Thursday, December 26, 2019

Current Events Discussion Topics

An on-line "Zoom" discussion is conducted every Monday morning at 9:30am Chicago time through the North Shore Senior Center hosted by Ron Mantegna. You can enroll in this discussion session at   https://www.nssc.org/

Ron conducts a Northbrook Library zoom discussion every 1st and 3rd and 5th Thursday, 10-11:30am. Open free to all who enroll.  Contact the Northbrook Library to connect with Ron Mantegna.

What happens next in Gaza? Netanyahu gives Hamas one week to strike a deal or Israel will attack Rafah. Biden warns Netanyahu not to attack Rafah. But Israel believes you can’t put out 80% of a fire—you must extinguish ALL of it. How might a Rafah attack affect politics here in America?

 

Why is there a double standard in protesting? Why makes support for Palestinian civilians so dramatically different? Why aren’t colleges protesting against Russia’s civilian bombings in Ukraine?

 

How would you assess Biden’s response to College Protests? What more needs to be done? University of Florida: “This is not complicated. We are not a day care, and we do not treat protesters like children—they knew the rules, they broke the rules, and they'll face the consequences."

 

Is Bernie Sanders correct in believing that College Protests may be Biden’s “Viet Nam”? How would you compare the way LBJ lost support of voters with Biden’s current status with voters?

 

Are we seeing the beginnings of a discussion Democrats may have in considering a different Nominee? Rep. Jim Clyburn was directly responsible for saving Biden’s faltering chances in 2020 after orchestrating a big Primary win for Joe in SC. Clyburn was asked on CNN if he agreed with Sanders that college riots might be “Biden’s Viet Nam”…and Clyburn essentially agreed. LBJ also had great domestic accomplishments domestically—but low approvals forced him to not run again.

 

Are you following The Trial? Is it making a difference in how voters view this election?

 

Trump continues to falsely claim that Biden is 100% behind his “hush money” indictment. Do voters believe him? Who has the greater responsibility to attack lies: Media? or Joe Biden? 

 

MT Greene wants to remove Johnson as Speaker. Would “saving Johnson” give Minority Leader Jeffries and Democrats essentially more control over the House than Republicans?

 

Talk of “dictatorship” aside, how much are voters looking for a “Strong Man” as President?  How do you define “strength” in a President?  FDR and LBJ were perceived as “strong” without being seen as dictatorial. Who is perceived as “stronger”: Biden or Trump? When a sitting president looks like he’s observing rather than controlling inflammatory events, he’s taking a huge political risk. This is especially true as Trump lambasts Biden as weak and not up to the job.

 

Would any NEW Democrat Nominee have an advantage over Trump? America still doesn’t want a 2020 rerun, and dislikes both presumed Nominees. Biden’s Approvals continue to sink. Today, he is significantly losing the Youth vote, plus greatly reduced numbers from Blacks and Hispanics. As Biden’s approvals drop, Trump’s are not rising. Would a younger, stronger fresh face retain all anti-Trump voters, but appeal more to young voters and minorities?

Is the Movie Business Over? Jerry Seinfeld: “Film doesn’t occupy the pinnacle in the social, cultural hierarchy that it did for most of our lives. When a good movie came out, we all went to see it. We all discussed it. We quoted lines and scenes we liked.

 

Good move? Biden administration plans to reclassify marijuana, easing restrictions nationwide.

 

Is it fair to say that Republican Isolationism would shock President Reagan? Is a move toward less foreign engagement and more Isolationism right for the United States?

 

Will this reduce homeless in tents? Chicago City Council approved $70M for migrant care despite voter backlash. The money sparked a massive backlash from residents at city council meeting.

 

Who may have the more appealing Tax message? Biden: “No billionaire should pay a lower tax rate than a teacher.”  Trump: “We need to cut taxes and regulations.

 

Major Supreme Court case: can a state deny emergency care because doing so may be in conflict with a state’s abortion rights?

 

How might this Arizona “fake electors” issue affect the election? A state grand jury in Arizona indicted so-called "fake electors" who backed Trump (as key Trump aides as well).

 

What is the best argument for allowing biological males to compete in female sports?

 

Ban TikTok and more? Your thoughts. Congress has sent a bill to Biden’s desk that would ban the popular video-sharing app TikTok unless it divests from its Chinese parent company. The legislation is a shocking crackdown on a social media business, but it comes as lawmakers dawdle on whether to rein in the broader industry or protect Americans’ digital privacy. A bipartisan proposal would outlaw social media accounts for children under 13 and require parental consent for kids under 18.

 

Should Justice Sotomayor retire before 2025 and guarantee that Liberals replace her?

 

Your thoughts about the politics of Guns - Biden approved the largest expansion of background checks in decades, issuing a new rule that would require thousands of gun sellers to register as federally licensed firearms dealers and run criminal and mental health background checks on potential buyers. The regulation is certain to be challenged in Congress and in courts.

 

Do you feel Christian Nationalism a serious threat, or mostly Liberal Hype and not a concern? How do you feel about Trump’s Bible?  Christian Ministers are pushing back against Trump.

 

People now believe “old age” begins at 75. Is retirement at 65 becoming impossible? We’re living longer, and life is more expensive.  How do you kids feel about what’s happening? Are they looking to work longer before retirement than we did?

 

What’s best for grocery shoppers? The FTC wants to stop the merger between Kroger (Mariano’s) and Albertson’s (Jewel-Osco). The companies say consumers will see higher food prices, fewer stores and strengthens huge non-unionized retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon.

 

Have House Republicans substantiated any crimes that can lead to Biden’s Impeachment?

 

How diminished is NRA’s political influence? The National Rifle Association and its longtime former leader have been found liable in a lawsuit centered on the organization’s lavish spending.