How Partisan Tensions Are Destroying Relationships, and How We Can Fix Them!

At no time since the Civil War began has our country seen this level of partisan tension.  In a survey done in 1960, less than 10 percent of Americans said they would have a problem marrying someone from the other political party. In 2010, that number shot up to nearly 50 percent.  According to Shanto Iyengar, a professor of political science at Stanford University, “In the 1950s and 1960s party affiliation made virtually no difference to interpersonal relations." However, since the divisive 2016 election, partisan tensions have begun dramatically affecting our lives. From couples divorcing and friendships ending to widespread boycotts and politically inspired acts of violence, D.C.’s political climate has created undoubted turmoil across the country.

The New York Times wrote an article entitled “Political Divide Splits Relationships – and Thanksgiving, Too.” In this article, family after family is ripped apart by the election. One daughter described in the article calls and forbids her parents from seeing their grandchildren ever again due to political differences. One man’s mother claims she, “no longer had a son.” [i]  While each family has their own unique history, there is one constant in each story listed in the article. In every case it was the Trump Supporter who was singled out and cut off from the rest of the family. In the article, the Times points out, “Democrats have dug in their heels, and in some cases are refusing to sit across the table from relatives who voted for President-elect Donald J. Trump.” [ii] 

Trump supporters have not been completely free of political resentments either.  During the election, many called their fellow supporters to boycott companies that didn’t align with their views. Macy’s was boycotted for not holding Trump’s clothing line. Oreos were boycotted when they moved their company to Mexico, and Ben & Jerry’s was singled out for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. [iii] Personally, I could never boycott Ben & Jerry’s because their ice cream is just too delicious.

Democrats had their fair share of boycotts during the election as well. In Detroit, Democrats singled out Don Studvent, owner of the restaurant 1917, for catering a breakfast for Donald Trump, Jr. Though Studvent is a Clinton supporter and has signs supporting her outside his restaurant, he had only two tables filled during what he says was his busiest lunch hour. Studvent argues that the choice to cater for Donald Trump, Jr., was strictly business and that he “can’t take sides” when dealing with his business because he has employees to pay. [iv]

The politically inspired boycotts did not end on election night. One political activist group, the Democratic Coalition Against Trump, is attempting to sway the future of healthcare through boycotts. The group calls for the boycott of any restaurant that allows a Congress member who voted to repeal Obamacare to eat. Scott Dworkin, an adviser to group said, “Restaurants who don’t ban Members will be boycotted by D.C. residents and close down. We’ve done it before – It worked.” [v]

While anecdotal, the above examples give a glimpse into the lack of civility seen throughout our country. In some instances, such political hostility has been known to evoke violence. For example, in Chicago, four teens tortured a mentally disabled teen (who supported Trump) on Facebook Live. Reportedly, the teens threatened the boy with a knife and forced him to drink toilet water. [vi] While an incident like this is rare, it is emblematic of the partisan tension that has taken hold of our society.

            The solution to the problem of partisan tension isn’t that we all must agree with each other. Americans have always had a diversity of viewpoints on issues, and that is the mark of a free society. However, we cannot subscribe to the mindset that because someone has a different viewpoint that makes them not worthy of our respect or friendship. Many people create their views honestly, after having given it much thought, and it is foolish for us to demand that people in our lives see the world as we do. Personally, some of the best friendships I have had were with people who didn’t believe virtually anything I did. What was great about those friendships is that we actually challenged each other by listening to one other’s viewpoints.

            There is so much we can learn from each other if we stop yelling and start listening. Listening doesn’t mean we compromise our principles or our faith. Rather it means that we have chosen to show respect to one other and demonstrate that even though we disagree we can still show we care. I once heard a pastor say, “No one cares what you say until they know that you care,” and that is how we can heal partisan tension. If you really want to persuade people to your way of thinking, first listen to what they have to say and show them you care. I promise they will be much more open to what you have to say. Don’t miss out on quality friendships because of different worldviews. Treat people well no matter what they believe, understanding that they may or may not come around to your point of view. We must remember that being a good friend is more important than being right, so let's all do our part to show respect to each other and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

Co-written by Kaela Carpenter and Chris Reid. Kaela is a student at Samford University and an intern at the Reid Law Firm. She is on a pre-law track, and you can reach her by e-mail kcarpen3@samford.edu.  Mr. Reid is general practice attorney in Birmingham, Alabama. He has worked for Republican leadership in the United State House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., and was a health policy advisor to the governor of Alabama. You can contact him by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com or by phone at 205-913-7406. A description of his practice areas is available at www.reidlawalabama.com.Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).

[i] Prager, Dennis. "Ten Reasons Left-Wingers Cut Trump Voters from Their Lives." National Review. N.p., 01 Dec. 2016. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.

