First Amendment

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom if speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 

     The first amendment states our indivual rights. We are allowed to have our own religion and practice it freely, speak and write freely, assemble peacefully (not causing harm to anyone), and to petition grievances. The religion aspect enforces separation of church and state. This prevents the government from interfering in religious practices, which is a key idea of individualistic values a democracy is based off of. The ablility to speak and write freely allows the people to express grievances without being supressed under the government. Some extreme cases are limited, but for the most part we are free to say and write what we want. The grievances aspect allows people to ask the government to address litigation wrongdoings. It also allows people to ask the government to change laws and pass new ones. 

     Each of these rights keeps democratic and individualistic values present and true. Without these basic rights, our government would have too much power, which would lead to tensions between the people and the government. Although the other amendments provide even more individual rights, the first amendment declares the people free from oppression of the government.  

Health Care

United Kingdom
~ GDP for health care - 8.3%
~ No family premiums
~ Socialized Medicine
~ General practitioners are paid based on the patients they see
~ Less choice and longer waits to get medical attention

Japan
~ GDP for health care - 8%
~ $280 per month for family premiums, employers pay more than half.
~ Co- Payments are capped depending on income, but also include 30% of the cost of the procedure
~ "social insurance" everyone must have health insurance, either through public, nonprofit, or community based programs.
~ prices are negotiated each year and with the diet of the Japanese, costs are low
~ More choice, Japan spends too little because the costs are so low

Germany
~ GDP for health care - 10.7%
~ Premium - $750/ month, based on income.
~ Co- Payments- $15 dollars/ month, pregnant and others exempt
~ "social insurance"
~ Can buy insurance from any private, nonprofit "sickness funds"
~ Benefits the rich, they get priority. Doctors don't get paid enough


Taiwan
~ GDP 6.3%
~ $650/ year for 4-person family
~ 20% drug cost up to $6.50, $7 outpatient care, $1.80 dental and traditional Chinese medicine.
~ "National Health Insurance"
~ One insurance company, premiums are split with employers, depending on poverty.
~ Smart cards to store history and bill insurer.
~ lowest administration costs.
~ doesn't approve increases in insurance premiums enough, not taking in enough money.

Switzerland
~ GDP for health care - 11.6%
~ $750 family premium, subsidies for low-income citizens
~ co-payments: 10% of services up to $420/ year.
~ "social insurance"
~ must have coverage, insurance companies don't make profit on basic care.

I think Japan's model is the best out of the five listed. Based on the graph of GDP, Infant Mortality, and others, Japans infant mortality is the lowest, and the GDP is also the lowest. Although diet has a large part to play in the health of Japan's citizens, the health care plan is something that could benefit the US. With negotiations occurring each year over prices, and more choice in insurance because it is privatized, people are treated quickly. Premiums are fairly low, but 30% of an operation is high. With help from the government and caps for poverish people, it makes payments easier than those without insurance in the US.

essay 19

     In the 1990s, presidential election campaigns have become more candidate centered and less focused on issues and party labels. The change has been attributed both to how the media cover presidential campaigns and to how candidates use the media. 

     The media has contributed to candidate-centered presidential campaigns through coverage of the background of the candidates and talk shows and televised debates. The background of candidates can sometimes be biased which could lead to voters changing their minds about the candidates because of where they came from or who they associated themselves with. Televised debates allow the people to see how the candidates present themselves. Allowing them to see this can lead to more of a focus on the person characteristics more so than their ideals, which leads go a more candidate-centered campaign. 

     Presidential candidates' use of the media has contributed to candidate-centered campaigns through negative commercials targeting their opponent and image building. These examples provide the people with ample information about the candidates, but when they are on talk shows, their personalities show more than their ideals and opinions. They shift the focus from the race to the person, from merit to characteristics. Negative commercials have become a huge part of elections. The constant slander tends to confuse voters who end up not voting because they don't know what to believe. Both of these lead to a candidate-centered campaign. 

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/sg_gov_pol_us_99.up_7047.pdf

1999_1)In the 1990’s presidential election campaigns have become more candidate centered and less focused on issues and party labels. The change has been attributed both to how the media cover presidential campaigns and to how candidates use the media. 

Identify and explain two ways in which the media have contributed to candidate-centered presidential campaigns.

 Identify and explain two ways in which presidential candidates’ use of the media has contributed to candidate-centered campaigns.

essay 20

     National interest groups often target national-level policy making institutions to achieve their policy objectives, such as the AARP. The AARP targets the bureacracy and a specific agency. It focuses on Social Security administration , Medicare portion of HHS, FDA, and specific health remedy. 

     The AARP has a large support group of people, which translates into manpower and money. This influences the bureacracy through litigation. The people who support AARP litigate for change in Medicare that positively effect the group. 

     With money, AARP can gain more support by the use of media. Through television, radio, and talk shows, the AARP can gain more support and increase interest and donations which leads to a greater power for the group and more of a prescense in the decisions of the government. 

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/sg_gov_pol_us_99.up_7047.pdf

(1999_2)National interest groups often target national-level policymaking institutions to achieve their policy objectives.

Select one of the following national interest groups.
- AARP
- AMA (Medical Association
- NAACP
- NAM (national assoc. of Manufacturers)

For the group you selected do each of the following.
- a identify one major national-level policymaking institution that this group targets.
- b describe one resource or characteristic of the group you have chosen and explain how it influences the choice of the target you have identified in (a)
- c describe another resource or characteristic of the group you have chosen and explain how it influences the choice of the target you have identified in (a).

