https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/on-foreign-policy-trump-has-become--gasp--a-normal-president/2017/04/26/197b0372-2542-11e7-b503-9d616bd5a305_story.html?utm_term=.a9224478456c
On foreign policy, Trump promised little ideology and lots of anecdote driven reactionism. The foreign policy promises of presidents are rarely gone through with. Even though Trump told Obama to stay out of Syria, Trump blasted an air base used for chemical weapon attacks. He will also persue bilateral trade agreements. The President has not flipped on his anti-refugee and anti-immigration posture, and he pledges to ban refugees from Syria. It will be these policies that make or break President Trump in the world.
This relates to what we've been learning in class because we learned about foreign policy today. Congress has to agree to fund the President's foreign policy agenda, so Trump has to have Congress members that support him. Foreign policy is the domain of the federal government. Trump used military aid, which is in his "toolbox" for foreign policy, to bomb Syria.
I don't think there should be a ban on Syrian refugees. I think there should be a better system of checking for terrorists and stronger restrictions for people from anywhere, because not everyone in Syria is a terrorist. What Syria was doing to their people is terrible and they should be helped, so on one hand, it's good that the U.S. got involved. But on the other hand, maybe we don't always have to get involved in foreign affairs, especially if it might lead us into a war or clashing with other nations.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Blog 7: Bureaucrats
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/03/trump_orders_raises_for_overpaid_federal_bureaucrats.html
President Trump ordered all federal workers to get a 2% raise, which may not seem like a lot, but they make so much already that the pay raise is unnecessary. The average pay for federal workers is much more than the average pay of private sector workers. President Trump should be cutting their pay to match those in the private sector.
This relates to what we've been learning in class because we've been learning about bureaucrats. A bureaucracy is a large organization composed of appointed officials, like federal workers. A bureaucrat is a civil servant that works in the government, like a federal employee. A private sector is part of the national economy that is not under direct government control. Private sector workers don't earn as much as federal workers because federal workers work directly for the government.
I don't think the pay for federal workers should be raised because they already earn a lot of money. I don't think it should be cut either. I think the pay for private sector workers should be raised because they don't make nearly as much.
President Trump ordered all federal workers to get a 2% raise, which may not seem like a lot, but they make so much already that the pay raise is unnecessary. The average pay for federal workers is much more than the average pay of private sector workers. President Trump should be cutting their pay to match those in the private sector.
This relates to what we've been learning in class because we've been learning about bureaucrats. A bureaucracy is a large organization composed of appointed officials, like federal workers. A bureaucrat is a civil servant that works in the government, like a federal employee. A private sector is part of the national economy that is not under direct government control. Private sector workers don't earn as much as federal workers because federal workers work directly for the government.
I don't think the pay for federal workers should be raised because they already earn a lot of money. I don't think it should be cut either. I think the pay for private sector workers should be raised because they don't make nearly as much.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Blog 6: Neil Gorsuch
http://time.com/4709234/neil-gorsuch-confirmation-hearing-supreme-court-decision/
One of Neil Gorsuch's decisions about autistic children's education was struck down by the Supreme Court. His previous decision said that a school district abides with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as long as it was more than de minimis. Chief Justice John Roberts said that that can hardly be considered getting an education at all. Gorsuch said his decision was a hard one to make but his hands were tied.
This relates to class because we've been talking about the judiciary, which involves the courts. Neil Gorsuch is a new Supreme Court justice nominee by President Trump. In this article Gorsuch's decision was shut down by a vote of 8-0, that's a majority opinion. Gorsuch was chosen by a Republican President, party background has a strong effect on jucicial behavior. Trump chose Gorsuch because he shares the same political ideologies.
I think that education is important and everyone should have it. Just because someone is disabled doesn't mean they should have less of an education. Everyone should get the same options and opportunities. So I think it was right of the Supreme Court to overturn the previous ruling. It's not fair to the students to have less of an education because of something they can't control and not be treated equally.
One of Neil Gorsuch's decisions about autistic children's education was struck down by the Supreme Court. His previous decision said that a school district abides with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as long as it was more than de minimis. Chief Justice John Roberts said that that can hardly be considered getting an education at all. Gorsuch said his decision was a hard one to make but his hands were tied.
This relates to class because we've been talking about the judiciary, which involves the courts. Neil Gorsuch is a new Supreme Court justice nominee by President Trump. In this article Gorsuch's decision was shut down by a vote of 8-0, that's a majority opinion. Gorsuch was chosen by a Republican President, party background has a strong effect on jucicial behavior. Trump chose Gorsuch because he shares the same political ideologies.
