Chapter 3

1. Is a strong national government necessary or should the state governments have an equal share of power?  Why?

I think a strong national government is necessary to keep the country unified. If all the state governments had an equal share of power with a weak or nonexistent national government, I think the nation as a whole would be much weaker. Each individual state would be more likely to simply look out for its own interests and there would be more conflicts between them. A strong national government could act as a mediator and final decision maker. The state governments, however, do need to be strong enough to challenge the national government in order for it not to assume full and absolute control.

2. National power increased during the Great Depression but then power began to shift back to the states (somewhat) during the Reagan administration?  Why did that happen and is that shift appropriate?

The shift from national power to state power happened because Reagan, as a Republican, believed that power should reside more with the states than the national government. During the Great Depression, the people needed a strong national government because no one knew what to do. During Reagan's administration there was more stability and the strength of the national government was no longer needed. The states would be more effective in handling their finances according to their needs than the national government. I think it was a good move because it took a bit of burden off the national government, and gave the states more independence.

3. Education stirs much discussion relating to the issue of federalism.  Should the national government regulate education or is it a matter best left to state and local governments?  Why?

I think education is better left to state and local governments because state and local governments are better connected to the needs of its citizens. The national government should set some kind of standard, of course, but it should be up to the state and local governments to decide how to reach that standard. If the national government was to regulate education, I feel like it would struggle more than if the power was with the state. There is no way the national government could manage all of the different needs of fifty different states on its own. And with so many states to manage, it would take longer for each state to get the help it needs. Education is better left to the states themselves. 

Chapter 2

The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution

The shift from the Articles of Confederation to a Constitution was extremely important because it established a United States rather than the united States. That lower case 'u' was a huge detriment to our progress as a nation. Until the Constitution was ratified, the US was more like several small countries that had allied themselves together. Under the Articles of Confederation, an individual state operated mostly independently which could have been a tremendous problem for a brand new country. States would have been too busy with issues amongst themselves to even worry about foreign problems, which would have left us very vulnerable to outside pressure. The Constitution brought stability to the US as a new country, and the nation looked stronger when it presented a united front. Bonding together as one country was also beneficial to each state as the Revolution had left lingering problems, such as a large debt that wasn't getting paid. Coming together and forming blanket rules and procedures for each State brought solutions to these problems that wouldn't have gotten solved with each squabbling over their own individual rules. A United States was a much better choice for out brand new nation than a united States.

The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights is critical to the American people because it is what protects the individual, rather than just the nation as a whole. While most rules are established for the good of everyone, these ten rules are what allow us to be actual individuals, separate from one another. Without the Bill of Rights the American people would be like a colony of insects, always doing what is best for the hive rather than thinking of ourselves. That's not inherently bad, but I think that what allows the country to thrive and flourish rather than just maintaining a stable existence is the individuality of our nation's people.

The Death Penalty

I don't think that capital punishment is unconstitutional at all. The 8th Amendment prohibits "cruel and unusual" punishments, but putting people to death for certain crimes has been the norm for thousands of years. That being said, taking a person's life is not something that should be treated lightly. There should be absolute proof and no doubt whatsoever of a person's guilt if they are going to be sentenced to death. I feel that the 5th and 14th Amendments are there protect citizens from being unjustly put to death, and that the 8th Amendment ensures that it will be handled in as civilized a manner as possible. To me, the Constitution does not prohibit the death penalty, it just keeps us from becoming barbarians. Maybe its writers intended for it to be ambiguous just so we wouldn't end a person's life on an emotional whim.

Chapter 1

1. Do you think Americans take the idea of democracy for granted?

I think Americans often do take democracy for granted. I work at a department store and one of people's favorite things to complain about is the government and how it only wants their money. We have more rights and freedoms here than a lot of other countries yet these people want to rant for ten minutes about their increased electric bill because of the "government monopoly" on everything. So, change it. Democracy is supposed to be about the people and their needs. We have a government ruled "by the people, for the people."  And if we believe our government to be corrupt, we have a duty to "overthrow it," not necessarily by physical force but by allowing our voices and beliefs to be heard. If we truly disagree with something, we have the luxury of being able to change it, but there is a large percentage of people who don't even bother to vote.

2. Why is separation of powers so crucial?

Separation of powers is so important because it keeps our democracy intact. By employing a system of checks and balances, the powers among the three branches are kept equal. No one branch has more power than another, and each branch does a different job. This is crucial because it means that no one branch can stand on its own. Each is dependent upon the others. 

3.Political ideology: Which am I and why?

I really have no idea where I fall on a political scale. Whenever I watch the news or a political debate, I usually just walk away feeling confused. If I had to choose, I guess I would go with Moderate. Both the left and right wings have their good ideas and bad ideas. I fully support gay marriage, but not affirmative action. I believe in the right to bear arms, but I think we should be looking for alternate sources of energy. Neither liberals or conservatives are completely right or completely wrong. I'm hoping that this class will teach me more about politics and help me choose a political belief.