[ii] Sabrina Tavernise and Katharine Q. Seelye. "Political Divide Splits Relationships - and Thanksgiving, Too." The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 Nov. 2016. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.

[iii] Ford, Zack. "Trump Supporters Launch Boycotts of Pepsi, Oreos, and Netflix." ThinkProgress. ThinkProgress, 16 Nov. 2016. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.

[iv] Fink, Jenni. "Liberals Boycotting Restaurant Owner Who Catered for Trump Jr. Are Completely Missing the Point." IJR - Independent Journal Review. Independent Journal Review, 16 Nov. 2016. Web. 23 Feb. 2017

[v] Stinson, Jim. "Liberal Activists Bully Restaurants Over Obamacare." LifeZette. N.p., 23 Jan. 2017. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.

[vi] Moreno, Amy. "BREAKING : Four Charged With Hate Crimes for Torturing Mentally Disabled Teen on Facebook Live." TruthFeed. TruthFeed, 05 Jan. 2017. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.

Obamacare “Death Spiral” Necessitates Need For Replacement Plan By GOP

The repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is one Trumps biggest agenda items for his first term. As recently as February 16, 2017, House Speaker Paul Ryan stated, “It has become increasingly clear that this law is collapsing,” and that, “It will keep getting worse unless we act.” In his statement, Ryan speaks to the ever-increasing insurance premiums that the American people are forced to pay, while their co-pays have gone up and their access to quality physicians has gone down.

Currently, House Republicans are working towards a replacement plan that they believe will be lower costs and increase access for most Americans. As of now, there is a substantial difference of opinion regarding healthcare reform between Republicans and Democrats. Many Democrats support a single-payer system which would effectively eliminate the insurance companies and give the government complete control over your health care decisions. Democrats claim that this single payer system would work “just like the VA” and provide the same level of quality care to all Americans that we provide our veterans. First, our VA is not the model you want this country to emulate. In the past years it has been proven that incompetence at the VA has led to the deaths of many of our nations most decorated veterans. Sadly, the issues with VA have been around for many years. When my dad was doing his residency in the early 80s as an internal medicine physician, one of his rotations was at the VA in Birmingham. On one occasion while he was working there he heard an alarm go off which meant that a patient was going into cardiac arrest and if he didn’t resuscitate this patient quickly they would die. The normal practice is that when someone is going into cardiac arrest the nurse will go to the room with the doctor to help them revive the patient. However, when this cardiac arrest code went off my dad had to run through the halls and try to find this patient who was in imminent danger of dying and finally he went to the nurses station and asked “what room is this patient in” and the nurse pointed to the room with a chicken wing in her hand and my dad was thankfully able to revive the patient. Obviously he was very angry and confronted the nurse and said why didn’t you assist me in reviving this patient and she said that “she was on her break and hadn’t finished eating her dinner”. Well my dad justifiably let her know his thoughts on the matter and the next day the person who got in trouble was not the nurse who was more than happy letting a veteran die rather than take two minutes away from her dinner,  it was my dad who apparently wasn’t sensitive enough to this “so-called”nurse. The problem with giving the government control of our healthcare is that it is almost impossible to fire someone and unlike the private marketplace where you can promote people based on merit, the way you advance in the government system is much different. So if any politician ever says they want to make healthcare run like the VA you need to do everything in your power to make sure that person never wins an election or you may be the person who goes into cardiac arrest during a dinner break and good luck suing the government for negligence because your chances of recovering damages on this when it is in the hands of the government will be slim to none.

 That being said the Republicans prefer a replacement plan with health savings accounts, tax credits to help pay for insurance, and high-risk pools for the chronically sick. The Republicans aim to create a more patient-centered system, allowing for greater choice among insurance companies and healthcare providers. The House Republicans’ blueprint also includes a change in Medicaid payments. Under the ACA, the federal government covers the majority of insurance costs for the Medicaid population. Under the Republican’s proposed plan, states would be reimbursed with block grants. Block grants would limit Medicaid spending, which is currently reimbursed as a percentage of whatever each state spends. Although the House leaders have laid out this general repeal-and-replace plan, a definitive plan has yet to be formulated. As of now there is just speculation as to what the final product will be and if states will end up losing federal funds.

Considering the general formatting of plans to repeal-and-replace the ACA, it is important to follow two individuals throughout the next few months. First, we should follow statements made by Representative Kevin Brady, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, as tax credits are a large portion of Republicans’ repeal-and-replace plans. Representative Brady has discussed tax credit options with a number of congressmen, as well as a potential widening of health savings accounts.  At this point, Representative Brady’s opinions are rather broad. Brady stated, “We’re really looking at a whole range of options.” Although this statement is extremely general, it is important to continue following Representative Brady’s statements and opinions, as his committee will be incredibly influential in the passage of a replacement bill.

