First Assignment of 2014 semester: ID and explain faces of 2013

 

On Tuesday we will turn our attention to the study of comparative government & politics (remember "politics -- though it "ain't beanbag'' -- is easy, governing is hard."). For you first intro assignment, like a mini-FRQ, in the comment area of this post Identify each of the faces on The Week's final cover of 2013, and explain whether they are a U.S/International face and why we might talk about, or need to know about these people in a political science class.

Also, I will add some other questions for fun in the comment section. For government's around the world, will 2014 be better/worse than 2013?

Christie's Bridge Scandal (forgive the pun) a real "Feeding Frenzy"

From AP Government Textbook Author Larry Sabato, Director of the UVA Center of Politics  @LarrySabato:

A feeding frenzy — as defined by the book of the same name — is “the press coverage attending any political event or circumstance where a critical mass of journalists leap to cover the same embarrassing or scandalous subject and pursue it intensely, often excessively, and sometimes uncontrollably.”

Not all feeding frenzies are the same, but they generally can be classified into three levels of severity:

• Mega Frenzy: The infrequent “black hole” frenzy that sucks in most available media light and dominates the news for weeks or months. It is remembered as the dominant story of a particular election or era: Watergate, the Iran-Contra Affair, and Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky all qualify.
• Full Frenzy: A major event that connects to a candidate’s existing subtext — that is, the way journalists think the real person underneath the public exterior is defined. An example is Gary Hart’s reckless extramarital relationship with Donna Rice, which he was pursuing even as the candidate invited reporters to “follow me around. You’ll be very bored.” The revelation effectively knocked Hart out of the 1988 Democratic presidential nominating contest and confirmed lingering suspicions about his character.
• Frenziette: The summer squall of feeding frenzies, which seems important at the moment but fades quickly and has no real impact. A New York Times article about John McCain’s interactions with a lobbyist in 2008 is an example. The story, which seemed to suggest far more than it proved, didn’t appear to hurt McCain in the slightest.

 

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BTW, these toll booth caused "traffic problems" in New Jersey happened in September. Gov. Christie fired his deputy chief of staff today after he claimed "he had no knowledge" of the ordered lane closures until yesterday. Your thoughts? And what type of "feeding frenzy" would you define this as.

Should Congress and the President pass legislation to raise the federal minimum wage of American workers?

How much does it take to live? Play the game SPENT.

Question: Should Congress and the President pass legislation to raise the federal minimum wage of American workers?

As a culiminating assessment activity for the first semester in American Government (AP and Traditional) we will deliberate or hold a Socratic Seminar on Friday on the question above. You will use the resources at CSPAN Classroom Minimum Wage site. This will be a 50 point assignment:

• 20 points -- Note-Taking Chart; Vocabulary Preview; Dialectical Journal (5 quotes)
• 20 points -- Your individual one-page postition paper
• 10 points -- Your participation in Friday's deliberation/seminar

Articles should be read, and videos should be watched, with evidence from the texts incorporated in your writing. The written portion of the assignment will serve as your "talking points" for Friday's experience.

Some Rules of the Road for Friday's Experience

1) Talk to each other, not just to the discussion leader or teacher.

2) Refer to evidence from the text to support your ideas.

3) Ask questions if you do not understand what someone has said, or you can paraphrase what another student has said for clarification. (“I think you said this, is that right?”)

4) You do not need to raise your hands to speak, but please pay attention to your “airtime” – how much you have spoken in relation to other students.

5) Don’t interrupt.

6) Don’t put down the ideas of another student. Without judging the student who you may disagree with, state your alternate interpretation or ask a follow-up question to help probe or clarify an idea.

Minimum Wage Laws in the States - January 1, 2014

Minimum wage by comparison

 

We will end the semester with a policy analysis of whether or not to raise the minimum wage domestically. Then next week we start to look out at the world. Review the chart above. Note that Germany just passed minimum wage policy this year -- 8.50 euro/hr = 1,289 e/year.

 

(Thanks, Teaching Comparative Blog)

In the USA, it's seems inevitable that calls for a higher minimum wage come from labor interests and resistance to the idea comes from business interests.

