National Debt Answers

National Debt Q & A

1. Which other countries are experiencing national debt the way the US is?
     One other country that is experiencing difficult economic times is Greece. Due to uncontrolled government spending, Greece has suffered its most severe debt crisis since becoming a democracy. The government was able to spend beyond its means, leadings to anger among Greek citizens.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/266284/20111213/deal-greek-debt-swap-talks-source.htm


2. What's the difference between debt and deficit?
     The national debt is the net accumulated borrowing by the federal government. Essentially, it is the difference between all of the money we as a nation have ever spent and the total revenue we have made.

     The annual federal budget deficit is the amount that our federal government borrows each year. So, it is the difference between what the government spends and what it makes in revenue in one year. Each year the deficit is added to the existing debt.
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/resources/faq/faq_publicdebt.htm


3. What are some ways to reduce national debt?

•  Curb government expenditures. 
• Increase taxes.
• Increase the labor force.
• Cut the current deficit.
• Decrease logrolling.
• Raise taxes on the wealthy and on big businesses.

New York Times Budget Puzzle

How much did you save?
In 2015, I saved 400 billion.
In 2030, I saved 714 billion.

What % came from tax increases?
45% of the savings came from tax increases.


What % came from spending cuts?
55% of the savings came from spending cuts.

I had a hard time deciding where to cut spending in areas such as medicare and social security. I decided against raising the retirement and social security age. The easiest decisions for me by far were the military cuts. I cut funding for weapons, cut troop sizes, and chose to pull most troops out of the Middle East by 2015.
Although the decisions made in terms of social security, health care, and medicare will undoubtedly earn me votes from the Democrats, these choices combined with the military decisions will probably lose me Republican votes.

President Research- Carter

Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jimmycarter

http://www.cartercenter.org/news/experts/jimmy_carter.html

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2002/carter-bio.html

http://millercenter.org/president/carter

http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/documents/jec/chron.phtml

Lessons to be learned from Carter's experiences as President:

1. Is it important to remove racial barriers when trying to unite a group of people.
2. We must work towards the advancement of human rights.
3. After  President's time in office is up, he or she should still continue working for change in some way, therefore leaving a legacy behind and giving the presidency a good name.
4. It is hard to govern as an outsider (he was a peanut farmer from Georgia- did not fit the stereotype).
5. A President must make compromises in order to get things moving in Washington.
6. Carter often disdained the news media, which became a major disadvantage for him. A President should respect and work with the media.

Electoral College Reform

Facts/Details

1. Electors can vote for a candidate who is not in their same political party.
2. The winner of the popular vote is not necessarily the overall winner (for example, Gore v. Bush)
3.  Republicans often win more states overall, but Democrats often win more big states.
4. Electoral college defenders argue that without the electoral college, candidates will spend all their time trying to rack up big victories in big cities with big media, ignoring the rest of the voters.
5. Historically, the electoral college leader has also tended to be the popular vote leader.
6. The electoral college makes it easier to represent minorities and enhance their involvement.
7. The electoral college encourages a two party system.
8. The electoral college is a system set up by the framers of the Constitution in Article 2, Section 1, and then altered by the 12th Amendment.
9.  The electoral college avoids the possibility of a recount of the entire nation.
11. Some of the larger states leaning in one direction could completely over power a large portion of the country.  The electoral college provides some balance to this.

Questions:

1. Would the outcome of a presidential election likely to be different if we voted by a general population vote rather than an electoral college vote?
2. What proposals have been made to change the Electoral College system?
3. How are electors selected?
4. Where/when does the electoral college meet?
5. How many times have we had a president who did not win the popular, but still won the electoral college?

Campaign Ad Analysis

Techniques used in the ads:

• Celebrities: http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1980/pres-ford

         Ford speaks out on behalf of Reagan. Although Reagan did win the election, I'm not sure if this ad contributed much to his success because Ford lost the previous election, so he may not have been the most credible source.

• Relating to the "simple folks" or average person: http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1992/milwaukee

       In this, we hear from a handful of average citizens talking about their problems and how Clinton will be able to help them out. Hearing from everyday, normal people probably proved to be effective.

• Positivity: http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1992/we-can-do-it

         Clinton said, "I won't you to believe we can do it." These are the things people want to hear; they want a convincing voice telling them that they can make things better for them. This was most likely very effective. 

• Scare Tactics: http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1980/podium

          This ad uses startling facts about the nation's downfalls in economy, housing, and employment to scare people from voting for Carter. I think this ad was effective because it made people blame Carter and fear what would happen if he served a second term.

• Humor: http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1952/ike-for-president 

              I think this technique was effective because it was catchy and cute, which probably caught people's attention. Also, kids probably liked it, making it  common household conversation. 

• Cardstacking: http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1964/accomplishments

               Johnson talks about all of the good things he has done and plans to do, but nothing that he has done bad. This ad probably was effective because it highlights so many successes.

Assertions on campaign ads:

1. Overall, advertising does little to inform and very little to change a person's opinion. 
2. More advertising does not produce a "better" democratic result.
3. Research suggests that the presidential candidate who can raise and spend the most money does tend to do better in the polls. 
4. Advertising is a paid propaganda that distorts the democratic process.

Political Cartoon Week of 12/5

1. Do you think the author is more liberal or conservative, and why?

2. What do you think is the purpose of this cartoon?

3. Are there any symbols in this cartoon? If so, what are they and what do they represent?

Death Penalty Answers

 1. On average, how long are inmates held on death row before they are put to death? 

           Prisoners often stay on death row for years before their execution. In fact, most deaths on death row are actually from natural causes because of the long wait. 

 2.  Is it more expensive to imprison someone or punish them them with the death penalty?
         Life imprisonment is usually cheaper because of the appeals process of sending an inmate to death row.    According to Amnesty International, death row is more expensive. 
 3. How many states have banned the death penalty, and how many states still have it?

      Sixteen US states (plus DC) have banned the death penalty. Pennsylvania is not one of these states, although it is very rare that someone is put to death in PA.