Earth Day

A Fierce Green Fire  was aired on April 22, 2014  on PBS in honor of Earth Day.  The topics discussed were "the conservative movement",  pollution and cleanup, green peace, global resources, and climate change. Narrated by famous individuals such as Ashley Judd, Robert Redford, and Meryl Streep, the video discussed global activism from the 1960s to 2009.  The fact that the video was based off of a book titled the same by Philip Shabecoff, focusing on stories about how the climate has affected individuals or many people in more than one negative way.  The video was extremely centrally focused on the opinions of the entire world, and did not sway to bash or completely support the fact that humans are basically "destroying" their home.  The film was very accurate and the facts were well supported, as it was created by talented and unique individuals with lots of knowledge about this topic. 


         Kitchell, Mark. "Watch Film: A Fierce Green Fire." PBS. PBS, 22 Apr. 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.


Recently, Iceland has been shipping whale meat to Japan, where whaling is illegal, with the help of Norway.  A recent ship arrived on May 7th, carrying 2,000 tons of fin whale meat that would be used at restaurants in Japan.  Last March was when whaling in the Antarctic Ocean was deemed illegal,  yet this has not decreased the number of whales being slaughtered by much as Norway and Iceland's habits have not eased up.  This article allows the reader to become educated not only with current happenings but also a brief history- even just going back a year- of whaling in different countries and how the efforts to stop it completely keep being bypassed.  Once a country or town rules whaling illegal, another seems to start whaling or sending meat to the place where it is banned. 


          Graham, Karen. "Japan Finds Way around Ban on Whaling." Japan Finds Way around Ban on Whaling. Digitaljournal.com, 12 May 2014. Web. 12 May 2014.




A recent report discovered that part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is unstoppable as it collapses into the water, enough to raise the water level by 10 to 13 feet over the next few centuries.  No one is sure how fast this is going to melt/collapse because you can't really predict this easily, especially since it is going to take many years to complete.  The ice has "two feet of sea level rise", resulting in a significant increase in the depth of the oceans.  This article, especially from just reading the title, is really a surprise to everyone, but in all reality, it shouldn't really make anyone nervous as it will be many, many years (at least 50) before any change is really noticed [up here in the States] and before scientists need to be very concerned about human life on land.  It is a very interesting article, with many valid points, and a lot of educated facts. 


           Mooney, Chris. "This Is What a Holy Shit Moment for Global Warming Looks Like." Mother Jones. Mother Jones and the Foundation for National Progress, 12 May 2014. Web. 12 May 2014.


I would like to see experts/scientists continue looking into solving environmental issues, especially whaling throughout the world.  Individuals shouldn't get away with the innocent slaughtering of creatures.

 Assignment:
Part 1:  Bibliographic annotation for.

American Masters, A fierce Green fire.  Use the internet, and cite the source.  Summarize. In a paragraph format.  MLA format, but you don't have to reverse indent if you don't like.

Direct link to the video.

Part 2:  2 more sources about some aspect of the Environmental movement that 'speaks to you.'  This could be managing fisheries for recreation, saving the whales, etc., clean air, clean water, solar power, nuclear power, clean coal.  I don't really care, but don't be contrarian for contrarians sake.  Look for something good about the Planet,  and dig in.

Cite the sources, summarize, in MLA format.

Write a statement of purpose about what you would like to see done about the issue you have researched, and WHY.

Presidential Candidate Campaigns: Essay 20

In the 1990’s presidential election campaigns have become more candidate centered and less focused on issues and party labels. The change has been attributed both to how the media cover presidential campaigns and to how candidates use the media. Two ways in which the media has contributed to candidate-centered presidential campaigns are broadcasting talk shows/debates on TV, and covering the background of a candidate.  Two ways in which presidential candidates’ use of the media has contributed to candidate-centered campaigns are the negative commercials/mud sliding pit on TV/radio to try to make that candidate lose votes, and another way is the media leaking information to the public before it was to be released (if ever). 

(1999_1). In the 1990’s presidential election campaigns have become more candidate centered and less focused on issues and party labels. The change has been attributed both to how the media cover presidential campaigns and to how candidates use the media Identify and explain two ways in which the media have contributed to candidate-centered presidential campaigns. Identify and explain two ways in which presidential candidates’ use of the media has contributed to candidate-centered campaigns.

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/sg_gov_pol_us_99.up_7047.pdf

National Interest Groups: Essay 19

National interest groups often target national-level policymaking institutions to achieve their policy objectives.  American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) 

(1999_2)National interest groups often target national-level policymaking institutions to achieve their policy objectives.

Select one of the following national interest groups.
- AARP
- AMA (Medical Association
- NAACP
- NAM (national assoc. of Manufacturers)

For the group you selected do each of the following.
- a identify one major national-level policymaking institution that this group targets.
- b describe one resource or characteristic of the group you have chosen and explain how it influences the choice of the target you have identified in (a)
- c describe another resource or characteristic of the group you have chosen and explain how it influences the choice of the target you have identified in (a).

 http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/govpol_us_99.pdf

Democratic and Republican Party Compositions: Essay 18

Over the last several decades, the composition of the Democratic and Republican parties has changed in important ways. A major partisan shift has occurred in the South, but other demographic changes have also been identified. Changes in party composition are reflected at different rates in presidential elections than in congressional elections.  One specific trend evident in the figure above is that the percentage of House seats for Democrats has gone down.   Southern voters from 1948 to 2000 were electing Democratic candidates to Congress more frequently than choosing Democratic candidates for the presidency because of the incumbency advantage because even though Southern voters were voting for Republican candidates, they continued to vote for incumbent Democratic congressional candidates because of the incumbency advantage.  And because of gerrymandering, district lines have created safe seats/majority-minority districts, which protected Democratic seats even though there were more Republican voters in statewide presidential elections.  Several other changes in party composition have emerged in the past few decades including Catholics, women, and Social conservatives.  Catholics have become less reliable Democratic voters, women have become even bigger supporters of Democratic candidates, and Social conservatives have now become more reliable Republican voters, and are growing. 

