In this first article, I am going to have to side with President Obama on this one because I feel that the United States needs a crucial economic victory and get this country back on its feet. As the package states, I think that it is great that it has a 2 year extension on the bush era of tax cuts and that finally the people of the United States, not just some people in our country, can be grateful for a blessing and use it to better their lives.
I can say right now that this 1.27 trillion dollar bill is just going to put our country in even more debt and I don't believe that the government can't do anything about a totall shut down if the bill doesn't get passed. Maybe I know too little about the subject, but I sure as heck know that the more we are in debt, the worse we are going to be down the road.
This is a very immature thing that both party's are doing I think. Christmas is a time of celebration and giving and I think that they should pause the sessions in the senate until it is done. It will do no harm. Why can't each party just drop it and move on after Christmas? I mean if its that big of a deal, then sure, go ahead and continue and let us all enjoy our Christmas but don't let it be our problem too.
I would have to agree with Senator Thune on this one because this bill will only increase taxes in the next few weeks if they don't wait for a perfect agreement. I also agree that Senator Thune would be a stronger contender.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
I must say, I did not have the slightest clue on how a bill became a law, but I did some research and found out that it really isn't that complicated of a process. First, the bill originates in either the House or the Senate. From there, it is put on a commitee and is organized the way that they want it. There is a debate on the bill and then they vote. Whether it passes or not depends on where it goes next. It can either go back to the committee to do some more work on it if it doesn't pass, or it can pass and be sent over to the other legislative branch. If it passes there, it is sent to the Governor. The Governor can either approve it or veto it. If it is vetoed, however, it can still pass with a 2/3 vote.
I did not really know anything on this subject but I learned from the websites that this process isn't really all that complicated. I learned that if the Governor doesn't like the bill and vetoes it, it can still pass with a 2/3 vote from the legislative branch that it came with.
I did not really know anything on this subject but I learned from the websites that this process isn't really all that complicated. I learned that if the Governor doesn't like the bill and vetoes it, it can still pass with a 2/3 vote from the legislative branch that it came with.
Monday, December 13, 2010
1. Explain the difference between hard and soft money:
Hard money is money raised and spent to elect canidates for Congress and the White House while soft money is funds given to party organizations for the good of that party.
2. What is the electoral process and is this something that you agree or disagree with and why?
2. What is the electoral process and is this something that you agree or disagree with and why?
Democracy: voting to elect a person to an office of the government.
3. What is the difference between a closed and open primary?
3. What is the difference between a closed and open primary?
A closed primary deals with a party's nominating election in which only declared party members can vote while an open primary is a party's nominating election in which any qualified voter can cast a ballot.
4. Explain what absentee voting is and what the positives and negative may be with regards to it:
4. Explain what absentee voting is and what the positives and negative may be with regards to it:
Absentee voting is simply voting before the actual election due to the fact that they, for any reason, couldn't get to the voting booth on election day. I think the positive side is that more people will vote but then again maybe not as many people will vote because they think they have time to vote whenever but then its too late.
5. What changes to your see in the way we run elections ten years from now?
5. What changes to your see in the way we run elections ten years from now?
I think that we will run our elections the same way as we do now. There are decreasing numbers in voters each year but I think its just the fact that people are becoming too lazy. People will start to vote and care who our leader is eventually.
6. Explain your views on money and elections with regards the amount of money that is spent:
6. Explain your views on money and elections with regards the amount of money that is spent:
I think that its just plain stupid how much money is put into elections and that the party's go way overboard. There doesn't need to be that much money spent. They think that the more money is spent, the more votes they will get and I don't think that's the case. Both party's can spend less and still get enough votes to win elections.
7. Go to cnn.com or foxnews.com and find an article dealing with the election process. Post the article in your blog and provide your viewpoints pertaining to the article.
7. Go to cnn.com or foxnews.com and find an article dealing with the election process. Post the article in your blog and provide your viewpoints pertaining to the article.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
1. Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 1:
The growth of the Americal electorate is an important issue. It has 5 distinct stages: The first stage talkg about the struggle to extend voting rights. Back then, there were religious qualifications and not all white males could vote within the states due to restrictions. Stage 2 is about broadening the electorate. The civil war is what ratified the 15th amendment, therefore giving all citizens of any race or color the right to vote. African American's were the only people systematically prevented from voting. The third stage talks about the 19th amendment. This amendment prohibited the denial of the right to vote because of sex. Stage 4 gave the right for African Americans to vote. Stage 5 is about the 26th amendment which provided that no state can set the minimum age for voting at more than 18.
2. Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 2:
I think that its unusual that North Dakota is the only state in the U.S. that does not require that most or all voters be registered to vote. To me, it would be easier to register because the states can identify the voters by what party they are in and just simply that it would be much more organized. Purging would also come into play as people who are no longer eligible to vote would be taken off of a list. It happens every two or four years. Sometimes, though, they are ignored and the poll books soon become clogged with names of people who are no longer eligible to vote.
3. Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 3:
The most important issue of this section is the 15th amendment. This gave the right to African Americans to take a part in voting. This is a key issue because African Americans did and still do take up a pretty large portion of our country's population and giving them the right to vote would dramatically turn some elections around and make things a bit more interesting. The denial of the right of African American voting was especially bad in the south where they would be beated and some denied of family credit at local stores.
4. Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 4:
The thing that pops out at me from this section is the part on voters and voting behavior. I knew that many people didn't vote just because they were too lazy or couldn't get to a booth or whatever, but tens of millions of potential voters do not vote each year; tens of millions. Most of what is known about voter behavior comes from three sources: The results of particular elections, the field of survey research, and the studies of political socialization.
5. Explain voter apathy and what can be done to help it:
More and more American's each year are refusing to get to the poll booths. People who used to vote are no longer voting and it is mostly the people who have never voted before and have been eligible to vote for years or the people that don't have much money and therefore don't have much education. The United States is the worst in all of the democracy's in the world in voting participation. I think that we need to focus on our schools and getting American's educated and teach them why it is important to be apart of voting and deciding our leaders.
6. Explain the qualifications for registering to vote:
Today, there are three qualifications for voting: citizenship, residence, and age. First, you must be a citizen in order to vote. Aliens that are born in foreign countries and have not yet become a U.S. citizen are not qualified to vote but if the state had decided that they could, that law could be passed because it does not say in the constitution that aliens cannot vote. Second, you much be a legal resident of the State. In most States people have to live in the State for a certain amount of time before they can vote. Lastly, you must simply be over 18 years of age to vote.
The growth of the Americal electorate is an important issue. It has 5 distinct stages: The first stage talkg about the struggle to extend voting rights. Back then, there were religious qualifications and not all white males could vote within the states due to restrictions. Stage 2 is about broadening the electorate. The civil war is what ratified the 15th amendment, therefore giving all citizens of any race or color the right to vote. African American's were the only people systematically prevented from voting. The third stage talks about the 19th amendment. This amendment prohibited the denial of the right to vote because of sex. Stage 4 gave the right for African Americans to vote. Stage 5 is about the 26th amendment which provided that no state can set the minimum age for voting at more than 18.
2. Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 2:
I think that its unusual that North Dakota is the only state in the U.S. that does not require that most or all voters be registered to vote. To me, it would be easier to register because the states can identify the voters by what party they are in and just simply that it would be much more organized. Purging would also come into play as people who are no longer eligible to vote would be taken off of a list. It happens every two or four years. Sometimes, though, they are ignored and the poll books soon become clogged with names of people who are no longer eligible to vote.
3. Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 3:
The most important issue of this section is the 15th amendment. This gave the right to African Americans to take a part in voting. This is a key issue because African Americans did and still do take up a pretty large portion of our country's population and giving them the right to vote would dramatically turn some elections around and make things a bit more interesting. The denial of the right of African American voting was especially bad in the south where they would be beated and some denied of family credit at local stores.
4. Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 4:
The thing that pops out at me from this section is the part on voters and voting behavior. I knew that many people didn't vote just because they were too lazy or couldn't get to a booth or whatever, but tens of millions of potential voters do not vote each year; tens of millions. Most of what is known about voter behavior comes from three sources: The results of particular elections, the field of survey research, and the studies of political socialization.
5. Explain voter apathy and what can be done to help it:
More and more American's each year are refusing to get to the poll booths. People who used to vote are no longer voting and it is mostly the people who have never voted before and have been eligible to vote for years or the people that don't have much money and therefore don't have much education. The United States is the worst in all of the democracy's in the world in voting participation. I think that we need to focus on our schools and getting American's educated and teach them why it is important to be apart of voting and deciding our leaders.
6. Explain the qualifications for registering to vote:
Today, there are three qualifications for voting: citizenship, residence, and age. First, you must be a citizen in order to vote. Aliens that are born in foreign countries and have not yet become a U.S. citizen are not qualified to vote but if the state had decided that they could, that law could be passed because it does not say in the constitution that aliens cannot vote. Second, you much be a legal resident of the State. In most States people have to live in the State for a certain amount of time before they can vote. Lastly, you must simply be over 18 years of age to vote.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
As far as the Obama administration goes, they took a hard hit. Republicans now have the majority of the house and Democrats have the minority. This will cause a struggle for bills to be passed as the senate is more closely divided.
In local news, Republicans completely pooned the Democrats in all of the elections. Smoking is now banned in local bars and resturants. Noem beat Herseth to take the lone house seat as well as Dugaard defeated Heidepriem in the Governor race. Noem has had help from certain counties to push her to victory. Certain areas of South Dakota voted primarily for Noem and Herseth.
