Facts/Details
1. Technology reveals our privacy
2. Jeffery Rossen wrote the Constitution 3.0
3. Constitution 3.0- a collection of essays of future technological developments that stress the Constitution
4. These essays show how the Constitution is out-dated
5. People do not need to give consent for the pictures being taken and posted on Google Maps
6. Google has also been under pressure from the government to remove terrorist videos from YouTube.
7. Ilmstead v. United States- court ruled that the 4th and 5th Amendment does not protect a defendant against having personal conversations wiretapped by federal agents.
8. The Patriot Act expanded the amount of surveillance the government could do without a warrant:
9. The Patriot Act was used towards border control
10. The amendments and the Constitution do not fully apply to the country's problem today.
Questions:
1. Should we change the Constitution to relate to the changes in the world?
2. What can we do to protect privacy?
3. Is any action being taken or passed to protect privacy?
4. Is the privacy of the government involved at all?
5. Is the Patriot Act a good thing?
Monday, December 19, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Electoral College Article
Facts/Details
1. Daniel Lazare argues that the elctoral college is an undemocratic institution
2. Richard A Posner see more difficulties in abolishing the electoral college
3. The electoral college greatly influences the character of the parties, the nominating process, and the outcome of the presidential election
4. The smallest number of electoral votes a state may have is 3
5. The authors of the Constitution did not anticipate political parties and they beleved that many candidates would receive votes in each election. If no candidate received an electoral majority, the president would be chosen by the House of Representatives
6. In defense of the electoral college, its supporters point out that a straight popular vote would encourage minor party candidates, making the election of a plurality president, possibly even one with a relatively small percentage vote
7. It is said that just as "we the people" were powerless to do anything about slavery prior to the Civil war, "we the people" are now powerless to do away with an arrangement as patiently unfair as the Electoral College
8. For the first time in postwar history, the GOP had made a clean sweep, gaining control not just of the executive and legislative branches, but of the judiciary too
9. The electoral college is destined to remain on the books for a long as anyone can forsee
10. Ten states as of the year 2000 account for 54 percent of the population while ten others account for under 3 percent. such a contest would render more like rather than less the sort of split decision in which one candidate wins the popular votes and the other wins the electoral
Questions
1. At one point did states use electoral college of electors?
2. Was the electoral college ever question before the election of 2000?
3. Why isn't anyone taking action? This seems like all talk.
4. Are the majority of the people even aware of this controversy?
5. Has any legal action ever been taken?
1. Daniel Lazare argues that the elctoral college is an undemocratic institution
2. Richard A Posner see more difficulties in abolishing the electoral college
3. The electoral college greatly influences the character of the parties, the nominating process, and the outcome of the presidential election
4. The smallest number of electoral votes a state may have is 3
5. The authors of the Constitution did not anticipate political parties and they beleved that many candidates would receive votes in each election. If no candidate received an electoral majority, the president would be chosen by the House of Representatives
6. In defense of the electoral college, its supporters point out that a straight popular vote would encourage minor party candidates, making the election of a plurality president, possibly even one with a relatively small percentage vote
7. It is said that just as "we the people" were powerless to do anything about slavery prior to the Civil war, "we the people" are now powerless to do away with an arrangement as patiently unfair as the Electoral College
8. For the first time in postwar history, the GOP had made a clean sweep, gaining control not just of the executive and legislative branches, but of the judiciary too
9. The electoral college is destined to remain on the books for a long as anyone can forsee
10. Ten states as of the year 2000 account for 54 percent of the population while ten others account for under 3 percent. such a contest would render more like rather than less the sort of split decision in which one candidate wins the popular votes and the other wins the electoral
Questions
1. At one point did states use electoral college of electors?
2. Was the electoral college ever question before the election of 2000?
3. Why isn't anyone taking action? This seems like all talk.
4. Are the majority of the people even aware of this controversy?
5. Has any legal action ever been taken?
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
National Debt Questions
1. What is the number one contributing factor to our debt?
2. At what rate is the debt increasing?
3. Which other countries are experiencing national debt the way the US is?
Nearly two-thirds is the public debt, which is owed to the people, businesses and foreign governments who bought Treasury bills, notes and bonds. I was not aware that this was one of the largest contributinng factor to the debt we have today. The debt continued to grow due to the government cutting taxes and increasing spending.