The second person to follow is Tom Price, President Trump’s appointment for Secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services. Price is decidedly against abortion-providing organizations and strongly supports employers’ rights to delegate the level of reproductive healthcare employees receive. While a member of the House of Representatives, Price proposed his own vision for health care reform, The Empowering Patients First Act of 2015. This plan significantly mirrors the plan House Republicans are currently pushing, including giving tax credits to pay for insurance and creating health savings accounts. Considering Secretary Price’s history, it is likely he will gladly support and adopt most anything House Republicans pass in regards to healthcare reform.

With the repeal of the ACA, replacement is vital. Replacement is necessary, as a total repeal without a replacement would disrupt millions of Americans’ healthcare. Many fear, without a replacement, insurers selling individual health plans will exit the market because they will no longer be subsidized. Replacing the ACA would minimize the potential fallout.. Replacement is a complicated issue and undoubtedly much more is to come, but so far, House Republicans appear off to a good start.

Written by Chris Reid and Bennett Naron. Mr. Naron is a political science major at Samford University and can be reached by e-mail at bnaron@samford.edu. Mr. Reid is general practice attorney in Birmingham, Alabama. He has worked for Republican leadership in the United State House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., and was a health policy advisor to the governor of Alabama. You can contact him by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com or by phone at 205-913-7406. A description of his practice areas is available at www.reidlawalabama.com. Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).

The End Of Free Speech: How the Far Left Uses Violence and Fear To Shut Down Speeches Throughout the Country!

At the University of California Berkeley, students protested a speech being held by a controversial speaker, Milo Yiannopoulos (just to be clear I find some of his views repugnant, distasteful and mean spirited). The protest quickly turned into a riot, with protesters throwing bricks and shooting off fireworks. The riot forced the event’s cancellation. Several injuries were reported and at least four banks were vandalized after the protest. During the riot, fireworks were thrown up onto the second-floor balcony inside the venue and fires were lit outside. Yiannopoulos’s speech on campus was sponsored by the campus’s Republican club and was a sold out event (1). By rioting to the point that the event had to be canceled, the protestors attacked the freedoms of Yiannopoulos and every person who planned on attending. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated occurrence. Not long after the riots over Yiannopoulos at Berkeley, California State University Los Angeles experienced a very similar set of events.

At Marquette University, students protested conservative Ben Shapiro’s speech on campus. Again, the protest lead to smashed windows and spontaneous fires. The student group, Young Americans for Freedom, was the sponsor of Shapiro’s speech. In the scheduling of the speech, the Young Americans for Freedom hoped to give conservatives a voice on campus. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just fellow students impeding on the Young Americans freedom of speech, it was also members of the University’s faculty. In addition to the protest, one employee callously attempted to sabotage the event through Facebook. The faculty member posted in the University’s Facebook group Center for Gender and Sexualities Studies asking students, employees, and even former employees to reserve a seat as a student and then not to show up. In doing so, the employee intended to take seats away from people who actually wished to attend the event.

Unfortunately, it has become a common trend on liberal campuses to attack any speaker who isn’t politically correct. Some students feel the need to protest any thoughts and ideas that do not align with their own, resulting in a population of students who expect to always get their way and are stunned when they don’t. The election of President Trump is a prime example of this behavior. Liberal students were so confident that Hillary Clinton was going to win that when she did not, they were traumatized. As a result, Cornell University students held a “cry-in,” University of Michigan professors delayed an exam, Columbia University postponed midterms, University of Connecticut excused students from missing class, and one professor made an exam optional at Yale University (2). College campuses have created safe spaces that protect students from any form of disagreement, thus creating a bubble of identical thinking people. Instead of helping students, these bubbles act as an extreme impairment, limiting students from facing the rest of the world.

The creation of safe spaces could ultimately serve detrimental to the future of the first amendment. When these shielded students graduate, they are not going to know how to deal with controversy. They won’t be able to calmly and logically convey their ideas and emotions when people disagree with them. Students will venture into the workforce with no respect for the ideas of others who disagree with their own.

In order for the United Stated continue to be a free nation; it is imperative that we encourage the free exchange of ideas. The University of Chicago is a great example of how college campuses can support the freedoms of each student. Instead of creating safe places, trigger warnings, and free speech zones, the University of Chicago sent its students a statement addressing campus political correctness head-on. John Ellison, Dean of Students, wrote, “Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called trigger warning’s, we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual ‘safe spaces’ where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own” (3).

The overall trend on university campuses for safe spaces and riots is a genuine threat to free speech. People with differing opinions should not be silenced and people should be able to discuss controversial and offensive ideas without the fear of violence. If you are confident in what you believe it shouldn’t bother you if someone else believes something different. People who resort to violence or threats are emotionally unstable and don’t care about how their actions will hurt innocent people. Colleges should not enable this kind of behavior but do everything in their power to encourage their students to listen to all ideas (even repugnant ones that Milo has) and if they disagree then learn to articulate their disagreement in a thoughtful way. The rioters who attempted to shut Milo down only gave him a bigger platform and so the views that they found repugnant where only amplified by rioting.

