Chapter 12 Blog Assigment

1. What makes a great President (not which Presidents have been great) . . . what qualities are essential to greatness?  Why?

 In my opinion a great President is someone who does everything in their power to fulfill their promises to the people. A President who does not play games and try to deceive the American public. A good President looks out for the welfare of our nation for our children and grandchildren.

2. Other than Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, which two Presidents have been the greatest and why?

Thomas Jefferson, being one the president's that had the greatest  role in the Deceleration of Independence and the writing of the Constitution. I feel he was in line with what this country needed and was expected as a president.

Franklin Roosevelt is the one I would choose second. This is a hard call for me as I think he is a great president for the fact that he got citizens through our hardest economic times. That being said I do not agree with the social program and route our federal government has taken on since the New Deal. So many of these programs have been inefficient in much help yet drastically contribute to out financial crises. 

3. Research a President that you're previously unfamiliar with - list at least three things you learned.  Was this President effective?  Why or why not?

I researched James K Polk.  I learned he left office before finishing term due to health and dies shortly after. His primary focus was on expanding the United States and after a war with Mexico, he acquired California and New Mexico. He left being the Speaker of the House of Representatives to become the Governor of Tennessee. I do believe off of what I read that President Polk was an effective President. He accomplished what he said he was set to do; in the end that is what should be used to judge effectiveness.

Chapter 11 Blog Assigment

1. Who are your Senators and your Congressman?

Our Senators are Alexander Lamar and Bob Corker. My Congressman is Scott DesJarlais.

2. Reserach the areas they champion and find one you support.  What is it and why do you also support it?

Congressman Scott DesJarlais is against all of the 'jobs stimulus' President Obama is currently pursuing. He wants to pass bills that will allow small business to grow. He wants to stop over-spending, stop over-taxing and, above all, stop over-regulating. I do not think taxing the rich is the answer to our problems, or giving all this help to 'big' business', as we see how in favor of the American population they are. Small business' are the ones keeping the jobs here in America for the American people. I do believe they are the key to getting us out of this jobs mess.

3. Find an issue one of your Senators or Congressman champions that you disagree with.  Why do you disagree?

Senator Bob Corker has effectively cornered Amazon and other online retailers to charge sales tax.  I do not agree with this policy. From a personal stand point I believe congress spends way to much money without the American approval and then taxes to make up some of that. Americans are taxed on far to many things in my opinion, when the average household can not make bills.

Chapter 10 Blog Assigment

1. Read Bush v. Gore in the text.  Do you agree with the majority or the dissenting opinion?  Why?

   I agree with the majority. I do feel if someone went through and hand counted votes using their 'opinion' more problems would have issued. I am a firm believer that no one in this country could really put aside their desire for who should be president and count the votes unbiasedly.

2. Is the ability to fundraise too important in elections?  In other words, are good candidates prevented from running because they cannot raise the needed funds?  Can/should something be done to correct this if it is a problem?

  I will say I think we have gotten out of hand on how much money it costs to run in an election. It truly has become a who you know and how much money you have race. I can honestly say I do not know how it can be corrected as I do not believe tax payers should be paying for the elections at all when we are so far in debt anyways.

3. Why is there such voter apathy - in other words, why is there often such low voter turnout for elections?  Is there a way to rectify this problem?

I do think as a whole most people do not think their vote counts. I also do not feel the average person is taught how important it is to vote or why. We seem to forget it is a right that LOTS of people have fought for in our countries past. I must say I love when I read that it is mandated by law to vote in some countries. Then I am faced with the dilemma of do I really feel that our law makers should be made to tell us we have to vote. I am in a catch 22 at this point.