Blowback Reaction

Chalmers Johnson 's essay blowback was very interesting to me. I valued reading this essay because I had always been aware of the retaliation terrorist attacks, but had never been able to put a name to it. Blowback, a term created by the Central Intelligence Agency, is meant to describe the side effects of American Foreign Policy that was kept secret from the American populace. The article highlights a series of incidents including an incident at a Northern Italian sking resort, the 1988 bombing of a PanAm flight in retaliation to a 1986 US bombing, and the 1998 bombings of Osama bin Laden. The last case is particularly interesting as the book says, "Blowback itself can lead to more blowback, in a spiral of destructive behavior. While the US attempt to justify it's response, the result is usually an increase in fighting. In short, blowback describes a retaliation for X in terms of act Y.

A Reaction to Joseph Nye's "Soft Power"

Joseph Nye focuses his essay on the nature of power and how it had developed since John Quincy Adams. Critical to his essay is the division between "hard" and "soft" power. While the former is concerned more with military and economic might, the latter is centered around getting other nations to desire the same outcomes and solutions to problems that you want. Nye credits three sources of soft power: A country's culture, its political values, and its foreign policies. When examing culture, Nye brings up an interesting point with German Editor Josef Joffe who states, " U.S culture ,low-brow or high, radiates outward with a novel twist. Rome's and Soviet Russia's cultural sway stopped exactly at their military borders. America'ssoft power,though, rules over an empire on which the sun never sets."

617-627 reaction

When reading the first few pages I thought I was reading my US American History book from sophmore year. The pages went over how the government began monitoring big business in the form of antitrust policies or "trust busting" which broke up monopolies into smaller businessess that were forced to become more competitive. Examples of these policies include the Interstate Commerce act of1887, the sherman antitrust act, and the Federal Trade Act (1914), which set up the the FTC (watches for price discrimination and pooling agreements). The book then began to focus on what role the government played in shaping the economy, primarily through regulation as seen with the airline industry in the 1970s. The latter half of the reading was a more in depth detail of how the Federal Reserve System Works. Designed to integrate private banks together into one, the system is comprised of 12 reserve banks located in a commercial city.
From a personal standpoint I was a little shocked. While I knew that the government played a role in shaping the economy primarily through trust busting, I did not realize the full impact it could make. The Federal Reserve System I had never quite understood, but after the reading it makes it clear that the system acts as the brakes and gas to slow down or accelerate the economy respectively.

does voting matter?

YES! Voting is important in a variety of different ways. While voter turnout was high throughout much of the first half of the 20th century, there has a decline in the number of people voting since then. The trend started after 1968 election. The main reason for this was because after the Eisenhower and Kennedy years where hope for change in the future was at an all time high. However, after a series of assassinations and disasters abroad (think Vietnam/bay of pigs) people began to lose faith in their government.
One significant theory to explain voter turnout is the median voter theorem, which states that candidates try to gain sway of independent voters in a tight election. This theory is important because voters conclude that there isn’t a difference if they go to the polls or not. As George Wallace said, “There ain’t a dime’s worth of difference between the two candidates.”
Another reason why people don’t show up at the polling stations is because it is often costly. Whether it is the personal registration requirements or the inability to miss work, a broad range of factors influence the voter turnout.
The most profound reason voting is important is because it is a form of mass involvement. As the text states, “Elections help preserve the government’s stability by containing and channeling away potentially more disruptive or dangerous forms of mass political activity.” This quotation illustrates that without the ability to cast a vote in a democratic election, people might be persuaded to throw a coup or send the country into anarchy. In a similar respect, voting puts pressure on incumbent officials to do well as, “his or her actions may provoke popular disobedience.

Are Interest Groups good or bad for democracy?

While Interest groups are often cast in a negative light, in general, they are good for democracy as they have many postives that outweigh the negatives. Interest Groups are individuals who organize together under a common goal. One noteable characteristic is that they do not seek office, but simply seek influence as they press the issues that are important to them.

