Pima County: A History of Promise, Power, and Political Paralysis Pima County is the second-largest county in Arizona, rich in history, culture, and natural resources. But behind the desert beauty lies a slow, frustrating decline, shaped not by the land, but by the people managing it. This is the story of how career politicians, mismanaged…
7th Amendment: Trial by Jury “In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.”…
Shutdown Means Shutdown: No Business, No Pay, No Exceptions Every time Washington “shutsdown,” it feels like déjà vu. The lights flicker, the news blares, and the politicians hit the airwaves pointing fingers at each other.But somehow, even when the government “shuts down,” the people responsible for the shutdown never actually shut down. They still hold…
Who’s in Charge? Who Really Runs Arizona? Spoiler: It’s Not Just the Governor Arizona’s politics frequently make national headlines. Whether it’s ballot recounts or border security showdowns, the state often seems like a stage for political spectacle. But the real decisions; the ones that shape Arizona’s laws, budgets, and daily life, aren’t always made in…
6th Amendment: The Right to a Fair Trial: Speed, Jury, and Defense “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to…
Why Local Government Deserves More of Your Attention Than Washington Ever Will What Really Governs Your Daily Life? Every four years, America engages in a media spectacle: debates, campaign ads, social media wars, and fiery rhetoric over who should occupy the Oval Office. We argue with family, unfriend people over party lines, and obsess over…
Right to Remain Silent: The 5th Amendment “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public…
Why Do So Many Politicians Have Term Limits, But Not the House of Representatives? In America, presidents have term limits. Governors do, too. Even many mayors can only serve so long before stepping aside.But the U.S. House of Representatives; the chamber designed to be closest to the people, has no limit at all. Here’s a…
Search and Seizure: The 4th Amendment “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons…
Power and Profit: How Politicians Have Turned Stock Trading Into Legalized Insider Access Power and profit shouldn’t need to be a topic in a democratic republic. Elected officials are supposed to serve the public, not profit from their positions. For decades, many politicians have blurred that line by using inside knowledge to enrich themselves through…