Even before the economic crisis, the U.S. debt grew 50% between 2000-2007, ballooning from $6-$9 trillion. After the economic crisis, I was unable to find a steady rate. Although the rate is not steady, I am aware that the debt continues to increase and appears to increase rather quickly.
While the United States total public debt is the largest in the world, a broader context shows that other countries face even more dire debt situations. One way to compare debt is by gross domestic product, or GDP. According to USN, "the debt-to-GDP ratio is one primary indicator of a country's economic health; a lower ratio is generally seen as more favorable, as it shows that a country is producing enough to eventually be able to repay its debts." By looking at the chart below the US has the most debt when compared, however Japan's ratio is very high which explains that they are not producing enough.
http://useconomy.about.com/od/fiscalpolicy/p/US_Debt.htm
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/01/28/the-10-countries-with-the-most-debt
2. At what rate is the debt increasing?
3. Which other countries are experiencing national debt the way the US is?
Nearly two-thirds is the public debt, which is owed to the people, businesses and foreign governments who bought Treasury bills, notes and bonds. I was not aware that this was one of the largest contributinng factor to the debt we have today. The debt continued to grow due to the government cutting taxes and increasing spending.
Even before the economic crisis, the U.S. debt grew 50% between 2000-2007, ballooning from $6-$9 trillion. After the economic crisis, I was unable to find a steady rate. Although the rate is not steady, I am aware that the debt continues to increase and appears to increase rather quickly.
While the United States total public debt is the largest in the world, a broader context shows that other countries face even more dire debt situations. One way to compare debt is by gross domestic product, or GDP. According to USN, "the debt-to-GDP ratio is one primary indicator of a country's economic health; a lower ratio is generally seen as more favorable, as it shows that a country is producing enough to eventually be able to repay its debts." By looking at the chart below the US has the most debt when compared, however Japan's ratio is very high which explains that they are not producing enough.
| Country | GDP (2010 est., USD) | Debt as Percent of GDP (2010 est.) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $14.6 trillion | 92.7 |
| China | $5.7 trillion | 19.1 |
| Japan | $5.4 trillion | 225.9 |
| Germany | $3.3 trillion | 75.3 |
| France | $2.6 trillion | 84.2 |
| United Kingdom | $2.3 trillion | 76.7 |
| Italy | $2.0 trillion | 118.4 |
| Brazil | $2.0 trillion | 66.8 |
| Canada | $1.6 trillion | 81.7 |
| Russia | $1.5 trillion | 11.1 |
http://useconomy.about.com/od/fiscalpolicy/p/US_Debt.htm
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/01/28/the-10-countries-with-the-most-debt
Pending Bills - Classmates
Abby Marco's Bills
1. S. 1458: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012:
2. H.R. 3359: Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act
3. H.R. 2359: Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011
constituent letter: S. 1005: Parental Notification and Intervention Act of 2011
1. S. 1458: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012:
2. H.R. 3359: Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act
3. H.R. 2359: Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011
constituent letter: S. 1005: Parental Notification and Intervention Act of 2011
Political Cartoon 5
1. Why is the snowball going towards that building?
2. What is it "not necessarily a bad thing?"
3. Will it continue to get bigger or ever 'melt'?
Friday, December 9, 2011
New York Times Budget Puzzle
1. How much did you save?
2015: 515 $billion
2030: $972 billion
2. What % came from tax increases? 50%
3. What % came from spending cuts? 50%
Reflection
1. What choices were easy? difficult?
The choices about the war were relatively easy for me due to the fact I strongly do not favor the war and defense. The difficult options were health care and taxes especially because I do not know much about them.