The Federal Bureaucracy (Essay 18)

     The federal bureaucracy as part of the executive branch exercises substantial independence in implementing governmental policies and programs. Most workers in the federal bureaucracy are civil-service employees who are organized under a merit system.
     The merit system is the action of electing government officials based off of merit and ability to perform the job well, unlike the spoils system which is based primarily off of connections within the government. The structure of the federal bureaucracy is very disjoint. With the president at the top of the pyramid-like structure, because of separation of powers, each part of the bureaucracy has separate powers, which contributes to bureaucratic independence.
     The complexity of public policy problems deals with a large portion of different problems. Since these problems vary from lawsuits to natural issues, they are handled by many different people with expertise in all areas. This complexity also contributes to bureaucratic independence.
     Congress uses its power of appointment to check the bureaucracy. They can either reward or punish the bureaucracy through appointments or lack thereof, which is a way to curb its power. The courts use judicial review, to declare something constitutional or unconstitutional, which also checks the bureaucracy. Interest groups employ litigation to threaten and check the bureaucracy also.

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_us_govt_politics_q2.pdf

Earth Day Annotated Bibliography

     "A Fierce Green Fire" by American Masters explores the expansion of conservation, pollution and cleanup of Love Canal, a whale-saving group called Greenpeace, global resources, and climate change. Created for Earth Day, this film broadens the horizons of those who watch it and reveals shocking truths about the reality of our future Earth.
     In the 1960s the conservation movement grew with the help of the Sierra Club. Head of the Sierra Club, David Brower, fought hard to protect dams in national parks. He made the argument that dams could be built anywhere, but they should protect the national parks the same way that they are protected from hunting because the river contains fish and is a necessity for many of the plants and animals in the park. After two years, the Grand Canyon was eventually saved and no dam was built in the park.
     Love Canal was nearby a residential area with many houses containing families with small children and growing families as well. In the 1970s, Lois Gibbs, a resident near the canal, realized that the canal contained chemicals that were affecting the children, gardens, and animals in the residencies. She started a petition for relocation of the area because it was causing deaths and disabilities. Unfortunately, it was denied many times. Gibbs remained persistent and eventually help two government officials captive in one of the houses and demanded relocation be set before their release. Two days later she received a phone call from the president granting temporary relocation to everyone in the area because of the toxic waste nearby.
     In 1972, Greenpeace, an anti-whaling group, was founded by Paul Watson and Rex Weyler. They were targeting international whaling ships in the Atlantic and seal killing expeditions in the Arctic. Their beliefs were nonviolent, peaceful tactics. Unfortunately, after Paul Watson attached himself to a seal and was dragged aboard one of the ships he used violent tactics in order to protect himself, he was kicked out of Greenpeace. Soon after, Watson started his own group which has been successful in stopping illegal animal practices.

A Fierce Green Fire. Dir. Mark Kitchell. 22 Apr. 2014. PBS. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/a-fierce-green-fire/watch-the-film/2924/>.


     A questionable issue has risen in the past decade over antibiotic supplements being given to livestock in order to keep the animals healthier in unjust environments. The real reason for the treatment is to fatten livestock up, by three percent some researchers say.
     This is an issue for humans as well because the more we eat the antibiotic treated animals, our bodies slowly become immune to the antibiotics used. The issue continues into immunity to dangerous diseases that now are no longer treatable because the drugs previously used no longer work as effectively.
     The artificial fattening of livestock proves to decrease the immune systems of these animals and lead to many different diseases. It also causes discomfort in the animals because the extra weight causes strain on different muscles in the bodies.

"Is Your Meat Safe?." PBS. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 May 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/meat/safe/overview.html>.
    
    
 












Part 1:  Bibliographic annotation for.
American Masters, A fierce Green fire.  Use the internet, and cite the source.  Summarize. In a paragraph format.  MLA format, but you don't have to reverse indent if you don't like.

Part 2:  2 more sources about some aspect of the Environmental movement that 'speaks to you.'  This could be managing fisheries for recreation, saving the whales, etc., clean air, clean water, solar power, nuclear power, clean coal.  I don't really care, but don't be contrarian for contrarians sake.  Look for something good about the Planet,  and dig in.

Cite the sources, summarize, in MLA format.

Write a statement of purpose about what you would like to see done about the issue you have researched, and WHY.

Partisanship and the Presidential Elections (essay 17)

     Over the last several decades, the composition of the democratic and republican parties has changed in important ways. A major partisan shift has occurred in the south, but other demographic changes have also been identified. Changes in party composition are reflected at different rates in presidential elections than in congressional elections. 

     Since 1950, as the percent of southern state seats in the House held by Democrats have decreased, so has the percent of southern state electoral votes for Democratic presidential candidates. Originally at 98% in 1950, the seats have decreased to less than 40% in 2005. 

     Southern voters from 1948 to 2000 were electing democratic candidates to congress more frequently than choosing Democratic candidates for the presidency because of incumbency advantage and gerrymandering. Incumbency advantage allowed the seats in the house already help by democrats to stay democratic because incumbents usually win reelection. Gerrymander, and employing cracking and packing strategies, is one reason why southern voters were electing candidates to congress more frequently than choosing Democratic candidates for presidency. This is because focusing more on the representation of the states by redistricting, there was less focus on national representation.

     In the beginning stages of labor unions, the focus was mainly over workers rights and hours limitations. The composition of the group has changed dramatically, with new pushes to increase state wages and receive better benefits. This has changed the ways political parties attempt to get support by promising for these benefits. The composition of women groups has also changed since their beginnings. They have now become most closely aligned with the Democratic party. In return, the Democratic party has began focusing more on women's issues and rights, such as equal pay. 
    

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_us_govt_politics_q3.pdf