Current Event #6: The Debt

I've been avoiding the debt issue because it's a little complicated. However, the length of the debate over whether or not we raise our debt ceiling I think reflects the major concerns and political conflicts in our time. Essentially, this is an issue that in the past has not been an issue. The 7.s. sets a limit on how much debt we let ourselves have, we get close to that number, and Congress typically votes to raise the limit. Not raising the ceiling and going over it would hurt our international economic reputation, as it would mean we were defaulting on some loans, and could cause market troubles in the U.S. However, some politicians have raised the issue that maybe the U.S. should cut our spending before we allow our debt to increase...which makes good sense from a personal financial perspective, right? You wouldn't want to take out new loans just to continue buying shoes you don't need. The problem is, the government isn't buying shoes, they are spending money on programs that benefit U.S. citizens.

That's a simple overview. Read what President Obama says on the issue, summarize his thoughts, and share your own reaction. Are there some services a government must provide, or some we can cut?. Why is this decision taking such a long time to make--is it a tough issue or bad politics?

Also...I've locked the comments on Current Event #1 and #2. Time to focus on some more recent issues. Don't forget about your primary sources either!

Update: I'm locking the comments on this since the debt bill has been passed.  A good overview of how that ended is here.

Current Event #5: Stumped

Hi there. So this week I am still in Mexico, learning lots to share with you all in September. For this week, since my internet is a little wonky here, I am going to invite you to post a link to a new sorry from a reputable source, and explain why you think it is important for Americans to pay attention to this particular story. The rule, however, is that you cannot post on the same topic as someone else, unless you are linking to an article that reflects a different point of view.

Oh, and no new Harry Potter movie stories!

Current Event #4

I am at the start of a month long trip to Mexico right now (in fact I saw a few Jordan students in airport at 5 a.m. on the morning I left), so I may be a little slow to respond to emails or post. But, that's no reason to ignore U.S. politics! Read a little about SC governor Nikki Haley here. What do you think makes her an appealing choice as a leader of the Republican party? Looking ahead to the 2012 election, what kind of candidate do you think the Republicans will need to choose in order to try and defeat Obama?

Happy early Fourth of July!

Current Event #3: Ron Paul Bill Would End Federal War on Marijuana

This one will get you talking. Read the summary and think about the questions that Friedersdorf asks. Try to focus not as much on whether or not marijuana should be legalized, but about the issue of who has the right to decide--the states or the federal government. It's the answer to that question that will have a much more meaningful impact on how our government develops over the next few decades.

Current Event #2: Sing Out, Hillary

Should Hillary have been more forceful in pushing the Saudi Arabian government for more rights for women (like simply driving)? Summarize Maureen Dowd's opinion, and then tell us what you think. What comes first, diplomacy (and good relations with other countries) or the rights of individuals in those countries?

We have our first comment on a post!

Thank you for braving the waters. A reminder to everybody that a good chunk of this assignment is online. You need to a) respond to the primary source discussion questions in the comments (in addition to writing down the document analysis: author, place and time, prior knowledge, etc...) and b) comment on three of the current events that I will post throughout the summer.

Hope you all are making the most of your time off from school. I'm going to be a history teacher nerd extraordinaire this weekend and learn lots about African-Americans in North Carolina prior to the Civil War. Enjoy the sunshine and read some books!

P.S. If you are still confused about the assignment, make sure you read the "Read Me First" and then shoot me an email.

Current Event #1: US Funding Secret Internet for Dissidents Abroad

Read the following article from the Atlantic Wire: U.S. Funding Secret Internet Access for Dissidents Abroad. This seemed like a good fit for our summer assignment, which relies on the power of the web. So what do you think--is internet access a basic human right? Can you foresee potential problems as a result of this? Is it in the best interests of the American government to promote revolutions or anti-government activity around the world? Feel free to respond to these or other questions in the comments.

Reminder: Comments should be 100-200 words and can offer your opinion on the topic at hand, respond to a classmate’s comment, or ask questions related to the material. Remember that your writing will be posted for all to see—therefore it should be carefully proofread, reflect thoughtful analysis, and be respectful of others ideas. Do not wait until August to write all three required comments!