Written by Kaela Carpenter and Chris Reid. Ms Carpenter is a student at Samford University and can be reached at kcarpen3@samford.edu. Mr. Reid is general practice attorney in Birmingham, Alabama. He has worked for Republican leadership in the United State House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., and was a health policy advisor to the governor of Alabama. You can contact him by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com or by phone at 205-913-7406. A description of his practice areas is available at www.reidlawalabama.com. Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).

Sources:

1. "Riot Forces Cancellation Of Yiannopoulos Talk At UC Berkeley." CBS San Francisco. CBS, 1 Feb. 2017. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.

2. Robby-soave. "Colleges Cancelled Exams for Students Traumatized by Trump's Election." Reason.com. N.p., 10 Nov. 2016. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.

3. Richard Pérez-Peña, Mitch Smith and Stephanie Saul. "University of Chicago Strikes Back Against Campus Political Correctness." The New York Times. The New York Times, 26 Aug. 2016. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.

Trump’s Economic Plan: What Tax and Regulatory Reform Means for Alabama

As we transition further from policies of the Obama administration to policies of the Trump administration, conservatives across Alabama readily await an expected (and much needed) resurgence in economic prosperity. The Obama administration dealt us an increase in both government regulation and government spending. With the help of tax and regulation reform, President Trump promises to achieve a four percent annual growth rate over the next decade(1). Whether or not his economic policies will achieve this rate is up for debate, but tax payers and small business owners across the state seem ready and eager for change. In fact, Alabama is experiencing a level of economic optimism not seen since 2005(2). Hopefully, over the next four years, Alabamians will see the benefits promised by the new administration. However polarized our two party system might be, most agree we are in need of some sort of tax reform. Currently, taxpayers fall under one of seven federal tax brackets.

President Trump intends to replace this system with a more simplified four-bracket system. Trump’s plan would exempt single filers making less than $25,000 per year and married filers making less than $50,000 per year from paying any federal income tax. Overall, this would relieve 73 million households from paying income tax. While many skeptics remain(3), the Trump administration assures that by closing federal tax loopholes for the wealthy, the proposal should more than pay for itself. As of 2015, Alabama’s median household income was $43,623, meaning a significant number of Alabama residents would fall under the 0% federal income tax bracket(4). This is great news for business owners across the state. With the level of savings Alabama residents expect to find, one would expect to see an increase in job growth and consumer spending as well. If all goes to plan, Alabama is poised to experience some real economic prosperity over the next few years. In order to facilitate the economic expansion mentioned above, President Trump has proposed a plan to control some of the unnecessary regulation implemented by the Obama administration. President Trump’s plan calls for a “Two-for-One” regulation cut. Under this policy, for every one regulation added, two would be removed. According to the White House, this policy should severely curtail the nearly two trillion dollars paid in regulation costs each year(5). This decrease in regulation should greatly help Alabama small business owners. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), there are 390,000 small businesses in Alabama(6). Of these 390,000, a significant majority are Mom and Pop shops that can’t afford to cut through the red tape imposed by overregulation. For this reason, many ideas never get off the ground. Of the ideas that do, many business owners find themselves strangled by regulations, unable to hire new employees or pay the ones they currently employ.  Undoubtedly, small businesses are the lifeblood of this country. In decreasing the stranglehold implemented through regulations, President Trump’s economic plan should pump some life back into our economy.

Of course, some regulation will still be necessary. We want our workers safe and our water clean. Businesses should still be held accountable if they operate irresponsibly. It is for these reasons that regulation exists, not to place undue burden on the American economy. So far, Trump has come through on much of what he promised on the campaign trail. Perhaps then we can anticipate him following through on his plans for economic growth as well. It would seem there is much for the American business owner to feel optimistic about. By means tax reform and regulation changes, we will hopefully see some real economic growth in the next few years, growth that many business owners haven’t felt in quite some time.

Written by Chris Simmons and Chris Reid. Mr. Simmons is a law student at Cumberland School of law and can be reached by e-mail at csimmon2@samford.edu. Mr. Reid is general practice attorney in Birmingham, Alabama. He has worked for republican leadership in the house in DC and was a health policy advisor to the governor of Alabama. You can contact him by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com or by phone at 205-913-7406. For a full description of his practice area’s go to reidlawalabama.com. Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).

