Fuzzy Math?

In this cartoon there are four different types of chalk boards. Three of the chalk boards have math equations on them. However, each math equation is mathematically incorrect. One the first it states that seven plus four is eight. This is incorrect because seven plus four is eleven. On the second chalk board the equations states two plus three is four. This is incorrect because two plus three is five. On the final chalk board the equation state six plus one is five. This too is incorrect because six plus one is seven. Finally the last chalk board also has an equation. It deals with the issue of gay marriage. It shows that one man plus one man equals marriage. In this cartoon this is meant to be incorrect because it is an antigay cartoon.

Citizenship

Responsibilities of Citizenship
I feel like this experience was somewhat rewarding. It is very difficult to find an actual Bill or Resolution that makes sense to me. I have not had any formal training on how to search and understand Bills and Resolutions and that made the experience a little confusing. I do hope that the politicians from my state email me back with their responses. I have already received a reply letter but it seemed generic. I don’t know who, if anyone reads the emails, but I hope that there is someone who can better explain to me the Affordable Care Bill. Overall I would rate this experiment average compared to others.
The Bill that I found and emailed was the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a federal statute that was signed into law in the United States by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The Act is a product of the health care reform agenda.
The law includes a large number of health-related provisions to take effect over the next four years, including expanding Medicaid eligibility, subsidizing insurance premiums, providing incentives for businesses to provide health care benefits, prohibiting denial of coverage based on pre-existing conditions, establishing health insurance exchanges, and support for medical research. The costs of these provisions are offset by a variety of taxes, fees, and cost-saving measures, such as new Medicare taxes for high-income brackets, taxes on indoor tanning, cuts to the Medicare Advantage program in favor of traditional Medicare, and fees on medical devices and pharmaceutical companies; there is also a tax penalty for citizens who do not obtain health insurance. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the net effect will be a reduction in the federal deficit by $143 billion over the first decade.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed the Senate on December 24, 2009, by a vote of 60–39 with all Democrats and Independents voting for, and all Republicans voting against. It passed the House of Representatives on March 21, 2010, by a vote of 219–212, with all 178 Republicans and 34 Democrats voting against the bill.
The bill was originally drafted by the Senate as an alternative to the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which was passed by the House two months earlier on November 7. However, after the Democrats lost their supermajority in the Senate on January 19, 2010 with the election of Scott Brown, the House decided to pass the Senate version and amend it with a third bill, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. The Senate then passed a version of the third bill, amended to avoid application of the Byrd Rule, via the simple-majority reconciliation process. The amended third bill was then sent back to the House, where it passed. The President signed the reconciliation bill on March 30, 2010.
Emailing our state representatives allowed me to better understand the definition of responsible citizenship. Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, or national community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities. "Responsible citizenship" is the idea that people should work towards improving their community through political participation, volunteer work, and other efforts to improve life for all people in the community.

My View CA#5

This cartoon is based on the presidency of the United States of America. It was published immediately after Barack Obama was elected President. The cartoon is mocking the times of segregation and showing the triumph of the first Black-American President. The setting of this cartoon is in an office building at the commonly known water cooler area. The water cooler is labeled “the Presidency” and is representing that specific political office. Above the water cooler is a shadow of a sign that was once there. Next to the water cooler is a trashcan that contains the sign that was once above the water cooler. The sign in the trashcan reads “Whites Only.” This represents the fact that America was once segregated and believed that separate is equal and the fact that since America has found that separate is not equal the office of the Presidency is the only office that was yet to be filled by anyone other than a white American. However with the popularity of Barack Obama and the vote of the people the presidency is no longer a symbol of white male power and is now a symbol of diverse American power. My opinion still holds true to today. That America is the land of opportunity for everyone no matter who you are. As a young white male coming from a background where one of my grandparents is still very segregated I am proud to know that now my children will grow up in a country that is equal for all.

Comprehensive Assignment #3

Joseph Thomas
PS 101
Dr. McCombs
June 26, 2010
Comprehensive Assignment #3
In the past chapter I learned that although linked, political ideology and political opinion differ in distinct ways. The citizens of the United States don’t all have an underlying political ideology but most people do have some sort of political opinion for time to time. Americans do have a similar set of ideals however they hardly make up an equal group. In America the government we have relies heavily on the importance of public opinion. Even though the media tends to act as if there are only conservative and liberals few people actually have and believe in unchanging fundamental beliefs on all subjects. People can be labeled as liberal, conservative, and moderate. These labels are used to define political ideology and political opinion. Ideologies do not change from day to day or from subject to subject but opinions do.
The past work that I have done in this comprehensive assignment begins with my argument for a strong central government that James Madison also called for. In this paper I argue that America needs to continue to have a strong central government and that only a strong central government will be able to govern fifty states. Looking back this view does indicate political leanings that I did not realize I had. I was unaware that my democratic ideas of having government use taxes to regulate reflects the same idea of have a strong central government that I had in the first paper. I believe that without regulation powerful companies will not keep with public morals and beliefs and will dominate and control the public well-being. This is why we need to have regulation and also this is why in the beginning I agreed with James Madison in saying that we need a strong central government.
The next comprehensive assignment that I completed was based around a particular political cartoon. This cartoon was based on the right to freedom of speech. It mocked the idea of freedom of speech. The setting of the cartoon was in a vast ocean where there were many different types of fish. The ocean represented the world that we live in and the fish represented the people in the world. Freedom of speech is supposed to be given to everyone and in the illustration everyone is using it. However the main idea was in the size of the fish. The each fish represented that the people have the right to freedom of speech; however, the bigger fish are eating the smaller fish. This represents the fact that the bigger and more powerful you are the more your opinion matters. The least powerful person may have a voice but it is over shadowed by the speech or opinion of the more powerful people. This cartoon is intended for people in Eastern Europe who were realizing that even though they had freedom of speech that they were not powerful enough for it to matter what opinions they had. This cartoon shows my conservative side. I believe that government should be strong but I also believe that the people should be allowed their freedoms and that no matter how big the country gets we should never forget the little guy and the small businesses and their place in the development of the country and the country’s economy.
Looking back I can see evidence of my Pew Typology in my cartoon and essay. As I look forward to the rest of the term I believe that I am going to embrace my political ideology and use it in future projects to learn more about myself and what I truly believe in.

