DUE MONDAY, 11/09: Current Events Assignment

[Ms. Derstine]

A true understanding of history is demonstrated by your ability to
connect events across time and to recognize significant themes.

STEP 1. Find a news article in an online database (approved sources
are below). Read the article thoroughly. Post a 2-paragraph
response, using the guidelines below. BE SURE TO POST A LINK TO YOUR
ARTICLE!

In Paragraph 1, summarize the article using the prompts below.
Remember that to truly understand the article, you may need to do some
side research!
• Who is the article about? Who are the major players in this
issue?
• What event/issue is this article about? Explain the facts/
opinions of your article.
• When did the story take place? Does it have anything to do with
past events or issues?
• Where is this event or issue occurring?
• Why is this event happening? Is it interconnected with anything
else that is going on or has gone on in the past? What are the events
that have preceded and influenced this?
• How is this story significant? How does this article fit in
with a study of government?

In Paragraph 2, respond to the article using one or more of the
following prompts:
• What did you find interesting about this article? What did you
learn from the article?
• What are the implications of your article for you? Your
community? The US? The world?
• What questions do you have after reading this article?
• If this is mainly an opinion article, how would you respond to
the author?
• Predict what you think may happen as this article develops.

STEP 2: Post at least one thoughtful response to another classmate's
current events post, or continue a current events discussion.

[n.plaetzer]

The Man Who Predicted the Depression

Wall Street Journal, November 6, 2009

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704471504574443600711779692.html#articleTabs%3Darticle

Dear Mr. Spitznagel,

Thank you very much for your article about Ludwig von Mises, who
predicted the Great Depression. You summarize the content of his book
“Theorie des Geldes und der Umlaufsmittel” (“The Theory of Money and
Credit”). Mises is the major representative of the gold standard. His
theory of increasing governmental money supply as the basis of
inflation and economic bubbles has been proofed several times in
history and seems to stay in power during this crisis. It is right to
put Mises in contrast to John Maynard Keynes, who saw a fiscal policy
encouraging full employment as one of government’s main tasks.

I agree with you in the point that Mises should have a bigger
importance today, especially since the financial crisis is a result of
low interest rates for decades. The correlation between economic
bubbles and a high money supply will occupy the economists for the
next generations. The gold standard will probably not be restored
since today’s society does not want to shrink its own lifestyle to a
“normal” level, to a sustainable level backed by really existing
financial values. The “casino capitalism” is not a result of missing
regulation at the gambling table but of endless play money. What
Libertarians often forget is that these ideas, founded by Ludwig von
Mises, are in a close relation to ecologic ideas of sustainability and
modern philosophical discussions about individual ethics in the age of
globalization. We cannot live over our means any longer – the first
step to find back to a healthy and sustainable way of life is to end
the illusion of paper money.

[Priscilla :)]

This article is about President Obama passing the Health Care Bill. In
this article they talk about the major problems of healthcare and how
it can affect us. Obama believes that by passing the bill, it would
ensure healthcare for most Americans, without increasing the federal
deficit. However the House of Representatives, all but one, believe
that passing the bill would become a disaster for the economy and
healthcare. This bill will end the insurance companies practices
Democrats say the House measure, paid for through new fees and taxes,
along with cuts in Medicare, would extend coverage to 36 million
people now without insurance while creating a government health
insurance program. It would end insurance company practices, such as,
not covering pre-existing conditions or dropping people when they
become ill.

I found this article interesting because many Americans are in need of
healthcare and it's nice to see our leaders try and do something about
it; however, i also find it interesting that Republicans feel that
providing healthcare for all these Americans is going to worsen the
economy. I agree with the House because it's going to take a lot of
money for it to be able to cover all these Americans.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/health/policy/09healthcare.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

[Bryan D.]

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2009/11/09/iraqi_lawmakers_pass_crucial_law_for_2010_elections/

The article is about the law makers in Iraq passing a law for the 2010
election that set and open election in Iraq but didnt give any
gaurunteed eats to arab and Turkomen lawmakers from Kirkuk could
ultimately change the outcome of the election in that province, and
the process could exacerbate a bitter, decades-long fight over
ancestry, oil, and control of the city. The story took place Yesterday
in Iraq between the 275 law makers that they had to vote on whether
the legislation was going to be passed or not. This article relates to
government because it talks about the Iraqi government passing laws
and becoming more of a democratic country like the U.S.

What i found intresting bout this article is that other countries
across the world are becoming more interested in becoming a democratic
country. From this article I learned that Iraq really has 275
statesmen that vote on passing legislation. This implies that the
world is finding more things than just two specific types of
government to follow and create their own type that fits them. After
reading this article the only question I had was why now? Why would
they just change their government at this moment. I think that as this
progresses Iraq will become more democratic and for the people.

[Hennessy C.]

Why Government Health Care Keeps Falling in the Polls
Hennessy Cruz

This article is about how people took this new pole about
Barack Obama and how they think that health care
for families would get worse. The pole result shows
that 7% more people think it would get worse. The percent
rose from 42% to 49%. So far only 22% of people say that
it would get better. Americans also believe that they are
responsibble for their actions. Also, ObamaCare would
limit the ability of people choosing affordable insurance coverage.
This wouldn't allow American's to shop for a better health-care
plans from an out-of-state plan.

THis article relates to our government because it is talking about
the government it self. We have been studying about government
poles and how to improve them. One thing that i found interesting
about this article was that more americans are saying that health
care is getting worse. This is interesting because it seems like that
is the only issue that most people are talking about and to know that
almost 50 percent of people think that it would get worse is a bit
surprising.
One question that i still have is, If Barack Obama can't totally fix
the health
care before it is time to reelect would you vote for him again?


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704335904574495131591949574.html?mod=relevancy

[Tatyana McAfee]

Muslim population in Military

 

Tatyana McAfee

 

Since the start of war in Iraq the military began recruiting Muslims. According to Pentagon statistics April 2008 there were 3,409 Muslims in the active-duty in the military. Right now Muslim soldiers remain fairly rare in some parts of the military. Army officials say that there were just 24 Muslim cadets out of a total of 4,400 student body.  My opinion about Muslim religion is that it seems like a religion that is full of hate more than peace. They are into things that involvee the men having more power over the women witch in my eyes is not acceptable.

 

This article relates to our government becausee we have been at war with Iraq. Since we only here about the war I thought I should look more into Iraq and what its like now. Instead of paying attention to the fact the the war was happening.  

  

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125755853525335343.html?mod=hpp_sanfranmostread

[gregory lespinsse]

Big hurdles for Senate on health bill

http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/11/09/senate_pressured_to_act_quickly_on_healthcare_bill/

This article talk about the White House that is growing concerned, that the congressional timetable for passing a health care overhaul could slip into next year. Obama’s remarks came just 14 hours after the House narrowly approved a landmark plan that would cost $1.1 trillion over 10 years and extend insurance coverage to 36 million uninsured Americans; the White House said that the hardest work is yet to come: debate highlighted the pressures that will come to bear on senators as they weigh contentious issues like federal financing for abortion, coverage for illegal immigrants, and the public option, a government-backed insurance plan to compete with the private sector.

 

I thought it would be a great thing, if we had the healthcare but if you really look forward on their ideas you’ll see that the government will need money in order for that to happen. So the government will increase the tax on the low and middle class of our society and I believe that will allow them to get 40% or may be more on your pay check. In my opinion I’m saying that it wrong, you just have to know in order for us to have a health bill will have to sacrifice some of your money.