Monday, August 15, 2011

American Government 8/15/11

In Class - Short Video Clip (from Jon Stewart's The Daily Show).  Discuss the role of public opinion.  What shapes public opinion? 

Homework - Signed syllabus due by tomorrow.

QOW - Considering all of the current topics troubling our great nation, what topic is the most important for our government to address right now? 

Develop arguments using a mimimum of two sources, which you will cite using MLA format.  In order to leave your response, simply click where it says "Comment" at the bottom of this post and begin typing.  Be sure to put some thought into this, organize your thoughts, use proper grammar, spelling, and be sure to proofread your work.  Remember, this is not informal writing (ie. Facebook).  I expect quality work.  If you have questions, please refer to the syllabus for the rubric concerning the QOW.

26 comments:

destiniejewels said...

My biggest concern for America right now is how much we are in dept. I believe that our government should be worrying about our own country instead of being at war with another, which is deeply increasing why we are in dept. According to our calculations based on U.S. budget appropriations, the group estimates the total money spent comes to about $255 million per day, or a little less than $1.8 billion a week. The way we are heading, we are soon going to reenact our devastating days from 1920’s (the great depression). Which many are terrified that day will come.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15377059/ns/business-answer_desk/t/how-much-war-iraq-costing-us/
http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/20/news/economy/debt_record_high/index.htm
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/03/american-sauce-2011-meet-the-national-debt/

Kyle Monger said...

I honestly think America has many issues right now but I believe the biggest concern to most people right now would obviously be our poor economy. I believe it is the government's job to take concern in our economy and our well being. I know it isn't going to be easy to fix this resession but I think we can pull through with some effort. However I also believe that people cause their own debt and money issues, such as running up credit card debt and spending money they don't have.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15377059/ns/business-answer_desk/t/how-much-war-iraq-costing-us/
http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/20/news/economy/debt_record_high/index.htm
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/03/american-sauce-2011-meet-the-national-debt/

JaQuan17 said...

The topic that is most important for our government to address right now is the economy. It seems like the government is more focused on next year's presidential election. While that's their main focus, there are alot of americans that don't have a job. The unemployment rate didn't rise, but it didn't decline. When he was running for president, Obama said his main priority was to help create new jobs. we haven't seen any action showed on that situation. The government needs to get their priorities straight. Sooner or later people will begin to lose faith in our government, and I won't be surprised if that day comes.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/08/news/economy/unemployment_jobs/index.htm

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

joselynna said...

It’s seems like everyday there’s in a new problem to face in America, but one problem that is most notorious is unemployment. I’m sure we can all agree that there is one person if it isn’t ourselves, who is going through a hard time in this economy. So what can we do to fix it? Now that is a question not many of us know the answer to. “The economy promises to be the dominant issue of Obama's 2012 re-election campaign”, (Keller, CNN). When I read this I thought to myself “is this what Obama is going to use an ultimatum or bribe for his re-election? If we are to re-elect him is he going to promise us all jobs again? Many houses have gone for foreclosure and it seems like there is less and less money to spend everyday. More than 14 million Americans are sitting at home because they have no work and are currently collecting unemployment. It would be naïve to say that this is all President Obama’s fault; we can’t just wake up the next morning and expect everyone to be employed again. According to Obama, all we need is a little more patient. However, the real question is how much more patient can people be?


http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm


http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/08/17/obama.jobs.speech/index.html?hpt=po_bn1

MÉLISSA said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MÉLISSA said...

Well I think there’s a lot of wrong doings in America but my biggest concern of them all would be the economy. Were really in debt and we keep increasing the debt. There’s no jobs for people which means there’s no money. Saying that, many families cant keep their homes and eventually they end up losing their belongings. We don’t stop the debt which makes us dig our hole deeper and well eventually lead us to a bigger fall in economy. We are wasting more money then we should and earn. We are paying for stuff that honestly we don’t need for example were fighting wars we shouldn’t fight. Many people use up the unemployment which takes the opportunity of someone else which hurts us even more. The gas and all other prices have gone up which puts another stress because you don’t have money to keep up with everything. It all leads back to the mishandling of money. The president needs to start preventing us from making us go into a bigger hole then we are now, and try to create more jobs.