I think that education is important and everyone should have it. Just because someone is disabled doesn't mean they should have less of an education. Everyone should get the same options and opportunities. So I think it was right of the Supreme Court to overturn the previous ruling. It's not fair to the students to have less of an education because of something they can't control and not be treated equally.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Blog 5: Civil Rights
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_58c310d6e4b054a0ea6aac8f
Over 150 civil rights groups called Trump wanting him to respond more to hate crimes. The organizations signed an open letter saying that Trump fosters an atmosphere of hate and doesn't respond to hate crimes fast enough. The letter cites horrific incidents, like two Indian men being shot in Kansas, and over 100 threats against Jewish Community Centers. The letter says that the President cannot condemn hate in one sentence and then promote falsehoods that can lead to hate and violence in the next. Trump has portrayed black Americans as criminals, Mexicans as rapists, and has bragged about sexual harassment against women. The letter encourages the President and his Cabinet to condemn hate when it happens.
This relates to what we've been learning in class because it talks about civil rights. Civil rights means protecting minority groups. It also has to do with civil liberties because in the 14th Amendment it talks about equal protection under the law. All these hate crimes around the world are taking away people's civil rights. These crimes are based on bias of race, gender, sexuality, etc.
Groups that are targets for hate crimes like the ones mentioned should be protected better and the violators of civil rights should be persecuted. The President should be doing a better job of making sure of that, and not spreading ideas that will inevitably cause more hate crimes. It's ridiculous that people are killed and tortured or having their rights taken away for either something they can't control (race, gender) or something that shouldn't be a problem to anyone else (sexuality).
Over 150 civil rights groups called Trump wanting him to respond more to hate crimes. The organizations signed an open letter saying that Trump fosters an atmosphere of hate and doesn't respond to hate crimes fast enough. The letter cites horrific incidents, like two Indian men being shot in Kansas, and over 100 threats against Jewish Community Centers. The letter says that the President cannot condemn hate in one sentence and then promote falsehoods that can lead to hate and violence in the next. Trump has portrayed black Americans as criminals, Mexicans as rapists, and has bragged about sexual harassment against women. The letter encourages the President and his Cabinet to condemn hate when it happens.
This relates to what we've been learning in class because it talks about civil rights. Civil rights means protecting minority groups. It also has to do with civil liberties because in the 14th Amendment it talks about equal protection under the law. All these hate crimes around the world are taking away people's civil rights. These crimes are based on bias of race, gender, sexuality, etc.
Groups that are targets for hate crimes like the ones mentioned should be protected better and the violators of civil rights should be persecuted. The President should be doing a better job of making sure of that, and not spreading ideas that will inevitably cause more hate crimes. It's ridiculous that people are killed and tortured or having their rights taken away for either something they can't control (race, gender) or something that shouldn't be a problem to anyone else (sexuality).
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Blog 4: Trump Media
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/03/01/coverage-of-trumps-speech-shows-the-media-still-grades-him-on-a-curve/?utm_term=.06f359bea673
Various news reports say that Trump's speech to Congress was his "most presidential" performance to date. What is being implied, is that we have such low standards for him, that whenever he's actually doing his job, it's surprising. Trump is so erratic that all it takes for journalists to be impressed, is one hour of him acting like the President of the United States. He didn't assail the media much and didn't call anybody names. When the Mexican President met with Trump, he said that Trump must've had a personality change because he said positive things about Mexican Americans. Trump is a beneficiary of basement level expectations.
This relates to our class because we've been taking about the media. Trump is at war with the media and has been for quite a while. This article says that the media grades him on a curve. The 1st Amendment gives press freedom so this article can insult Trump and get away with it, as long as it's not libel. And what they're saying aren't lies because Trump is known for insulting people.
I think it's sad that Trump's speech to Congress is now becoming his most presidential performance. That says that he's been so un-President-like up until now, that when he's giving a political speech, people are shocked at his performance. He's always being rude and unprofessional, and when he's not, it's considered out of character. We have such low standards for him, but he set them for himself.
Various news reports say that Trump's speech to Congress was his "most presidential" performance to date. What is being implied, is that we have such low standards for him, that whenever he's actually doing his job, it's surprising. Trump is so erratic that all it takes for journalists to be impressed, is one hour of him acting like the President of the United States. He didn't assail the media much and didn't call anybody names. When the Mexican President met with Trump, he said that Trump must've had a personality change because he said positive things about Mexican Americans. Trump is a beneficiary of basement level expectations.
