Social Issues of Electoral Preferences - Essay Example

Chapter 12 & 26 The Republican Party is birthed at Lincoln's vision of "a country united and free, in which all people are guaranteed equal rights and the opportunity to pursue their dreams." Accordingly, Lincoln's "successors have been united by a common purpose - defending freedom at home and promoting it abroad" (http://www.gop.com/media/2004platform.pdf). I think it was from this party that democracy got its name based on the Gettysburg Address stating of a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people." However, the Democratic Party's commitment to keeping the "nation safe and expanding opportunity for every American" and emphasizing "the security of the nation, strong economic growth, affordable health care for all Americans, retirement security, honest government, and civil rights" (http://www.democrats.org/a/party/stand.html) comes close to keeping the true ideals of democracy by making the people the priority and their welfare of prime importance. I believe the Democratic Party comes closer to reflecting the ideals of mainstream America since it is addressing the basic needs of the people first and focusing inside the country's needs before going elsewhere. Chapter 13 & 14 & 26 Compulsory voting does have its strengths and weaknesses. By requiring citizens to vote and punishing them with a fine if they fail to may really solve the problem of declining voter turnout. More voters means more civil participation in the electoral process. However, forcing to do what they not to do is stifling one's freedom of choice. Moreover, this will result to a need to amend the constitution and consider the system to have "partial" democracy instead of democracy in its truest sense. The Bill of Rights will need to be changed too, limiting one's freedom of choice. I do not believe in compulsory voting. The reasons for the decline of voter turnout must first be addressed. One of the reasons may be because the people just do not find a better choice among the options so they choose to abstain rather than choosing the lesser evil. Chapters 16 & 26 I believe that everything must be done in moderation, that is, anything in excess is always detrimental. Control should be applied. Gun rights groups like the NRA have their own positive reasons for criticizing safety locks and the lack of proof that control of gun sale could reduce crime rates. On the other hand, the gun control advocates have reasons for their cry to put certain limitations to the use and sale of guns. It is partly true that certain crimes result from indiscriminate sale of guns. I think I am more of a gun control advocate because I value my life and the lives of those I love. I want to know why people need to own guns in the first place. Is it for self defense alone' If so, then there authorities who keep the peace and order condition of the community. In addition, guns are not the only tools for self defense. Indeed, the causes for crimes must also be put into consideration. Life is too valuable to be risked. Chapter 15 Some people believe that having cameras in the courtroom fulfills the country's need for both free access to information and a "check" on the behavior of the judiciary to keep it from extremist behavior. However, the U.S. Supreme Court does not allow cameras in its courtroom. This is also true in the federal courts. Only audio recording and transcripts are allowed. Media personnel are allowed inside the courtrooms too. According to the media people, the "public's interest would be best served by allowing such coverage." I think the restraint of not allowing full media coverage of court proceedings secures the on-going cases until they are given verdict. Moreover, it prevents the issue to be highly sensationalized and controversial. I think the present system of allowing the media people in the courtrooms and giving them the audio tapes and transcripts of the proceedings is proper and in itself a form of transparency. (http://spj.org/news.asp'REF=68) Module 5 In my opinion, at present the Congress is well represented. There is enough representation in some aspects like gender, political affiliation and color. However, in terms of religion, age and profession, there is some imbalance. The members belong to only two religions, most are older than young adult and many are of college education. If the Congress looked more like the country, there will be more representation and more problems will be addressed since the representatives come from more diverse background and real-life situations. For instance, the educated people will not understand the plight of the less educated. The younger generation too, whose ideals are fresh and vibrant, also need to be represented. In addition, the beliefs and convictions of other religious groups will be more understood and respected. Module 6 A group of lawyers consisting of Stephen R. Glassroth, Melinda Maddox and Beverly Howard, who felt their clients might not receive fair treatment if they did not share Moore's religious opinion, and that the placement of the monument violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, filed civil suits in Federal Court against Justice Moore in his official capacity as Chief Justice to have the monument removed. However, Moore was firm in defending his case that the placement of the monument did not impose his religious opinion on his subjects or any other person who came under the wings of his court. He refused to remove the monument. After later cases though, Justice Moore was removed from office for judicial misconduct for failing to comply with the order of the federal court. I think what really counts here is the separation of church and state. Although the chief justice may not be imposing his religious convictions on others, the mere presence of the monument might have a deeper impact on those who see its presence. http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/religion/glsrthmre111802opn.pdf Module 8 I think Marijuana should be treated and considered like any other drug under yellow prescription. There should be proper control over the use and production of the said plant/medicine. Life is very important that if there is anything that could prevent diseases like cancer from curtailing that life then it should be used. Laws that limit the mass production of such plants will be enough to prevent large -scale enterprise of marijuana and drug addiction. There are other more dangerous drugs which are out in the hands of pushers and illegal businesses that singling out marijuana would be biased. Considering the many patients who could have gained the positive effects of marijuana on their health and healing, I think this would be considered a civil liberties issue. http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/06/06/scotus.medical.marijuana/ Module 9 In my experience, there is only a slight difference between the initial categorization and that of the test result. I believe it comes close to what I really believe in. I am not at all surprised at the result. The issues that matter to me most are about social welfare and about life and livelihood of an individual. I believe that my political attitudes are mostly influenced by my personal experiences and my parents as well. I have been exposed to a lot of trying experiences already and being an employee myself, I find the importance of retirement and family-related issues to be of prime importance. I also believe in the preservation and sanctity of life. I also believe that the government's role in the area of social welfare is great such that every individual must have the chance of living up to his full potential. Health care, education, and welfare are the primary needs of an individual. If the government can satisfy these needs of the citizens, then other problems like crimes and poverty will be lessened. The more satisfied the people are, the less they get into trouble and into harming others. Most often, social problems are associated with lack of fulfillment in life. Module 10 It has been said that wealth gap plays an important role is widening the gap between the blacks and the whites. The whites have inherited the wealth of their fore-parents and the blacks have to raise their own properties and wealth by hard labor. This alone has already made a gap between the whites and the blacks at the beginning of their lives. The article, "A Tale of Two Families," illustrates this concept based on a true-to-life situation. It summarizes that "wealth isn't just about luxury. It's also the starting point for the next century. Until the wealth gap is addressed, whites will continue to have an advantage over nonwhites, generation after generation." In addition, the article, "Uncle Sam Lends a Hand," states that "the US federal government took many steps to channel resources and opportunities to whites and away from nonwhites, resulting in an enormous wealth gap that persists today." This is based on certain instances like the approval of housing loans in favor of the whites and where most of the blacks' requests are denied. Finally, "The Downward Spiral" states the answer to the question: "what triggers the decline of an area'" It says: "It's not about who's moving in - it's about who leaves." This article illustrates why there is a downward spiral of the communities where blacks reside. It explains that where ever the blacks reside, the whites tended to leave the place, and the places that the whites leave deteriorates economically in the absence of the whites. The foregoing information explains why even in the present situation of the discrimination between the whites and the blacks is perpetuated. The roots and the problems that ensue in relation to the division between the whites and the blacks are deeply rooted in the people themselves aside from the existing policies of the United States even from the past. Module 11 Knowing and seeing the situation in Darfur is indeed a disturbing experience. It is alarming how such situation still exist in the present century. The United States policy should be to come to aid to this unfortunate people. Instead of waging war with Iraq's so-called "terrorists," here lies an urgent cry from a people who would soon diminish if no one will take the initiative to reach out a helping hand to this starving and impoverished people. Theirs is a matter of life and death, of survival and existence. The United States has spent so much on armaments and acting as a savior to some warring groups. I believe some of the money and efforts spent on war must be directed to the need y people of Darfur. If America's democracy seeks to protect other peoples in other nations, then Darfur should be one of its recipients. If I were a foreign policy maker today, I would give priority to places like Darfur. They are the ones who need more attention and assistance. Aids in the form of food, clothing, medicines and rehabilitation facilities, as well as livelihood assistance should be implemented as soon as possible before these people are erased from the face of the earth due to another genocide. Module 12 *I cannot open this link in my computer. http://www.fairvote.org/wheel/ Please follow this link and read the information/directions for "Redistricting Roulette." Play "Redistricting roulette" and address the following issues in your discussion response. Reflecting on your experience playing "Redistricting Roulette." What are your views on this part of American democracy' How does redistricting, in your view, impact the "quality of democracy"' In what ways does redistricting process positively or negatively affect political equality' In your view, what would be the ideal way to tackle redistricting in American politics' Essay #1 assignment: A Writing Exercise, p. 1565 for "Like a Winding Sheet." (Choose only the following critical approaches: Marxist, Feminist, or Psychoanalytic criticism. Do not write on any other critical approach.) Misplaced Revenge The narrator has been saying from the beginning of the short story "Like a Winding Sheet" by Ann Petry that he cannot bring himself to hit a woman. He tells himself that he is "unlike a lot of men;" however, the conclusion shows that he ends up "like a lot of men" - beating his wife with all his might and being. I would like to argue that this story is not just about men hitting women but also of the unsafe position of women in the male-dominated society and other hazards that women face as they to live their lives in the most normal and natural way. Although some women in the story appear to be above the men like the lady foreman at the plant and the girl at the coffee urn, they do not actually occupy a high level in the society. These two women happen to be whites so they can gain power over men but these men are blacks. There are three women pictures in the short story: the dominating prejudiced white "boss," the unconcerned prejudiced white "coffee girl" and the cheerful black wife. The dominating prejudiced white "boss is not in a safe position. She was affected and greatly annoyed by the lack of dedication and diligence of the male workers, "The woman's face grew redder, angrier looking. 'Half this shift comes in late,' she said. 