Cleveland

     Recently in Cleveland, the Cleveland School Districts plan to close 7 schools. They have to do this because next schoool they face a $47.5 million deficit. Making these cuts will save the district a much needed $74 million in the following two years.
      There will be a total of about 1,000 people losing their jobs. With the 7 schools closing, there will be 835 school employees being layed off and 135 employees that were set to retire will not be replaced. 650 of the 835 employees being layed off are teachers.
     I feel that Cleveland School Districts should not make this many cuts, too many people will be without jobs. They should close some of the schools because they need money, but not that many. This many cuts will make it so that about 1,000 people won't have jobs, so they won't be able to make money for themselves and family.
     This relates to class it has to do with jobs and the economy.
 Links:

1. http://www.layoffwatch.com/2011/03/835-employees-would-be-cut-in-cleveland-school-district-proposal/
2. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/03/clevelands_plan_for_closed_sch.html

Cleveland school

Japan

     Recently in Japan there was a an earthquake, a tsunami, and nuclear problems. The U.S. has been helping them financially.
     It all started with an earthquake. It came in as a 9.0 on the Richter Scale and was the most powerful earthquake that ever hit Japan. The earthquake caused a massive tsunami that destroyed citites and farmland in the northern part of Japan and set of warning at the west coast of the U.S. and South America. After this, radioactive leaks and explosions occured in three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station that caused partial meltdowns. Also, at another reactor, spent fuel rods overheated and caught on fire, causing radioactive material to be released into the air. Traces of radiation were found in Tokyo's water and in water pouring from the reactors into the ocean.
     As of March 29, the death toll was more than 11,000, the number of people missing was more than 17,000, and more than 190,000 people remained housed in temporary shelters.
     I feel that what happened to Japan was terrible. I am happy that we are doing our part and helping them with their needs. I think that all countries that can help, should.
     This relates to class because it has to do with foreign affairs. In class we talked about what the U.S. is doing to help.
     Links:

1. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/japan/index.html

Earthquake


Tsunami


Nuclear Explosion

Divided Government and Gridlock

     Divide government is when one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress. Gridlock happens because of a divided government. Gridlock is the inability to accomplish a goal. Gridlock can be both a good and a bad thing.
     A divided government can be good because it encourages more policing of those in power by the opposition,  limits spending, and the expansion of undesirable laws. It also forces the two parties to get along so that they can be able to work with one another. Its an example of checks and balances.
     A divided government can also be bad because sometimes the two parties will refuse to work with one another, which means that the government shuts down. It can make it so that a law can never be passed. If the president wants to create a law or bill that Congress does not then nothing gets accomplished. This has recently happened. Obama wanted to pass a health care bill, but the Republicans in Congress don't, so therefore it will never happen.
     I think that divided government and gridlock is a bad thing, but can sometimes be good. I feel that the government should always get along, but if there is gridlock then it can't. In some cases gridlock is needed, like if there's a law or bill that the president wants to make that the people don't want, then depending on who's in Congress, it could be made.
     This relates to class because divided government and gridlock were two of our vocabulary words and we took notes on it.
     Links

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divided_government
2. http://www.conservapedia.com/Divided_government

Divided Government


 Gridlock

Egypt

     Egypt has recently had a major change in their government. Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak resigned on February 11, 2011. He was the president of Egypt for 30 years. He told the people of Egypt that he was going to resign in September during the elections, but resigned a few days later.     He resigned due to protests against him that started on January 25, 2011. Because of the protests he told the people of Egypt that he would not run for president in the September election and that there would be constitutional reform. This did not satisfy the people of Egypt, so they kept on protesting.
     The next day clashes broke out between people for Mubarak and people against Mubarak. Some of the people for Mubarak turned out to be thieves and the police dressed in regular clothing. They were doing dirty work as if the nation was split.
     On February 10, 2011 Mubarak told the public that he would not be resigning until September. The next day Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak had resigned. The public cheered and was very happy.
     I am happy that Mubarak is no longer the president of Egypt. This is because I feel that it was unfair for Mubarak to be the president for 30 years. He was more of a dictator than a president. The people didn't have a say in what was going on. Egypt should have a government like ours, where the president can't serve any longer than 10 years.
     This relates to class because we discussed what was going on in Egypt and what we had seen on the news.
     Links

