INTEREST GROUPS

Interest Groups are organizations that seek to influences policies. There are many such organization ranging from concerns on the climate, businesses, peace on the international level whilst issues like health, wages and advancement policies for certain minority people.

Most interest groups  ability to get their message across is a big factor to consider when lobbying for their issues of interest. This is because without the proper means of getting the message across, no change is going to be achieved.

Demonstration and boycotts. This tactic is probably most famous for being used during the early civil movements like the Montgomery Bus Boycott organized by Martin Luther King Jr. This method of getting a message across especially in the U.S.A for the legal system to be changed in regard to minority rights have been very successful.  Demonstration and boycott is when a group of people march on the street to petition the governments to listen to their grievances on certain rights that have been denied them. Usually it start off peacefully and sometime end with clashes with the police and destruction of properties.

I choose this passage because of the positive achievement it has brought to the Black American and will continue to bring. examples are the equal civil rights and also social rights achieved through this means. Even on the international level some president have step down due to demonstration and boycotts. Removal of university president through this means as he in unable to prevent racism in the university.

These are a few of the achievements made by interest group who choose this method of getting their message across. But on a whole minority, who neither have the means or the resources to get their message across, this mean is the only choice for them. And it does certainly carry their message across to get the change needed.

The Inauguration of President Ronald Reagan on 20^th January ,1981 was held at the Capital West Front for the first time. In his speech he talked about normal occurrence of Inauguration of Presidents that still is a memorable feat for the American people. He talks about the rising deficit the country and the need to eliminate this to make sure the next generation will not suffer. He encourages Americans and reminded them of their past heroic feat of overcoming obstacles in their lives.

“How can we love our country and not love our countrymen” was one the one sentence which grasp my 

attention as he gave his speech that day. Despite this speech, he was the government who gave distribute

 wealth to fewer people. He further increased tax so that the poverty level rose. Although I thought

countrymen made the country obviously this was not to him as he gave relief to only a few people and not a

 majority of the citizen making a mockery of the statement “that the government was for the people and by 

the people.” In it the realization of the people of government being the problem.

The Judiciary which the branch of the government is model on an older English Legal System known as the “common law” which gives authorities to the judge to decide cases, which give them more freedom when given a verdict. They also have to take into account previous rulings of similar cases. Also it has seen the abolishing and passing of law which had in the past infringe on the rights of people in every aspect of life.

One such Civil rights is the court decision in Brown versus Board of Education, which declared segregation is unlawful unlike before when it was affirmed in the case like Plessy versus Ferguson or Dred Scott versus Stanford. Using the 11^th amendment it specifically states that “equal protection clauses state threat the same Stanford of law must be applied to everyone and obviously laws that harm one people of people would fail the test created by the equal protection clauses.

The Brown versus Education was when the United States supreme laws establishing separate public school for Black and White student to be unconstitutional. This happen on May 11,1954 in Topeki,Kansas.

I choose that sentence because it brought a movement change in the lives of the African American and their children and gave them a chance to better themselves in every aspect of  their lives.

Equal rights

  The American Political System over the years have seen demand of equal rights in every aspect of life especially by the minority. Rights are connected with the idea of citizenship and has a civil, political and social aspect as point out by Marshall in the recent reading in class. He explained the entitlement of certain things by citizens of a country and equality when it comes to sharing those things. Although his research was in England, it had a bearing on American which system had its roots from that country.
   He explained that at one point in history, all these rights were combined unlike in recent times where it has  been separated due to the practice of capitalistic economy. In American especially which did not ratify the laws set forth by the United Nation in relation to a person or citizen rights to civil, social and political rights.
  This can be seen in the quote by Marshall. "The explanation lies in the fact that the core of citizenship at this stage was composed of civil rights. And civil rights were indispensible to competitive market economy. They gave to each man, as part of his independent status, the power to engage as an independent unit in the economic struggle and made it possible to deny social protection on the ground that he was well equipped with the means to protect himself."
     This is basically saying that American see these rights as want instead of need and a person has to provide this for himself instead of it being the responsibility of the government. some of these rights like Education, healthcare and protection are not deem an important factor in the growth of the economy that the government has to concern itself with. So basically I choose this quote because I did not see by what means the citizens were equipped with since these rights when apply will be the instrument to equip better the citizen to protect himself. Or I also say that maybe only the citizen that the leaders thought are "THE CITIZEN" have been equipped leaving the minority whom they deem not as citizen therefore unworthy of those rights.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

      In the " Civil Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau, he wrote of the need to prompt the

government when the rights of a citizen is being trampled upon, and to what extend the government

can restricts the rights of a citizen. He wrote of the government's responsibility to make sure every

citizen is accord bill of rights regardless of race, color ,and socio-economic status.

