week fourteen

What is the future of our democracy? Is it a realistic option?

I believe the future of our democracy is really based on a few different factors contributing to the changes that will occur in the near future. First, Money, just like with anything else in the world is going to be a big influence on the changes that could be right around the corner for our Nation. Also, secondly I believe that todays population does not take the opportunity to vote and be a part of what our government does. Being a "Voice" in a nation is huge. And realistically I believe that our nations people will need to change this habit to allow the change to occur. Without our citizens this Nation crumbles. Fact! THe problem is the more money the bigger the problem is. The reason i state this is due to the companies and big coorporations. They give politicians a ton of money for favors if they get in office. It's paying the system. It should be illegal, but hey I'm not someone with millions of dollars who can donate a ton to someone running for office and actually have them hear what i have to say. It's corruption at it's finest.






www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QFzpDPf1M8

week 13

Great question especially with all the stuff going on in D.C. I believe a natural defense system would help with this problem. A defense for our country and extra help for the UN. Little taxes are paid by huge coorporations. Which is hudla hudla. Stupid. Our nation could be making money off rich coorporations but nope we go aftert the middle class and loose money. Great idea. I swear our politicians are getting dumber and dumber every year. People who don't pay taxes but have kids collect a nice size check from the Irs. i had no clue the IRS was a refund center. Wow! I also believe politicians should be required to disclose any deals to the public eye. But does this or ca this really happen? I don't think so, due to the fact that the American people being able to have access to this would create huge pandemonium. This could lead to revolt against our country. But it may be a good thing in the long run.






 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMu0ZLLHvHI

cartoons

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/directory/h/homeless.asp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMu0ZLLHvHI

week twelve

This weeks question mind boggled me. It is a tough one to understand and answer. With that I will do my best. I believe the question is how the government helps families in a sense, but I also believe our government is helping the worng people and leaving the true needing families left short of even being fed. "equity" is hard to level with everyone. Things like taxes, loans (personal and student), and minimum wages all play a role in "equity." These topics plus more are the issues not allowing the less fortunate to get by. I have a feeling in the upcoming years, if this is continued, protests will be growing to fight for what is right and for what is right the government should do. Or at least you would think! I believe the government knows this is an issue and is not yet knowing what to do with it. I know for a fact the the state of Minnesota deports their homeless in an attempt to keept their streets cleaner. They send them to denver. I worked at jesus saves and talked to many homeless people, when i was nursing and administering free flu vaccines to them. A majority told me the exact same thing, That they were put on a greyhound and sent to Denver. How can we do this to people who are struggling. Is it cause society in that area can't put in a helping hand and build a homeless shelter big enough to fulfill the homeless in their area. It's pretty un American.

When it comes to devlopment in the issue of foreigh policy

When it comes to devlopment in the issue of foreigh policy, My belief is to stay out of other Nations problems and allow them the respect to figure out what to do on their own terms. Mind our buisness and live our own lifes. Countries have their own beliefs on resolving issues.
I think we don't shape our foreign policy in regards to domestic policy. And only offer services to other nations if asked. I believe that Nations have to figure out what needs to be fixed within their own society and government, even if other countries are there to monitor the situation, to be able to fix what needs to be fixed for their land and citizens. I think the problems arisig throughout the world is that America jumps in too much into other countries problems, while America can't even fix itself for it;s own citizens.




www.outsidethebeltway.com/foreign-policy-and-elections/ 

week nine

What role do judges and the judicial system play in supporting freedom?

THe judicial system is supported by judges, not the president. The president appoints the supreme courts judges. The other branches of the government have no say in the judicial system.

It is the courts and judges that decide if a new law is constitutional or not. If the law is vetoed, the court goes in and re-written. It is not the job of the government to do this. but instead that of the courts. It's nice to think this because it allows our court system as a society to do what it was designed to do with no setbacks from other systems or the parties.

THe nice thing is that in the lower levels of the judicial system, if someone fells they are being treated or charged unfairly. They may select to go to a higher authority. This is where more judges are on the board. It is up to our legal system to vote on new laws to be out in place, or laws that need to be re-submitted. This causes boo-koo problems sometimes.

