POL 166 HW#9- Opinion on Trump winning Election

I did not follow the election from the beginning. I did not see Trump making crazy personal as opposed to political insults against his enemies trying to be commander in chief. However, I do remember him becoming the Republican Nominee. He actually made it that far. I was already uncomfortable then, because how could he have actually won is what I thought, since the media and the people I'm around are so anti-trump, I really couldn't believe that he actually beat every other candidate and became the nominee. I would ask my friend, what does this even mean. But to be completely honest, what surprised me more, is that Hillary Clinton beat Bernie Sanders and became the Democratic Nominee. From that moment on, I was in acceptance that the politics were not in my

not in my favor. Donald won Republican and Bernie lost Democratic, nowhere in there, did I actually care about Hillary Clinton's accomplishment.

The whole time since then, I was led to believe falsely because I wasn't thinking of the accomplishments that Donald has made to even make it as far as he did, that Donald would not become president. Again, another example of it's not about Hillary winning, it's about Donald Trump Losing. Just like when Hillary won against Bernie, it wasn't about her winning, it was about the fact that Bernie had lost. The first time I uttered the sentence "can trump actually become president now?", I should have known that he was going to become president. There is some kind of invisible

force this entire election season that made everything go completely wrong. Bernie lost to Hillary, and then Hillary lost to Trump at the end.

So how did I feel when Trump had one initially? I came home at like ten at night, to see more red states than I was comfortable with seeing. The polls estimated a landslide so I expected to see a lot of blue. I had hope but the fact that it was that close made no sense to me. I was already in acceptance because the fact that it's this close means that with every advantage Hillary had, Donald still ended up getting this close to you. He has something. I wake up the next morning, and Trump is our new

president is the talk of the day everywhere. I felt like it was too awful to be true. How could he actually have made it this far. How could we let this happen. It's something I didn't like to think very much about initially. I was really upset at thinking it because my imagination didn't know what to make of it. He is blunt and unpredictable. I thought, he's going to start a war, that I do not want to be drafted into. It was sickening, and it just felt like such a loss.

However, this week has passed, and now I think differently. I really think to myself, president-elect Donald Trump is now the new face of our country. He actually took his name and made it presidential. I've always gone to the Taj Mahal as a kid and seen him featured in the WWE a few times, but never thought this guy will be president. I did not consider him president material, but here he is, the new president. He is the truth. I appreciate his victory just because he is an asshole, but he's real, and he won. It sucks, but at least we have someone that didn't promise a lot of "good" things, that we all know is bullshit, that won't be delivered because if you're making a profit at the expense of the working class whom you have no intimate connection with you know you're not really looking out for them. He promised a lot of shitty things, though. Building a wall in Mexico, deporting "illegal" immigrants.

We complain a lot that our presidents don't change or contribute anything in reality, and I think that is interesting. Because so far, everything since Donald Trump's declaration to become a presidential nominee has gone backward. Bad lost to good, and no experience beat experience. So as worried as I am about the uncertain path of our new president, I'm pretty sure that he will easily go down as a historic president, more than Hillary would have ever been, and as historic as Obama has been, and change for our country may actually happen now. Especially with congress being red all over.

POL HW 8

Gerrymandering:

Since there is no real quote to take from these Washington post links, I will discuss my opinion on gerrymandering. I think it's a complete fluke. The fact that there is a strategy that can take a minority count, and re-shape it to get a majority count, is really annoying to think about. Why? For the reason that of course, when it is convenient, you'll find a ridiculous way to flip a negative to a positive. However when it comes to minorities in the country, we are always the minority and there is no gerrymandering equivalent that exists that can have us the minority have our way. According to the post, "Gerrymandering is at least partly to blame for the lopsided Republican representation in the House." Because they have lost, but then found a scheme to win. Honestly, that is very annoying, and reading this article, gerrymandering is just one representation of our corrupted system. You should not be able to argue because you're the minority how the distribution of counts get done to affect the overall count. Because that makes no kind of sense. It should be, that the majority, is the majority, period. I think that is ridiculous. 

Homework assignment 7

Quote: "America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future. Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion, I will, in the name of humanity which is outraged, in the name of liberty which is fettered, in the name of the constitution and the Bible, which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery — the great sin and shame of America!"

