Machine Politics

This timeline shows the history of modern voting technology from the first use of uniform paper
ballots in 1856 through the Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machines in use today.

Starting with the 1856 Australian Secret Ballot, which was the first state to use uniform official ballot that listed all candidates and issues in a fixed order, to the 2009 sale Diebold, Inc. voting machines to Election Systems and Software Inc., which now will control over three-quarters of the voting machine market.

After the Presidential Election in "Nov. 2000... many Americans first recognized that their electoral system had serious problems with flawed voter registration lists, obsolete voting machines, poorly designed ballots, and inadequate procedures for interpreting disputed votes." Half of the listings in the timeline have come following the Florida 2000 debacle.

Is there a technological way we can do it better? Despite the advances, voter turnout in the U.S. still stays in the mid-50-percent rage for Presidential elections. Any ideas. Also post your pick for voter turnout in Illinois for the Nov. mid-terms.

votingmachines.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000273

How to Read a Poll

In its traditional media role of scorekeeper, we will see more and more polls reported between now and midterm election day in Nov. These days, it seems there's a poll for everything. In this episode of Congress.org's D.C. Decoder, host Craig Crawford shows you how to tell if a poll's results are legitimate.

www.rollcall.com/cqpolitics/dc_decoder/48423-1.html

One Man, One Vote?

Did the Supremes decision in the Citizens United case, unsettle the democratic principle of 'One man, One vote?' Or, should corporations have a voice like everyone else?

Really? Haven't you heard money talks.....very loudly. In the 2006 midterms, $16 million dropped in election spending. So far for the 2010 cycle, $80 million.

Click on the link for more:

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#39510761

Here's the Washington Post article talked about in the video.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/03/AR2010100303664.html

Why America Hates the Press (or does it?)

Why, exactly, has the media establishment become so unpopular with so many people? Here are just a few examples of what provokes American anger. They suggest that the public has good reason to think that the news media are not doing their job.

Browse the pieces of the PBS Frontline Website on an episode they did on, "Why America Hates the Press." Make sure you read the Fallows article (linked) for discussion and a possible quiz.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/press/

AP Government Unit 1 Terms List

Government, Politics & Globalization

Pillars of the State
Government, Territory, Population,
Sovereignty, Legitimacy, Loyalty, Distribution
Nation v. Regime v. State
Strong v. Weak States
Government v. Politics
Power v. Authority
Systems of Government
Unitary v. Confederate v. Federal
Presidential v. Parliamentary
Dictatorship v. Direct Democracy v. Republic
Social Contract

Globalization
Interdependence
Transparency, Corruption

Supranational Organizations
G-8, United Nations, World Trade
Organization, IMF, World Bank
Democracy
Constitutionalism
Capitalism
Socialism
Communism
Oligarchy
Autocracy
Theocracy
Majority Rule
Fragmentation

Foundations of American Government

 What are the foundations (institutions & documents) that have supported the United States in one of the longest uninterrupted political traditions of any nation in the world?

 How are the theoretical Concepts of Democracy and the Principles of the Constitution seen in governmental practice in the United States?

 How has federalism been a persistent source of political conflict?

 How have Supreme Court precedents shaped the evolution of federalism?


Terms to Know

Articles of Confederation
Constitution
Declaration of Independence
Anti-Federalists
Federalists
Federalist Papers
Federalism
Democratic Theory – Republic, Pluralism, Elitism
Concepts of Democracy
Bicameral
Bill of Rights
Checks and balances
Elastic Clause
Rights of Society v. Rights of Individual
Enumerated Powers
Judicial Review
Preamble
Amendment process
Reserved Power Amendment
Separation of Powers
Supremacy clause
Block grants
Categorical grants
Layer cake federalism
Supreme Court precedents
Loose construction
Strict construction
Incorporation cases

9/11 2010: Are we out of Balance, out of Bounds?

London's Daily Mail has a great piece that shows the many personalities weighing in on the Florida pastor's plan (maybe now put off?) to burn a Koran on Saturday, 9/11. Ironically he says this is not about him, but will back off his plan if he gets a personal call from the President. Really?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1310444/Obama-Terry-Jones-9-11-Koran-burning-al-Qaeda-recruitment-bonanza.html

Then, for Monday read this article by Stuart Taylor, "Rights, Liberties and Security: Recalibrating the Balance after September 11:

http://www.brookings.edu/articles/2003/winter_terrorism_taylor.aspx

Answer the following questions for discussion. You could answer in the comment section of this post, or turn in a hard copy on Monday.

(1) Should the rules for pursuing terrorists be different than those for persuing drug dealers or bank robbers? Why/Why not? What are the dangers in taking a more aggressive approach, even when it may be essential?

(2) Taylor advocates the limited use of "preventive detention" for suspected international terrorists. Can thisexteme measure be squared with the ordinary constitutional guarantees of speedy trial, due process, and protection against self-incrimination?

(3) This article was written in 2003, in your opinion has the balance of policy been weighted on the side of liberty or security in the last several years? Is this a good/bad thing?

Jihad vs. McWorld

Benjamin Barber outlines threats to democracy in a globalized world in his classic, Jihad vs. McWorld. Read & take annotated notes on the article. Be ready to discuss and. You may also be quizzed on this reading. Also, think about the tone titles like, "Jihad vs. McWorld," or "Clash of Civiliations," set in the world today.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/199203/barber



Speaking of McWorld....

RECENT renewed American calls for China to revalue its currency have so far fallen on deaf ears. China has rejected accusations that America's huge trade deficit with it is caused largely by an artificially weak yuan, which has been pegged to the dollar since July 2008. Economists point out that an appreciation of the yen did little to help reduce America's trade deficit with Japan in the 1980s. But the yuan is unquestionably undervalued. Our Big Mac index, based on the theory of purchasing-power parity, in which exchange rates should equalise the price of a basket of goods across countries, suggests that the yuan is 49% below its fair-value benchmark with the dollar.

The Economist's Big Mac index seeks to make exchange-rate theory more digestible. It is arguably the world's most accurate financial indicator to be based on a fast-food item. (Here is a brief explanation and video clip.)