Can You Make It On $1,000 a Month?

Take the “PlaySpent” challenge.  A link to the online game has been posted on the right (under blogroll, select Are You Spent?) that challenges how far you can go with $1,000 a month.  Lots of young people think survival in the world, post-High School, is cheaper than it really is.  See how far you can stretch your money while playing the roles of typical Americans portrayed in the game.  Warning – It’s not as far as you think.

Must you have health insurance?

If you’ve heard anything about the controversy over President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, passed by Congress and ratified by the President in the spring of 2010, it likely has been about the question of whether or not government, in this case the Federal government, can require all American citizens to have insurance?  Up to 40 million Americans did not have access to health insurance in this country before the president’s health care plan was created.  The intent of the act was to diminish that number by providing a public option for those who can’t afford insurance.  There have been a deluge of arguments on both sides of the political spectrum about whether or not government has the right to do this or not.

Much of the recent GOP debates have centered on the candidates arguing about the pros and cons (mostly the cons) of the plan.  What the candidates specifically have a problem with is the “individual mandate” requirement clause in the Act.  Clearly this hot-button issue is one that we, as voters, need to pay close attention to as it could impact the 2012 elections and will impact American taxpayers.  As discussed in class, there are three things the federal government can make you do: pay taxes, serve jury duty, and register with Selective Service.  The individual mandate would be the fourth item added to that list.

First, you need to read the article I linked to this website.  It’s called “SC and the Indiv Mandate” and it’s on the right side of this page.  Next, you need to understand what the “individual mandate” clause of the Affordable Care Act is.  The definition is in the reading but you may need to do some research on your own if you still don’t understand it after reading.  Finally, you need to post a response to the following questions:

1.  Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) the federal government would make a public health care option available to those who struggle financially, for a fee suitable to their economic ability.  If a person elects not to have either private or public health care they must pay a penalty fee.  Why would anyone chose not to have health care? – likely the individual does not believe government should require all Americans to pay for and have health care.  Do you agree/disagree with this policy?  Explain why.

2.  What connection is the author drawing between South Carolina’s car insurance requirement and the individual mandate clause in the (ACA)?

3.  There is a bias in this author’s article – explain what his bias is and whether you agree or disagree with his stance.

This is due before 3:05PM CST Friday, October 7th, 2011.  If you have questions about this assignment – you must see me before Friday morning.

Where my Judges at??

Hello there esteemed, neutral, unbiased panel of Judges!  Your task today, while you sit in the computer lab, isolated from the attorneys busy working on Friday’s moot court, is to read the article on jury bias.  It is linked to this page (on the right, click on the link entitled “Jury Bias”).

After reading it, I want you to answer the following questions (which I expect you to answer on your white Judge sheet someplace):

1.  Explain what happened in the 1950s that accounts for changes in the application of court room decision making?

2.  Explain how psychological influences can bias a juror’s decision making abilities.

3.  What factors most influence jurors or are most “predictive”?

[The term "voir dire" is the technical term for the jury-selection process.  When translated it means "to speak truth" which is what attorneys do to potential jurors, through questioning, in order to find the best, most unbiased jurors.]

Citation for Lobbyist packet

I neglected to give you guys the bibliographic info so you can footnote and cite in your bib the handout.  The handout of the copied reading is from a textbook.  Here is the citation:
Lowi, Theodore, Benjamin Ginsberg, and Kenneth Shepsle. American Government: Power and Purpose. 2008. W.W. Norton & Company, 2008. Print.

To footnote the book:
At the bottom type the last name of the first author (Lowi), title of the book should be italicized, and page number(s) you are referencing info.

Lobbyists: Democracy Usurpers or Enablers?

Research assignment:  Are Lobbyists Usurpers or Enablers of Democracy?