     Government can be accountable for their actions when people stand up for things that they

realized benefit only a few of the members that they vote for and not the nation as a whole. I also

learnt of three important figures who champion liberty for all and was ready and willing to make

known all the abuses of a government, which restricts the liberty of its citizen. These figures are

Elizabeth Cady- Staton, (1815-1902), Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906), and Frederick Douglass (1817-

1895).Frederick Douglass was a runway slave from the south, who when he got to the North

campaign for the end to slavery. In one of his campaign , he was asked to speak during the fourth of

July celebration and he took the chance to nail it home of the meaningless of the celebration to him

and his fellow race because attributes and laws behind the celebration did not applied to them. This

 is an excerpt from his speech,"The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence

,bequeather by your fathers, is shared by you, not me. This is basically saying that since the concept

or idea behind the celebration is not applicable to me why should I honor this.
 
   This clearly shows a recipe for civil disobedience because if the government think that the African -

American is not eligible for the bills of rights which is to justice, liberty , prosperity and

independence, why should they celebrate a holiday for those things. It clearly showed the

disregard for bill of rights for certain race and yet expect them to pay taxes in the building of the

nation.
   

Having finished reading the "Civil disobedience by Henry Thoreau, I find it difficult to understand what he actually meant whether as an individual we do disobey the the law or as collectively as most laws are enacted with the mindset of what to gain from it and not how it is going to benefit the nation as a whole.
 One quote that catch my attention was " If I devote myself to other pursuits and comtemplations,I must first see,at least , that I do not pursue them sitting upon another man's shoulders.  Basically I think this means that whaterver you are doing , make sure it is not going to infringe on the rights of another.
And also bare him from doing what is beneficial to him.I think he also liken our country as a people who only talks about injustice but does nothing to correct it.  There is a lot of unjust acts being done in the name of order and civil obedience to the government. Lastly lawmakers by being bais and selfish have set a lot of laws which leads to civil disobedience.

Another stab at the constitution.

         






           This is a writing from the New York Times  opinion section  called "ROOM FOR DEBATE
" which deliberates on matters pertaining to the constitution of America. It argues for the review and change of most of the constitution since it has not been made since the 1960 and 1970s. The only recent one was also made in 1992, which is a decade old. It further went to explained the tedious and technicalities involved in having a constitution amended.  This platform was used Proffessors from various states who gave their opinions on what amendaments needs to be done and also a clear interpretation of some of the constitution laws.

                      
       "We are a nation dedicated to liberty and equality. So it is a particularly tragic irony that America leads the world in imprisonment and that a large proportion of those serving sentences are people of color" This the second piece by Rachel Barkow, a professor at the New York University  on matter of regulatory laws and policies. This brings into perception the Eight Amendement which touches on the rights of a person to get a fair trial, sentences and levies in respective of race or color.  The reason why I choose this quote was the knowledge that this is just a theoretical saying and not a reality thing, especially the part about being a nation dedicated to liberty and equality.

Infact I agree with her revision of her Eight Amendement which clearly stated that excessive terms of incarceration are prohibited just as it bans excessive fines. This will then showed how America is dedicated to liberty and equality instead of still having a two-faced idealogy of writing something and doing something else although. It has teaches me about the ecomonical and political propaganda attach to the lobbying for tougher and harsh punishments for crimes allegedly committed. One thing that brought to mind as I wrote this was the federal role in making sure states adhered to their demands. Prisons from this point is not a reform but another way of downtrotten the black American as it has always been the case since emanicipation. Therefore she hit  right on the nail of the problem and education on this will help alleviate this harm that is still done to the minority in this country.

ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL

       The Declaration of Independence is the unanimous, written demands made  by the thirteen states of United America to Great Britain, who at the time was their colonial master.  This declaration was made on July, 4 1776 with a total of (56) fifty -six signatures from the above states. They were a lot of concerns not addressed which led to the  declaration but what caught my interest was the first and second paragraph.
In it Great Britain is informed of " the law of nature and God's nature which entitled them to be governed by themselves and that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by the creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness".
        I was astonished to realized that if all men were created equal, where was the equality in real life, when based on race and color men are treated differently.  Will I be wrong to say that it does not matter the  race, color or culture, every chance is to be given to any man here in this great nation. Social equality should be done to make sure every person is given the advantage of bettering their circumstances in life. By providing good education and amenities  so that they can be able to have these unalienable rights.
     I choose this topic because it seems an theory that pertains to only a certain people  and that it is very sad to realize most theory are not applicable  in real life to a certain extent. Who was the Declaration for and is still for. It brings to that point that there is a need for change as to the interpretation of the declaration after emanicipation and even right now.
 It is shocking to realized that the people who went through almost the same sufferings could be indifference to the plights of their fellow human being  who they  lip say as equal.  As African America have with humble requests asked  their follow men to address the killings of innocent father,breadwinner, son, grandson and grandfather as they also did when they asked Britain so why aren't they hearing the voice of their fellow citizens.
  When are we going to see the equality of all men being treated  fairly and given every chance to bring out their given talents to help families, local, state and the nation as a whole.