Freedom of Speech Cartoon

Joseph Thomas
PS 101
Dr. McCombs
June 25, 2010


This cartoon is based on the right to freedom of speech. It is mocking the idea of freedom of speech. The setting of this cartoon is in a vast ocean where there are many different types of fish. The ocean is representing the world that we live in and the fish represent the people in the world. Freedom of speech is supposed to be given to everyone and in this illustration everyone is using it. However the main idea is in the size of the fish. The each fish representing the people have the right to freedom of speech, however, the bigger fish are eating the smaller fish. This represents the fact that the bigger and more powerful you are the more your opinion matters. The least powerful person may have a voice but it is over shadowed by the speech or opinion of the more powerful people. This cartoon is intended for people in eastern Europe who were realizing that even though they had freedom of speech that they were not powerful enough for it to matter what opinions they had.

Federalist No. 10 by Joseph Thomas

Federalist No. 10 by Joseph Thomas
The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
“I am not an American but a Virginian.” I recognize that most of you reading this believe the previous quote to be true. However, I ask of you to think again the idea of the United States of America, what is right and wrong with it, what is good and bad, and what can the people of this infant country do to improve or sustain the ideas that are already in place. As you read this the Founding Fathers have been working diligently to improve the United States of America. We too must work hard and think seriously of all issues that are important to our country. An uninformed nation of people can never experience the results of their hard labor for the country.
I understand that many of you are worried about the Constitution and believe that it will give all power back to a central government and everyone will lose all that is rightfully theirs. Those same people believe that instead of a strong central government we need to remain with several strong state governments and continue the ideas of the Confederation.
I say to you do not throw the idea of a Constitution to the wayside. The United States will not survive without a strong central government. Everyone will keep what is rightfully theirs and no one will lose their inalienable rights. There are many concerned about this new style of government but I say to you there is nothing more alarming than a weak central government.
We required a central government when fighting off our oppressors and we need to continue to require a central government when building and sustaining our country. If the states continue to work alone and not consider even their neighbors, how will the country grow and prosper? If South Carolina does not give business or trade with other states how will supply and demand be meet to full efficiency and effectiveness? When will we know if one state is too powerful or if another is being misrepresented? If we do not continue to act united we will fall one by one to self satisfying interests and eventually be nothing more than a land filled will factions and special interests.
How will you answer those questions? What should we do if strong state governments are not the answer? I am telling you now that in order to avoid the dangers of self interests we must have a strong central government. The government that I speak of will be formed by the Constitution. No one state will have power over another state. States will be represented equally in the Senate and by population in the House. Everyone will have a voice and no citizen will lose their inalienable rights.
Our country is an ever changing one and the future holds dangers that we may not even be able to comprehend. If we do not have a strong central government in place ready to handle these issues and dangers we will surely fall. The country’s economy and the people will not be able to grow and prosper. States that do not fall under a strong central government and have no checks and balances will begin to think only for themselves and will not work together for the common good of the entire nation. Selfishness will consume the country and will slowly dismantle every state from within.
I say to you now men and women of the United States of America, take down your ears guard and listen to people who know the dangers of separate factions. With this new strong central government we will gain the ability to combat the dangers of faction but we will also be able to continue to maintain the cohesiveness of the states. Please understand ladies and gentlemen that we are no longer people of our states but of something bigger, we are people of our country. Never forget that we are American’s.

Reflection on Pew Research Study

Public Knowledge of Current Affairs Little Changed by News and Information Revolutions

Over the past 20 years radio, television, and the internet have changed the way we gather information. News networks are no longer limited to radio broadcasts and now can be viewed at any hour on television news networks and the internet. These changes would have many to believe that Americans are now more informed than ever. However the sad truth is that American’s percentage of actual knowledge of news and current information has not changed much in twenty years. This overload of information has enabled Americans to have more opportunities than ever to view the news however this overload doesn’t help Americans retain the knowledge they are receiving.