizing ways to make our cities and communities sustainable, and more efficient. But what is sustainability? Is it living without an impact on the environment? That would be an impossible feat. One can not live in an environment without having an impact on it. One can reduce their impact to have a less detrimental effect on an ecosystem, but one cannot be rid of an impact all together. Is it then total social equality? Though a nice sounding utopian ideal, such a reality would be difficult to maintain. If executives made the same as the managers at the local level with considerably less stress, why would anyone want to be an executive? Hierarchy can be good in a society in that it can provide a certain amount stability. Or is sustainability when all participants in...