This relates to our class because we've been taking about the media. Trump is at war with the media and has been for quite a while. This article says that the media grades him on a curve. The 1st Amendment gives press freedom so this article can insult Trump and get away with it, as long as it's not libel. And what they're saying aren't lies because Trump is known for insulting people.
I think it's sad that Trump's speech to Congress is now becoming his most presidential performance. That says that he's been so un-President-like up until now, that when he's giving a political speech, people are shocked at his performance. He's always being rude and unprofessional, and when he's not, it's considered out of character. We have such low standards for him, but he set them for himself.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Blog 3: Women's March
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/01/30/why-the-womens-march-may-be-the-start-of-a-serious-social-movement/?utm_term=.e5d3622af582
It only took one day for commenters to ask if the Women's March on Washington was a movement or just a one day wonder. It also raised the question, can a movement embracing such wide range goals start political action? Movements like Black Lives Matter have offered insight and raised issues, but there hasn't been much action taking place to solve the problem. But the Women's March may succeed for these reasons: the march drew people from different corners of society, the march was nonviolent, the US has a strong independent court system, movements need a common elevating goal, and the fear that rights will be taken is a good motivator.
This relates to what we have talked about in class because the Women's March is a social movement. It is a widely shared demand for change in the social or political order. The Women's March is a demand for women's rights. The March attracted many, many supporters because the March doesn't represent anything that is crazy extreme, it represents rights that women should have, which, while a big deal, isn't that extreme of an idea. It's something that should already be solved.
I support the Women's March and believe that it will become even more successful because of all the supporters and movements starting because of the March. I think that the more nonviolent protests there are, the more political action there will be. If no one speaks up, nothing will happen.
It only took one day for commenters to ask if the Women's March on Washington was a movement or just a one day wonder. It also raised the question, can a movement embracing such wide range goals start political action? Movements like Black Lives Matter have offered insight and raised issues, but there hasn't been much action taking place to solve the problem. But the Women's March may succeed for these reasons: the march drew people from different corners of society, the march was nonviolent, the US has a strong independent court system, movements need a common elevating goal, and the fear that rights will be taken is a good motivator.
This relates to what we have talked about in class because the Women's March is a social movement. It is a widely shared demand for change in the social or political order. The Women's March is a demand for women's rights. The March attracted many, many supporters because the March doesn't represent anything that is crazy extreme, it represents rights that women should have, which, while a big deal, isn't that extreme of an idea. It's something that should already be solved.
I support the Women's March and believe that it will become even more successful because of all the supporters and movements starting because of the March. I think that the more nonviolent protests there are, the more political action there will be. If no one speaks up, nothing will happen.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Blog 2: Muslim Ban
http://m.westernherald.com/opinion/article_7b47b20a-f22d-11e6-b474-3b5c583324ef.html?mode=jqm
During the primaries, Trump made some rude comments towards the family of Captain Humayun Khan who was killed in Iraq in 2004. This scandal shed light on Trump's feelings toward Muslims. Trump enforced a travel ban on Muslims from certain countries so they couldn't come into the United States. There have been many Arab-American and Muslim service members that have joined since 9/11, and they were accepted. The ban is endangering people of the countries that were banned because of terrorsim in those places. For many Arab and Muslim refugees who joined the U.S. military, they are shocked at the Grand Old Party's anti-Islamic sentiments.
This relates to what we've been learning in class because we have been learning about primaries and the Grand Old Party.
I don't think there should be a ban of Muslims coming into our country. I get that some places have more threats than others, but instead of not allowing certain people from certain places from coming into our country, we should do a better job of checking their backgrounds and not discriminating. People want to get away from the terror where they live, and they should be granted that right.
During the primaries, Trump made some rude comments towards the family of Captain Humayun Khan who was killed in Iraq in 2004. This scandal shed light on Trump's feelings toward Muslims. Trump enforced a travel ban on Muslims from certain countries so they couldn't come into the United States. There have been many Arab-American and Muslim service members that have joined since 9/11, and they were accepted. The ban is endangering people of the countries that were banned because of terrorsim in those places. For many Arab and Muslim refugees who joined the U.S. military, they are shocked at the Grand Old Party's anti-Islamic sentiments.
This relates to what we've been learning in class because we have been learning about primaries and the Grand Old Party.
I don't think there should be a ban of Muslims coming into our country. I get that some places have more threats than others, but instead of not allowing certain people from certain places from coming into our country, we should do a better job of checking their backgrounds and not discriminating. People want to get away from the terror where they live, and they should be granted that right.
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