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosni_Mubarak#Revolution_and_resignation
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt#Republic

State of the Union

     This years state of the union speech was different from all the others. This year President Obama made the Democrats and the Republicans sit next to each other. He felt that if the government couldn't work together then we wouldn't be able to get anything accomplished. He brought up many important topics. He talked about improving education, creating jobs, improving immigration, foreign policy, and the health care reform.
     President Obama wants to improve our nations education. The U.S. is behind in education compared to other schools, we need to raise our math and science scores. Race to the top is a grant that will help the U.S. achieve this goal. Obama also wants to get rid of no child left behind and replace it with a new and better one.
     Obama wants to create jobs. The U.S. has many unempolyed people due to the recession. He wants to create more jobs so that people will be able to work and earn a living for themselves  and their families.
     Obama wants to watch our country's foreign policy. He wants to continue to watch the government that we set up in Iraq to make sure that everything is going ok. He wants to watch Iran and Korea because they have been making nuclear weapons and testing them, he wants to watch out and make sure that they're not going to attack us. He also wants to start taking troops out of Afganistan.
      I feel that all the things that Obama said in the state of the union speech were important. All of his ideas are good and will greatly improve our country.
     This relates to class because we discussed the state of the union speech.




    

Education

     Our country's education is behind compared to other schools. In 2007, we were ranked number 9 in math and number 11 in science out of 18 countries. Since other countries have higher math and science scores, they get excepted into our colleges over us. This leaves people without the opportunity to go to college, get a degree, and get a job. Some of the foreigners who have gone to our colleges have gone back to their own country, applying what they learned there.
     To help our country's education, the government is using a program called Race To The Top. Race To The Top is a grant that gives money to a state that they use to improve their school systems. 12 states have been awarded money: Delaware, District of Colombia, Florida Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Tenessee. Ohio was awarded $400 million; the states that were awarded the most money Florida and New York, who were awarded $700 million.
     No Child Left Behind is another program that was created to help public school eductaion. Congress has given massive funds to elementary and secondary schools that have improved test scores, quality of education, the improvement of standards, and has given attention to minority groups. In 2010 Barack Obama made the reauthorization process of No Child Left Behind on of his top priorities. He is working now to get Congress to initiate reform bills, but Congress wants him to amend the bill because they feel that changes need to be made in order for the bill to work for our country's educational system.
     This relates to class because in class we discussed Obama's speech and this was one of the topics in his speech and one of the topics that we discussed.
     Links:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Child_Left_Behind_Act
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_to_the_Top
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trends_in_International_Mathematics_and_Science_Study

   

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

     Don't ask, don't tell is commonly used for a policy in the military. This policy makes so that the military cannot ask people if they are gay because if they are then they will not be allowed to join the military, this is the same for openly gay people. The military cannot accept gay people into it because of a mandate that was established.
     The don't ask part means that a superior cannot investigate a serviceman's orientation in the absence of disallowed behavior, but creditable evidence of homosexual behavior can cause an investigation. The superiors violated this rule, so the don't tell part was created. Superiors would perform unauthorized investigations and harass any servicemen they thought were homesexual. This made "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue, don't harass.
     A bill to repeal don't ask, don't tell was just passed in 2010. It has not gone in affect and it won't until the President, Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staffs make certain that the repeal will not harm military readiness.
     In September Judge Virginia Phillips ruled that the don't ask, don't tell ban was unconstitutional, that it violated the 1st and 5th amendments. In October she granted a worldwide immediate injunction prohibiting the Department of Defense from enforcing or complying with the don't ask, don't tell policy. The Ninth Circut granted a appeal to take place later that month. On October 19, military recruiters could accept openly gay people into the military.
     In December the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staffs, Chief of Naval Operations, and Commmandant of the Coast Guard siad that the repeal would cause little diruption. The heads of Army, Airforce, and Marines said that the repeal would cause additional stress on combat focused forces during combat.
     I do not personal believe in same sex relationships, but I do believe that don't ask, don't tell should be repealed. The amendments in the constitution provide rights that are given to every person in the U.S., the don't ask, don't tell policy violates the rights of gay people. Gays who are in the military cannot express the way they feel or talk openly about the way they feel without being forced to leave the military, and openly gay people can't even join. I don't think thats right.
     In class we discussed what this policy means and how it works. We also discussed how republiocans are against it and democrats support it.
     Links:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don't_ask,_don't_tell

