trunk or treat

Well the kids went to church tonight and are in an event called "Trunk or Treat".  It's really cute.  A bunch of people line up in the parking lot and open their car trunks.  They then decorate the inside of their trunk with different themes.  The kids, (by the 100's) come and trick or treat at each car.

House wife

Hobo

 Hippie

Not much else going on except for working, driving and Political Science.  I try and answer questions every night like:  

1.  Patterson identifies America’s core political ideals as Liberty,
Equality and Self-government. Do these ideals match the reality of
people’s experience today?

2.  "The National Idea in American Politics" by Samuel H. Beer at the end of
Chapter Three addresses the concept of federalism by explaining the
notion of a “national idea” which purports that the American people are
a unified group with a common history and experience. Are Americans in
fact unified by a common history and experience?

3.  Given all the problems that we face in this country today - the state of
the economy today with Wall Street’s meltdown, tightening credit, rising
home and business foreclosures; the issue of unavailability of
affordable health care for millions; and our diminished standing in the
world – is it realistic to expect that either of the two major parties,
Democratic or Republican, can solve the problems? Support your conclusion.

I also just finished an essay regarding the following:

In an essay of 750-1,000 words, please respond to the following question:

America’s political heritage is government by the people, but in the Federalist Papers (specifically #s 10 and 51) we find examples of the American founders’ distrust of the common man and human nature. The paradox is government by the people, but a distrust of human nature and the people to govern themselves. How did America’s founding fathers structure American government to resolve this paradox? Support your conclusions.
For your reference, the following are links to the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Federalist Papers.

Here is my essay for your entertainment and so you know what I do all day and night long.....

In this essay I will explain how America's founding fathers structured government, allowing the people to govern themselves amidst their imperfections, and why this has become a system failing Americans today. I will refer to Federalist Papers numbers 10 and 51. I will also make references to the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

It is important to go back into history and understand the heart of the Colonists, and through that, discover the essence of the Declaration of Independence. The Colonists were Protestant in faith and were the first to assert the separation of church and state. They believed the way to salvation was to choose to follow God and His commands. They wanted this liberty, and hence, left an aristocratic way of life in Europe. Equality and self-government were religiously based as well. The Colonists believed God created all men equally. Self-government was used to run the church, impacting their views on the proper form of government. G.K. Chesterton called America, “a nation with the soul of a church” and “the only country founded on a creed”.

The Protestant belief continued as our founding fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence “in the name of the Supreme Judge of the world, for the rectitude of their intentions, and by the authority of the good people of the colonies.” They continued to say, “for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” God was placed first, thus ensuring the first step of order in government.

A national government was put into place based on the Articles of Confederation, ensuring states retained their sovereignty, freedom and independence. Still, power struggles grew between the states. The government structure unraveled as people feared infringement on their newly found freedoms. In 1787, the Great Compromise emerged, allowing each state to have equal say in the Senate. America was on its way to establishing a strong national government, while listening to the people at the same time.

The states continued having differences in slavery, taxes, commerce, centralized power, and motives of the men writing a new document- The Constitution of the United States, the fundamental law defining how government would legitimately operate. The Framer's goals were to have a government that was strong enough to meet the nations needs, preserve the states as governing entities, and ensure a limited-government so that people had a say as to who was governing them. Though the Constitution was greatly needed, the people were largely against it. The Constitution was ratified primarily because the wealthier were pro-ratification and pushed their own interests. Man's greed and self agenda started taking root.

Federalist, James Madison, had an interest in protecting the people from themselves and their own ambitions. He wrote Federalist Paper #10, addressing the issue that factions could endanger the good of the people by pushing an interest contrary to majority beliefs, or endanger minorities because the faction was for the good of the majority. He also wrote Federalist Paper #51, addressing appropriate checks and balances that should be created in government. He advocated for a separation of powers within the national government which led to institutions sharing power. The Judiciary Branch, the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch overlapped in such a way that an elaborate system of checks and balances were created. The Bill of Rights was also a safeguard that placed limits on the power of government. It was written to protect people's freedom of speech, religion and protection of due process.

The Framers wanted wanted men that were considered virtuous in the eyes of Protestant believers and would have an enlightened sense of the public interest. They tried to accomplish this by having a fair voting system in place. The House of Representatives, United States Senators, the President, State Legislators and Federal Judges would all have different methods of selection for office that would eliminate the majority vote to gain power too quickly. This voting system continues to stand strong today.

Madison's belief that elected leaders of America would develop a hunger for power and put their interests before American citizens was correct. Corruption has found it's way into leadership. Current examples include President Nixon and the Watergate Scandal, President Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky affair, and State Governor, Rod Blagojevich who was arrested on federal corruption charges.

Fear of factions materialized over time as minority groups pushed their agendas successfully. Factions have used their freedoms to infringe their rights on American citizens. An example of this is Atheists who have forced prayer out of public school. Seventy six percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians. Factions successfully push pornography, pro-choice and gay marriage. Fifty-four percent of Americans questioned in a CNN/Opinion poll said, “ Same sex marriage should not be recognized as valid”. Freedom of speech and expression is exploited by Hollywood by using vulgar language, nudity and violence on television. A recent Time Magazine Poll showed 53% of Americans wanted stricter controls on television, and 68% believed Hollywood had lost touch with viewers morals. No longer is it politically correct to say, “Merry Christmas”. The phrase, “Happy Holidays” has replaced it. Our rights as American Christians are being infringed upon. Christians came to this country to practice freedom of religion. We no longer have that freedom. In 1861, Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, declared, “No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins”. We are no longer a country established under God.

Today's government choose not to follow the original ideals the Framers put into place for the country they loved. Virtuous, a word our founding fathers used to describe our leaders, is non- existent. Our forefathers placed God first. In today's government God is gone.

That's enough reading for tonight.  

I'll end with a funny video of Joey.