Ambyrz said...

I believe that economy in America is our biggest issue right now. More and more people are losing jobs, as well as their homes, and also the rise in homelessness. This is a concern to me, because in the next eight months I will be apart of the new generation of adults, and will be trying to find a stable job so that I could afford college. Since July 2nd of 2010 7.9 million jobs have been lost, and 1.2 million homes have been lost during 2005 to 2008. Since 2009 the homeless rate has gone up 26 percent, and rising. This is not including adults with children. It is also said that one in every 50 homes are being foreclosed do to lack of payments. I also believe that the economy will continue to drop.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/02/news/economy/jobs_gone_forever/index.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36231884/ns/business-eye_on_the_economy/t/study-million-households-lost-recession/
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/sep2008/home-s27.shtml
http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2011/08/11/news/doc4e4373425b98c697837669.txt

JillDeMagno said...

The United States government is spiraling down into a detrimental state. It is important to address unemployment in our country. It is a fact that “nearly 14 million people are unemployed…the unemployment rate is at 9.1 percent.” Americans are unable to find jobs. Employers are not hiring since last year as signs that our economy has weakened. There has been slow growth in our economy for the last two years. The annual rate is 0.8% as of the first six months of the year 2011. Overspending is a substantial topic because it is an aspect that can lead of unemployment. Need we not forget that our ratings have gone down to AAA to AA+. Our country has been one of the wealthiest and stable countries. If we can go down in ratings now, won’t there be a possibility that the ratings can go down even more? America is no longer stable with our financial system, stocks, and jobs.

Linn, Allison. "Who Has Most Debt? Answer May Surprise - Business - World Business - Msnbc.com." Msnbc.com - Breaking News, Science and Tech News, World News, US News, Local News- Msnbc.com. 16 Aug. 2011. Web. 18 Aug. 2011. .

“Obama Returns To Call For More Revenue In Pitching Bigger Deficit Plan | FoxNews.com." FoxNews.com - Breaking News | Latest News | Current News. 17 Aug. 2011. Web. 18 Aug. 2011. .

Thanushi said...

I believe the most prominent problem in which the United States is suffering from centrally revolves around the economy. This immense flaw, which branches off to numerous more problems, is one in which the government should address as its first most priority.
The unemployment rate is at an all time high since the Great Depression of the late 1920’s, reigning above 9%. About 13.9 million American remain unemployed, with 45% being unemployed for over six months. With the economy slowly digressing, furlough days have been added to the calendars to a majority of Americans these past two years. State jobs, such that of the DMV, have begun, in the past year or so, cutting back office hours, with a majority closing down on Fridays. The same can be said of schools, where teachers are to have an extra week off due to cutbacks, which is demonstrated in our own school of La Sierra that adding three weeks to the prior two weeks off during Christmas break. The job rate, which is slowly transgressing forward, is a great outcome of this era’s economic crisis.
The great economic problem is transgressing into problem for the next generation as well. With tight budget cuts being implemented throughout the nation, kids are more packed into classes, with 30 or more students, and are unable to even get books due to shortages. Such cuts as these are further being pursued with Governor Schwarzenegger of California proposing in 2009 to cut education funding by at least $3 billion. The affects of cuts in education though recently focuses on increases in college tuition. California State Universities have hiked up their tuition by 12%, with an additional 10% increase that was approved in November 2010. This increase, along with more and more students unable to apply for student loans and grants drying up, enables many now to opt to go to community colleges, or even straight to mediocre jobs so as to help their families pay the bills. But those in colleges, such as graduate students, appear to stay longer at educational institutions, not to advance their knowledge, but as a means to escape paying their loans. This method, although it may add to more bills, is a sure way of not having to face the reality of going into a world where job force is lacking, and having thus to pay immense amounts of money to pay for an education that isn’t paying them back.
Consequently, all these factors are raised due to the greatest problem the United States is facing, that of the ever digressing status of our once superior economy.