My Interpretation:
    In class, we started discussing whether or not the 4th of July was truly something to be celebrated or not. Very interesting argument and it was hard to say. The patriot in me says that yes, it should be without a doubt celebrated. To simply acknowledge the holiday, and celebrate it as hard as you can to acknowledge the anniversary of a time that our country gained independence from the tyranny and oppression of the British government is certainly something to celebrate. The passage itself mentioned, that there are men who have lived, and died already, for the cause of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That's something I most definitely overlook. The fact that men existed that were born, had their own lives, and died, many years ago, but molded our country into what it is today. Of course at the time when this was written the country was only 76 years years old, a mere infant of a society, as opposed to today where we are 240 years old. That's a tremendously long time after, a difference of 164 years since this piece was written. A lot has changed since the times this was written, and many men and women have lived and died. However, one thing is still a fact. Oppression STILL exists.
    Why did this quote stand out to me? Because it invalidated everything that America wants to make fact. We are false to the past, present and are in turn being false to the future. He implies humanity is outrages, our liberty is fettered, and that in the name of the constitution and bible, the greatest sin of America is slavery. I can argue, that today, we are STILL outraged! Who is happy with the state of the country? Are we not the land of the free, and should we not collectively feel the happiness we are supposed to be able to pursue? Instead, we have people like Donald Trump, fools, running for president. Someone like him, who is corrupt, and loop-holes his way around the country, does not pay his taxes, trying to be the commander in chief. Not only that, but we may not have slavery, but capitalism is a synonym. Making us work our butts off to survive, and not having enough knowledge or resources to "cheat" the system. The fact that there even is a system to cheat. And not only that, we are now facing the worst case of climate change in history. We have exceeded humanity and transcended to nature. If our land was not false, for certain, there would not be such a gap between rich and poor, and fools like Donald Trump would not be running for president. So should Indepence Day be celebrated? Up to you.

HW 5 POL 166

Quote: "The second piece by Rachel Barkow, looks at the eight amendment of the Constitution and how it might relate to the current problem of imprisonment in the U.S. Despite the repeated claims to being the "land of the free," the U.S. leads the rest of the developed world in the number of people in prison, which as she points out is made up of significantly larger portions of minority groups in the country. Certainly, running prisons has become a profitable industry as of late, led by corporations like the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) which also lobbies the government for longer prison terms and less leniency, not because it feels threatened by criminals, but because shorter prison terms would mean less business. Interest groups like this also contribute significantly to lobbying to preserve and intensify the war on drugs, since 50% of prisoners are in there for drug-related crimes."

My Interpretation:
    Just reading this made me cringe because let's take little pieces from this quote that stood out to me. First off there is the fact that prisons are made up of larger portions of minority groups in the country. Why is that? If the minority is the minority how can the minority only be the majority in prison? So I keep dissecting this quote and stumble upon the fact that "running prisons has become a profitable industry". Well, that explains that. You put two and two together, the higher ups are having a good time making money off imprisoning minority groups. If prisons are supposed to exist in order to give justice to those that have committed a crime, then why are there people making a profit out of it? Is imprisoning people really something you want to have as a business? Because business is supply and demand, and eventually demands get high, and so somehow the supply will have to catch up, so what do you do when you're desperate for some prisoners in your jails? You will go for the minority groups that don't have the money to fight back maybe? I don't appreciate the fact that prison is a business period. That means that for every poor soul locked behind bars whether they deserve it or not, there is a rich guy in the background just making money off it. So that's my opinion on that. And then, to think that for the sake of profit, the thought of extending prison sentences is a thing, just for the simple fact that the longer someone stays in jail the more money that other someone will make. That is simply ridiculous. That is pure corruption. That is what is wrong. Half of the prisoners that are in jail are arrested for drug-related crimes, and then the majority of them are minority groups as if majority groups don't do drugs themselves. Just thinking about that simple concept should raise a red flag. This country is purely corrupted. Making a business out of locking people up. That is ironically criminal.

POL 166 HW 4

Quote:
"In this economic  context, the "natural law" of equality tends to be obscured leading people to believe that inequality between people is the normal and natural state of being"

My interpretation:

    This is exactly what I feel "they" want. The truth of the matter is, I am an American Citizen, born and raised, by immigrant parents. Yet I truthfully do not know who are the people that manage our government or our politics, besides big guys like the President of the United States, and a few senators. I understand that there is a system. I don't know who works for that system. That's the sad personal truth. So in a greater sense, of course they would want us to forget the "natural law". Of course they would want us to believe that inequality between people is normal. Because "they" are at the top. Anyone at the top, would claim that there is nothing wrong with society, and that everything makes sense, while the opposite holds true for the people at the bottom. It's an ILLUSION that we are unequal. We are all human. If anything, our biology should determine whether we belong at the top, and not class or money. But we are all human. We all eat, live, and experience. We all have a brain, and we all are born and die. Inequality only exists because social constructs exist that determine the experience of any given man, and a man is a product of his experiences. I agree with the fact that the obscurity of "natural law" is leading people to accept that inequality is normal. Inequality exists, but it is definitely not a normal and natural state of being. That has been socially constructed over many years, and generations.