Sources:
1.            https://www.whitehouse.gov/bringing-back-jobs-and-growth
2.            http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2017/01/alabama_business_leaders_optim.html
3.            https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/trump-tax-reform.pdf
4.            https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/INC110215/01
5.            https://www.whitehouse.gov/bringing-back-jobs-and-growth
6.            https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/resourceguide_2822.pdf

False Perception of Corruption Could Hurt Luther Strange’s Political Future

            If you look at Luther Strange’s record, there is no doubt that he is immensely qualified to serve as our senator, and no Republican doubts that he will be as reliably conservative as Jeff Sessions. Luther has shown himself to be one of the best attorney general in the country, and he ran the office of AG in Alabama with excellence. He effectively negotiated the BP oil spill, he was one the lead AG’s in the fight against Obamacare, and he did everything in his power to fight against the crushing and unnecessary regulations that came from DC. He also was willing to take on corruption in his own party and developed a reputation for putting the rule of law over partisan considerations. However, the problem with his appointment is that the story being told right now has nothing to do with how qualified he is and has everything to do with the perception of self-dealing that his appointment has created. Ever since the story broke regarding Governor Bentley’s alleged affair with Rebecca Mason, the issue of whether or not the governor used state resources to engage in this affair has not been adequately resolved. The perception in this state was that Luther Strange would be involved in any investigation that would take place to determine whether any laws had been broken by Governor Bentley. When it was announced by President Trump that Jeff Sessions would be appointed to serve as Attorney General, many conservative pundits believed that Governor Bentley would not appoint Luther Strange because this would create a perception that Luther Strange’s appointment would be a way for Bentley to kill the investigation into his alleged affair. If the Governor’s motive in appointing Luther Strange was to scuttle the investigation, then it will most likely have the opposite effect. Luther Strange’s appointment will actually put more public pressure on the state legislature and AG’s office to investigate the governor than ever before. In addition, there will be a perception that this appointment was a quid pro quo for Luther to get his office to back off the investigation in exchange for his appointment. This perception could make it harder for Luther to be as effective in the Senate as he would be. It will also make it easier for a primary challenger to defeat Strange in the 2018 Senate race. Let me be clear: I do not believe that Luther Strange did anything unethical or illegal to obtain this Senate seat. He has proven throughout his entire life to be a man of integrity, and I believe when this matter is investigated, Strange is going to be cleared of any wrongdoing. However, the damage has already been done and what is frustrating is that by taking this appointment it will create what I believe is a false perception that Strange is corrupt. If he would have turned this appointment down and told the Governor he couldn’t take the appointment because of the perception of corruption, that would have increased his chances of winning the primary in 2018, no matter who the Governor appointed. Also, Strange could have been a front runner in the governor's race if the Senate seat wasn’t an option, and his record of accomplishment is so great that he would have been a tough candidate to beat in the primary. This is frustrating as a conservative because Luther Strange is one brightest stars in the GOP, and I don’t want this false perception of corruption to hurt someone who could accomplish so many great things for the people of this state. The best path forward is for Luther Strange to address this perception head on and explain this adequately to the voters so he can continue to be an effective leader. Hopefully this choice will not hurt him in the long term.

Mr. Reid is general practice attorney in Birmingham, Alabama. He has worked for Republican leadership in the United State House of Representatives in Washington, DC, and was a health policy advisor to the governor of Alabama. You can contact him by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com or by phone at 205-913-7406. A description of his practice areas is available at www.reidlawalabama.com. Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).

Making the Courts Great Again: Why Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation hearing is so important

One reason I love being an attorney is that every day there is something new I get to learn about the world. The law affects everything we do and governs nearly every human interaction. There are laws that govern the food you ate this morning and the car you drove to work. But more importantly, it is the law that can enable your family to live in peace and freedom. Considering the court has become the most powerful branch of government, President Trump’s appointment of Neil Gorsuch may have the greatest impact on your life. Often, the Supreme Court has moved beyond their role of interpreting law to essentially making law. Unlike laws made by Congress which can be reversed by an election, the Supreme Court’s rulings can only be undone by a constitutional amendment. Practically speaking, reversing Supreme Court rulings is nearly impossible. Despite the intentions of our founders, the court now has more power than Congress concerning issues that affect our liberties. Had Hillary won the election, she may have appointed a justice who could have limited second amendment rights and religious liberty. Often, the far left has used the courts to enact laws Congress would not pass because they were politically unpopular. If a left-wing court were to be implemented the role of Congress would be severely limited. Thomas Jefferson once stated the “government which governs less governs best,” which is why we need justices who will interpret the Constitution as it was intended. The Bill of Rights, at its core, is a restriction on the power of the federal government to protect the rights of the people. Neil Gorsuch understands that his role as a judge is to faithfully interpret the law and the Constitution as written instead of imposing his views on the law.

