Regardless of the winners on Nov. 6, there will still be 100 senators and 435 members of the House of Representatives – and for a large majority of them, this will not be their first term. Sky-high incumbency re-election rates in the United States Congress have caused some to question the need for term limits on representatives and senators.

There remains a strong possibility that on Nov. 6, President Barack Obama will win his bid for re-election and secure a second term as president. The unfortunate reality, however, is that a second term is unlikely to be much different than his first.

If there is one takeaway from the 2012 presidential election thus far, it’s this: Too large a percentage of voters remain deplorably uninformed on the issues. That a small number of undecided voters lacking necessary political knowledge will determine the election undermines the democratic process on which this country rests.

On Oct. 1, Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke addressed the Economic Club of Indiana. In his speech, Bernanke included an apt criticism of the impending “fiscal cliff” and the U.S. government’s fascination with debt reduction – a fascination with the potential to send the economy back into recession.

Critics of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission are misguided. Claims like President Barack Obama’s comment that the decision is a “threat to democracy” are hypocritical.

On Wednesday Sept. 5, former President Bill Clinton spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. For nearly an hour, Clinton set a clear example of what a political speech should be: articulate, detailed and policy driven.

I expect to take issue with Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan’s policies and their proposed legislation. That is just a matter of ideological difference and the nature of politics. What is cause for concern, however, and a serious threat to the function of American politics, is the complete disregard for truth that the Romney-Ryan campaign has shown thus far.

On Wednesday April 11, political strategist and pundit Hilary Rosen spoke on CNN, claiming that Ann Romney, wife of republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, “has actually never worked a day in her life.” Rosen’s comments incited a media firestorm that is just one in a long string of nonissues taking center stage.

There is a fundamental difficulty that arises when evaluating human character. On one hand there is a want for an individual to be genuine and “real,” while on the other is the desire for the individual to never act in a way in that may be disagreeable. This dichotomy is particularly true for people consistently in the public spotlight and perhaps most notoriously for politicians.

I’m sick of the argument that taxes stifle job growth. It’s an easy claim made by most conservatives and CEOs that makes it seem like they’re concerned about the welfare of the general public, when in reality they’re simply trying to pad their bottom line. When it comes down to it, taxes have very little to do with corporations and hiring.

On Monday March 26 the United States Supreme Court began hearing arguments surrounding the Affordable Care Act – the key health care legislation passed in March 2010. The arguments focus on one key aspect of the legislation: the individual mandate.

Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh’s inflammatory remarks on Feb. 29 drew immediate criticism from nearly everyone, and yet he remains employed by the media conglomerate Clear Channel Communications. Let’s be honest – if it were anyone else, those comments would have warranted immediate termination. But because they belong to Rush Limbaugh – and his 15 million weekly listeners – they get a pass.

In early November 2009, I came across a concept that changed my definition of the Internet. No. Stop there. It was not pornography. I found the meme. Yes, it was a glorious day. There upon my screen was my first “Philosoraptor.” It was rather funny and as a result, I habitually returned to the website.

Compromise is dead in American politics. Both democrats and republicans in Congress refuse to bend on any issue that arises – often leaving President Barack Obama caught in the middle – and the result is political gridlock. This unwillingness to negotiate is a disservice to the democratic nature and history of our nation.

Four days after former Sen. Rick Santorum swept the Colorado and Minnesota caucuses and the Missouri primary, former Mass. Governor Mitt Romney won the Maine caucus with 39 percent of the vote. Santorum, who won handily less than a week before, managed only 18 percent of the vote. In a primary race where it seems someone new is winning every other state, Maine’s caucus is just further proof the Republican Party simply can’t get behind one candidate.

I have a hard time understanding the rampant fear of government that has seemed to take over the American public. Some people have this impression that the federal government has the intent to turn itself into a fascist regime that will run every aspect of its citizens’ lives.