How does the U.S. Congress, as it exists in its current structure, support and/or limit authentic representation?

The United States congress is the most powerful law-making organizations in the world, due to the voting processes but also, the money backing them as representatives of congress. They have the abundance of getting elected by the people and for the people. But they also have boo koo bucks rolling in from their partners/ sponsors. 

First off they must have the money to back them while running or while in congress. This is why congressmen or women hold positions forever. THey have the backing of public media displays such as t.v. networks and radio stations. This is what makes congressmen or women have so much power for one. THe other reason congress is not what the founding fathers were hoping it to be is due to the cutting of lines for the districts during voting processes. AKA gerrymandering. It has ruined the popular vote by cutting the district lines and cutting votes out of the equation. This is beneficial to their success of obtaining their seat in the senate or house. It's dumbfounding that this is allowed to happen, I can't believe that it seems that that the votes people fill out to "Voice their opinion and what they want" gets thrown to the dumps. THis needs to change. It's not what this Nation was founded on.




http://krissy-americannationalgovernment.blogspot.com

week 7

Due to the voting process that comes with being an American we, as citizens, vote for congress, the house, and the state representatives. But when it comes down to it. Our votes for the president. Are controlled not by popular votes, which it should be but by the electoral college votes. They make the deciding factor of whom takes the noble office at the end. With foreign affairs, yes the president does have influential powers over some, not all. Our courts and congress have a lot to do with what reaches the president as a final result. The president has to watch that he doesn't step over the boundary of his powers and take away from a democracy and turn it into a dictatorship. Which is not in the best interest of the presidents people. THis could lead to rioting and protesting, which we have seen coming from Egypt. It is essential for the president to recognize the views and what his nations people want and not declare that just because he is the president it's his way or the high way.


http://ashlynfagen.wordpress.com

How How do individuals and groups of people influence the political process?

Individuals as well as, groups both have the ability to influence political processes. Individuals in the way of voting. We as Americans have the right to vote. And vote for the beliefs and views that we as individuals believe in. Every year people in different states vote for new laws to take place. And every 4 years Americans come together from all over the Nation to voice their opinion on who should hold the highest political standing for our country. It's the vote of our Nations president. We get the opportunity to choose as a whole group on who takes this noble platform for the United States. But is it true? Even with the electoral college deciding the winner, it is chosen by the people and for the people. Same thing happens with every state minus the electoral college standpoint. As groups, especially corporations that hold power when it comes to money. They seem to have an edge when it comes to political stands. Money controls everything. The government is not going to listen to a man walking down the street on wanting his voice to be heard, compared to a man with money and power that always seems to get their voice heard from our government. This is where petitioning groups and activists groups/ protesters come into play. People gather in large amounts to voice their views and discouragements to the government in ways of protest. Sometimes reaching the government, as it did in Egypt over the last couple of weeks. But some don't even get recognized. But when big corporations want something done, it seems to get done fast. The influencial standpoint seems to be if they have money, we will listen, but that's what's driving Americans not to be supportive of what America as a whole is doing.



How can people change this habbit that America has Become? To really allow our voices to be heard!


youthvoices.net/node/52020

In what ways does public opinion influence the formation of a democratic society?

Public opinion carries a very vital role in what differentiates us as Americans from other countries. It's what allows us as individuals as well as groups to voice our thoughts and opinions as well as voice our frustration with a certain subject. Other countries won't even allow public voice of opinion without repercussion or violence being used towards the individual or group. It's honestly what allowed women's rights to happen as well as the political movements of discrimination, that created every man and women equal in our society. The issue in Egypt was a public display that involved a group of protesters that were seen around the world,protesting about their government to get their president to resign. Guess what? It worked. It took a while, but the power of peoples views and activists protesting with their voice without a worry in the world has a very strong effect on subjects. Especially with government. Also public opinions helps with the views of a society as a whole with the issue of voting. It allows people to display who they feel is the best candidate for the position in a particular office. Voting allows us as a society to make the final decision. Even with certain laws that are up in the air to put in a place. It allows people to have a say in what needs to happen to make certain things better for our country or city we live in.

link for government and private sector with video and article

http://mediamatters.org/research/200903040026

How do government and the private sector intersect?

