The New Age of Walmart

What are your thoughts on the Walmart debate?

Due Wednesday 1/6/10

Macro-Economics Video from class. You need the United Streaming login info from the library.

Immigration

Immigration will again be an issue debated next year in Congress, and President Obama announced plans to address the issue in an upcoming speech. How would YOU advise the President? I would like you to address at least one of the following prompts, using information from class discussion and resources:

Legal Immigration: Where do we draw the line and why?
Border Control: How do we secure our borders?
Illegal Immigration: How do we address the 11-20 million people currently residing in the US without legal status?

Due Tuesday a.m. for all sections.

Interpreting the 2nd Amendment

2nd Amendment
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."

Does the 2nd Amendment give all Americans the right to bear arms? ** The Supreme Court will again be looking at the 2nd Amendment this spring.

1. Can the government place limitations or restrictions on gun ownership? Under what circumstances?

2. What events in our recent past have fueled the gun debate? School shootings? Home invasions?

3. What are the arguments for and against limiting the right to bear arms?

* Lawsuit Seeks Right to Carry Concealed Weapons in the District

"It's precedent-setting. It's the first time the Supreme Court has commented on this in decades," said Sheri Anne MacNeil, 30, of the District, who is with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "It's monumental."

On the other side of the gun ban issue was Don Pollock, 67, a retired military special operations officer from Bowie. "This is the big one. The court finally gets to review the terrible [gun] laws of the last 70-something years."

* D.C.'s Gun Ban Gets Day in Court

* District of Columbia v. Heller

Sites to get you started. You should also search for additional data.

* US Department of Justice Firearms and Crime Statistics

* National Rifle Association

* Violence Policy Center

Assignment

You are one of the 9 Supreme Court Justices hearing the District of Columbia v. Heller. Based on your investigation of the facts, how are you going to rule and why? Are you going to take a narrow or strict constructionist view, or more broadly interpret the Constitution in stating your opinion? Draft an opinion, up to 2 pages, that clearly states your opinion based on your constitutional views, and including any other factors that influence your position.

President Obama's Afghan War Address

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Some commentary on the speech:

William Kristol "A War President"
Washington Post Editorial "A Courageous Decision"
Reactions From Europe
Afghanistan and Pakistan Rattled by Plan for Drawdown


Democratic Divisions - Pres. Obama will not draw much support from the left of the Democratic Party, as viewed here.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Angry Ed!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

From Across the Aisle

Kissinger Responds




McCain Responds on The Hannity Show





The response question is pretty straight forward. Are we on the right track in Afghanistan?
I will be checking Monday am.

Do as I say....

Rather humorous article in the London Times on the upcomming UN conference on global warming in Coppenhagen.

"Taking the Private Jet to Coppenhagen"

Civil Liberties in an Age of Global Terrorism

Required Readings:

"Travesty in New York"

By Charles Krauthammer

Friday, November 20, 2009

"A Battlefield in the Courtroom."

By Eugene Robinson

Friday, November 20, 2009


Respond to one or more of the following prompts:

• Are you willing to give up a degree of individual liberty for security? Why, Why Not?
• Should foreign nationals accused of terrorism and held in places like Guantanamo Bay have the same rights as Americans? Should they be tried in civilian courts? In the US? Explain your answer.
  
• Are the provisions of the PATRIOT ACT needed to protect us or do they undermine our freedom?
• You may also contribute any other related thoughts or observations from the video, articles or class discussions.

Responses are due Wednesday morning 11/25. I will be checking before we leave for Thanksgiving Break.

http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/human-rights-cartoon-107-the-effect-of-money-on-elections/

Are the current methods of fundraising and financing elections good for our democracy?

Due Monday morning (7:30 a.m.)

Your Student Rights! (or lack there of)

Do you feel that the majority opinion in your Supreme Court court case was correctly decided? Explain your answer referring to the constitution, using evidence from the case documents and examples from your personal experiences as a student.

Due Thursday pm. You will not receive credit if it's not in Friday am when I check.

Wikipedia Article

An interesting article on Wikipedia that focuses on one of the authors and highlights some of the benefits and flaws of an open source medium.

Held by the Taliban

Really interesting series from NY Times reporter David Rohde, held captive for almost 8 months by the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/world/asia/18hostage.html

Life in the White House

Now that you have viewed Inside the Obama White House, what did you find surprising or interesting? Would you want to live there, or be interested in working there? Why/Why Not?

