Saturday, March 14, 2009
Not too thrilled
President Obama promised America he would avoid all ear marks and improve the economy. He's only shooting for one now that he's a few months into the White House. A $410 Billion bill was passed in the name of helping America out of an economic crisis. However, this bill was chock full of a total 9,000 'pet projects' a euphemism for earmarks. Obama's bill is ridiculously hypocritical and there's not a lot he can do to redeem himself. Half of these bills aren't even needed for the economy, $200,000 dollars for tattoo removal because Representative Berman suggested it? And another $2 million for swine and odor management? What do we need those things for? Those are not going to immediately improve the economy and bring us out of a possible recession. In fasct they're almost never going to be actually needed. They were just put on the bill to get a vote to make it happen. It's not worth it. It's impossible to improve the economy if we're spending more and more of the tax payers dollars on little things to get different represenatives on board. Represenatives should want to fix the economy without getting their silly little ear marks in. Shouldn't they? Obama should have stuck to his guns and done what he said he was going to do. Then maybe this economic stimulus package would have gone over smoother.
Friday, March 13, 2009
As a Vegetarian, I’ll Pass on This Slice of Pork
Although the intentions of the Stimulus package sound ideal on paper, I am not convinced about the plan as a whole. Part of this stimulus package irks me in the worst way possible. I am utterly appalled at the earmarks that Senators are tacking onto the stimulus package. According to Obama, this “massive stimulus package could ultimately exceed $1 trillion” (1). If there weren’t so many earmarks on this bill, the monetary amount of this package would surely be lower. It is absolutely despicable what these Senators are doing. While part of our country is unemployed or in debt, some senators are proposing earmarks so they can have the funding for their special projects. These earmarks are not only increasing the cost of the stimulus package, but they are selfish as well. Senators propose earmarks for the good of their state, and many times, for the good of certain individuals or specific companies. In my eyes, the economy will not improve until we focus on the bigger problem at hand instead of projects for special interests.
Furthermore, it is clear that the United States government is in a substantial amount of debt and our economy is experiencing a recession. Presently, the stimulus package seems like an unreachable solution, but President Obama is trying to convince people that immediate action is required and a stimulus-spending package is the only apparent solution to address the financial crisis. President Obama said more than once that, “things are going to get worse before they get better”(1). I would like to believe that, but is that a good enough reason to push this bill through that is laden with pork barrel spending? Would it really impact the crisis that much more to spend another week cleaning up the bill? I feel uncomfortable about pushing the bill through under panicked and such emotional condition.
Moreover, there are ways for the United States government to borrow money from various sources to help pay for the stimulus package. For instance, treasury bonds can be issued to foreign governments, businesses, banks, and/or other wealthy individuals. However, issuing more of these bonds will put the United States government into even more debt that could have drastic, long-term effects on future generations of America.
Source 1
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5303652.ece
Source 2
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-progress-report/obamas-stimulus-package_b_155279.html
Claire Fichtel
Civics L4 Period 6
3/13/09
Furthermore, it is clear that the United States government is in a substantial amount of debt and our economy is experiencing a recession. Presently, the stimulus package seems like an unreachable solution, but President Obama is trying to convince people that immediate action is required and a stimulus-spending package is the only apparent solution to address the financial crisis. President Obama said more than once that, “things are going to get worse before they get better”(1). I would like to believe that, but is that a good enough reason to push this bill through that is laden with pork barrel spending? Would it really impact the crisis that much more to spend another week cleaning up the bill? I feel uncomfortable about pushing the bill through under panicked and such emotional condition.
Moreover, there are ways for the United States government to borrow money from various sources to help pay for the stimulus package. For instance, treasury bonds can be issued to foreign governments, businesses, banks, and/or other wealthy individuals. However, issuing more of these bonds will put the United States government into even more debt that could have drastic, long-term effects on future generations of America.
Source 1
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5303652.ece
Source 2
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-progress-report/obamas-stimulus-package_b_155279.html
Claire Fichtel
Civics L4 Period 6
3/13/09
Stimulus Package-Pork, or Real Beef for America?