In local news, Republicans completely pooned the Democrats in all of the elections. Smoking is now banned in local bars and resturants. Noem beat Herseth to take the lone house seat as well as Dugaard defeated Heidepriem in the Governor race. Noem has had help from certain counties to push her to victory. Certain areas of South Dakota voted primarily for Noem and Herseth.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
In your blog: Pick two areas from each of the three sections in Chapter 4. Write a paragraph on those areas and what you have learned in regards to each area. You should have six total paragraphs.
Section 1:
The Natioal Government is limited to only the powers delegated by it in the constitution. That means that certain parts of the government itself have limited powers. For example: congress is givern 27 powers by the constitution. No more, no less. I also did now know that several powers are found in various amendments to the Constitution.
There are two types of powers delegated to the National Government: Exclusive and Concurrent. The powers delegated most would be the exclusive powers. Only the National Government can exercise these powers. There are, however, powers that are delegated to both the National Government and also the State Government. These are called concurrent powers.
Section 2:
Congress is the only form of government that has the power to admit new States and States cannot be created by taking territory from one or more of the existing states without consent of the states involved. Five states were created from parts of existing ones.
Now, there are three types of grants-in-aid that Congress sppropriates money for: categorical grants, block grants, and project grants. Most of the grants have been categorical grants which are made for some specific, closely defined purpose. Grants that have come into wide use over the last several years has been the block grant.
Section 3:
Interstate compacts are agreements among themselves and with foreign states. The states had made 26 compacts by 1920 and since then, the number of compacts has been growing. There are only two of them that all 50 states have joined: the Compact for the Supervision of Parolees and Probationers and the the Compact on Juveniles.
No State can draw unreasonable distinctions between its own residents and those persons who happen to live in other states: This is what the Privileges and Immunities Clause is all about. No person can be denied privileges such as buying or selling property, use its courts, and make contracts.
Section 1:
The Natioal Government is limited to only the powers delegated by it in the constitution. That means that certain parts of the government itself have limited powers. For example: congress is givern 27 powers by the constitution. No more, no less. I also did now know that several powers are found in various amendments to the Constitution.
There are two types of powers delegated to the National Government: Exclusive and Concurrent. The powers delegated most would be the exclusive powers. Only the National Government can exercise these powers. There are, however, powers that are delegated to both the National Government and also the State Government. These are called concurrent powers.
Section 2:
Congress is the only form of government that has the power to admit new States and States cannot be created by taking territory from one or more of the existing states without consent of the states involved. Five states were created from parts of existing ones.
Now, there are three types of grants-in-aid that Congress sppropriates money for: categorical grants, block grants, and project grants. Most of the grants have been categorical grants which are made for some specific, closely defined purpose. Grants that have come into wide use over the last several years has been the block grant.
Section 3:
Interstate compacts are agreements among themselves and with foreign states. The states had made 26 compacts by 1920 and since then, the number of compacts has been growing. There are only two of them that all 50 states have joined: the Compact for the Supervision of Parolees and Probationers and the the Compact on Juveniles.
No State can draw unreasonable distinctions between its own residents and those persons who happen to live in other states: This is what the Privileges and Immunities Clause is all about. No person can be denied privileges such as buying or selling property, use its courts, and make contracts.
Friday, October 15, 2010
My current event is called NATO Backs Taliban Talks: Sign of a shift in Afghan War? It is saying that the war could be shifting from warfare to plain settlement. The US and its allies have to open the door wider and think of more options. They are saying that the Afghanistan President wants to wind down rather than rachet up.
I don't know a lot about what's going on overseas, but to me this is good news. The war is still going on but the possibility that it is at its climax is becoming more and more believable. This, I think, will be good news to the rest of the US soldiers and its allies as we have faced enough destruction of troops.
I don't know a lot about what's going on overseas, but to me this is good news. The war is still going on but the possibility that it is at its climax is becoming more and more believable. This, I think, will be good news to the rest of the US soldiers and its allies as we have faced enough destruction of troops.
Friday, October 8, 2010
What are your views on the latest political ads on TV? What canidate(s) do you like or dislike and why?
I would like to say that I am going for McMahon because she is republican and that she does not lie in her ads. Nonetheless, I do not trust her quite yet and will have to view more ads on TV.
What role do you feel that you will play in governmnet and politics in the future? What ways are you participating currently?
In the future, i think that I will still be active in the military and completing my 20 years of service. Currently, I am in the South Dakota Army National Guard and gearing up for more training that will involve my MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). Within the next few years, I plan to get deployed and hopefully come back.
I would like to say that I am going for McMahon because she is republican and that she does not lie in her ads. Nonetheless, I do not trust her quite yet and will have to view more ads on TV.
What role do you feel that you will play in governmnet and politics in the future? What ways are you participating currently?
In the future, i think that I will still be active in the military and completing my 20 years of service. Currently, I am in the South Dakota Army National Guard and gearing up for more training that will involve my MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). Within the next few years, I plan to get deployed and hopefully come back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)