Due Friday PM (not Thursday as previously announced)

President Obama's Health Care Address

Below are links to President Obama's health care address delivered to Congress, and the Republican response. As you watch, consider some of the following questions:

• What are the main objectives of the plan put forward by President Obama?
• Did his speech answer questions you might have about health care reform? What questions would you want to ask President Obama?
• Did this address shape or change any views you had on the issue?
• How did the members of Congress react to this address?
• How/Does this issue affect you?

President Obama's Address

President Obama's Plan

Republican Response and Republican Plan

"Lies, damn lies and statistics." Who do we believe????

Interesting Sites w/ Healthcare Cost and Other Data:

Center for Disease Control: Health Insurance Coverage

Congressional Budget Office: Health

CBO Director's Blog

CBO Testimony 2007: Interesting charts and graphs

Interactive Graphic: How the Bills Stack Up

WP: Healthcare Reform 2009

Due Friday 9/18 (pm)

Much Ado About Nothing?

What is your reaction to President Obama's speech to students? Was it political? Should the President be addressing students in this manner? How does it compare to President Reagan's speech to students in 1988. Below are links to the speech and text, as well as a letter from Florida Republican Party Chairperson Jim Greer that launched a national debate, news stories, and Greer's response just prior to the speech.

Local Debate:
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Greenwich
Reporting about Obama speech, Jim Himes' reaction was one-sided
New Canaaan BOE

Due Monday 9/14 (pm).

Afghan War

One of the current events/political issues we will be following is the war in Afghanistan. Read the stories below and some of the history of the conflict. How much do you know about the war? Do you have any opinions on what course we should pursue?

Updates from Afghanistan
Taliban Surprising US Forces....
Time to Get Out...
Video Reports...
Airstrike Kills 90..

Links to my website and the history of the conflict HERE.

DUE FRIDAY 9/11

Test Sign-In

Your first submitted assignment is to create a google account (username and password) if you do not have one, and respond to this blog by clicking on "# comments" below and submitting a comment of "Test Submission."

The Forgotten War?

Respond to the following prompts:
If you were President Obama, what would your objectives be for the war in Afghanistan? What steps would you take to meet those objectives and why?

Be sure you review the links on my webpage to provide evidence.

Due Friday 5/22

Debates - Extra Credit Optional Response

Since the debate sides were chosen at random, this is your chance to voice your view on either of the two topics. What is your opinion and why?

Due Friday 5/22

Mock Congress Blog #2

Complete the two modules at the Center for Congress website (How a Member Decides to Vote, The Many Roles...). Respond to the following:

1. What elements of the mock Congress exercise were similar to the actual process?
2. In what ways is the actual process far more complex?

You must provide specific examples to get full credit. Due Monday 5/4 (pm).

Mock Congress

PERIOD 5
Respond to the following questions about our mock congress:

• How did you deal with differing views within your party? The committees? Were you willing to compromise your values or views in order to pass bills?
  
• How do you think members of Congress approach this process?
• What could you do to be more effective debaters during the floor session?
  

Due Friday 5/1

Current Events Week of 3/23

Choose one of the following topics to address.

1)What are your thoughts on Obama's appearance on The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno? How should we react to his comments? Is this an acceptable forum for a sitting president?

Obama on Leno

2)Read the NYT story on the student strip search case. How should the Supreme Court rule and why?

Strip-Search of Girl Tests Limit of School Policy

Due Friday.

Use of Torture

Read the articles and respond to the following:
What is torture? How would you define it?
Is torture ever justified? If so, when?

Washington Post article on Torture

Speech to Congress

Below are direct links to Pres. Obama's speech and the Replublican response.

President Obamas Speech
Gov. Jindal's Response

Student Rights

Do you feel that the majority opinion in your Supreme Court court case was correctly decided? Explain your answer referring to the constitution, using evidence from the case documents and examples from your personal experiences as a student.

Obama Press Conference

Vids no longer available

Some topics we will be following this semester.

Below are some links to a few of the topics we will be following over the course of the semester. What issues do you think are the most important and why? What other important topics should we be paying attention to?

Old vids removed due to download size/time. If you are answering this question late, refer to issues raised Obamas speech from class or anything else you have read or seen in the news that you feel is important.

Gaza Conflict

What are your thoughts on the conflict in Gaza. Who is to blame? How should the world react?

Sources for news from a variety of perspectives:
New York Times Coverage of the Gaza Conflict.
Jerusalem Post Coverage.
Al Jazeera Coverage