Due march 16,2009 8am
www.american issuesproject.org/enough
www.8000credit.org/150/
What is your view on the stimulus package?
Assignment#2-due march 17, 2009 8am
Read the two websites listed above along with pages 123-139 of The Enduring Debate.
Find two items in the stimulus package that go along with the view propounded in chapter 21. Find two items that go along with the perspective in chapter 22. Explain your reasoning.
www.american issuesproject.org/enough
www.8000credit.org/150/
What is your view on the stimulus package?
Assignment#2-due march 17, 2009 8am
Read the two websites listed above along with pages 123-139 of The Enduring Debate.
Find two items in the stimulus package that go along with the view propounded in chapter 21. Find two items that go along with the perspective in chapter 22. Explain your reasoning.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Political Philsophy Still Debated in United States
- Supreme Court decisions are always shrouded in controversy, but few decisions can fuel a 36-year debate. The ruling made in the Roe v. Wade case of 1973 was one of those decisions. The decision was "that a woman's right to abortion was protected by the right to privacy under the Constitution's 14th Amendment," (1) and it made abortion legal in the United States. Ever since the justice's gavel fell on that historic day, groups have been actively advocating both for and against the right of pregnant women to have an abortion. Recently, on January 22, the anniversary of the infamous ruling, a large-scale anti-abortion rally was held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The citizens and politicians who participated in the rally believe that abortion is not just a privacy issue, but a natural rights issue. If you ask an anti-abortionist, as an Iowa Representative did when he spoke, " 'At what instant does life begin?' " they will always answer, " 'Conception!' "(1) They hold the belief that the inalienable right to life that all Americans enjoy also applies to unborn fetuses.
- Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has received more attention in the month since his impeachment than in his entire political career thus far. Although it may be overkill, the coverage of his story points out the role of Classical Republican ideas in the modern United States government. Blagojevich was ousted because of several charges of corruption, particularly "engaging in 'pay-to-play' politics"(2) in an attempt to sell the Senate seat left behind by Barack Obama. The complaint was filed "after listening to wiretaps of the governor's phone conversations."(2) In recent years, the government's habit of eavesdropping on Americans' telephone conversations has been a hot topic. During the presidency of George W. Bush, such practices were used in order to find and track suspected terrorists within and outside of the U.S. The government's use of wiretapping is a clear connection to the ideas of Classical Republicanism lent to the Constitution by the ancient Greeks and Romans. They believed that the good of the state as a whole was more important than the rights of the individuals. Sometimes, individuals must give up rights for the safety and security of the state. This is clearly what is happening today. The government has decided to infringe on American individuals' right to privacy, supposedly in order to protect the nation from terrorist attacks. Evidently, the same technology and practices are now being used to protect the state of Illinois from corruption. And, just as with Bush's NSA wiretapping, Rod Blagojevich's right to privacy was limited for the good of the citizens he was elected to serve.
Barack Obama should not be labeled a Federalist just because he has been elected as the president of a federalist government. And, although the original Anti-federalists were opposed to having any form of central government, it is important to remember that Federalist and Anti-federalist are relative terms. Basically, federalists believe that the national government should be strong and have power over the state governments, anti-federalists believe that the national government should not have as much power and should be more limited in their strength. Based on this definition and the few significant actions which Obama has carried out since his inauguration, I would say that our new president is an Anti-federalist. One of the most important decisions that he has made so far was to end "the 'war on terror' as former President George W. Bush defined it." (3) Obama believes that the federal government should never be able to "circumvent longstanding U.S. laws," (3) even when the country is at war. Clearly, Barack strongly feels that the powers of the federal government should be more limited than they have been in recent years, so he is an Anti-federalist.
