Comprehensive Care for Citizens

I think this is a tricky task. I dont think that the government needs to provide faciliated comprehensive care to its citzens at the cost of the nation. I beleive that each citizen should be able to have healthcare but not a handout.

I think when the governement steps in and takes care of its citizens it takes aways the pride and initiative of a democracy.

Below is a link for an article that discusses why welfare doesnt work:

Welfare Incentive

Foreign and Domestic Policy

How should a nation-state develop its foreign policy in accordance to its values and in connection to the development of its domestic policy?

When a nation is developing foreign policy it must consider if the national objectives will be achieved.  There are many nations in the world that do not necessarily agree with everything that a democracy has to offer. 
In our current administration, there has been much scrutiny toward the President and his dealings with Libya.

Below is a link "Mission Not Accomplished:"

Obama Libyan adventure is already a failure, and it will likely get worse.

Mission NOT accomplished
Domestic policy is a country's political policies concerning its citizens and internal workings.  Foreign Policy is a policy pursued by a nation in its dealings with other nations, designed to achieve national objectives. What are the National Objectives in oil driven countries?

Judges, the Judicial System, and the Supporting of Freedom

The Judicial system and judges support freedom by following the letter of the law. The citizens all have equal rights, but they may not have the resources available to use those rights. Each state has a dual court system that allows it to have its own laws and constitutions and the judges are elected by the people. 

Each branch of the judicial systems supports its citizens in many ways.  The law enforcement offericers that serve and protect the citizens and enforce the laws with criminals.  The lawers that defend the rights of the victims and criminals. The jurys that serve the trails and of course the judges who enforce and have the last say.

In government, the judges serve a great purpose.  The SAupreme court justice judges are the in the highest court.  The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and eight associate justices who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Once appointed, justices have life tenure unless they are removed after.

The purpose of the Supreme Court is to interpret the law.The Supreme Court has the final say on what the Constituion "means", and whether any state or federal law violates the Constituion.  Judges cannot make laws, but they can make decisions that force legislators to act a certain way, or prevent them from acting a certain way.  Similarly, they can prevent the Excecutive branch from enforcing laws that conflict with the Constitution.




http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://buffalosfire.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/supremes.jpg&imgrefurl=http://buffalosfire.com/%3Fp%3D1018&usg=__1_Y7AvIFZAVXRYEQeWPKYFN6bEg=&h=225&w=300&sz=11&hl=en&start=3&zoom=1&tbnid=5fu-c6Y_u8tHfM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=116&ei=xy-FTdueMY6ftwfJ5-i2BA&prev=/images%3Fq%3D2011%2Bsupreme%2Bcourt%2Bjustices%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1287%26bih%3D520%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1

How does the U.S. Congress, as it exists in its current structure, support and/or limit authentic representation?

In our current structure it is not a very authentic representation. They are unrepresentative with respect to gender, class, race, and ethnicity. 

Since the begining of government, we have made progress on more authentic representation in the categories of  gender (we have women in positions never held before) we have a diverse representation when it comes to race and ethnicity, but the truest struggle is class.  Once again, if you are not "educated" and have lots of money to run your campaigne there is no way you will ever make it to Washington. As a nation we have made

In what ways does the U.S. Presidency support and limit the formation of an ideal democracy?

The U.S. President supports the formation of an ideal democray as a leader of a country and also a spokes person for one of the most powerful countires in the world.

It limits the formation of a democracy because of public opinion and the personal style of the president. The economy also plays part in the limitation of formation of democracy.

How do individuals and groups of people influence the political process.

Individuals and groups influence the political process in different ways.  Living in a free nation, we have more say and outlets to be heard.  The individual influences the political process by voting, participating  in campaigns, or contributing money to a certain cause.

The group contributes to the influence of the individual.  When there is more than just an "individual" fighting for a purpose, the group has a better chance of getting their voice heard.  It is a fuel that ignites the fire. . . of the popularity contest. We live in a free nation where government is open but not free. You need to have a lot of money, be well connected, have a certain social status and have less than perfect integrity to be know or seen.

In what ways does public opinion influence the formation of a democratic society?

The public influence the formation of a democratic society by going to the polls, protests, calling local voted government officials reminding them why they placed in office. The media also influences the formation of a democratic society. We as citizens in this modern world allow us to be informed up to the minute. It also gives both parties something to feed off of and get more headlines.

The 2008 presidental election is a perfect example of public opinion forming a democratic society.  Barack Obama used media outlets to reach people who have never been reached. Many people were reached, but did they really know who or what they were voting for?  Below is a link of demographics from the 2008 election.  It is interesting to me to look at these statistics and see that in my opinion many people who voted for Obama, voted for him for other reasons than his policies and ways to make this place a better nation to live in. 

In the mid-term elections, the public opinion again played part in the formation of our democratic society.  The people of this country did not like the results of what washington was producing, so they went out to the polls, voiced their opions, and took control over what was lost.


 2008 Voter Demographics

How do government and the private sector intersect? How should it?

The governement and private sector intersect in everday life The government has set up rules and regulations to ensure the workers in the private sector are being compenstated and treated in a fair way. I think it is good to have a balance of goverenment in the private sector to give them rules and regulations to follow, but I dont think the government should have total control over the private sector and I dont think that the government should have to bail out coperations for poor business choices, but it is a positive that there is relief, but it usually comes too late . . when the economy is already is trouble and in a recession

What role does power play in government, economy, and politics?

Power plays a huge role in government, economy, and politics, but we as citizens play a huge role in who we give the power to. In our culture today, money talks and status speaks. It seems that our politicians have lost their true purpose, integrity, and the beliefs of our founding fathers founded our country on. The economy has suffered with misuse of power with the bail outs, job loss, the mortgage disaster, war, etc. In the past 10 years we have seen the ups and downs and we as a Nation still cant seem to figure it out.

Fact: Bush warned Pelosi and Reid about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and they wouldn't do a federal investigation, then the market plunged. Now unemployment is almost at 10%, yet at one point during Bush's watch it was as low as 5.4%.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_MGT_cSi7Rs

What are the opportunities and challenges of a democracy?

As I ask myself the question, What are the opportunities and challenges of democracy, I immediately think of more opportunities than I do challenges, but as a critical thinker, I can see why people would think there are challenges within our democracy.

Lets take the Social class idea in today's society- People in lower classes have more challenges than people in upper classes.  The argument is valid.  But if we (people in lower classes) keep this mentality, and accept the idea of defeat, then we will never break out of the cycle. If we don't hold our elected officials accountable for what they promised and get out and vote, then the cycle will never end.  We as citizens of the United States have a responsibility for ourselves and we need to take advantage of our free government and come together to make this the best nation to live in.  We need to be educated as citizens and make our voices heard. 

I also think that we need to go back to the beginning of our country and remember that our ancestors came over the Atlantic on boats in harsh conditions to better themselves.  They had it rough. . . they were poor, they had minimal if any education, they were in a foreign land, had the clothes on their back, and they re were no handouts, people worked hard, and had a sense of pride that I feel we have lost in our society today. They came here with one thing in mind and that was to make money and make a better life.

Today, people are upset with big corporations and its CEO for their bonuses. But didn't they work hard to achieve their bonus?  Aren't they living the "American Dream?"  This is a free nation and each of us can be anything we want to be. . . some of us may have to work a little harder, but if there is a will there is a way.  We too can live the "American Dream"

Intro. . .

Hello,

thank you for coming to my blog. . . it is a work in progress. . . .I look forward to growing with each of you.  Please visit me often.