Homework#3 POL166

This is from "The Federalist No. 51", "The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments."
Quote: "Different interests necessarily exist in different classes of citizens. If a majority be united by a common interest, the rights of the minority will be insecure."

My Interpretation:
    When reading this, aside from the rest of the article, I felt like this was speaking to me. It's very much true, there are always going to be two different kinds of people, the majority, and the minority. I do agree, that the issue at hand, and if you read this quote carefully, is that while we divide the level of interests among the people, we simultaneously dismiss the interests of the minority. It's false to think that the interests of the minority are inconsequential. They are still very much important. They exist, in the realm of life, and are problems that truly exist, and need to be taken care of, as much as the majority's interest need to be taken care of. That very well may be the problem with our government today. We have "surrendered our power" for them, because they are supposed to help and support us, but now power is shaped and bent to their will, and there are people that have real problems that aren't being addressed because it doesn't affect a certain other group of people. I am not saying either, that the right of the majority needs to be dismissed either, but it should not be that the concern of one group gets addressed and the other dismissed. There should be a system where the concerns of both groups are handled, because at the end of the day we are all human beings, and some of us live in the slums, while other's can't even imagine what the slums are. So it that sense, just this one quote stood out to me, because that alone, says enough about how our government, and the system is unjust.

How it relates to class:
    We spoke about bias in class. Here lies, an obvious bias for the "majority", whatever that consists of.

Homework#2/POL166 Fall 2016

Chose Passage from Text:
         "Indeed, it is not uncommon for the eager Anglo- Saxon who goes to a vivid American university to- day to find his true friends not among his own race but among the acclimatized German or Austrian, the acclimatized Jew, the acclimatized Scandinavian or Italian. In them he finds the cosmopolitan note. In these youths, foreign- born or the children of foreign- born parents, he is likely to find many of his old inbred morbid problems washed away. These friends are oblivious to the repressions of that tight little society in which he so provincially grew up."

My Response: 
        What I took from this piece, and why it stood out to me, is because I feel this is saying, that Anglo-Saxon's prefer to be with "foreigners" because "...[they're] oblivious to the repressions of that tight little society in which he so provincially grew up". It almost feels like, they are using other people's cultures as a way to escape their own, and it works out because the other foreigners have no idea what the Anglo-Saxon goes through being as an Anglo-Saxon.  
         It can also be looked at in a positive way, because it is saying that without the "acclimatized" foreign born people, it implies that the Anglo-Saxon prefers to not be with their own people. It gives meaning to being different, shines light toward how different cultures can be used together, even if it's just to be an escape from your own. 

Assignment Due 12.10.13.

"You know that it was Jefferson who said that the best government is that which does as little governing as possible, which exercises its power as little as possible. That was said in a day when the opportunities of America were so obvious to every man, when every individual was so free to use his powers without let or hindrance, that all that was necessary was that the government should withhold its hand and see to it that every man got an opportunity to act if he would. But that time is past."

   This part of the passage stands out to me, because it's amazing how our ex president can put into words and change the perspective of the words of a previous president. Times have changed is what Woodrow Wilson is saying. While I personally believe that Jefferson wasn't incorrect to say that, I also don't think Wilson was incorrect to challenge his statement. I do believe a government that does as little governing as possible is the best government, because ideally that implies that we as a society are making sure things are handled for ourselves as opposed to trusting the government to handle things for us. But in a time where everything is so fast paced, it's hard for that idealism to ever come about, and we're living in a time that back in the day, was probably not even dreamed of. Technology and progression have taken us so far, and if we couldn't govern ourselves back then, it's unrealistic to say we can now. But the fact that they're both not wrong, is a beautiful thing. 

 So I chose this passage for that reason. It's amazing to see how one president's philosophy can be correct but unrealistic, and a future president acknowledging that very statement, and admitting that it is highly unlikely, because he knows the times we live in and he knows, that we will always need to be governed. And speaking from the point of view of the president, I'm assuming that he knew why he said, exactly what he said. It's not like me, saying that, without all the power in the world. It's an amazing feeling reading a passage such as this. 