Sources(1) http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/22/obama.abortion/index.html?iref=newssearch
(2)http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/08/illinois.governor.impeachment/index.html?iref=newssearch
(3) http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc-gitmo0123.artjan23,0,498089.story
Contemporary Constitutional Actions
Nicole Davoren
Period 6 Civics
1.The Natural Rights Philosophy was first formed by John Locke. He believed that if you are born a human being, then you automatically have the right to life, liberty, and property, and the government is there to protect these rights. A recent event unfolded that has shown how our government will investigate when any of these rights are broken. On Friday February 6th, a doctors license was revoked. His patent, a teenager, was planning on having an abortion, gave birth to a live baby, and immediately the baby was killed when clinic staffers put it in to a plastic bag and threw it in the trash. “ A fetus born alive cannot be put to death even if its mother intended to have an abortion” says police. It is rare for a baby born at 23 weeks, such as this one, to live. However, the staff violated the natural rights philosophy when they did noting to help the baby live and put it to its death.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/06/florida.abortion/index.html
2.Classical Republicanism is the theory where the role of the citizen is to show civic virtue to benefit the common good, and the government and its people act on the good of the community, rather their individual interests. One example of Classical Republicanism today is how some Stop and Shops and Shop Rite pharmacy's in Connecticut are giving away free medication to the public. “All you need is a doctor's prescription, no insurance is necessary. Stop and Shop started offering the free drugs in January during the height of the cold and flu season” says the article. This shows Classical Republicanism because the stores are putting aside their want to make money, and promoting the common good by helping them to stay healthy and get medication, when they other wise couldn't afford them.
Source: http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/news_wtnh_cromwell_health_free_antibiotics_200902052330_rev1
3.President Obama's actions have shown us that he is a Federalist. According to the West's American Government textbook Federalists are “those who favor a strong central government and the new Constitution.” An example of how Obama shows that he is a Federalist, is his proposed economic stimulus plan. This plan is Federalist, because it the central government will delegate where and what the money will be put into, and it will be shared throughout the entire country. “At its core, the legislation is designed to ease the worst economic recession in generations, and combines hundreds of billions of dollars in spending to boost consumption by the public sector, along with tax cuts designed to increase consumer spending.” says the article. If Obama was Anti Federalist, he would leave the choice of stimulating the economy to the separate states.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090207/ap_on_go_co/congress_stimulus
Period 6 Civics
1.The Natural Rights Philosophy was first formed by John Locke. He believed that if you are born a human being, then you automatically have the right to life, liberty, and property, and the government is there to protect these rights. A recent event unfolded that has shown how our government will investigate when any of these rights are broken. On Friday February 6th, a doctors license was revoked. His patent, a teenager, was planning on having an abortion, gave birth to a live baby, and immediately the baby was killed when clinic staffers put it in to a plastic bag and threw it in the trash. “ A fetus born alive cannot be put to death even if its mother intended to have an abortion” says police. It is rare for a baby born at 23 weeks, such as this one, to live. However, the staff violated the natural rights philosophy when they did noting to help the baby live and put it to its death.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/06/florida.abortion/index.html
2.Classical Republicanism is the theory where the role of the citizen is to show civic virtue to benefit the common good, and the government and its people act on the good of the community, rather their individual interests. One example of Classical Republicanism today is how some Stop and Shops and Shop Rite pharmacy's in Connecticut are giving away free medication to the public. “All you need is a doctor's prescription, no insurance is necessary. Stop and Shop started offering the free drugs in January during the height of the cold and flu season” says the article. This shows Classical Republicanism because the stores are putting aside their want to make money, and promoting the common good by helping them to stay healthy and get medication, when they other wise couldn't afford them.
Source: http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/news_wtnh_cromwell_health_free_antibiotics_200902052330_rev1
3.President Obama's actions have shown us that he is a Federalist. According to the West's American Government textbook Federalists are “those who favor a strong central government and the new Constitution.” An example of how Obama shows that he is a Federalist, is his proposed economic stimulus plan. This plan is Federalist, because it the central government will delegate where and what the money will be put into, and it will be shared throughout the entire country. “At its core, the legislation is designed to ease the worst economic recession in generations, and combines hundreds of billions of dollars in spending to boost consumption by the public sector, along with tax cuts designed to increase consumer spending.” says the article. If Obama was Anti Federalist, he would leave the choice of stimulating the economy to the separate states.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090207/ap_on_go_co/congress_stimulus
Today's Connections to the Constitutional Actions
1. Natural Rights Philosophy, "Rights that people supposedly have under natural law. The Declaration of Independence of the United States lists life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as natural rights." One of that confirms that our rights are still being protected today is in the article "Parole Board Opposes Inmate's Execution." A man (Jeffery Hill) "who stabbed his mother to death in 1991 in a crack-cocaine-induced rage" was scheduled of execution on March 3. Although, his excution was opposed by his family members that he should not be put to death. "The Ohio Parole Board ruled Friday in a rare decision opposing capital punishment." By the natural rights philosophy, Jeffrey Hill's life was protected by "the board voted 8 to 0 in favor of mercy for the inmate," instead Jeffrey Hill was sentence to life in prison with parole suitability after 25 years. With the consent of his family members Jeffrey Hill's life is saved and protected.
