The LAST Post

Evaluate this course:

1. What was the BEST part of this course.

2. What parts would you like to change?

3. Comments???? Be as verbous as possible!

Summer assignment

Reflect over the past semester and detail the following:

1. What preparation would help do better in this class? How can this preparation be helped with a summer assignment for future Pollys.

2. Construct ONE assignment for a future Polly. The assignment should involve accessing readings and data and completing written work of at least 2 pages. Think of all the topics we've discussed this year and come up with something that you think a future student can do.

Wasteful spending

Give 3 examples of wasteful state & local government spending. Yes, you can use school examples for 2. If it's so wasteful--why was it spent anyway?

Since this post is terribly late, you all get until Tuesday!

Economic issues

1. What was the problem with the stock market this week? Detail the perils and benefits of electronic trading.

2. What organizations regulate he market?

3. Pick a stock and give a summary of its yearly performance. You may NOT use someone elses. Why is it up or down?

4. What is the problem in Greece? Should the European Union bail them out and why.

All Sorts of Things.....

It was Earth Day this week. Research EDay and explain its significance. Do you support all the Earth Day hoopla? Does DHS do enough for the environment? What are the York areas greatest environmental problems? Applying the problem transformation model, do you see environmental issues becoming new policy? If so--what policies? If not, what do environmental issues lack that is needed for tranformation?

Be sure to write a few unique paragraphs & give a unique research site for environmental data. In short, you can't use anyone elses site.

Governor Race in PA

Read the following article regarding the PA Governor race: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/pennsylvania/election_2010_pennsylvania_governor

Also, continue to do research on the candidates. Who is favored? Visit their sites and detail what they believe? List and detail a few other candidates? Which one is the best according to you and why? In the end, who do you think will win & how will he change PA?

Lastly, the years of the Rendell Governorship is winding down. Evaluate his governorship. What were his major accomplishments & failures.

Supreme Court 2010

Research the 2010 Supreme Court calender--

1. Detail 3 of the most interesting cases

2. Look ahead at the calender--what cases coming up will be the most significant?

3. Who is John Paul Stephens and why is/was he important?

Bureaucracy

Research the new Obama plan for Education:

1. Summarize the plan & compare it to NCLB

2. Assess the plan--is it realistic & do you support it? What are the pros and cons?

3. YOU are now Secretary of Education...what would your focus be? What are the big problems you see and how would you address them?

Read the following article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/29/world/asia/29prexy.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

How important is it for Obama to go to the war zone?

Assess the Presidents powers as Commander in Chief.

What do you think the US should do in both Iraq & Afghanistan?

Health Care

Today is one of the most momentous days in recent political history. Will Obama's health care plan be passed by the House or will it die? Start with the following article and answer a number of questions. You will also need to find a summary of the provision of the heath care bill.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/health/policy/22health.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

1. What makes this vote groundbreaking? Is heath care all that important? What is Medicare & Medicaid?
2. What provisions will affect you--think 22 year old newly college graduated?
3. What is a pre-existing condtion & why is it important?
4. Can this program actually save money? How?

You may need to search a bit for answers, but they are all accessible. Good luck!

Who are YOUR PA Congressmen & Senators?

I will assume you know their names--research their websites and give a summary of their views on major issues of the day. (Our Representative & 2 Senators)

1. What is the most surprising positions?

2. Catagorize the PA politicians in terms of their ideology

3. Assess their prospects for reelection

Lobby Through Comedy

The road to political influence is twisted. In an effort to jumpstart the Consumer Protection Agency, A-list comedians, mostly from SNL, redo their President impressions to lobby for a new agency. Watch http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/f5a57185bd/funny-or-die-s-presidential-reunion and answer the following:

1. What are the Presidents trying to do?

2. How is Obama viewed by the former Prezs?

3. Google Richard Shelby. What is his role in fighting the Consumer program?

4. Most importantly--is this effective? Will this type of political action encourage citizen action to support an agency?

5. Detail Obama's plan for a new agency--will it actually happen?

Conspiracies, tea parties and global warming

In today's NY Times, there are a number of articles that chronicle the Tea Party. What are they? What do they want & represent? Why are many Americans scared of them? Attracted to their cause? Also in the opinion section, Al Gore weighs in...again... on Global warming. What does Al have to say? Do you believe him?

Go to the NY Times website and search for information and also go off into the wild world of the web--there are ALL sorts of opinions!

The Poor

With the economy being what it is--what should be done for people who are poor and want to work? Read the article http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/business/economy/21unemployed.html?partner=rss&emc=rss and comment on what should be done.

1.

Snow emergency!

by the way--it SNOWED!!!! Ok..this blog will be quite interesting.

1st: Tell us all about your personal snow situation. How was your home cleared and what was the response from the township/borough?

2nd: What was the impact on the local governments? Research the impact that the storm on York city and Harrisburg.

3rd: What was the lost productivity for the federal government & the economy?

Who Runs the most AWESOME Law Review?

I'm sure most of you were thinking: Harvard, Yale, Shippensburg... but you are ALL WRONG! Its CORNELL! Today-or perhaps tonight-or its hard to say since there's 24 inches of snow on the ground--you will be exploring the Corness website and commenting on legal issues.

1. The 1st amendment is multifaceted. An important distinction is between the Establishment clause and the free exericise clause. Visit http://www.law.cornell.edu/anncon/html/amdt1toc_user.html and read the overview as well as a self selection of cases. Describe the rulings in your 2 cases and why they are important.

2. So what exactly is the Courts stand on flag salutes? Read http://www.law.cornell.edu/anncon/html/amdt1bfrag7_user.html#pg1053 and detail the grounds for the current laws on flag salutes.

3. Lastly, you can express yourself any way you'd like--except, when you can't! Look at http://www.law.cornell.edu/anncon/html/amdt1dfrag4_user.html#amdt1d_hd14 and detail the exceptions and the protections against speech. What cases do you think the Court ruled incorrectly? Remember, its not enough to say---because I said so!

Final comment--you'll be flying back & forth from link to link remember--log in and also open a word document to save your writing.

Good luck and DHS cares!

Mr. Arnold & the Presentation

Assess the presentation. What did you enjoy and find enlightening? What questions would you ask now that you've thought about it? What role does government play in the energy business and what should government do in the future?

Greetings 2nd marking Period!

Wha? Its the Constitution! But, the Supreme Court actually tells us what it all means..

Read this link

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/21/AR2010012104866.html

What will the impact be from this ruling? Is it bad?

Decsribe the conflict within the Supreme Court.

Lastly, should the SC have this much power?

This is the End....My only Friend--the end.

For those who never take another AP class with me---this is the End. For others, this is the end...for now. Let's take a time to evaluate, honestly, the course..

1. Rate your effort..did you read the book? Did you give your best. Rate a % effort for this course. (It must be less than 100%--as far as I know, no one did max effort all the time)

2. With your answer to #1 in mind, should this course require more? Do you feel prepared for the AP test and think you have a good understanding of US government? If you don't feel prepared, how should this course change?

3. What was the worst part of the course that can be influenced by the instructor. Keep in mind, I did not make the class schedule, so if you dislike people in the class---its not my fault.

4. What was the best part of the course? What will you remember after its all over?

5. Final commentary-- this is your parting blog shot--make it a good one!