Assignment 12.3.13

Passage Chosen: "The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced."

 My reason for choosing this passage is simple, I've heard the Gettysburg Address multiple times, but not until this very assignment, did I actually take the time to dissect the true significance of this speech, in history, and in our present. Although my honest opinion is, the nation does not know how to be as humble and as brave or as dedicated to the people, as Abraham Lincoln was. By far. Or maybe, it is us as a nation that have to pay more attention to who we decide to elect, because ultimately, we are the one's choosing who leads us, and it feels as if we have chosen qualified, but not exceptional leaders. 

 The significance of this passage and quote, I chose specifically from the Gettysburg Address because of how funny it is that Abraham Lincoln honestly kept it real, and said, that "the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but we can never forget what we did here." It makes me feel like in that moment, they didn't realize how big a change, they had made. What big a goal they accomplished. But regardless of the fact, I love that part, because I'm doing an assignment right now, more than a century later, on the very speech that Abraham Lincoln thought we wouldn't remember. And it's basic history as well. Truth be told, that was a well delivered speech, and it's sincerity and words, honestly, captivate me and motivate me. I would've loved to have lived in an Era where someone like Lincoln was president. Where the weight of the world is on his shoulders, and the lives of many lay on his command, yet he takes full responsibility and acknoledges them all for their sacrifices, even after succeeding. That kind of humbleness, is something I don't feel in our own time, and that's why I personally love this speech. It gives me hope. That one day a leader will rise up with his kind of bravery, and sympathy. Message well received, I'll never forget.

Assignment Due 11.26.13: "Choose a passage from Lincoln's speech on the Dred Scott case, interpret it and explain how it relates to class."

I chose : Judicial decisions have two uses-first, to absolutely determine the case decided, and secondly, to indicate to the public how other similar cases will be decided when they arise. For the latter use, they are called “precedents” and “authorities.”

 My interpretation of this passage is simple, the decision made in the Dred Scott case, was not only unjust in itself, but a horrible example set for future major court cases. I don't blame President Lincoln at all, for creating a speech as he did, because there is truth to his words, and in particular the passage I chose above. I am a believer of "right now is the future". Every choice we make, leads to another circumstance in which we have to make another choice. The decision he made ultimately led to angering and mistrust and obvious showing of how immoral the judicial system was. "He denounces all who question the correctness of that decision, as offering violent resistance to it.". Another example of he makes a decision and cannot reveal his reasoning behind it. If this country is meant to be one giant ideal, made up of all it's citizens, then secrets, and being shady are the exact things citizens should avoid keeping, especially political leaders that at that point in time affected the African American portion of the men that inhabit our land. 

How I think that relates to the class is that's one of those decisions in American Politics that made history and shaped our country today. Even if time passes and it's become more minimal, it's still there, it's not erased, and it can potentially corrupt and leave other leaders cynical because of decisions like the one that was made with the Dred Scott case. Luckily it gave birth to Abraham Lincoln who came online when seeing how that situation was handled, however, extremes like this I feel should be avoided, and learned from. Also comparing and seeing how much we've progressed since this case was established and learning from this case is another reason I feel this is relevant to the class. 

Assignment #5

Passage Chosen (Straight from the lecture): "You are sensible, Sir, that the Seeds of Aristocracy began to spring even before the Conclusion of our Struggle for the Natural Rights of Men, Seeds which like a Canker Worm lie at the Root of free Governments. So great is the Wickedness of some Men & the stupid Servility of others, that one would be almost inclined to conclude that Communities cannot be free. The few haughty Families, think They must govern. The Body of the People tamely consent & submit to be their Slaves. This unravels the Mystery of Millions being enslaved by the few!"

I honestly chose this passage because I didn't have the means to get the original packet, and being that I read the lecture over and over again, I feel, although I might not have exact insight, the professor did a fine job expressing the views of Federalist vs Anti Federalist. This quote stood out to me the most because of how sarcastic it sounds. It almost sounds like a compliment, but in reality its saying, you're a fool for believing this is freedom or that people are happy with your (federalist) methods. I love and wish I had gotten a chance to read the actual writings in entirety because the themes described here are the root of who we are today. Makes me want to go back in time and live in that time period where it seems, although unsuccessful, your voice was heard a little bit more, as an "anti federalist", and I feel I would also be an anti federalist, given my personality today.

