American Media

Yes, the news media is too dependent on polls (just as they are too dependent on reporting drama rather than true facts).  However, it is not "bad" for news agencies to do research by polling Americans.  I look at it like this:  just as lie detectors are not foundational evidence of guilt in the courtroom, the test still gives police a person of interest or not.  It is just the same with polling and the media.  Polls simply give the media something to go off of--not facts.

Party ID is not important to me.  A major part of my family is hard-core Democrat--as in they do not care what a Democrat stands for; they are just Democrat.  I do not identify that way.  I do not have a party. I simply look at which candidate meets my standards--could be any party.

My opinion in politics is more focused on social issues than on economical issues.  I believe that our economical issues stem from our social issues.  For example, I believe that ethical relativism on issues such as lying provide our politicians and businesses to excel in our economy.

Chapter 5 Blog Post

Does the government do too little or too much to reduce the instances of racial discrimination?  Why or how so?

I personally think that the government was once on top of issues of racial discrimination.  However, in the past few years, I also think that the government has become slack.  Our government seems to be too busy with foreign policies and relations to care about what is going on within our borders.  There is much more to discrimination than racial.


Does the government do too little or too much to reduce the instances of gender?  Why or how so?

There are times when the government does too little and too much.  Fighting for equal pay for women is a case where the government could do more, but first, I believe the government needs to be more concerned with its people rather than its own popularity.


Does the government do too little or too much to reduce the instances of sexual orientation?  Why or how so?

The government does too much in the case of sexual orientation.  Sexual orientation groups have been allowed to trample other groups' freedoms or speech, religion, rights to assembly, and so on.  As with the case of President Obama and the military; he may have overturned the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, but now he is also attempting to take away military voting rights.  President Obama also avidly defends the rights of gays, transgenders, and lesbians, but does he also defend the beliefs of others who are against such lifestyles?  No, he does not.

Articles of Confederation, Bill of Rights, Capital Punishment

1. How important was it to shift away from the Articles of Confederation and towards the Constitution?

 The Articles of Confederation was the first document that declared the thirteen colonies to be a "united nation."  No longer were they thirteen separate states fighting for the same cause, but they were one, unified country.  However, there were big problems with the Articles as well.  The biggest was that Congress had no control over internal affairs; the states had absolutely ALL the power when it came to taxes, commerce, etc.  These are things that need to be regulated by a higher form of authority because a state can only see one thing:  its own needs.  Instead of having an authority that would look out for all the states, each state would only agree to a Congressional request if it provided for their own specific needs.

In turn, the Constitution was a much better, more thought out document.  It set up a system of checks and balances that gave each branch of government--legislative, executive, judicial--authority over the others.  Congress could now demand taxes that would keep the nation from collapsing in on itself.  Now there were people whose job was to watch over the nation as a whole.

2.  How critical are the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights is absolutely at the core of "most important documents in the USA."  It guarantees freedom to each American citizen as an individual.  None of the branches of government can override these rights, and if they tried, I'm pretty sure that chaos would ensue.

3.  Is Capital Punishment constitutional?

From what I can tell in our reading, it seems that the issue of Capital Punishment can go either way.  :/  While one state may find the death penalty to be "cruel and unusual" by the 8th Amendment, other states conclude, using the 14th Amendment, that some people willingly forfeit their right to life when they commit a certain type of crime--like taking a fellow man's life.

Interpretation is a difficult thing. . .However, I absolutely do NOT believe that the federal government should be allowed to step in and make a uniform policy about whether capital punishment is right or wrong.  It seems to me that the government would be imposing on a morality issue rather than a state/civil (I can't think of the word) issue.  And I don't think they should be allowed to do that.  The states and people who live in them have to have some sort of governing power.

100 Words about Me :)

Hello! 

First, I’ll get the basics out of the way.  My name is Sarah Bates, and I am a twenty-year old college student.  This is going to be my last year at Roane State; afterwards, I plan to transfer to TTU where I will complete my degree in sociology.  I know, I know. . .It’s not a degree in high demand, but I know it’s what I should be doing so things will work out!  J

That’s another thing about me:  I classify myself as an optimist. 

I hope to learn from this class that there is hope for our government (maybe I’m getting too personal already?).  Each person can make a difference, or at least, that is what I have gleaned from our founding fathers.

Thanks!  Hope to get to know each of my classmates and teacher a bit better as the semester goes on!

-Sarah Bates
8.25.12