Justice Scalia once had a stamp on his desk that said, “stupid but constitutional” to remind him that his job wasn’t to opine on the wisdom of a given law but to determine whether it was constitutional. Like Justice Scalia, Neil Gorsuch is a brilliant legal scholar who has an unassailable reputation within the legal community and was confirmed unanimously by the senate 10 years ago. One of the most notable endorsements of Gorsuch is Neal Katyal, who served as President Obama’s solicitor general. He stated, “Judge Gorsuch is one of the most thoughtful and brilliant judges to have served our nation over the last century, as a judge, he has always put aside his personal views to serve the rule of law. To boot, as those of us who have worked with him can attest, he is a wonderfully decent and humane person. I strongly support his nomination to the Supreme Court.” Judge Gorsuch is uniquely qualified to fill the seat of Justice Scalia because of his enduring faithfulness to the law and the Constitution. I realize the Democrats are furious that Obama’s pick to the Supreme Court was not given a hearing. Although the GOP was following precedent, I certainly think Obama’s pick could have been treated more respectfully. However, Neil Gorsuch had no part in the decision to deny Obama’s pick a hearing and he should be considered on his qualifications and given an up or down vote. Although the GOP can use the so called “nuclear option” to pass Gorsuch through the senate with a bare majority, I hope it does not come to that. The use of this option will create even greater causticity in DC, which is unneeded considering the current polarity in our political system.

Despite the opposition on the left, I believe Judge Gorsuch will be installed on the Supreme Court and he will faithfully interpret the laws and the Constitution. As an attorney, I see the immense power that the government has to interfere with the lives of its citizens and I believe that the court was set up to protect us from a government that became too intrusive. Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation from extension. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” Judge Gorsuch’s appointment will help protect freedom both for us and for generations to come.

Mr. Reid is general practice attorney in Birmingham, Alabama. He has worked for republican leadership in the house in D.C. and was a health policy advisor to the governor of Alabama. You can contact him by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com or by phone at 205-913-7406. For a full description of the Reid Law Firm's practice areas, please visit reidlawalabama.com Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).

Is our constitution still worth defending? YES!

In the midst of a pivotal election year, I want to focus on how we can insure our constitution is intact for generations to come. The constitution is a exceptional document meant to protect the American people. It was written to keep the government from overstepping and infringing on the rights of the individual. I’m an attorney, I’ve studied our laws extensively and believe in the rule of law. Our nation’s laws were not written for judges to twist in favor of whatever argument they’re trying to make. Our judicial branch needs to get back to interpreting the law based solely on the plain meaning of the text.

Our country recently lost a historic figure; Judge Scalia is someone I have always greatly admired. He had an excellent philosophy on interpreting the constitution. He did not think he was above the law. He certainly didn’t interpret the law as it pertained to his personal opinions. The Judge was a man of integrity. He is quoted in saying, “The Constitution that I interpret and apply is not living but dead, or as I prefer to call it, enduring. It means today not what current society, much less the court, thinks it ought to mean, but what it meant when it was adopted". He interpreted the laws as they were written, and it is for that reason that I hold great reverence for the Judge.

One of my principal concerns should Hillary Clinton be elected is her deciding our nation’s next Supreme Court judges. I fear Clinton’s appointees will be both politically motivated and corrupt. I am strongly in favor of neutral judges. Our country doesn’t need its judiciaries voting down party lines. We need our judges acting strictly as the constitution intended. Simply speaking, we will not prosper under a partisan juridical system. We need to return to the basics. The constitution needs to, once again, be seen as this nation’s rule of law. Our country has been most prosperous in the moments we have followed the rule of law under its original intent. We must stand up against the rule of the mob and remember once more that the law is the highest authority in America.

As someone who has studied law and politics to great lengths, the issue of the constitution is one of great personal significance. I believe we must defend our constitution at all cost so I encourage you to vote this year and make your voice know. Do not support candidates like Hillary Clinton who have no respect for the rule of law. 

Mr. Reid is general practice attorney in Birmingham, Alabama. He has worked for republican leadership in the house in D.C. and was a health policy advisor to the governor of Alabama. You can contact him by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com or by phone at 205-913-7406. For a full description of the Reid Law Firm's practice areas, please visit reidlawalabama.com. Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).

Healthcare exchanges under Obamacare set to collapse in 2017. Your cost could go up 40%!

Americans currently using the Obamacare program should be wary of their coming health insurance rates. In my own state of Alabama, Blue Cross Blue Shield remains one of the only insurers. Over the summer, the insurance company put in a request that, if granted, would cause the rates for individual plans to skyrocket. President Obama recently held a meeting with a group of CEOs of the nation’s top insurance companies (Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO Scott Serota included). This meeting was called in reaction to the nationwide backlash to Obamacare. Additionally, Obama wrote individual letters to each CEO requesting their cooperation with his act. The CEOs of AETNA and United Healthcare were among those not in attendance. This is notable as AETNA was one of the strongest proponents for the act just a year ago. Since voicing their support last year, AETNA has lost over 300 million dollars. In response, the company has announced their intentions to withdraw from the health exchanges. This has been one of the biggest obstacles for the administration. Companies are losing unbelievable amounts of money, leaving prominent private insurance companies with no choice but to cut ties with the health exchange markets

At this point, Obamacare has proven to be a complete failure. Government intrusion in healthcare is not helping our country, it’s hurting it. For the third year in a row, a Gallup poll recorded the majority of American’s disfavor Obamacare, and they also do not favor Hillary Clintons push towards full government control of healthcare.