Your job is to answer this question in three page research paper using the materials provided to you so that you don’t cheat (plagiarize).  The materials are links on this web page.  The links include a few videos (can’t copy and paste from those) and articles.   I will also give you readings.  If you still feel you cannot answer the question academically and thoroughly than you will be expected to go on a fact-finding mission by doing your own research.  Be careful!  Do not plagiarize.  The links on this page to check out are:
1.  Capitol Crimes (watch Parts I and II on the scandal involving Lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former Congressman Tom Delay)
2.  What’s So Wrong w/ Lobbyists? (article from TheHill.com, a Congressional website)
3.  NPR’s In Defense of Lobbyists (short radio transcript to listen to)

You’re going to need to tackle this assignment by breaking it into smaller pieces, or questions, that you can answer and combine to create a paper.  Some of the questions I recommend you addressing by answering for this paper are:

1.  What’s a lobbyist/lobby?  (It sounds like a place rather than a person or group….why is that?)
2.  What does a lobby do?  What does a lobbyist do?
3.  Why do they exist?
4.  How long have they existed?
5.  How many of them are in existence?
6.  What kinds of lobbies exist?  For what purpose?
7.  Her question makes them sound both negative and positive…that being said, how might lobbyists be both bad and good?  In continuation, how might lobbies be “usurpers of Democracy” and yet helpful or “enabling” of Democracy?

Requirements:  Minimum three full pages, double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, email me the finished product (gallagovtrbhs@gmail.com) no later than 3:30PM May 9th.  A MLA bibliography must also be included with your paper.  Papers must have footnoted citations anywhere material, quotes, and/or ideas are used from your research sources.

Snyder v. Phelps Interview on FOX

To the right you will see a link to an interview the Phelps and Snyder parties did with a FOX news correspondent.  Again, the interview contains bias and the Phelps are controversial (as always) so you’ve been given a head’s up warning before watching it.  It may help you prepare for our mock trial Wednesday so check it out if you need the extra assistance.

Hi! Welcome to Gallagher’s Government Blah-Blog

Well, if you made it here then you’ve done something right.  Welcome!  This is my website/blog for U.S. Government.  You need to bookmark this site as you will be expected to jump on it regularly throughout the semester.  I post links to articles, assignments, video clips, and blog in real time (with you) on nights when something big, politically, happens.  Don’t panic!  It’ll be easy and you’ll come to like it.

This is a class that is starting right after an election year.  This means we’ll be interrupted often this semester with stories and breaking-news on the new Congress’ legislative actions, leadership, and scandals (which, no doubt, there will be a few).  Until then, perhaps you could post a comment on what you believe are the causes of hundreds of birds dropping dead out of the sky in Arkansas on New Years day.  Fireworks?  Atmospheric gas?  A biblical sign of the second coming?  Aliens?  A bird cult committing mass suicide?  You tell me.

Again, welcome!

Election NIGHT!! I’m here….

Are you?  It’s been such a long day, especially for those of us who spent the last twelve+ hours volunteering on election day.  I just got home myself.  I’m tired, hungry, but full of adrenaline and waiting for the projections to turn into confirmations.  If you’re here and want to jump on the blog-Welcome!

What do think about all this tonight?  Nothing is final but the Obama fans must be happy tonight.  It’ll be interesting to see how the votes turn out for the Senate and House too.  I’m flipping between CNN, some Election Night special on the dish, and WGN where OBama will be.

Presidential Debate #2

It’s Tuesday night and round two of the Presidential debates.  Tonight’s set up is supposed to be a town hall meeting where the candidates more “casually” address the public on the major issues concerning our country today.  If you noticed, today was another poor day on Wall Street so no doubt the economy will be the focus of tonight’s discussion.  Try to listen for the major talking points covered and get a read on who you think “won” the debate.

Enjoy!

John McCain Speaks tonite at RNC!

Hi!  You here yet?  I am.  Crummy night out (sorry birthday folks!) so what better reason to stay in, watch the big speech at 9, and chat w/ your classmates and teacher about it all.  Hmm…I wonder if it’ll be different or similar to last week’s big speech?  What do you think?  John McCain isn’t known for his charisma or eloquence like Obama is, but he’s been a senator for so long he has plenty he can speak from experience about.  Listen tonight for his plan’s, should he be elected President, for Iraq, the oil crisis, the economy, immigration, abortion, gay marriage, etc.  Jump into the blog and post a thought, observation, or question and I’ll try to get back to you as quick as I can.  Welcome!

Hmm…wonder if they’ll be dancing at this one?