The Government and private sector intersect by teaming up to make as much money as possible for each other even when it is not in the best interest of the country. But hey it still happens. Money rules everything, always has and always will. Not the best quality of our so called free country. It's just like with the begining of the railroad system. The government and railroad company were taking land away from original owners for pennies on the dollar and basically stealling peoples land. They built the railroad and made a ton of gross profit off the transit line. It's the same way today the government teams up with big companies, they decide what they are going to sell a product for at the best profit margin they can potentially get from the small buisnesses who are the real reason this country has not gone into a depression, just to say. And they manage to make a butt load of cash doing it. Yet I am still seeing millions of dollars being borrowed from China to allow America to keep thriving. Is it the elections, where money is being thrown away or is it the mere thought that Americas dream is being taken away from the American people for a dollar at a time. These coorporations are allowing this to happen. As well as, the government. They team up, allow the american people spend way too much on their product, which puts us in the whole and they sit back laughing and enjowing their life. Well thank you all for that hope it's fun. Cause their one big reason that led us into a reccession!

Politics and Power

Power in Politics holds alot of obstacles for us Americans to be assured we are getting what's best for us as a Nation. But do we Really? Pwer with the economy and politics has their advantages for the coorporate america as well as the people who work for the government. THeir money and what they do for the economy can lead their way to the house or xsenate in their decision making. THey produce jobs. Allow small buisnesses cheaper prices at wholesale cost, yet coorporations are moving out of America and citizens are loosing their jonbs all so they can make more money. It allows our politicians to be influenced in negative ways. They begin to act not in the interest of whats best for America, but instead what's going to blow up their bank accounts. This is terrible. America was established on beliefs of what was right and dreams for people in the future. THis leads into the issue that the "Powerhouses" of Politicians can and are allowed to engage in influencing the common middle class American. Come election time. Promises are made, yet myself personally have seen nothing. Nothing by the House or by the Senate. Because when you get two egotistical groups bumping heads on whos' ideas are better, when in fact neither parties are for the Nation it causes an uproar and nothing gets done due to debate. THings need to change with the so called power houses of the U.S.A. and need to change fast. I wish i truly lived in a world that our nation was founded on. Not a ppower trip.

Democracies Opprtunities and Challenges

As Americans, Living In the "Richest, and most powerful country in the world,"(Katznelson, Kesselman and Draper , 2006) WE have the best opportunities in the world as a society as a whole. WE have freedom of speech, which allows us to say what is on our mind without reproductions. It allows us as people to be ourselves and state what we believe in. We have the right to vote, TO express who we want as a society to run this great land. We are allowed education for our entire family, not just one person out of the family, while all the rest are stuck working somewhere day in and day out for a penny a day. We don't put restrictions on our women to cover up and they are allowed to pick what man they will be with. THis allows a stronger Nation as our women can pursue their dreams and careers, which helps with economic struggles. 
The struggles we face as a nation i believe is that we have parties spending way too much money on campaigns, just to brag about what they are better at compared to the other party. They also spend ridiculous amounts on just bashing their opponents on their flaws in life. Sorry but no one is perfect. I feel we have promises in elections we never see come true. I feel we have false hopes and aspirtations on how to fix our society. "Last election it was reported, that between both parties, 4 billion dollars was put towards the entire election for campaigning alone." ( www.cnn.com) IT seems odd we allow our parties to spend so much on an ordeal full of lies. Can't we spend that money on something different, something with more need for the money. Aka building up our economy again. Helping people keep their homes, building new jobs for people to make careers out of.


Can't we just figure out what needs to be done for the greater good of our nation, trather than focusing on which party will represent our country with the highest power by false advertising their promises?


References
www.cnn.com
(Katznelson, Kesselman and Draper , 2006)