If the democrats are able to take back congress and the white house there is no doubt that they will push for a complete government takeover of healthcare. If that were to occur, it would have disastrous consequences for all Americans.

My father is an internal medical doctor. As a physician, he has seen the negative effects of the act firsthand. A number of his colleagues are entering private medicine and will no longer take Medicare patients. Obama’s actions have cost this country billions. Insurance rates are through the roof and it is the American people that have to pay for it. This rise in rates is happening across the nation. And if the trends are correct, 2017 will be the biggest increase in healthcare cost and the biggest decrease of doctors participating in the exchanges. If our economy is to grow, we need more than one company to keep rates competitive. Thanks to Obamacare, Many Americans are left with only one major healthcare provider in their state. How is this going to keep rates affordable for the average consumer? Answer: it won’t.

When I graduated law school my first job was working for the governor of Alabama as a health policy advisor. And at the time we were dealing with the impact of Obamacare on our state and because the law is so intrusive, states don’t have a lot of options to avoid the consequences of this bad law. On a personal note, Healthcare is something with which I have a great deal of experience and passion. I want what is best for my community and my country. Americans do not want the government in their business. If the Democrats get there way our healthcare system will operate with the same efficiency as the DMV. Is that what we want? No. We can’t let the Obama administration continue pushing the farce that they are helping the American people. As a concerned citizen and voter, I hope our country can find a way to get back on the right track.

On a practical note, I would advise you to check out any alternatives to participating in the health exchanges. There are many ways to avoid the negative impact of this law which are free market based. Taking a little time to research these alternatives could save your family thousands of dollars.

Mr. Reid is general practice attorney in Birmingham, Alabama. He has worked for republican leadership in the house in D.C. and was a health policy advisor to the governor of Alabama. You can contact him by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com or by phone at 205-913-7406. For a full description of the Reid Law Firm's practice areas, please visit reidlawalabama.com. Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).

Hope for America: how we can overcome the politics of fear

The greatest danger to the American people is not an outside force but internal conflict. Our country has always had diversity of opinions and differences but we have generally had common values that we all adhered too. Our leaders may have disagreed on the solutions, but they at the very least worked to inspire people to believe in something greater than themselves. In this election year, I have been discouraged that the theme that is getting the most attention by the mainstream media is how we should be afraid of each other. I really was inspired by Marco Rubio not because I agreed with all of his positions, but because he believed that America’s best days are still ahead of her. The sentiment in this country is that we are on a path to decline and this generation will inherit a worse country than the one before it. America’s greatest resource isn’t her military might nor her economic power…. it is her people.

All around us we see people losing hope, and not just in political parties, but in the great institutions of this country. People begin to believe that they can’t achieve so they stop trying. Our politicians find short term success by promoting discord, so they continue to stoke the fire of discontentment. If we are going to succeed as a country we cannot allow politicians to divide us against each other. Although our country is faced with great challenges I fully believe we can meet those challenges. America has always believed that she can overcome anything, but when the masses lose confidence, we set ourselves up to fail. I still believe that applying the conservative principals of personal and fiscal responsibility are the best hope to restoring the greatness of our country. The Republican party has its flaws but we have some incredible young leaders who are doing amazing things behind the scenes (Mike Pence is someone we can all look up to because he has worked his whole life to make this country better). All the liberals have is the same failed policies of big government and high taxes, which lead to less freedom for the individual and more government intrusion into every aspect of our lives. I firmly believe liberals are motivated by a desire to do good and help others (many of my liberal friends work tirelessly in their own lives to help those in need and they are incredibly generous), but the policies they advocate tend to do more harm than good.

As an attorney and small business owner, I see firsthand the hardship caused by an intrusive government. Many of my clients are small business owners who not only desire to make a better life for their family but sometimes they feel like they can’t get ahead because of the endless red tape caused by the government. Because of all the pressure they face, sometimes my clients have to learn how to deal with failure. I always tell them it’s ok to fail but it’s never ok to let themselves be defined by the failure. I know many of you are frustrated by the failures that were brought on by the Obama administration. His liberal policies have done harm to our health care system to the point where many people can’t afford coverage and the coverage they can afford has such a high deductable that they can’t afford the co-pay. However, as conservatives, we must not only point out the failures of the liberal policies we must advocate for conservative free market solutions. The good news is we know what the solutions are and I believe that if we all work together we can win over the American people to our philosophy of limited government. My encouragement to you is to do everything you can to get your friends and family to vote for conservative candidates on November 8th. I plan on going door to door almost every weekend until the election to get people to come and vote. In closing, remember the words of Winston Churchill “Never, Never, Never Give Up”. God bless you all and lets all remember to pray that God will continue to bless our nation.

