Explain the Electoral College. What exactly is it? Why is it a good thing? Why is it not such a good thing? What do you think - should we keep it, or should we just have a popular vote? Do your own research and explain your findings.
Wouldn't you feel alarmed if someone told you that even when you vote for the presidential candidate of your choice and that candidate wins the majority of the population's votes he/she still cannot win? Well, welcome to the USA! In the US we have a system that is considered democratic in which people 18 and over and citizens of this country can vote for the candidates for presidency every 4 years. The thing with voting is that it is not just simply casting votes and counting who wins, it depends on the Electoral College. The Electoral College system was established in Article II of the Constitution and amended by the 12th amendment in 1804. The electors are a popularly elected body chosen by the States. The Electoral College consists of 538 electors (one for each of 435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 Senators; and 3 for the District of Columbia). A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President and Vice President. No Constitutional or Federal law requires electors to vote in accordance with the popular vote in their State. So pretty much you vote and then it is up to the number of people in your state that are part of the electoral college to choose who wins all the votes from your state, even if it is different from the candidate that the population chose. If none of the candidates win 270 electoral votes, the 12th Amendment kicks in and the election is decided by the House of Representatives. The real President and Vice president are announced by December.
A good thing about the electoral college is that it allows candidates to go to states and try to pursue them to vote for them because they know how many votes each state gets and it lets them work out a better strategy to gain the support of the people. It also maintains separation of powers among the three branches of government.
The electoral college is not such a good thing because the Electoral College system makes it possible for a candidate to actually lose the nationwide popular vote, but be elected president by the Electoral College and this just makes the population's votes countless. The perfect example would be if a candidate doesn't get a single vote in 39 states and wins 11 of these 12 states: California, New York, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia they could still be elected president since these states account for exactly 270 votes. The electoral college is set up this way so people could have a direct popular election as well as an election by congress. But what happens when the election by congress does not in any way reflect the wishes of those who voted and have a right for their votes to be heard and taken into consideration? Most of us know about the 2000 presidential election and the 8 years of George W. Bush's administration. In 2000 there were a total of 538 electoral votes available with 270 needed to win. Republican George W. Bush, with 50,456,002 popular votes won 271 electoral votes. His Democratic opponent, Al Gore, won the popular vote with 50,999,897 votes, but won only 266 electoral votes. This is appalling.
So with all the pros and cons and all of the years this method has been used for, in my opinion, we should stop using the electoral college system to choose our presidents. Maybe back then, when there wasn't enough laws or a strong checks and balances system it was a bit too risky to have direct popular elections but in the modern world that we live today, we just can't have a system like this and call it democratic. Over the past 200 years, over 700 proposals have been introduced in Congress to reform or eliminate the Electoral College. The American Bar Association has criticized the Electoral College as "archaic" and "ambiguous" and its polling showed 69% of lawyers favored abolishing it in 1987. But surveys of political scientists have supported continuation of the Electoral College. Public opinion polls have shown Americans favored abolishing it by majorities of 58% in 1967; 81% in 1968; and 75% in 1981. So to the congress of the United States of America, listen! Listen very closely to what your country is saying.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Federalism
Explain what Federalism is; give a definition in your own words. Also give some examples of Federalism. Why do some states have different laws than other states? What are some examples of these different laws? Why do we have Federalism in the first place? Why is it a good thing?
Federalism is a system of government in which powers are divided among regions or levels. There is a local government, state government and federal government. This means that certain states and areas have different laws and that they cannot be changed in general.
Some examples of federalism is how in different states the speed limit is different and how in some states everyone can own a gun while in other states you need to have a permit and the sell is more regulated.
States have different laws because they have a right to. Since they are their own individual city or state and they are located all over the map, they have different beliefs, etc.
We have federalism because it is a way to have a united country and a common set of laws but at the same time allowing the states to have their say in their territory as long as it does not overwrite an existing federal law or something of that sort.
Federalism is a good thing because it protects from giving one branch, state or region too much power. Also, it provides each state with the opportunity to make laws and changes to adjust to their lifestyle. I think federalism is good for any country and essential especially for the United States since we are divided among states.
Federalism is a system of government in which powers are divided among regions or levels. There is a local government, state government and federal government. This means that certain states and areas have different laws and that they cannot be changed in general.
Some examples of federalism is how in different states the speed limit is different and how in some states everyone can own a gun while in other states you need to have a permit and the sell is more regulated.
States have different laws because they have a right to. Since they are their own individual city or state and they are located all over the map, they have different beliefs, etc.
We have federalism because it is a way to have a united country and a common set of laws but at the same time allowing the states to have their say in their territory as long as it does not overwrite an existing federal law or something of that sort.
Federalism is a good thing because it protects from giving one branch, state or region too much power. Also, it provides each state with the opportunity to make laws and changes to adjust to their lifestyle. I think federalism is good for any country and essential especially for the United States since we are divided among states.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Election 2008 - Candidates
Please list the candidate you most like for the 2008 presidential election. Also, explain why you like this candidate. Explain your candidates stance on several of the key issues. Do you agree with everything that this candidate stands for? Do you consider yourself a democrat or a republican, or neither? Explain why.