The norm that people live in one based on common grounds like national identity, religion and culture has become a thing of the past. Now most countries have immigrant coming in from their countries and literally living most of their lives there.
 In the article " Trans_National American " by Randolph S. B ourne, he wrote of the awakening of the so-called Americans, who were themselves immigrants who came in search of freedom and the right to better their lives. He touches on the need if not to embrace but for them to understand the need of infusion of the various norms and cultures of immigrants which has made this unique and great nation.        
He further explained that "Melting pot" idea was not going to happen because there is Americanization in the first place, their being the first immigrants did not even take the natives way of living but came with their own. In fact their feeling of superiority and disdain for other race and culture has become a problem as human rights are being trampled upon.
And that for Americans to be americanized, there is the need for educate on how technology and innovation have made the world to be cosmopolitan. More so America with its policy of inviting and giving opportunities to every person to live and better one's self.
Is there going to be an Americanization; one might ask.Bourne believed with the right education it is possible but certainly not based on our first immigrant ideas.
I think this will be possible if the tolerance for other immigrants way of living and accepted if not embraced.

Bais still reign

In this era, where there  is education and enlighment  it pains me to still see that bais is still an ongoing problem. many instances can be seen from the news as government appointments gives different judgement for the same crime, funding for social-economic program  and amenities and based on race and color. Different approach to segregation by putting people of color into prison for sometime crime, they did not commit or long sentence for crimes committed and senseless killing of black men.

Government involvement include appointees who serves in its name, to make sure laws are uphold, distribution of funds for education, military and creation of jobs for the people. This is  because, even though  they are representatives of minority group  bringing issues  such as race and color  are not brought forth as it will not go further as nobody pushed it forward to be consider for reform. In fact most interpretation of laws regarding offenders are still based on race and color as recently seen in the lowest  sentence of just six month for rape by a white man whilst a color man got a stiffer punishment for the same crime. This show that there is still inequality  in practical but in theory they rational that every body is entitled to a fair trail regardless of race and color.

The ratio of funding to where minority groups live are is nonexistent, thereby making them to do with small teachers, books and equipment needed to better the lives of these people. poor housing conditions, lack of amenities and the needed support to enhancing lives is denied .
I think it is time where provision of education, amenities  and the needed support to better oneself is given without looking at the location, race or color. education, sanction and the right judgement given will deter other doers from doing the same time.

This has got worse to the extent that people who are paid to protect us, have now become our killer in the name of " feeling Threaten." while will a person running away from you threaten you as was in the case of  Walter Scott,  who flees as he was shot by a policemen and that same man said on television he will do it again. there are many examples that can go on to show that in reality there is still a lot of bais going on and nothing is being done about it, although in theory it says everyone is equal regardless of  of race and color.

LINDA A ESSAH

POL -166-H301

PROF:MURDACO

9/7/16


AMERICAN VIEWS ON THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

Political science can be said to be the study of how their perform the tasks set for the them by the voters. A social science, it main focus is on amount of power taken by the government, how they work in theory and it practical aspect.

The American political science class that I am in now focus on the views and expectation that the voters expect the elected to do. I learnt about practice and interpretation of laws and others services by the government is actually different from what is in theory. In fact there is no generalization of a judgement base on the same as before judgment is passed, color and race  plays a major role.

There is also no means to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich as every social amenities, healthcare and education are not provided for the poor to help them to upgrade their livelihood.

I realized that every polls that is made is based on the government in power. In America, there are two major parties, Democratic and the Republican.


In the Article, "Despite Negativity America Mixed on Ideal Role of Government by Frank Newport, it tell of the role of government as defined by the voters .We  learnt that American change their minds or follow their government when their party is in power. They generalized on the role of Government and the power that they have. In fact most Americans see the government has too much power and need to be less involved in the social-economic aspect of the people.

I realized there is the need for the government to listen to the people, make sure everyone is accountable to the law irrespective of color and race. Government amenities are shared equally instead of the poor not getting the needed tools to upgrade their livelihood.