What's being said in this passage is, in my own words, who do you think you are to think that we can't govern ourselves, and need you guys to govern us?. It is almost sickening to think that there are people out there who think so highly of themselves, and are so convinced that our freedom, which is what we live by, isn't being used right, or in a good matter, so they should govern and lay down the rules because the higher ups know what's best. You expect the people to be happy about the fact that you're trying to create consequences to their actions of free will? Makes you think twice about what freedom is really all about.

Horizontal and Vertical Federalism are opposites. Horizontal Federalism is cooperation between the 50 states to make decisions, while Vertical Federalism traditionally deems anything the national government of complete importance.

Assignment #2: Choose a quote from Chesterton and write it out on your blog. Under that write your interpretation of what you think the author is trying to say. Then, after that write out your own explanation of the meaning of this passage and why you chose this specific quote. Next class, we will talk about the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution.

Quote: "...having risen by low tricks to high places, drink bad

[Pg 18]champagne in tawdry hotel lounges, and tell each other twenty times over, with unwearied iteration, that equality is an illusion.

In truth it is inequality that is the illusion."

-After having read the entire passage, this quote stood out to me the most. My interpretation of this quote is simple, yet I can say so much about it. This quote exemplifies one of his other quotes, in which he says "There seems to be a certain simplicity of mind about these answers; and it is reassuring to know that anarchists and polygamists are so pure and good that the police have only to ask them questions and they are certain to tell no lies." He is saying that the entire ideology on equality is backwards, and while we are living a life thinking, we aren't the same for whatever reason that may be, the truth is, that we are the same. America is one strip of land that attracts people who are striving for an opportunity, and live their lives everyday trying their best to survive, and progress and be happy. The way we go about it may be different, but our means are whats equal. 

The passage is just explaining how important it is to experience or at least try to understand life beyond your comfort zone. It's giving a perspective, and it's saying that it's never easy at first but that you shouldn't go to the outside world thinking that your inner lifestyle which you acquired while in your comfort zone is the "right" one, or more importantly, that other's are "wrong". It's survival 101, so that you know what to expect out of entering the realm of the unknown through the eyes of Chesterton in this chapter. It's showing that it's okay and it's simple to be yourself, and it's natural to misunderstand, and find things you're not used to funny, but that the mistake comes with leaving it there, and not trying to understand why it is the way it is. Overall I feel this passage covers a great aspect of human behavior through traveling, and has a great message on how people should see others, as well as themselves. I also like how that can relate to everyone, who is in this country. 

I chose that quote because I feel that what Chesterton said is true. The reason equality seems impossible is because we believe it to be, and it should be backwards. We should believe inequality to be false, so that we can co-exist more peacefully as people.

Assignment #1: Choose a quote from Bourne and write it out in your blog. Under that write your interpretation of what you think the author is trying to say and explain that. Then, after that write out your own explanation of the meaning of this passage and why you chose this specific quote and how it relates to this class.

"But if freedom means a democratic cooperation in determining the ideals and purposes and industrial and social institutions of a country, then the immigrant has not been free, and the Anglo-Saxon element is guilty of just what every dominant race is guilty of in every European country: the imposition of its culture upon the minority peoples."

My interpretation: Diverse cultures make America what it is today. Different perspectives, and different struggles, create our unique country. Ideally, the freedom America suggests is that we can all co-exist together, however it seem like this paragraph is saying that we are not truly free. Because it's saying to be more "American" is to be more "Anglo-Saxon" like, which even if it seems that way as of now, is not true.

 My Explanation: This passage is explaining that America is witnessing change happen, slowly but surely, and that we should really start thinking about what makes America what it is today. Now that even the "aliens" are "strong enough to take a share in the direction of their own destiny" where are we headed and what is that suggesting? We know that throughout history, with the existence of racism and slaves, that "white" people dominate the United States culture. There are comedians who joke about it all the time, like Louis C.K, but at the end of the day that isn't really what America is about. It's just the biggest struggle we're having as a country. We've always been about trying to be the land of the free and bring about the peace, so that we can live our everyday lives and co-exist together as easy as possible. Now that we are approaching that, does that make us better or worse? I think that's what this passage is saying and Bourne is arguing that it makes us better.

I feel this passage relates to the class because we are involved in politics, and we are studying politics  and if ever we wanted to be a politician, would we be willing to sacrifice all that we are, for the sake of being a "true american"?