Sources: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/08ohio.html?ref=us
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/natural%20rights
2. On February 3, 2009, Louis D. Brandeis High School taking in "some of the city’s most disadvantaged students and has struggled year after year to bump up test scores and graduation rates" will be closed and will replaced by three new schools. Since Louis D. Brandeis High School is "a large general-curriculum institution rich in course offerings but short on personal interaction" the Department of Education is ordering them to close so that no longer, there will be personal interaction. Louis D. Brandeis High School is to be divided into three other new schools. "One to prepare students for careers in alternative energy, one for students who are at least two years behind in earning credits, and one focused on college preparation." Classical Republicanism is the "theory in which the role of the citizen is to benefit the common good through civic virtue, or their dedication to government at any cost of their individual interests." This is a contemporary event which clearly depicts Classical Republicanism by the school dividing up into three other school to increase the personal interactions, for the common good of the students.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/04/education/04brandeis.html?ref=education
3. Barack Obama is a Federalist. Federalism, "A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units." Barack Obama on Saturday urged Congress to resolve their "differences in the massive economic recovery measure and “put this plan in motion” to bring fiscal relief and new jobs to all corners of the country." Obama is empowering people and he is willing to change the nation and the world.
Sources: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/obama-calls-on-congress-to-put-stimulus-plan-in-motion/?scp=2&sq=Obama&st=cse
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/federalism
Sources: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/08ohio.html?ref=us
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/natural%20rights
2. On February 3, 2009, Louis D. Brandeis High School taking in "some of the city’s most disadvantaged students and has struggled year after year to bump up test scores and graduation rates" will be closed and will replaced by three new schools. Since Louis D. Brandeis High School is "a large general-curriculum institution rich in course offerings but short on personal interaction" the Department of Education is ordering them to close so that no longer, there will be personal interaction. Louis D. Brandeis High School is to be divided into three other new schools. "One to prepare students for careers in alternative energy, one for students who are at least two years behind in earning credits, and one focused on college preparation." Classical Republicanism is the "theory in which the role of the citizen is to benefit the common good through civic virtue, or their dedication to government at any cost of their individual interests." This is a contemporary event which clearly depicts Classical Republicanism by the school dividing up into three other school to increase the personal interactions, for the common good of the students.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/04/education/04brandeis.html?ref=education
3. Barack Obama is a Federalist. Federalism, "A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units." Barack Obama on Saturday urged Congress to resolve their "differences in the massive economic recovery measure and “put this plan in motion” to bring fiscal relief and new jobs to all corners of the country." Obama is empowering people and he is willing to change the nation and the world.
Sources: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/obama-calls-on-congress-to-put-stimulus-plan-in-motion/?scp=2&sq=Obama&st=cse
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/federalism
Foundations of History
1.Freedom is the main concept behind the Natural Rights created by John Locke and this is what every human being deserves from the moment they are born into the world. Though it took hundreds of years to give slaves and millions of others a break from the chains, there is still one form of labor in the world which does not follow the Natural Rights; sweatshops. In China workers earn less than $2 a day while their labor may be worth up to $100 when their products are sold to companies across the world. The Chinese government does not give its citizens the chance at all three rights and they break them in many ways. Many in society have no freedom to choose where they work or how to get by in life because their only option is to do what everyone else does; in the unfair labor conditions of sweatshops. The liberty aspect of the natural rights is described as, “People want to be as free as possible from the domination of others, to be able to make their own decisions, and to live as they please.” A large amount of the working class in China and hundreds of other countries in the world are not granted this freedom that Locke believes every human should have. Many are forced as a child to work in sweatshops in unfair conditions where injury, sexual assault, and little pay are all common. Since the Chinese government does not protect the natural rights of its citizens, Locke believes that they should rebel, and many have attempted. The best example of changing the unfair way of an average Chinese citizen can be seen from the outbreak of Tiananmen Square. Though unsuccessful, it should represent how no man, women, or child can be content in a land where Locke’s Natural Rights are not granted.