The most influential ability interest groups have is the ability to lobby congress. Lobbyist for interest groups are able to give important policy information to members of congress. This fact is crucial to understanding the niche they play in Washington. As congressmen (and their staffs) live busy lives voting for different legislation all the time, there is not the ability to know or research all important information. Interest Groups come in as they are able to fill this gap because lobbyist are highly specialized in the subject they are pressing for. By providing networks and building close personal relationships, lobbyists are able to exert their influence on legislation. The concept of lobbying as a whole is important because while congressmen may or may not vote for the interest of the lobbyist, he is making a decision that is much more well informed than had he not met with him. Lobbyist can also perform task such as testifying before congress, emailing campaigns, writing letters/articles, and often times serving as a personal attorney to many congressmen.

A second reason why interest groups are important to democracy is because they mobilize public opinion. Interest Groups can get people involved through a varirty of different ways such as the following: Advertising, Grass Roots Campaigns, Protests (think SCLC in the 60's), PACs, Campaign Activism, and Initiatives and Referendums.

Interest Groups are vital to democracy for a variety of reasons. In sum, they make the government more accountable for its actions as they monitor government programs.While their voice is often heard through the public as they often times have huge bases of supporters (ex.NRA) , they wield much of their power through lobbying. As Ted Kennedy once said government wouldn't be anything without them.

bush's power

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/weekinreview/05baker.html

Who is who of congress

house    

speaker:Nancy Pelosi

majority leader-Steny Hoyer

minority leader-John A. Boehner

majority whip-Jim Clyburn

minority whip-Roy Blunt

 

Senate

Majority Leader-Harry Reid

Minority Leader-Mitch McConnell

Majority Whip- Dick Durbin

Minority Whip-Jon Kyl

G-R-I-D-L-O-C-K-S

It is said that the US congress is the only true government that can govern. Unlike the systems seen in Japan and the British House of Commons, the US congress doesn't merely represent, but has the power to govern according to the constitution. As it has this unique power, congress is slow to move (when compared to the parliamentary systems). Often times debates will end up in what is called a gridlock. The primary source of this stalemate is a filibuster. For example, a bill can pass through the house easily, but when faced in the senate a simple 41 person minority can block the bill from passing on to the president. Such delaying tactics include cloture votes and measures such as reading out the entire bill (a long time when most bills are over five hundred pages). While gridlocks may seem the result of arcane rules, the have a valuable place in that they prevent decisions being made on a whim. Gridlocks can make legislators take a closer look at provisions in the bill that may or may not be suitable.

Courts or legislatures?i

While it can be said that the legislative branch has the greatest power of the government's three branches (i.e. legislative supremacy), I personally believe the judicial branch has the most power. I believe the reason is simple: judicial review. The process of judicial review allows the courts the power to look over (review) laws made by congress. If the court rules that a law violates the constitution, then the court essentially has the power to re-write the law. This "informal amendment" process is extremely significant because in a way the judicial branch can get the "last say". In terms of desegregation, the courts had the greatest impact on history. Since the ruling of Plessy vs Ferguson,  states were able to maintain segregated schools through the separate but equal principle. While Brown vs Board  was a benchmark case in that it declared separate but equal unconstitutional, it is more significant because it set a precedent for the changes that came in the following civil rights movements. I feel as if it isn't fair to criticize the court. Of course race relations would have worsened because the court is changing centuries worth of race relations. 

118-127

Selective incorporation can be described as a way of allowing portions of the bill of rights to be selected by through the states through the fourteenth amendment. This type of incorporation is clearly different from total incorporation,in which all of the rights listed in the first ten amendments are included...obviously. Prime examples of the differences in incorporation can be illustrated when looking at the following supreme court cases: Barron vs Baltimore , Gitlow vs New York , and Palko vs Connecticut. In Barron vs Baltimore, the supreme court ruled that the bill of rights applied only to federal situations and the states were able to hold their own constitutions without the provision of a bill of rights. However, a landmark case, Gitlow vs New York, reversed the barron case by using the due process clause. In a similar manner, the case Palko vs Connecticut used the due process law and 14th amendment to state that Connecticut was in violation of the law since he was accused of double jeopardy. 