'And you're the worst one of all. You're always late. Whatsa matter with ya''" According to her, the men always have excuses when they arrive late. She has put her life in greater danger when she called Johnson a nigger, "And the niggers is the worse. I don't care what's wrong with your legs. You get in here on time. I'm sick of you niggers." It may be because of her disgust that she uttered the degrading term to a black man. Had not Johnson controlled himself, she could have been crashed in the face by the black man. Her fright is evident when she saw the reaction in the facial expression and gestures of the black man, thus she stepped backwards and apologized for using the word. That was a near-miss for when Johnson looked back, "she was staring in his direction, mopping her forehead with a dark blue handkerchief." She was made aware that she was not safe in the midst of the workers and her being a boss did not guarantee her safety. Another white woman whose life is not safe is that of the unconcerned prejudiced white girl at the coffee urn. Despite the long line of customers waiting for their turn to be served, the girl appears to be indifferent. When it was Johnson's turn to get his cup of coffee, the girl did not even lay her eyes on him, "The white girl looked past him, put her hands up to her head and gently lifted her hair away from the back of her neck, tossing her head back a little. 'No more coffee for while," she said. She appeared to have not seen the expression of the black man in front of her and that of the other men in the line. It appears to be unfair for the girl that her girly manner of lifting her hair from the back of her neck has a negative effect on the black man. Her being a woman has become an added irritant to the waiting man and worse when she was not able to satisfy their want for the coffee she became the object of anger and frustration especially that of Johnson. Finally, the cheerful black wife, who had nothing against the man, was the unfortunate victim of man's rage and unfulfilled wants. She must have even loved her husband so much for she was so gentle on him even calling him "babe." By looking at the calendar and knowing that it was Friday the thirteenth, Mae was a little alarmed. It signaled that something horrible was going to happen that day. Her premonition was right but it tuned out that the danger was not outside the house but inside. How terrible it must have been for someone to realize that she is not safe in the hands of the man she committed her life to and submitted to for protection, "There was the smacking sound of soft flesh being struck by a hard object and it wasn't until she screamed that he realized he had hit her in the mouth - so hard that the dark lipstick had blurred and spread over her full lips, reaching up towards the tip of her nose, down toward her chin, out toward her cheeks." Conclusion The description of how brutally Johnson hit his innocent wife and how uncontrollably he did it is beyond my imagination. Such cruelty on women even in words and thoughts is indeed horrible. However, such incidents do happen in real life. Domestic violence, sexual harassment in the workplace and rape cases in every place are issues that are addressed by concerned groups and even by the government these days. If women are not safe in their own homes, where else can they go for refuge' This sad reality is something that should be considered by the right officials whenever they make policies and laws and that women must be given protection in everything, everywhere. Essay # 2 Assignment: Choose two of the poems or stories we have read and write an essay using Feminist or Marxist criticism to analyze the stories or poems you choose. Single and Alone The poems "The Solitary Reaper" by William Wordsworth and "Night Waitress" by Linda Hull both appear to celebrate women because women are made the subject of the poems. However, I want to argue that these two poems simply put the women, reaper and waitress, in their position as subordinate and anonymous having to endure life's difficulties because that is what and where they should be. In other words, these two poems celebrate the stereotyping of women and the social construct of women in the patriarchal world. Women are shown to be of low position and doing the dirty job, alone and nameless, and suffering from some unfulfilled emotional wants and desires. Of the many possible jobs a woman could possibly have, why should these women be portrayed as "solitary reaper" and 'night waitress"' The low positions these women occupy imply that women are good only for these low, if not the lowest, ranks while men take the higher positions dominating over women. The reaper may be doing her task alone because she does not have someone to provide for her needs like a husband or a brother. The worst scenario is in the case that she is doing her task for a man, like in some cultures where women have to serve their husbands and the males in the household. In her society and setting, the night waitress appears to be in the right position because she is a woman. Washing dishes and serving seems to come naturally hand-in-hand with a woman's expectation of service. It appears that women's worth are in serving men and doing the dirty tasks. Apart from occupying the low positions, these women are also portrayed as alone and nameless, just a reaper and a waitress. The solitary reaper is alone in the field, "Behold her, single in the field,/Yon solitary Highland Lass!" and "Alone she cuts and binds the grain." She has to do the cutting and the binding by herself. No one is there to accompany her or to cheer her. She only has to sing to comfort herself. On the other hand, the night waitress, despite working in the midst of male-dominated place is also alone, "At this hour the men all look/as if they'd never had mothers./They do not see me." She is unnoticed and unrecognized. She may only be missed if her services are no longer there. Moreover, the women in the two poems are also shown to be suffering from some unfulfilled emotional wants and desires. The reaper sings her feelings out that the persona who hears it thinks and speculates, "And sings a melancholy strain" and "Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,/That has been, and may be again'" On the other hand, the night waitress has longings too, "I want a song that rolls/through the night like a big Cadillac" and "want to try every bar down the street." Hers is an unfilled soul wanting some pleasures and leisure that a woman in her position is deprived of It is sad to note that women in the society even at present are still stereotypes. They are not given much recognition at work, they are usually alone and they suffer in silence alone. They are expected to serve and to be submissive. Men also prefer women who are silent and they call women who talk naggers. Women often have unfulfilled desires because they are expected to be undemanding and soft, and it is unbecoming for them to be aggressive and taking a lead. Although there are countries and places where women are given equal rights, in the roots of our cultures, these sad realities still lurk. Works Cited: Representative Poet Online. 28 January 2008. The Solitary Reaper. 28 January 2008. Read More