Terri Schaivo

In this particular case, the government should have some involvement, but I believe that the ultimate decision should rest with Schaivo's parents. Although the husband is her legal guardian and claims that she had asked for a "dignified death", he could be making those words up just so he doesn't have to deal with her anymore. There was nothing in writing of her ever saying anything like that- so he really has no right to claim that she ever said those words. The Florida court should not have allowed him to remove the feeding tube in the first place...there was no hard evidence that it was necessary to remove the feeding tube. Not enough research or consideration for her life and her parents' lives was carried out. The courts should have at least heard the parents' arguments for Schaivo's life- it is their daughter after all. They were the ones who invested the most time in her life and were probably the ones actually taking care of her at this stage. I think the courts made a mistake in refusing to grant the parents' appeal.

Assignment #3

Although they serve very different purposes, the Honor Code at MBA and the U.S. Constitution share a few similarities. First, they both serve to regulate how people act. The honor code holds the student body at MBA responsible for their actions, and the Constitution holds the U.S. government responsible for its actions. Also, the honor code gives students many freedoms that they would not otherwise have. MBA is built on the foundation of trust, and, without this trust, students would never be able to leave their backpacks outside, take a test without a teacher in the room, or take a make up test at home. Similarly, the Constitution puts the power to govern the U.S. in the hands of a limited number of people. The U.S. population is basically putting their trust in the government and the Constitution to govern fairly, make good decisions, and do what is best for the greater good. Finally, the honor code is maintained by a body of power, the Honor Council- just like the Constitution is maintained by the power of the government.

There are still a few differences, however, between these two documents. First, the honor code only pertains to the actions of students at MBA. The Constitution lays the basis of government for the whole United States. Basically, the Constitution affects a much greater body of people. Also, the honor code was put into effect to attempt to prevent cheating at MBA. The Constitution was made to form the U.S. government and provides the basis for government today. Finally, the honor code did not take quite as much deliberation or time to create as the Constitution did. It took much careful planning and an incredible amount of deliberating for the Constitution to finally pass and be put into practice. 

Assignment #2

The purpose of government includes three things: to maintain order, to protect private property, and to provide public goods. Government is really needed to keep control of the people- since anarchy will take over wherever government is not(and anarchy is chaos, and chaos is bad). According to the book, politics is 'the struggle over who gets hat, when, how".  Personally, I feel that politics impedes the government's primary purposes.  The goal of politics, also according to the book, is to have a share, or influence, in the government and its policies.  Politics, though, only leads to competition between opposing viewpoints and perspectives.  And, since government seems to be taken over by politics, this competition is not always good for the government itself.  Competition between political parties and/or members of government takes the focus away from the primary goals of the government and puts the focus on an individual's goal to gain more power.  Even if the individual is trying to gain more 'rights' for the good in one perspective, it is almost impossible to please everyone.  Government cannot exist without politics, but politics can be a hindrance to a successful government.

Blog Assignment #1

This year in AP Government I really would like to learn how politics and government actually work. To be honest, I do not know much about how politics or government really work...both are usually just something on the news that I don't really pay much attention to.  This year I would really like to gain a greater understanding of politics and how everything really works.  My main reason for my somewhat disinterest in politics is because politics is mind-boggling to me.  You have to follow it so closely it seems like, and it seems like you have to know every detail to understand what people are really talking about.  Basically, I just really want to figure out what is going on so I can actually follow politics.  I have always been interested by what is going on in politics, but I have never been able to understand what is going on.