Censky, Annalyn. “America’s Job Crisis.” CNN Money (2011): n. pag. Web. 18 August 2011.

Rothfield, Michael. “Schwarzenegger outlines drastic budget cuts.” Los Angeles Times (2009) n. pag. Web. 18 August 2011.

Ellis, Blake. “California State hikes tuition by another 12%.” CNN Money (2011): n. pag. Web. 18 August 2011.

Merander said...

Of all the things happening in our country war, economy trouble, corruption, etc. I believe what we should be focusing on right now is our economic downfall. The fact that our credit, as a country, fell from an AAA to AA+ states that everything we are doing is still not enough. We were once the world leader but now we have fallen deep from where we once stood. The fact that we still are at war in Afghanistan cost the U.S. $255 million dollars a day. That’s a little under $ 1.8 billion in just one week! The Government was created to make sure no of this happens and you would think we’ve would’ve learned after the 1920s Great Depression. But it’s not just the government to blame but also ourselves as Americans. With some help and hard work we can turn this depression around and return this country into something that is worth an AAA rating.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15377059/ns/business-answer_desk/t/how-much-war-iraq-costing-us/

DjSmellsFunky! said...

QOW - Considering all of the current topics troubling our great nation, what topic is the most important for our government to address right now? I think they care about themselves mostly and they know there in crisis and they dont follow the rules as they suppose to.They just want more money from us and not really paying attention whats going on in neighborhoods or streets.If your rich you have more fame but poor they let you suffer.Its always going to be some kind of trouble but we just have to deal with it and make somthing outta of it .

Dylan Ortiz-s said...

Today I believe that America has many many problems. One of the main ones being our econmy. Our econmy is so screwed up to the point of where it's hard to even get a job working minimum wage. Not only that but because we are so much in debt we're losing all of teachers, school years are being cut short and in most cases there isn't even summer school anymore. Another thing would have to be the war. Although im not against the war I beleive that all of that money should be put into education rather than our war. The war we,re in now is costing us billinos and is only costing us more and more each and every day. Hopefully our economy will get better soon or the next generation is pretty much screwed as to terrible debt and not enough teacher's or classes for a good education. One last thing that I can think of is our ratings. Our ratings have gone from a triple A down to a double plus which is pretty bad, and only shows that n othing is really going right for our country.

lyssa said...

The topic id have to say we could defenitly consider discussing in this class or question, would have to be will we go into another great depression? this world is ecnomically falling apart and its crazy how almost everyone is loosing their jobs. The president says he's going to help us with that issue but to be honest i haven't seen anything done. by personal experince my father is still out of a job.i think we are loaning too much money out to other nations. why support others when our own country cant support itself?

CrystianPerez1 said...

I think that our biggest concern is the economy to our nation. One great example is the stock market keeps on going down. Our nation is in debt and the government is just digging themselves deeper and by the time they try to dig themselves out it will be too late to get out of the debt. I believe that the reason that our nation is debt is because of the war. The war causes the tax payers about 3billion a month. If the economy keeps getting worse it could turn out just like the great depression. This is why the economy is our greatest concern.

http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/03/american-sauce-2011-meet-the-national-debt/

Jessica Toribio said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jessica Toribio said...

The biggest concern the government should address right now is our economy. Instead of worrying about immigration, the sexual prefference of people,and even environmental regulations; the government needs to worry about the economy.
Things such as the war occuring right now in Iraq adds on to the U.S. going more into debt. The war causes the tax payers about 3billion a month. Not only that but because of the bad economy we have been getting cut backs in our schools. Thus more unemployed people and less education. Finally as a result of the rate we are plumiting down in the stock market we might be seeing ourselves in another great depression.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/20/news/economy/debt
http://online.wsj.com/public/page/news-economy.html

Steven Gardner said...

