A
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
What is it?
The ACLU defines themselves as an “organization that works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and the law of the United States.” This organization was established during the Communist Revolution to combat mass hysteria from overstepping people’s unalienable rights. One of their earliest trials includes the Scopes Trial in 1925, allowing evolution to be taught in schools.
Why are we talking about it?
Because of their origins and legacy, they are most often viewed as a left-wing group. This affiliation led many to criticize the ACLU’s recent decision to defend Jason Kessler, a white-supremacist who organized the march in Charlottesville. These actions have resulted in an intense conversation about the nuance of the first amendment.
Questions for reflection:
American Dream
What is it?
According to dictionary.com, the American dream is defined as “the idea that every U.S. citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.” The American dream holds the American value of individualism and the “pursuit of happiness” drafted in the Declaration of Independence.
Why are we talking about it?
With wealth disparity and immigration reform, debate about whether the American dream is still real or relevant has been widely discussed. This shift in perspective can really impact the image we hold as to what it means to be a citizen and what opportunities should come with our citizenship.
Questions for reflection:
Bureaucracy
What is it?
According to Wikipedia.com, “bureaucracy is the administrative system governing any large institution, whether publicly owned or privately owned.” There are many conflicting views of bureaucracy. The role of bureaucracies vary depending upon the organization.
Why are we talking about it?
Bureaucracies receive a lot of criticism, including that from our country’s top leaders, but they help the government run without being political. Bureaucracies are intended for risk management, but can work more as micromanagers, which many see as counterproductive. Because federal bureaucracy involves taking decision making powers away from government officials and putting it in the hands of certain professional and elected officials, there are benefits, as well as obstacles to many bureaucracies. The Republican Party wants a “small government,” which includes eliminating many (or all) bureaucracies like
Read More
https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/a (list of Bureaucratic Agencies)
Questions for reflection:
1. How will elimination of federal bureaucracies create a "smaller government?"
2. Discuss the pros and cons of bureaucracies.
3. How much of the decisions that affect states be made by those states?
C
Communism
What is it?
Communism, according to Britannica.com, is a political and economic ideology that centers on shared ownership of public productions and resources, versus private ownership. It is similar to socialism, but reflects ideals of Karl Marx’s eradication of social classes. This strongly opposes capitalism. When adopted by countries like Russia it was a political tool less focused on the people.
Why are we talking about it?
America spent more than four decades fighting a Cold War with powerful and dangerous countries like the Soviet Union (Russia) who had openly adopted a Communist government. For many reasons, Communism threatened the American way of life. After WWII, America severed alliances with the Soviet Union, in large part due to the tyrannical rule of their leader Joseph Stalin, and the fear of USSR expansion in the atomic age became a chief fear of most Americans. This led to an outbreak of irrational fears and accusations that eventually centered on McCarthyism. Current event news that highlights potential collusion between our political leaders and Russia’s renew those fears in some Americans.
Questions for reflection:
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
What is it?
The ACLU defines themselves as an “organization that works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and the law of the United States.” This organization was established during the Communist Revolution to combat mass hysteria from overstepping people’s unalienable rights. One of their earliest trials includes the Scopes Trial in 1925, allowing evolution to be taught in schools.
Why are we talking about it?
Because of their origins and legacy, they are most often viewed as a left-wing group. This affiliation led many to criticize the ACLU’s recent decision to defend Jason Kessler, a white-supremacist who organized the march in Charlottesville. These actions have resulted in an intense conversation about the nuance of the first amendment.
Questions for reflection:
- Should deliberately instigative language be protected under the first amendment? If so, to what extent can they be protected?
- Do you think that Legal Director David Cole’s response was adequate for the criticism he received?
American Dream
What is it?
According to dictionary.com, the American dream is defined as “the idea that every U.S. citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.” The American dream holds the American value of individualism and the “pursuit of happiness” drafted in the Declaration of Independence.
Why are we talking about it?
With wealth disparity and immigration reform, debate about whether the American dream is still real or relevant has been widely discussed. This shift in perspective can really impact the image we hold as to what it means to be a citizen and what opportunities should come with our citizenship.
Questions for reflection:
- How do you define the American Dream? What is it NOT?
- Do you think the American Dream ever existed? Does it exist now?
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Bureaucracy
What is it?
According to Wikipedia.com, “bureaucracy is the administrative system governing any large institution, whether publicly owned or privately owned.” There are many conflicting views of bureaucracy. The role of bureaucracies vary depending upon the organization.
Why are we talking about it?
Bureaucracies receive a lot of criticism, including that from our country’s top leaders, but they help the government run without being political. Bureaucracies are intended for risk management, but can work more as micromanagers, which many see as counterproductive. Because federal bureaucracy involves taking decision making powers away from government officials and putting it in the hands of certain professional and elected officials, there are benefits, as well as obstacles to many bureaucracies. The Republican Party wants a “small government,” which includes eliminating many (or all) bureaucracies like
Read More
https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/a (list of Bureaucratic Agencies)
Questions for reflection:
1. How will elimination of federal bureaucracies create a "smaller government?"
2. Discuss the pros and cons of bureaucracies.
3. How much of the decisions that affect states be made by those states?
C
Communism
What is it?
Communism, according to Britannica.com, is a political and economic ideology that centers on shared ownership of public productions and resources, versus private ownership. It is similar to socialism, but reflects ideals of Karl Marx’s eradication of social classes. This strongly opposes capitalism. When adopted by countries like Russia it was a political tool less focused on the people.
Why are we talking about it?
America spent more than four decades fighting a Cold War with powerful and dangerous countries like the Soviet Union (Russia) who had openly adopted a Communist government. For many reasons, Communism threatened the American way of life. After WWII, America severed alliances with the Soviet Union, in large part due to the tyrannical rule of their leader Joseph Stalin, and the fear of USSR expansion in the atomic age became a chief fear of most Americans. This led to an outbreak of irrational fears and accusations that eventually centered on McCarthyism. Current event news that highlights potential collusion between our political leaders and Russia’s renew those fears in some Americans.
Questions for reflection:
- According to Marxist theory, labor is the major factor in determining the value of a product, so the worker should be appropriately compensated for the labor. In a capitalist society, it is argued that laborers are taken advantage of, giving unfair amounts of profit (wealth) to the entrepreneur (capitalist). Does this view accurately support Communist ideals, especially as seen in counties like Russia and North Korea?