Federalism, mandates, and devolution

An unfunded mandate is "a National standard or program imposed on state and local governments by the federal government without accompanying funding or reimbursement." Unfunded mandates became such a big problem in the early 90's that the Republican congress in 1994 created a new law called the unfunded mandates reform act (UMRA). Essentially, this law stopped all mandates that cost the state over 50 million dollars.Devolution on the other hand, is the practice of "delegating to the states more and more authority over a range of policies that had held up under national government authority, plus providing states with a significant potion of the cost." Therefore a a program is removed from a higher source of government to a lower portion. Personally, I feel as if devolution is more effective in reducing unfunded mandates. As the text illustrates, devolution allows individual states to try and see what works for them. So what might not be good for Tennessee might work out fine for California. So in this type of way devolution allows for more ability to change policies to see what system is right.

Blog #4: What involvement should US government (state and federal) have in a case like Terri Schiavo's.

The case of Terri Schiavo is a very interesting to look at because of the intricate legal process that followed after being her lifeline was removed. As a background,Terri Schiavo, a middle aged woman, was in a coma since the early 90's. In 1998, her husband made a decision to take off her feeding tube, an essential lifeline, so that she could die a "dignified death". A court order in March of 2005 finally ordered the tube to be removed after seven years of on and off court battles. It is at this moment where the parents of Terri appealed the decision fighting to keep their daughter alive. After this appeal, the case really takes off as it goes through a remarkable 26 court decisions in a matter of weeks. Personally, I feel as if the state should not have a decision in the matter. Yes it is nice to know that it is comforting that both federal and state governments are looking after the personal liberties of its citizens and protecting their rights, especially the 14th amendment concerning her due process rights in court. However, i feel as if the issue is more of a personal decision. And as a personal decision you have to "put yourself in the situation". Maybe it is just me, but what is the point of living if you aren't living a life. However, the point of the case is that it is able to test the balance of powers in the constitution. After losing in the courts (judicial branch), the parents appealed directly to governor Jeb Bush (Executive) only to be sent back to congress (Legislative) who was able to pass a new law. The case goes "full circle" and later ends up dying. I don't know about you but it sounds like a dignified death to me.

What are the similarities and differences between the Honor Code at MBA and the US Constitution?

As stated in the MBA handbook, the Honor Council at Montgomery Bell Academy was instituted in 1945 simply to " promote gentlemanly conduct". While this institution only has influence among faculty and students at MBA, there are many similarities that can be drawn to the US constitution. 

One of these similarities can be with the Supremacy clause in the constitution. This clause states that the national law has the power to override any state law. Similarly, the handbook states that the headmaster has the power to overrule any Honor Council decision. 

Another example illustrating the similarities between the Honor Council and constitution can be seen when electing officers for the Honor Council. The council is composed of twelve students elected by their classmates for a one year term. After each term a member may go up for re-election. Similarly, the constitution states that in the legislative branch a congress is to be comprised of a house of representatives and a senate. After winning an election,each of these bodies hold a two year and six year term respectively.

One key difference between the constitution and honor council is the process by which the system can be ratified. While the constitution has a means of being ratified through amendments, the honor code at MBA is set in stone, and has not undergone any serious changes. 

What is the pupose of government? Does politics support or impede that purpose?

According to American Government: Power and Purpose, Government can be defined as "the institutions and procedures through which a land and its people are ruled" (p.5). While the country we live in is a democratic republic, there are many other types including oligarchies,monarchies, authoritarian governments, etc. Even though there are many forms of government, one might wonder why we have government at all. The primary reason is simple a government is needed to maintain control As the British philosopher Thomas Hobbes points out, Governments are needed to prevent anarchy.By providing order over a people, governments are able to protect the liberties of its citizens. Also as the text illustrates, governments are necessary to provide public services. This can be exemplified by the roadways provided for transportation. 

What do I hope to learn in AP Government this year?

The main reason i chose this class was to simply learn the basics of how my government works. It seems like you can't go a day without turning on the television and hear of a brewing political debate or the 2008 presidential race for the white house. By taking this class, I hope to have some of these questions answered. I also see this class as a potential gateway toward opening a future in political science in college. I have always been attracted by the allure of senate and presidential races, and have made in effort in the past to keep current with issues not only around the nation, but  in middle Tennessee as well. In particular, it will be interesting to learn about how a political campaign is run,especially from a man who holds a public office.