So, what should we make of the UK's biggest business lobby advocating higher wages? Or, is this just journalists emphasizing the unusual part of a conventional message?

CBI: Firms must pay workers more as economy improves

The head of the UK's main business lobby group has said too many people are "stuck" in minimum wage jobs, despite an upturn in the UK economy.

John Cridland, director general of the CBI, said businesses should deliver "better pay and more opportunities" for their employees.

 He told the BBC: "If we get productivity going, we are creating more wealth, and we can share it."

Recovery should be sustainable before wages increased, he said… 


 In his annual new year's message, Mr Cridland said despite economic growth, there were "still far too many people stuck in minimum wage jobs without routes to progression, and that's a serious challenge that businesses and the government must address."

Mr Cridland said businesses must support employees in "every part of the country" to progress in their careers and help young people get their first jobs…
Meanwhile...

Ed Miliband in new year cost of living pledge

Labour has a "credible and affordable" plan to help families struggling with the cost of living, Ed Miliband has insisted in his new year message.

 



 The opposition leader said the issue of living standards would again be his focus in 2014, accusing ministers of wanting to "change the conversation"…

Labour says the UK is still in middle of the "biggest cost-of-living crisis in a generation" and, with prices rising faster than wages for most people, the majority continue to feel worse off…

While he was not promising people "easy answers", Mr Miliband said Labour's plan to freeze energy bills for 20 months from June 2015, expand free childcare and crack down on payday lenders would "tip the balance towards hope" for many families struggling in the current climate.

"People do not want the Earth. They would prefer some very specific promises, specific things about what a government will do," he added.

"All of this is adding up to a programme for how we can change things. It is clearly costed, credible and real."…

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Post here, the name of a comparable organization linked to the government here as to what the CBI is in the UK.



Popp Points show who put in extra effort this semester

With posts today, congratulations to Amana, who moved up to a tie for sixth place in the Popp Point extra credit posting. While more of you posted this year than last, still surprising to me that just 5 students overall qualified for the maximum 10 extra credit Popp Points for using the Youdia to your credit. Remember, YOU are the GOVERNMENT. Congratulations to Katyayni G. -- the 2013 Political Warrior champion!


1st Semester Popp Point Leaders

1. Katyayni G. 15 (10 EC points, Political Warrior debate with Ryan H. put her over top)
2. Anna L. 14 (10 EC points, 11 posts on 1/5)
3. Eric O. 12 (10 EC points, no posts over break. Lost lead.)
4. Akshaya I. 12 (10 EC points)
5. Katie B. 10 (10 EC points)
5. Grant P. 10 (10 EC points)
6. Amana G. 9
6. Tara P. (sociology) 9
9. Ryan H. 7
9. Alex S. 7

Others: James O. (6); Caitlin F. (6); Pei C. (6); Kayla A. (5); Gloria G. (5); Lisa C. (5); Scott C. (5); Ashley Y (trad. gov. 5); Brianne S. (5); Brendan G. (4); Howie (4); John C. (4); Clare H. (3); Joshua A. (3); Juliet O. (3); Jack C. (3); Morgan L. (3); Dawn C. (2); Ben C. (2); Carly L. (2); Saafa B. (2); Ester F. (2); Hot Pocket (2); Austin W. (2); Bailey Y. (2); Mahum Z. (2); Nathan W. (1); Jeff E. (1); Tad W. (1); Stephen S. (1); Sami B. (1); Nick B. (1); Remi Y. (1).

Like/Dislike? Youdia weighs in on Winter Storm

Not that I expect you Political Warriors to weigh in on the side of criticizing District 204's decision to cancel school today, but people took to their Youdia Soap Boxes to state their claims against their government action to shut down roads, schools and meetings.

Until further notice, NO VEHICLES except police, fire and other emergency vehicles are to be on the road.

Lake County Commissioner and Lake County Sheriff John Buncich have declared a state of emergency for all of Northwest Indiana. Until further notice, only emergency vehicles, law enforcement, medical and highway department vehicles are to be on the roadways.