Over the last several decades, the composition of the Democratic and Republican parties has changed in important ways. A major partisan shift has occurred in the South, but other demographic changes have also been identified. Changes in party composition are reflected at different rates in presidential elections than in congressional elections. (2010)

(a) Identify one specific trend evident in the figure above.

(b) Choose two of the following and use each to explain why southern voters from 1948 to 2000 were electing Democratic candidates to Congress more frequently than choosing Democratic candidates for the presidency.

• Incumbency advantage
• Gerrymandering
• Differences between state and national parties

(c) Several other changes in party composition have emerged in the past few decades. Select three of the following groups and for each explain how parties have changed in composition with respect to that group.

• Catholics
• Labor union members
• Women
• Social conservatives

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_us_govt_politics_q3.pdf

Merit System: Essay 17

 The federal bureaucracy as part of the executive branch exercises substantial independence in implementing governmental policies and programs. Most workers in the federal bureaucracy are civil-service employees who are organized under a merit system.  One key characteristic of the merit system is hiring based on testing.  For the structure of the federal bureaucracy, factors that contribute to bureaucratic independence are that it is large, there are specialized units, and it is based on merit.  Within the complexity of public programs, factors that contribute to bureaucratic independence are the specialized units/expertise, and discretionary authority (because legislation lacks details, the bureaucracy can fill in the gaps).  One Constitutional provision that Congress can use to check the bureaucracy is impeachment of executive officials, The Courts have judicial review and can declare bureaucratic actions unconstitutional, and finally, Interest groups can use the first amendment to lobby, protest, media usage, and speech, and also litigation. 

A) Describe one key characteristic of the merit system

B) For each of the following, describe one factor that contributes to bureaucratic independence.
*The structure of the federal bureaucracy
*The complexity of public programs

C) For each of the following, explain one Constitutional provision that it can use to check the bureaucracy.
* Congress
*The Courts
*Interest groups


http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_us_govt_politics_q2.pdf

Federal Bureaucrats: Essay 16

The United States congress and the president together have the power to enact federal law. Federal bureaucratic agencies have the responsibility to execute federal law. However, in the carrying out of these laws, federal agencies have policy making discretion.  Two reasons why Congress gives federal agencies policy making discretion in executing federal laws are because Congress lack expertise while agencies have expertise, and they are very time-consuming.  The Federal Communications Commission's policy area is within TV, radio, satellite, phone, etc. and they focus on these aspects of communication within the United States, as this is how much information is both gathered and dispersed to citizens.  Two ways in which Congress ensures that federal agencies follow legislative intent are by legislative vetoing, and oversight.





2006-3 The United States congress and the president together have the power to enact federal law. Federal bureaucratic agencies have the responsibility to execute federal law. However, in the carrying out of these laws, federal agencies have policy making discretion.
(1) Explain two reasons why Congress gives federal agencies policy making discretion in executing federal laws.
(2) Choose one of the bureaucratic agencies listed below. Identify the policy area over which it exercises policy-making discretion and give one specific example of how it exercises that discretion.
a. Environmental Protection Agency
b. Federal Communications Commission
c. Federal Reserve board
(3) Describe two ways in which Congress ensures that federal agencies follow legislative intent.


http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/_ap06_gopo_us_sg.pdf

Social Security: Essay 15

  In recent decades, entitlement programs have constituted a substantial portion of the United States federal budget. Social Security is the largest entitlement program in the US. An entitlement program is a government program that guarantees certain benefits to a particular group or segment of the population. The primary source of revenue for the Social Security program are payroll taxes, taxes based on earned incomes, targeted taxes, and wages from existing wage earners.  Some threats to the future of the Social security program according to the chart are running out of money, and outputs exceeding inputs.  One demographic trend that threatens the future of the Social Security program are the large amount of older people/baby boomers, resulting in the number of people there are now supporting/funding Social Security becoming less and less.  These trends could change the eligibility for social security because if people were to work longer, less money would be paid out/more money would be paid in/the reserve would not decline as rapidly or as much.

2006-2 In recent decades, entitlement programs have constituted a substantial portion of the United States federal budget. Social Security is the largest entitlement program in the US. From the information in the chart above, and your knowledge of the US government and politics, perform the following tasks.

(a) define entitlement program
(b) What is the primary source of revenue for the Social Security program(c) Identify one threat to the future of the Social security program should the trends depicted in the chart continue(d) Describe on demographic trend that threatens the future of the Social Security program and explain how it is responsible for the threat that you identified in (c )(e) Explain how any one of the trends in the chart above would change if the age of eligibility for social security were raised.

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/ap06_usgopo_samples_q2.pdf