The candidate I like the most for the 2008 presidential election is Hillary Clinton. I like Clinton because she knows about this politics thing. She is married to Bill Clinton which was a president, she is a senator here in New York, she seems to have a solid plan to improve the government and she is smart and I would love to change history with her being the first female president.
On health insurance- she wants everyone to have health insurance through employers and/or government. I totally agree with the fact that everyone deserves to have health insurance and be able to be treated at all times and in any place. On abortion- she agrees with Roe v. Wade and that women should have the right to decide whether or not to have a baby. I totally agree with this also. On climate change- wants an immediate system to reduce carbon emissions. I do not know much about this topic but something definitely needs to be done with the warming of the earth. On immigration- Supports a path to legalization for illegal immigrants that includes learning English and paying fines; toughen penalties for hiring illegal immigrants; voted for fence along Mexican border. I couldn't agree more. The illegal immigration needs to be regulated and those who are already here need to be helped. On the Iraq issue- Voted in 2002 to authorize invasion, now opposed; opposed troop increase; start phased withdrawal within 60 days of taking office, with the goal to have most troops out by the end of 2013. I want our troops back! I want no deaths and I want the US to start minding their own business for once! I do not agree with having the troops back by 2013, I want them back ASAP! On Iran- Direct diplomacy without preconditions; use economic sanctions; military option not off the table, but would not consider without congressional approval. Iran is a touchy subject. I don't know which side to take on this but at least she is clear that she doesn't want to invade.
I consider myself a democrat but that doesn't mean that if I believe that a republican party candidate is better than that of a democrat that I wouldn't vote for the republican. I think the democrat party is a little bit more open-minded, liberal and it tries to help minorities and that is very important to me since I am Hispanic.
The candidate I like the most for the 2008 presidential election is Hillary Clinton. I like Clinton because she knows about this politics thing. She is married to Bill Clinton which was a president, she is a senator here in New York, she seems to have a solid plan to improve the government and she is smart and I would love to change history with her being the first female president.
On health insurance- she wants everyone to have health insurance through employers and/or government. I totally agree with the fact that everyone deserves to have health insurance and be able to be treated at all times and in any place. On abortion- she agrees with Roe v. Wade and that women should have the right to decide whether or not to have a baby. I totally agree with this also. On climate change- wants an immediate system to reduce carbon emissions. I do not know much about this topic but something definitely needs to be done with the warming of the earth. On immigration- Supports a path to legalization for illegal immigrants that includes learning English and paying fines; toughen penalties for hiring illegal immigrants; voted for fence along Mexican border. I couldn't agree more. The illegal immigration needs to be regulated and those who are already here need to be helped. On the Iraq issue- Voted in 2002 to authorize invasion, now opposed; opposed troop increase; start phased withdrawal within 60 days of taking office, with the goal to have most troops out by the end of 2013. I want our troops back! I want no deaths and I want the US to start minding their own business for once! I do not agree with having the troops back by 2013, I want them back ASAP! On Iran- Direct diplomacy without preconditions; use economic sanctions; military option not off the table, but would not consider without congressional approval. Iran is a touchy subject. I don't know which side to take on this but at least she is clear that she doesn't want to invade.
I consider myself a democrat but that doesn't mean that if I believe that a republican party candidate is better than that of a democrat that I wouldn't vote for the republican. I think the democrat party is a little bit more open-minded, liberal and it tries to help minorities and that is very important to me since I am Hispanic.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
"Sicko" by Michael Moore
What did you think of the film? Are there any scenes that you will remember? What do you think is the film-makers main point? Also, do you think Michael Moore is telling the whole story? Do you think he is objective - what do you think he is leaving out? Explain.
I like the film very much! It is informational and at the same time very humorous. The movie was about the issue that the United States faces with health care. It is unbelievable the amount of uninsured people we have in America. I will remember a couple of scenes but I liked like when at the end of the film, Michael goes to get his "laundry done". Oh my god that was so funny and also at the end when they were showing the credits the quotes, pictures and comments were really good. I think it was very important the part where they were in Guantanamo Bay and how they have such good health care for their detainees- for free! How ironic! There is always more than one story to be told and I think Moore only concentrated on the bad aspects of America. I think all in all he did a good job. People have the right to know the things that happen in US and how they are different from other parts of the world.
I like the film very much! It is informational and at the same time very humorous. The movie was about the issue that the United States faces with health care. It is unbelievable the amount of uninsured people we have in America. I will remember a couple of scenes but I liked like when at the end of the film, Michael goes to get his "laundry done". Oh my god that was so funny and also at the end when they were showing the credits the quotes, pictures and comments were really good. I think it was very important the part where they were in Guantanamo Bay and how they have such good health care for their detainees- for free! How ironic! There is always more than one story to be told and I think Moore only concentrated on the bad aspects of America. I think all in all he did a good job. People have the right to know the things that happen in US and how they are different from other parts of the world.
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