I feel that the government should really focus on the economy, because we are in debt. I like that we are trying to help other countries but we should focus on our issues aswell because the nation is having a hard time with the lack of jobs. The teachers are having it the worst, in my classes i have at most 40 students in one class. and many teachers have been layed off do to budget costs. we are paying $255 million per day for the war in iraq yet we cant provide for another history, science, math, or english teachers so that we can learn without the crowded environment

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15377059/ns/business-answer_desk/t/how-much-war-iraq-costing-us/

vinceb said...

I believe that the most important topic that the government should address is the unemployment crisis. Most Americans are disappointed that the creation of jobs, that President Obama promised, was not fulfilled. Not only does unemployment hurt Americans, it also hurts our economy. Our economy is getting weaker and weaker as unemployment rises, our credit became AA+, when it used to be AAA standard. There are 14 million Americans searching for jobs trying to keep their homes, and feed their families right now. Another 1 million Americans are discouraged workers meaning that they have no confidence that they will find a job. The unemployment rate is above 9 percent, even though it may seem low, it is a huge number based on our population. Job's affect everything from the confidence of the people to the country's economic growth. 8.8 million jobs were lost from the job's market peak in January 2008 until February 2010, now after a year and a half only 1.9 million jobs were give back. Very little progress has been made, I think instead of our government spending money on elections and funding pointless wars, they should focus on the American people.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/08/news/economy/jobs_unemployment_rate/index.htm

http://www.capitolnewsconnection.org/news/congress-and-americas-unemployment-crisis

Vincent Bacani

Nicole said...

Considering all of the current topics troubling our great nation, the government should focus on not cutting medical care and social security. They should keep it for people who really need it and have lack of faith. It makes no sense to cut something that was created to help people in the first place. It’s absurd to do so. They shouldn’t cut it, because people who don’t have enough money won’t get the help they need. Isn’t American supposed to be a nice country compared to others? No wonder some countries look down on us. It this matter goes to Supreme Court, its going to be an even bigger issue, and no one wants it to get there. Cutting medical care and social security is not the best way for budget cuts. It doesn’t get anyone anywhere. They think everyone is so worried about the recession, they won’t mind their health being cut off. People would mind their social security, because they worked so many hard years for that money. This is not the right way to fix budget cuts. It’s just making everything worse as it is. This is just killing people right off the planet. People commit suicide because of these kinds of things. Some people die because their not getting the health care they need. Cutting it completely off is like self-assisted suicide for the United States. Don’t argue over it and take it to court. First off no one wants it and is trying to avoid it. It’s just so simple to not cut medical care and social security at all. People work too hard just to lose their life over free money. If millions of dollars are already invested in Medicare then why cut it? It’s not going to solve any problems if were in trillions of dollars in debt. Taxes are already high. Cutting programs isn’t going to clear our debt.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/19/white-house-faces-political-dilemma-on-health-law-challenge/

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20053258-503544.html

Nicole

Veronika said...

I believe the most immense dilemma America is facing is the issue of war. Because of this war on terror, the economy has spiraled, countless jobs have been forcefully surrendered, and our country seems to be struggling to make ends meet. Tensions among various races are now rising among various races and people of different beliefs. In addition, money is going toward the war on Terror now, instead of the necessities. President Obama promised to have all American troops out by the year 2011, but we are over halfway through the entire year... What progress has been made? As we continue our seemingly interminable bout with Iraq (a massive oil producer), oil prices in the US skyrocket, and few people are able to afford it.
This war is the basis of most of the country's problems. Now, many citizens mistrust the government -- whose job it is to protect Americans -- and in some cases are becoming unruly. And, not only is our country becoming wary of our government, but views on other countries have been altered drastically.
As immigrants flock to our country, they are hired for jobs we cannot maintain because of this war; There is just not enough money to support our troops as well as the rest of the United States.
Yes, a simple solution would be to wake Obama up and have him retract our troops from this war... But would that make the opposing side view us as weak? Would we then become vulnerable to more surprise attacks?

Sources:
* http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-04-09-iraq-war-economy-cost-obama_N.htm

* http://www.blurtit.com/q706836.html
*Discussions, prior knowledge...

Unknown said...