Source-http://www.thestar.com/GlobalVoices/Junior/article/582116
2.Though not seen as one of the most popular presidents, George Bush used Classic Republicanism as he helped try to ease the economic dilemma facing him by tax rebates to nearly every American citizen. Bush planned to give up to $600 a person, $1200 for couples, and $300 per child and all money would be sent from the IRS when taxes were filed. As the economic crisis loomed on the forefront of Bush’s issues, he wanted to give the people money so that they could spend it and restart the economy and American business. He did not simply target the rich, or the poor under his plan, but did it for the good of the people and the desire to alter the economy for the better, though it would soon be in tatters. This plan was unsuccessful, but most likely helped boost consumer spending to a certain degree. It was not a wasted attempt and was worth the try. This rebate is a great example among many in American where Classic Republicanism was brought forth.
Source-http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042501399_pf.html
3.By far, Obama is a Federalist because of his plan to unify America, and make it whole again. Rather than let each state govern the affairs within, he wants to have a strong central government that controls and makes rules for all of them. His plan of National Healthcare shows this side of him as he tries to give health coverage to every individual within America. He has already completed some of this by giving coverage to kids. “As I think everybody here will agree, this is only the first step. Because the way I see it, providing coverage to 11 million children through CHIP is a down payment on my commitment to cover every single American.” The planned bill will cost around 150 billion dollars a year so that government can give everyone the care they need. This is a great example of how he is a Federalist. He also is planning to use one massive stimulus plan that he hopes can change all of America as every citizen fights through the current economic catastrophe. Rather than state rights, Obama uses the power of government to his advantage in trying to solve nearly every problem that America is currently facing. This has its advantages and disadvantages but definitely portrays a Federalist state of mind.
Source-http://americandaily.com/index.php/article/497
Source-http://www.thestar.com/GlobalVoices/Junior/article/582116
2.Though not seen as one of the most popular presidents, George Bush used Classic Republicanism as he helped try to ease the economic dilemma facing him by tax rebates to nearly every American citizen. Bush planned to give up to $600 a person, $1200 for couples, and $300 per child and all money would be sent from the IRS when taxes were filed. As the economic crisis loomed on the forefront of Bush’s issues, he wanted to give the people money so that they could spend it and restart the economy and American business. He did not simply target the rich, or the poor under his plan, but did it for the good of the people and the desire to alter the economy for the better, though it would soon be in tatters. This plan was unsuccessful, but most likely helped boost consumer spending to a certain degree. It was not a wasted attempt and was worth the try. This rebate is a great example among many in American where Classic Republicanism was brought forth.
Source-http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042501399_pf.html
3.By far, Obama is a Federalist because of his plan to unify America, and make it whole again. Rather than let each state govern the affairs within, he wants to have a strong central government that controls and makes rules for all of them. His plan of National Healthcare shows this side of him as he tries to give health coverage to every individual within America. He has already completed some of this by giving coverage to kids. “As I think everybody here will agree, this is only the first step. Because the way I see it, providing coverage to 11 million children through CHIP is a down payment on my commitment to cover every single American.” The planned bill will cost around 150 billion dollars a year so that government can give everyone the care they need. This is a great example of how he is a Federalist. He also is planning to use one massive stimulus plan that he hopes can change all of America as every citizen fights through the current economic catastrophe. Rather than state rights, Obama uses the power of government to his advantage in trying to solve nearly every problem that America is currently facing. This has its advantages and disadvantages but definitely portrays a Federalist state of mind.
Source-http://americandaily.com/index.php/article/497
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