The "take aways" that I gained from this class were mainly how politics relates to my everyday life. Politics isnt something that just goes on in Washington, but it affects all of us everyday. It is very important for all of us to be proactive in politics and take a stand for what we believe in.
Some of the "portable skills" that I took away from this class involve technology. Before this class I had never blogged before or done this much with technology, and that will definately help me in my other classes as well as in college and the rest of my life.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Presidential Election Reflection
Personally, I was very pleased with the outcome of the recent presidential reflection. However, whether McCain or Obama won it was clear that this was going to be an extremely important and historical election that will definately go down in the history books. The outcome of the election has had an effect on people throughout the world, as well as here at home, especially the implications for the republican party.
The election has definately changed the global perception of the United States of America. The fact that a black man was elected president of the nation that is the leader of the free world is a precedent. I'm sure people around the world were wondering why the so call "free nation" that is supposed to be all about equal rights for everyone and always been run by old white men. Many great nations across the world have welcomed Obama's status as president elect. The prime minister of Great Britain, Gordon Brown, stated that Obama's victory would "live in history as long as history books are writen", and that he looks forward to working with the new president elect. The continent of Africa was overwhelmingly full with glee, and the leaders of South Africa trust that Obama will use his presidency to "scourge of poverty and disease everywhere". The region of the Middle East was filled with joy about Obama's victory, especially because George W. Bush will no longer be in power. Through all of the joy across the world over Obama's victory, there were a couple of nations that felt it was the time to threaten Obama, and warn him not to enter in to his presidency with comfort. Russia’s president, Dmitry Medvedev, declared that the Kremlin would station missiles in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, in response to US plans for an anti-missile system in Eastern Europe. While this was in no way a direct threat to Obama it does show that other nations are not going lay down while the world celebrates this fantastic victory. South Korea was yet another nation that is trying to keep Obama in his place, and out of their business. The nation warnedObama against pushing for renegotiation of the bilateral trade pact awaiting ratification. With the exception of these few nations, the world has whole-heartedly welcomed Obama into the leadership role.
The election also had many implications for the Republican party. Not only are they out of the oval office, but also out of the senate and the house. As the CATO Institute Artice suggests, "Republicans will have gone from controlling every arm of government to controlling none,". This loss has promted the debate over what stance the Republican party should take: activist federal government or limited federal government. The base of the Republican party has always centered around a limited government and small spending, but in an economic crisis like that that America is experiencing today some are calling for the Republicans to be more like the Democrats and call for a larger federal government. In times like these I believe that the Republicans should have focused their platform more on an activist federal government, due to the current economic crisis. However, I don't think this election spells any long term doom for the party. Once the nation finds its way throught the mess that it is currently entangled in, the Republican platform of limited federal government will once again be appealing to voters.
My political blog, the Independent Party Blog, does not have any reflection on the election because the blog never did follow the election. Instead, my blog details some of the debates that Yale grad students are arguing over.
The election has definately changed the global perception of the United States of America. The fact that a black man was elected president of the nation that is the leader of the free world is a precedent. I'm sure people around the world were wondering why the so call "free nation" that is supposed to be all about equal rights for everyone and always been run by old white men. Many great nations across the world have welcomed Obama's status as president elect. The prime minister of Great Britain, Gordon Brown, stated that Obama's victory would "live in history as long as history books are writen", and that he looks forward to working with the new president elect. The continent of Africa was overwhelmingly full with glee, and the leaders of South Africa trust that Obama will use his presidency to "scourge of poverty and disease everywhere". The region of the Middle East was filled with joy about Obama's victory, especially because George W. Bush will no longer be in power. Through all of the joy across the world over Obama's victory, there were a couple of nations that felt it was the time to threaten Obama, and warn him not to enter in to his presidency with comfort. Russia’s president, Dmitry Medvedev, declared that the Kremlin would station missiles in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, in response to US plans for an anti-missile system in Eastern Europe. While this was in no way a direct threat to Obama it does show that other nations are not going lay down while the world celebrates this fantastic victory. South Korea was yet another nation that is trying to keep Obama in his place, and out of their business. The nation warnedObama against pushing for renegotiation of the bilateral trade pact awaiting ratification. With the exception of these few nations, the world has whole-heartedly welcomed Obama into the leadership role.