The current issue I believe that our nation should focus more on is street violence. It seems to be a very big issue in our country, but it isn’t being dealt with properly in my opinion. Gang violence has been a problem since the early nineteenth centuries. If the government doesn’t take better precautions, gangs will continue to grow. Law enforcements, schools, and parents have turned their heads on our youth countless of times. Also, gangs are growing, because of poor neighborhoods and unemployment. So our youth is robbing and selling drugs to survive or either becoming violent or using drugs to ease their hardship and the youth joins gangs to feel excepted. I believe if the government donated more money to poor neighborhoods and schools and if parents dedicated more time to their children. Less youth would likely be gang affiliated.


http://www.pa2012.com/2009/04/gang-violence-in-a-potent-issue/

http://www.gangsorus.com/gang_history.html

Travon Fite

LindaaLovee:) said...

The most important issue to me that is troubling our great nation is the fact that we are in dept an have been in debt for quite some time now. There has to be a resolution as quick as possible and I believe that president Obama can make those changes. Even though he has made many changes to try and overcome that particular issue that I find the most important out of many, I don't think were quite there yet. He has created thousands of new jobs but yet it doesn't seem like that has made an impact at all in the past for years. Not only is it Obama's job to help our economy by creating new jobs but also our government, who I believe seem to do less then our president and yet still get a lot of credit which I disagree on. The U.S. government states that the unemployment rate fell all the way down to 9.0% in January of 2011, and since then things haven't really changed, in my opinion I think the best way to resolve this big issue is for president Obama to be re-elected and finish what he has started. I'm almost 100% sure that he will succeed on resolving this huge problem, I believe he will create more jobs as time goes by and then people will get going on their own as soon as that plan kicks in and we will overcome this economic trouble. Our economy/jobs is what I find to be the biggest concern for myself and others as well.

- Linda Pinon


http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog


http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/find-a-job-good-luck-in-this-economy-10-reasons-why-the-latest-unemployment-numbers-are-no-reason-to-cheer

lisette saldana said...

i think the number one concern that everybody has right now about the government is the economy. there's so much people who don't have jobs and homes, there's nearly 14 million people are unemployed…the unemployment rate is at 9.1 percent.” Obama promised more jobs but it seems to me like hes more worried about next year's presidential election. i think Obama needs to start thinking of others more then him self.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/08/19/obama-economic-strategy-targets-jobs-growth-but-aims-at-2012-reelection.html
http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/02/news/economy/job

lisette per 3

CrYstaL c. said...

My mother went back to school to become a dental assistant, which was more than a year ago and yet she still has not found a job. That’s the case for many Americans that are still aimlessly looking for work. Opportunities here in America are very slim, and it doesn’t look like our economic problems will soon be solved in the years to come. The people in the midst of all this aren’t quite sure why the economy is bad. "Why can’t Washington magically fix the economy?" It is almost impossible to do so. There is nothing that the American government or tax cutters can do to make our economic failure vanish overnight. This economic downfall has been prompted by excessive lending and spending, a horrible banking system, ignorance, and carless borrowing. We have dug ourselves a gigantic hole, and have accidentally fallen into it. The United States has seen better days, which indeed is not now. Presidents in the past and present have made it their goal to fix the economy. Hats off to Obama who is trying to dodge a reoccurring episode of October 1929.

Fortune 500. "the economy" 11/10.

Time Magazine. May 2, 2011.

Unknown said...

In my opinion something that troubles America the most is the economy. I believe that as a country we should be worrying about our own issues instead of international conflicts. Yeah I understand that we should be there for others but how can we be there for others if we cant take care of ourselves. We should fix what needs to be fixed here then worry about what needs to be fixed outside our country.

HenryBaltazar(: said...

The biggest topic that everyone is worried about right now is the economy. Their is a lot of people that work their butts off and only get minimum wage. They barley get enough money to pay rent and to support their families in whatever they need. They also complain because of the gas prices, they go up every week. Lots of people work far from their homes and waist lots of gas going to and coming from work. People now a days are losing their homes because they just cant afford to pay it anymore. The government and president need to do something and fast.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/19/news/economy/oil_gas_prices/index.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032222/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/