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To me the closures make sense. But not so much to others. In NW Indiana this morning, INDOT had to "rescue" drivers/cars that went around barricades.

Here were some comments on Facebook:

Garry Szumsky · FollowFollowing

This is NOT a state of emergency. It is a SNOWSTORM. This is the midwest, and it is near Lake Michigan. We get these in Winter. We've been getting them in Winter for hundreds of years. The blizzard of '67 dumped 23 inches of snow on us. Wind gusts were up to 53 mph and drifts were up to 6 feet high. I was almost killed in that one, and no one declared any "state of emergency". In the blizzard of '79 we got 19 inches of snow, which was on top of the 10 inches that were already there. Building were destroyed in that blizzard, and all city trains were disabled. No state of emergency. In '99 we got 22 inches of snow in 2 days, 18.8 in 1 day alone - the single most amount of snow in 1 day ever in Chicagoland. we had 60 mph gusts and lake Shore Drive had to be shut down because of water from the lake freezing the road solid. That blizzard caused 43 deaths, either from exposure or heart attacks while shoveling. No "state of Emergency declared.

Last winter, schools were closing BEFORE a snowstorm even arrived, based solely on the predictions of weathermen. That storm never arrived. Now we have a "state of emergency" over, what? is it up to 6 or 7 inches yet?
Someone wants to make wimps out of all of us. We are being taught to be afraid of everything, even NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS that our parents and grandparents took for granted would happen. This is not only sad, it is a tad frightening.

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Aaron Thomas Gibson · Lansing, Illinois

Ok I'll drive where ever when ever I want!

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Jorge Big-g Urbina · C.e.o/founder and owner at Titanium Productions

Are the county's going to notify our employer's? Btw it's our choice to be on the road. on my way to work or to joy ride . You can't stop us.

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Craig Wilson · OTR Driver at USA Truck

Driving is a privelidge not a right and they do have the right and power to stop you.

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Jeffrey Machado III · Top Commenter · Front Range Community College

At least call it what it is, Martial Law. It may be wise not to go out, but police do not dictate freedom of travel. Now, if someone chooses to go out, they should not expect to get assistance from anyone else. If you are not free to make decisions, even really bad ones, you are not free at all.

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Elizabeth Moore

Don't get me wrong...I'm not going anywhere, but how on earth does the "Lake County Commissioner and Lake County Sheriff" have authority to speak and dictate closures for "all of Northwest Indiana?" Typical Lake County, lol.

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Joe MolonLabe · Top Commenter · Consultant at Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated

Why not just say "No emergency services for drivers" instead? This isn't Nazi Germany, you can't tell people they no longer have the Right to travel.

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Sharon Kelly · Harper High School

The more control we give this darn goverment the more they CONTROL US!!!! Still refuse Obama Care!!!! Sue me then I'll quit my job so i cant pay you!!!

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David E. Artman · FollowFollowing · Top Commenter

Yes, Sharon. I can already see the government tanks lined up on 41 to blast you off the road.

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Margaret Center · FollowFollowing · Works at Body By Vi - Visalus (Independent Promoter)

Oh My Goodness people maybe they are just tired of digging people out of ditches and other vehicles. Use your heads obviously it isn't safe.

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Alicia Marie Hicks · Photographer at Alicia Marie's Photography

it always amazes me how people can bring Obama into ANYTHING lol

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To be fair, most of the comments supported the County Government's decision to call off road travel and criticized the Soap Box sarcastics. Still, this is more evidence of "Politics (or shooting off your mouth) is Easy, Governing is Hard." And how citizens assess of governments at all levels are spending our money. Not really related here, but graphic below breaks down federal revenues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What can the Olympics teach us about governments?

The basic question I have is, "Are hosting the Olympic Games good for governments and its citizens?"

When we case study Russia and China together, the Sochi Games will be underway. This article from Business Week gives us insight into Governing v. Politics in Putin's Russia.

The Waste and Corruption of Vladimir Putin's 2014 Winter Olympics

A look at how this week’s cover got made.

Does the editorial decision making re-enforce U.S. stereotypes of Cold War Russia?