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Sanders Administration- Winter 2018
Winter 2018
"Just what happened in California?!"
"At least we have the Winter Olympics"
"Guess this is the end of the War on Drugs then..."
Midterm fever crept up onto the American populace and perhaps moreso than ever. The political establishment was caught offguard by the election of Bernie Sanders along with the growing Progressive wing of the Democrat party and that similar influences managed to make their way into the Republican party. While the new blood of the parties were still seperated in some instances and appoaches, they possessed common ground in healthcare, the importance of addressing climate change and other factors. As such, there was a growing urgency, especially in the primaries. In the meanwhile though, other issues keep taking the attention of the people and governments at the time. One was the series of mudflows occurred in Southern California in early January 2018, particularly affecting areas northwest of Los Angeles in Santa Barbara County. Many note that the mudflows were likely the result of heavy rains and the loss of trees from the California wildfire season of the previous year, meaning there was a lack of tree roots helping to hold down the soil together. Approx 1500 firefighters and other emergancy workers came in along with federal assistance. The Sanders Administration also used the incident as an example of what could happen with the worsening of climate change and how these sorts of disasters feed into the other and causing problem, stating how the various facets of nature are all connected.
Homes and streets of a neighborhood affected by the Santa Barbara County mudslides
However, there was a renewed sense of optimism going on with the beginning of the year, both in domestic affairs and foreign affairs. One of the big signs of this was the Winter Olympics of 2018. While many of the nations were going forward to enjoy themselves, perhaps one of the bigger news was the involvement of North Korea. Or rather, North Korea's participation into the Winter Olympics since the end of the Kim Administration in North Korea. North Korea declined to participate in the 2016 Olympics over in Rio due to some lingering concerns over the administration change and restructuring. However, here in the Winter Olympics being held over in South Korea, North Korea would come in to participate. Many saw this as a milestone in the improvement of relationships and so on. It also helped expose the changing North Korea to more of the changing world, providing some hope. Pyeongchang was elected as the host city in July 2011, at the 123rd IOC Session in Durban, South Africa. This was the second time that South Korea had hosted the Olympic Games, having previously hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, but it was the first Winter Olympics to be held in the country. Of course, not everyone was so lucky to participate. The controversy over the Russian doping scandal also hanged over it along, resulting in the lack of participation from the Russian nation. It was a sign of the growing isolation of Russia on the world stage.
XXIII Olympic Winter Games icon
The big news on the domestics though would be on the Sanders Administration ending the "War on Drugs." Touting the failures of the harsh approach and how it instead led to the escalation of police brutality, financial instability among the lower class, especially minorities and even the historical example of how Prohibition led to the rise of the mob, this was contrasted with the successes of Portugal's drug decriminalization program, As such, the Sanders Administration wished to follow suit and perhaps even surpass them. Besides working to pardon many nonviolent drug offenders, plans were being drawn up to vote for the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana along with the decriminalization of all drugs. The hope was that by changing the approach to treatment rather criminalization, it would cause the number of criminals to go down. Unsurprisingly, such bold ideals had its detractors and its supporters. Many were massively supportve, especially as growing sympathies and evidence toward the policies swayed people over while others saw it as an opportunity for further investment, especially with the Sanders Administration looking into financial compensation for those imprisoned. Election season also served as a formidable influence on people regarding this, either if they were fence-sitters or people who could be badgered into compliance. This would be passed in a series of bills; one went forward to decriminalize all drug consumption while the second bill would legalize the medical and recreational marijuana market, albeit over a period of time in order for the system to adjust. Both bills would end up passing House and Senate, if with some difficulty due to some hardliners and others. Of course, this was only the beginning as the Sanders administration would begin tackling its large objectives: its new budget and justice reform.
California cannabis icon, a sign of what was to come regarding cannabis products
"Just what happened in California?!"
"At least we have the Winter Olympics"
"Guess this is the end of the War on Drugs then..."
Midterm fever crept up onto the American populace and perhaps moreso than ever. The political establishment was caught offguard by the election of Bernie Sanders along with the growing Progressive wing of the Democrat party and that similar influences managed to make their way into the Republican party. While the new blood of the parties were still seperated in some instances and appoaches, they possessed common ground in healthcare, the importance of addressing climate change and other factors. As such, there was a growing urgency, especially in the primaries. In the meanwhile though, other issues keep taking the attention of the people and governments at the time. One was the series of mudflows occurred in Southern California in early January 2018, particularly affecting areas northwest of Los Angeles in Santa Barbara County. Many note that the mudflows were likely the result of heavy rains and the loss of trees from the California wildfire season of the previous year, meaning there was a lack of tree roots helping to hold down the soil together. Approx 1500 firefighters and other emergancy workers came in along with federal assistance. The Sanders Administration also used the incident as an example of what could happen with the worsening of climate change and how these sorts of disasters feed into the other and causing problem, stating how the various facets of nature are all connected.
Homes and streets of a neighborhood affected by the Santa Barbara County mudslides
However, there was a renewed sense of optimism going on with the beginning of the year, both in domestic affairs and foreign affairs. One of the big signs of this was the Winter Olympics of 2018. While many of the nations were going forward to enjoy themselves, perhaps one of the bigger news was the involvement of North Korea. Or rather, North Korea's participation into the Winter Olympics since the end of the Kim Administration in North Korea. North Korea declined to participate in the 2016 Olympics over in Rio due to some lingering concerns over the administration change and restructuring. However, here in the Winter Olympics being held over in South Korea, North Korea would come in to participate. Many saw this as a milestone in the improvement of relationships and so on. It also helped expose the changing North Korea to more of the changing world, providing some hope. Pyeongchang was elected as the host city in July 2011, at the 123rd IOC Session in Durban, South Africa. This was the second time that South Korea had hosted the Olympic Games, having previously hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, but it was the first Winter Olympics to be held in the country. Of course, not everyone was so lucky to participate. The controversy over the Russian doping scandal also hanged over it along, resulting in the lack of participation from the Russian nation. It was a sign of the growing isolation of Russia on the world stage.
XXIII Olympic Winter Games icon
The big news on the domestics though would be on the Sanders Administration ending the "War on Drugs." Touting the failures of the harsh approach and how it instead led to the escalation of police brutality, financial instability among the lower class, especially minorities and even the historical example of how Prohibition led to the rise of the mob, this was contrasted with the successes of Portugal's drug decriminalization program, As such, the Sanders Administration wished to follow suit and perhaps even surpass them. Besides working to pardon many nonviolent drug offenders, plans were being drawn up to vote for the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana along with the decriminalization of all drugs. The hope was that by changing the approach to treatment rather criminalization, it would cause the number of criminals to go down. Unsurprisingly, such bold ideals had its detractors and its supporters. Many were massively supportve, especially as growing sympathies and evidence toward the policies swayed people over while others saw it as an opportunity for further investment, especially with the Sanders Administration looking into financial compensation for those imprisoned. Election season also served as a formidable influence on people regarding this, either if they were fence-sitters or people who could be badgered into compliance. This would be passed in a series of bills; one went forward to decriminalize all drug consumption while the second bill would legalize the medical and recreational marijuana market, albeit over a period of time in order for the system to adjust. Both bills would end up passing House and Senate, if with some difficulty due to some hardliners and others. Of course, this was only the beginning as the Sanders administration would begin tackling its large objectives: its new budget and justice reform.
California cannabis icon, a sign of what was to come regarding cannabis products
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