Third Parties

     The U.S. has a two-party system and it has been that way for over century. Third parties rarely ever win elections, but they can effect what happens in an election. They can draw attention to issues that have been ignored by the two major parties, Democrats and Republicans. The most common third parties are Constitution Party, Green Party, and Libertarian Party.
     The Constitution Party is the third largest party by registered members in America. The Constitution Party is a right-wing political party. The party's goals are to restore the government to its constitutional limits and our law back to its Biblical fooundation. The party's largest focus is on stopping immigration and giving illegal immigrants stricter penalties.
     The Green Party has won elections at the local levels. Most of the peole in the Green Party who have won public office in the U.S. have won nonpartisan elections. John Eder, Audie Bock, and Richard Carroll are the highest-ranking Greens in the U.S. John Eder was a member of the Maine House of Representatives, Audie Bock was in the California State Assembly, and Richard Carroll was in the Arkansas House of Representatives. They emphasize environmentalism, social justice, respect for diversity, peace, and nonviolence.
     The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the U.S. They want to avoid foreign military or economic entanglements with other nations and respect for freedom of trade and travel to all foreign countries. Hundreds of Libertarians have beem elected into public office, and thousands have run for office under the Liberatrian banner.
     I believe that the U.S. should not become a third party system, but we should pay more attention to them and let them get elected into office more often. Third parties have many good ideas, concentrate on improtant issues that are ignored by Democrats and Republicans, and are supported by people all over the country.
     In class we talked about how many people are a part of a third party and how they are not commonly elected into office. We also talked about how the U.S. is a two-party system and how we use a winner-take-all system. If we had a three-party system then many people would be unhappy because on party could get 20% of the votes, the second could get 45% of the votes, and the third would get 35% of the votes. Well the second party would win even though only 45% of the people voted for that party.
     Links:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_party_(United_States)
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Party_(United_States)
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Party_(United_States)
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_Party_(United_States)

            

Democrats, GOP Differ on Post-Election Priorities for Congress

Democrats, GOP Differ on Post-Election Priorities for Congress

2010 Election

     After the election, the House of Representatives is majority Republican and the Senate is majority Democratic. Each side had different opinions and supported different things.
     More than half of the Democrats, 63%, want to make a new stimulus bill, 15% want to cut federal spending, 12% want to repeal the new healthcare bill, and 4% want to extend all federal income tax cuts. 38% of national adults want to make a new stimulus bill, then cut federal spending, then repeal the healthcare bill, and last they want to extend all federal income tax cuts. The Democrates want the same things as the people.
     The Republicans have a different opinion. 36% want to repeal the healthcare bill, 29% wan to cut federal spending, 18% want to pass a new stimulus bill, 13% want to extend all federal income tax cut. Their main focus was on get rid of the healthcare bill. Some of them want to replace it with a new healthcare bill and some just want to get rid of it all together.
     Even though national adults agree more with Democrats, the Republicans did better than them. The people want change, they no longer want a majority Democratic government. Some people also feel that the wealthy should be taxed more and the poor should be taxed less, Rebulicans feel the opposite of this. Some people feel that everyone should be taxed the same.
     I think that since the government has changed dramitically, there will be a lot of arguments and conflicts arising often. But, I feel that the results of the election will make our government better.

First Person: Arizona Immigration Law Tested

Riz Khan - Arizona's immigration law

Immigration in Arizona

     Recently, Arizona has made a new law that deals with immigration. It states that immigrants must carry their registration documents with them at all times. It also requires the police to question people if there's any reason to suspect that they are illegal immigrants. Also, it targets people who hire illegal immigrant laborers, and the people who knowingly transport them.
     There are other states who agree with them, and they would like to create a similiar law. Democrates are trying to pass a bill to deal with illegal immigrants nationally; they are looking for support from republicans, but if they don't get any they'll continue to try for the bill without them.
     President Obama and many others do not support the law and what its going to do. They say that it will allow people to discriminate against hispanics, it will allow the police to detain anyone that they suspect to be an illegal immigrant (legal and illegal), and racial profiling. Obama says that it undermines the fairness that the country cherishes.
     I agree with the law. I think that it is fair and that it will not allow discrimination, racial profiling, and the police to detain legal people. I also think that it will stop some of the illegal immigration and will make people not want to transport or hire illegal immigrants.