Mr. Reid is general practice attorney in Birmingham, Alabama. He has worked for republican leadership in the house in D.C. and was a health policy advisor to the governor of Alabama. You can contact him by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com or by phone at 205-913-7406. For a full description of the Reid Law Firm's practice areas, please visit reidlawalabama.com. Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).

Capitalism and Freedom: Why conservative principals will ensure the American dream for my generation

The biggest discouragement I have faced in this election cycle is that the media is focusing on the personalities of the candidates, rather than the ideas they support. Elections are supposed to be a battle of ideas in which each side makes an argument about what they believe, and how they are going to make the lives of Americans better.. Yet, in this year the only thing we are hearing is how terrible the other candidate would be, and that is a discouraging thing for many Americans. My first job out of college was working at the Heritage foundation in DC, and my favorite thing about that job was getting to work with the best conservative minds in the country to promote policies that truly make America the greatest country on earth. The hardest thing about that job was learning how easy it would be to fix our countries problems if we had the political leadership we needed. If we could have implemented conservative tax reform we could easily see an economy that is growing at 4% each year. But under the leadership of Obama we have seen our economy stifled by a regulatory state that makes it difficult for many companies to compete. The Dodd Frank act which supposedly was going to ensure that banks are never “to big to fail” has had the opposite effect. The big banks are more powerful than they were before the recession, and many smaller banks have closed down because the regulations in that act simply cost too much to comply with. Americans were also promised health care that was higher in quality and lower in cost and again we got the opposite result. Almost all of the major insurers have pulled out of Obamacare and premiums have gone through the roof throughout the United States.

My dad is an internal medicine physician and due to the fact that the regulations in Obamacare are onerous, many of his colleagues are retiring early or moving into private practice. In some states the only option for many families is to buy a plan that has 2,500-5,000 dollar deductible, which if a person is only making 30,000 a year is almost as bad as having no insurance at all. Obama also promised that we would be respected throughout the world, and yet there has never been a time of greater instability since the cold war ended. The Iran deal is falling apart and the other Middle Eastern countries are ramping up their nuclear programs in response to Iran’s dominance in the region. Obama promised peace but all he did was make it more likely that our soldiers will be in harm’s way in the future. The point of all this is not to point out the failures of Obama but to highlight the fact that big government cannot work better than the market. The solution to our problems is the same as it was when our nation was founded. We need a government by the people and for the people. Thomas Jefferson said “a government which governs less governs best” and his words are still true today. Every generation believes that the problems they face are unique and overwhelming, yet every generation has found ways to solve the biggest problems our country faces.

Our parents’ generation saw the end of the cold war and the spreading of democracy to countries all over the globe, and though the challenges we face are significant, I have no doubt that we can overcome them together. I do not believe that liberals have ill intentions. Most of my friends who are liberal believe what they do because they think their way is the best way and that it helps the most people. But the truth is that socialism has failed everywhere it has been tried and it cannot work because socialism describes a world as it should be but not the world as it is, which is why it will always fail. If we rely on conservative principles of personal responsibility and limited government we can have a free and prosperous society. And with September 11th coming up let us not forget the men and woman who gave their lives so that we could live in peace. I know many of you are discouraged about the leadership in our party, but the truth is we have so many great young leaders in the GOP who are going to fix our nation’s problems and restore the idea of the American dream. Something I try to remember is that liberty is a blessing from God and it is our creator who blessed us with the rights we enjoy. Let us always give thanks to God for his mercy on our nation and remember to pray for our men and woman overseas. One of my family members is serving overseas right now and I am so proud of him for all he has given to make this country great. Don’t lose heart my friends when you see politicians and the media bicker over petty things. Remember that we are a great nation and our best days are ahead of us. God bless. Christopher Calvin Reid.

Mr. Reid is general practice attorney in Birmingham, Alabama. He has worked for republican leadership in the house in D.C. and was a health policy advisor to the governor of Alabama. You can contact him by email at chris.reid@reidlawalabama.com or by phone at 205-913-7406. For a full description of the Reid Law Firm's practice areas, please visit reidlawalabama.com. Our firm practices the following areas of law: wills, trust, and estates, divorce and family, DUI and drug offenses (only first and second time offenses), and car accident cases. We also handle business law, including formation of business entities and drafting contracts. Additionally, I co-host Yellowhammer News every Monday during lunch from 11-12 on 101.1 fm Birmingham (but our show is broadcast throughout most of the state).