The election also had many implications for the Republican party. Not only are they out of the oval office, but also out of the senate and the house. As the CATO Institute Artice suggests, "Republicans will have gone from controlling every arm of government to controlling none,". This loss has promted the debate over what stance the Republican party should take: activist federal government or limited federal government. The base of the Republican party has always centered around a limited government and small spending, but in an economic crisis like that that America is experiencing today some are calling for the Republicans to be more like the Democrats and call for a larger federal government. In times like these I believe that the Republicans should have focused their platform more on an activist federal government, due to the current economic crisis. However, I don't think this election spells any long term doom for the party. Once the nation finds its way throught the mess that it is currently entangled in, the Republican platform of limited federal government will once again be appealing to voters.
My political blog, the Independent Party Blog, does not have any reflection on the election because the blog never did follow the election. Instead, my blog details some of the debates that Yale grad students are arguing over.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Political Blog - Post 2
Over the time that elapsed from my last post, there were two new debates presented by the Independent party blog; accept nuclear proliferation and overturn Roe v Wade.
The argument over whether to accept nuclear proliferation is basically about how much nuclear proliferation we should allow. In plain language, this debate is over whether or not we should allow non-nuclear countries to acquire nukes. Some questions being debated are: Will nuclear energy prove indispensable for meeting our future energy needs without causing massive climate change? And will the proliferation of peaceful civilian nuclear energy make nuclear weapons proliferation impossible to stop?
The other issue being presented/debated was that of whether or not to overturn the famous supreme court case, Roe v. Wade. The case Roe v. Wade centrally held that a mother may abort her pregnancy for any reason, up until the point at which the fetus becomes "viable". The article presents 20 provactive questions that spark some good thoughts. Some of these questions include Does the Constitution grow and change over time? Can it protect rights that nobody intended it to when it was ratified?, What would be the political effects of overturning Roe?, etc.
Personally I think that Roe v. Wade should stay intact because I believe that a woman has the right to do what she wishes with her body. In the case of nuclear proliferation, I don't think that the United States has the right to interfere in other countries affairs but I understand the threat that the other countries pose when they possess these weapons.
Links to other articles about topics:
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Vice Presidential Debate
The Vice Presidential Debate was extremely interesting, and there were a variety of important topics discussed. One such topic was that of the Economy. With the bailout bill and the rocky economy, it was an important subject, and both Palin and Biden stated their cases. Biden states that the economic policies of the last 8 years (Bus's Term) have been the worst ever as seen on wallstreet. He stated that Obama will change the focus of the economic policy to focus on the middle class. Palin stated that people have come to fear the economy. She stated that reform is needed, and John McCain will bring that reform, demonstrated by the fact that he has brough people together in the past.
Another important issue discussed was the issue of same sex rights. Biden started off by saying that he and Obama support same sex rights, and that based on the constitution there is no difference between homosexuals and heterosexuals. He then said that he and Obama do not support gay marriage because they don't believe in redefining marriage. Palin said that she does not support gay marriage but she is tolerant of homosexuals.
The issue of the environment and the climate change was also debated. Biden stated that the climate change was man made, and that Obama will invest in clean energy which will create more jobs and more exports. Palin stated that the climate change is not man made, and that it was all natural. She stated that the planet has to be cleaned up, and she brought the issue back to her experience cleaning up the environment of Alaska. She also said that America has to become energy independent.
Personally, I believe that Joe Biden won the debate. He played up Bush's mistakes during the last 8 years, and related that to the fact that McCain agrees with Bush 90% of the time. He pointed out that Palin did not exactly answer all of the questions. He also brought in what Palin says and stated that he believes she will do it but not John McCain. He seemed to be very well researched, and used all of the information he could to answer the questions asked.
Another important issue discussed was the issue of same sex rights. Biden started off by saying that he and Obama support same sex rights, and that based on the constitution there is no difference between homosexuals and heterosexuals. He then said that he and Obama do not support gay marriage because they don't believe in redefining marriage. Palin said that she does not support gay marriage but she is tolerant of homosexuals.
The issue of the environment and the climate change was also debated. Biden stated that the climate change was man made, and that Obama will invest in clean energy which will create more jobs and more exports. Palin stated that the climate change is not man made, and that it was all natural. She stated that the planet has to be cleaned up, and she brought the issue back to her experience cleaning up the environment of Alaska. She also said that America has to become energy independent.