Links:   http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/carefully-crafted-immigration-law-arizona

  http://articles.cnn.com/2010-04-23/politics/immigration.faq_1_immigration-reform-law-institute-immigrant-advocates-illegal?_s=PM:POLITICS

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/24/us/politics/24immig.html

Reflection: Healthcare

     Americans are split on what to do with the healthcare bill. 42% of Americans believe that the healthcare bill goes to far, 20% say that it's about right, 29% say that it doesn't go far enough, and 8% don't have an opinion on it.
     Conservatives are more likely to say that the healthcare bill goes to far. They are more likely to think this because they don't like government intervention in the economy. Conservatives are also more likely to be Republican, majority of Republicans want the to have the bill removed. Liberals are more likely to be Democratic, 46% of Democrates think that the bill doesn't go far enough and 35% think that it's right the way it is. The bill is moderate.
     The political ideologies, political cleavages, and political elites are all clashing on the healthcare bill; they all have different ideas and opinions in what should be done with the bill. Political socialization has increased. Many kids are supporting with what their parents are supporting, what their friends are suppporting, and what the people in their school are supporting.
     There are various public opinions forming on this subject. Public opinion varies from region to region. People in one area of the country are going to support one side, while people in another area of the country are going to suppport the other side.

Highlights from President Obama's Speech on Immigration Reform

President Obama Immigration Speech

Immigration: Legal, Illegal, Advantages, and Disadvantages

     The U.S. experiences both legal and illegal immigration. Legal immigration is when people from one country move to another country legally; they fill out paper work and do everything the way its supposed to be done. Illegal immigration is when people from one country cross the border of another country and live in that country illegaly, breaking the country's laws on immigration.
     There are many reasons why I like legal immigration. It's what makes our country culturally, racially, ethnically, and religiously diverse. It helps people who are living in poor, jobless countries come to the U.S. for a better lives for themselves and for their fammily. It also helps people who are living in countries with dictators and tyrants get out and live a more normal life. It allows them to experience new things and new people. They are given many opportunities when they move here to become successful. The U.S. gives them chances to get good jobs, to open their own businesses, and help them get houses.
     There are many reasons why I don't like illegal immigration. Illegal immigration gives people who illegally came here some opportunities that people who were born here and people who are legally here need. Illegal immigrants are often hired because they work cheap and they'll do anything to live here. Illegal immigrants get over the border many ways. When they are found they can be deported, sometimes they are kept to prevent them from constantly returning.
     I think that the U.S. should do a better job of keeping illegal immigrants from getting in. The U.S has increased border surveillance to try to stop the immigration but it has not worked. Illegal immigration coninues to happen. They can get across the border in many ways. One way that has not been affected by the increase in border surveillance, is when people pose as tourists or temporary visitors.
     There are some advantages of immigration. One is that there is a greater supply of unskilled workers; they have made the overall economy stronger and undocumented illegal immigrant workers have kept food prices low. Another is that there is a younger workforce; more people are about to retire, creating the ratio of the retired and the working in favor of the retired. Immigrants and their kids are usually younger, slowing the increase of the ratio. Finally it brings skilled workers to our country; under the "employment preference" category, immigrants are often hired in important jobs.
     There are some disadvantages of immigration. Immigrants cause greater poverty; since they have a low income they can't afford health care and have to resort to public assistance. They cause more educational costs; they cause a disproportionate amount of public education costs than natives do, this is because of the greater birthrate of hispanics and because of their need for more intensive instruction. They cause lower unskilled wage levels; they negatively impact wages in the low skill occupation sectors that they occupy. They cause increased danger of terrorism; many say that illegal immigrants increase the threat of domestic terrorism.
     I agree with legal immigrants, but I feel that illegal immigration needs to stop.

Links:
http://www.newsbatch.com/immigration.htm

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