2. How much harder is this task when votes/compromises are required?
It is extremely hardwer having to go through Congress and many people because all people have different opinions and some opinions are stronger than others. Other many not be willing to compromise at all. Resulting from this is no action at all. No plan can be made without compromises.
2015: 515 $billion
2030: $972 billion
2. What % came from tax increases? 50%
3. What % came from spending cuts? 50%
Reflection
1. What choices were easy? difficult?
The choices about the war were relatively easy for me due to the fact I strongly do not favor the war and defense. The difficult options were health care and taxes especially because I do not know much about them.
2. How much harder is this task when votes/compromises are required?
It is extremely hardwer having to go through Congress and many people because all people have different opinions and some opinions are stronger than others. Other many not be willing to compromise at all. Resulting from this is no action at all. No plan can be made without compromises.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Electoral College Reform Article
Facts/Details
1. Electoral college is malapportioned because each state get two electoral vote, regardless of the ste's population, in addition to votes equal to the state's delegation in the House of Representatives
2. Malapportionment is transparent- compare a candidate's percentage of the electoral vote with him percentage of the popular vote (especially in which the popular vote winner loses in the Electoral College
3. In the 2000 election, there is no doubt that Gore really did win the popular vote (he had the entire nationwide vote)
4. The fact that the Electoral College is undemocratic is not decisive against it any more than the fact that the Senate is malapportioned or that federal judge are not eleced at all, need be thought a flaw in our system of government
5. Two purposes important to the framers were preserving the balance among the states that had been struck in the design of the Congress and without confiding the election of the President to the Congress, a method of achieving objective that would have weakened the Presidency unduly
6. By the Constitution the election of the President by the House of Represenetatives if no candidate recieved a moajority of the electoral votes
7. The two party system doomed any hope that the Electoral College would choose the best person to be Presidnet, since the choice would be limited to the candidates picked by the parties
8. The implicit theory was that the public at large is more competent to pick individuals who can pick a President well than to pick the President directly.
9. The practical concern is that electors are not bound to cast their votes for the candidate to whom they are pledged
10. We need a constitutional amendment rather than on abolition of the Electoral College
Questions
1. Why did the electoral college start?
2. Who supports the electoral college? Why?
3. If everyone is so against it, why not change it?
4. What can we do to better organize voting? Will the system ever change?
5. Shouldn't we change since the founding fathers did not know 2 parties would form?
6. Is it fair if the one with popular vote loses?
1. Electoral college is malapportioned because each state get two electoral vote, regardless of the ste's population, in addition to votes equal to the state's delegation in the House of Representatives
2. Malapportionment is transparent- compare a candidate's percentage of the electoral vote with him percentage of the popular vote (especially in which the popular vote winner loses in the Electoral College
3. In the 2000 election, there is no doubt that Gore really did win the popular vote (he had the entire nationwide vote)
4. The fact that the Electoral College is undemocratic is not decisive against it any more than the fact that the Senate is malapportioned or that federal judge are not eleced at all, need be thought a flaw in our system of government
5. Two purposes important to the framers were preserving the balance among the states that had been struck in the design of the Congress and without confiding the election of the President to the Congress, a method of achieving objective that would have weakened the Presidency unduly
6. By the Constitution the election of the President by the House of Represenetatives if no candidate recieved a moajority of the electoral votes
7. The two party system doomed any hope that the Electoral College would choose the best person to be Presidnet, since the choice would be limited to the candidates picked by the parties
8. The implicit theory was that the public at large is more competent to pick individuals who can pick a President well than to pick the President directly.
9. The practical concern is that electors are not bound to cast their votes for the candidate to whom they are pledged
10. We need a constitutional amendment rather than on abolition of the Electoral College
Questions
1. Why did the electoral college start?
2. Who supports the electoral college? Why?
3. If everyone is so against it, why not change it?
4. What can we do to better organize voting? Will the system ever change?
5. Shouldn't we change since the founding fathers did not know 2 parties would form?
6. Is it fair if the one with popular vote loses?
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