Personally, I believe that Joe Biden won the debate. He played up Bush's mistakes during the last 8 years, and related that to the fact that McCain agrees with Bush 90% of the time. He pointed out that Palin did not exactly answer all of the questions. He also brought in what Palin says and stated that he believes she will do it but not John McCain. He seemed to be very well researched, and used all of the information he could to answer the questions asked.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Political Blog
Independent Party Blog
The Blog I am following is the Independent Party Blog. The blog is a very informative one that poses big questions and ideas that are worth pondering. The blog is run by a non-partisan debating organization of Yale Undergraduates who post the issues and ideas after debating them. The blog presents brief descriptions to both sides of the issues being debated and allows the reader to decide their viewpoint for themself.
This "professional" blog differs from some of the other blogs that I have looked at because it gives more resources for the reader to look at. Instead of just saying what needs to be said, it follows through with articles about the topic, and the websites of people who have different opinions of the issue being presented. Also, it is more content driven than visually driven. It does have a picture at the very beginning of the issue, but the rest is content pertaining to the issue.
One issue presented in the blog is that of Polygamy, a form of marriage in which a person has more than one spouse. The blog presents a brief overview of both sides of the argument on whether polygamy should be legal or not. Those who are against the legalization of polygamy say that the practice degrades would and creates unstable families. Those who are for the legalization of polygamy basically state that there are no major consequences to the practice. Personally, I believe polygamy should be legal. I believe that the government has no right to say who can and cannot get married under any circumstances. I don't see why anyone would ever want to enter into a poligamous relationship, but if they choose to do so, why not? As to the point that it creates unstable families: divorce is legal, and doesn't that create unstable families? I think this is a very interesting topic that would make for a great debate!
The Blog I am following is the Independent Party Blog. The blog is a very informative one that poses big questions and ideas that are worth pondering. The blog is run by a non-partisan debating organization of Yale Undergraduates who post the issues and ideas after debating them. The blog presents brief descriptions to both sides of the issues being debated and allows the reader to decide their viewpoint for themself.
This "professional" blog differs from some of the other blogs that I have looked at because it gives more resources for the reader to look at. Instead of just saying what needs to be said, it follows through with articles about the topic, and the websites of people who have different opinions of the issue being presented. Also, it is more content driven than visually driven. It does have a picture at the very beginning of the issue, but the rest is content pertaining to the issue.
One issue presented in the blog is that of Polygamy, a form of marriage in which a person has more than one spouse. The blog presents a brief overview of both sides of the argument on whether polygamy should be legal or not. Those who are against the legalization of polygamy say that the practice degrades would and creates unstable families. Those who are for the legalization of polygamy basically state that there are no major consequences to the practice. Personally, I believe polygamy should be legal. I believe that the government has no right to say who can and cannot get married under any circumstances. I don't see why anyone would ever want to enter into a poligamous relationship, but if they choose to do so, why not? As to the point that it creates unstable families: divorce is legal, and doesn't that create unstable families? I think this is a very interesting topic that would make for a great debate!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
2 Blogs
http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2008/09/everything-working-in-win-over-braves/
This is a really good blog detailing the news and recent happenings of the Phillies. It gives updates as to trade rumors, game scores and details, etc. It also has the comments of other Philadelphia sports fans about the ups and downs of the team so it gives many different perspectives.
http://www.greyswriters.com/2008/06/the-end-of-the.html
This is a blog written by the writers of Grey's Anatomy. Grey's Anatomy is one of my favorite shows, and this blog gives us a peek into upcoming surprises on the show and how the writers feel about the characters. It gives awesome descriptions of what next to come on the show and keeps everyone wanting more and more of Grey's Anatomy.
This is a really good blog detailing the news and recent happenings of the Phillies. It gives updates as to trade rumors, game scores and details, etc. It also has the comments of other Philadelphia sports fans about the ups and downs of the team so it gives many different perspectives.
http://www.greyswriters.com/2008/06/the-end-of-the.html
This is a blog written by the writers of Grey's Anatomy. Grey's Anatomy is one of my favorite shows, and this blog gives us a peek into upcoming surprises on the show and how the writers feel about the characters. It gives awesome descriptions of what next to come on the show and keeps everyone wanting more and more of Grey's Anatomy.
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