Assignment # 6 Due 10-29-13

“. . . The recital, or premises on which the new form of government is erected, declares a consolidation or union of all the thirteen parts, or states, into one great whole, under the form of the United States, for all the various and important purposes therein set forth. But whoever seriously considers the immense extent of territory comprehended within the limits of the United States, together with the variety of its climates, productions, and commerce, the difference of extent, and number of inhabitants in all; the dissimilitude of interest, morals, and politics, in almost every one, will receive it as an intuitive truth, that a consolidated republican form of government therein, can never form a perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to you and your posterity, for to these objects it must be directed. This unkindred legislature therefore, composed of interests opposite and dissimilar in their nature, will in its exercise, emphatically be like a house divided against itself.”
Anti-Federalist # 14
     
       In this passage Anti-Federalist # 14 is discussing on how the size of America is too large  for a consolidated government to be able to preserve all the rights and protect its property. Each of the 13 colonies is different. They each have “its climates, productions, and commerce, the difference of extent, and number of inhabitants in all; the dissimilitude of interest, morals, and politics.” For that reason a consolidated government would not be beneficial to the 13 colonies as it would be incapable of protecting all of the colonies in terms of “establishing justice, insuring domestic tranquility, promoting the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to you and your posterity...”  The colonies would be better off without a consolidated government.
       
       In my opinion Anti-Federalist number 14 is wrong. A consolidated government is capable of securing the overall well being of the country as a whole. America is currently run by a consolidated government, which in my opinion does establish justice, insure domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare of its people. Our country is comprised of many states with different laws in each state. However, the government has laws in which we as a country must follow. Our checks and balances system gives each of the three branches of government a specific set of powers that can limit the powers of the others so that no one branch is too powerful. A consolidated government has proven to be effective in our country.
                                 
                                 Difference Between Horizontal and Vertical Federalism
             Horizontal federalism is the relationship between the governments of the 50 states. Vertical federalism is the relationship between all three types of governments, national, state and local governments. The powers of each form a vertical line within a constitutional sphere where the national government comes first followed by the state government and lastly the local government.

Assignment # 5 Due 10-22-13

“Government implies the power of making laws. It is essential to the idea of a law, that it be attended with a sanction; or, in other words, a penalty or punishment for disobedience. If there be no penalty annexed to disobedience, the resolutions or commands which pretend to be laws will, in fact, amount to nothing more than advice or recommendation.”       

Alexander Hamilton

The Federalist No. 15

       Hamilton wrote the essays in Federalists No. 15 to detail “the insufficiency of the President of Confederation to preserve the union.” In this particular quote Hamilton is discussing the powers of the government. Under the Articles of Confederation the central government has the power to make laws, however there is no punishment or “sanction” as Hamilton stated for states that disobey the laws set forth. The “laws” set forth by the central government would seem more like suggestions or recommendations as the states would lack inclination to follow them. Sanctions need to be put in place so that the states are more inclined to follow the laws. If they decide not to follow the laws the government can then penalize them.

       The quote by Hamilton relates to the class as it discusses one of the most important powers the central government has in the United States. We are comprised of many states with different laws in each state. However, the government has laws in which we as a country must follow. If these laws are not followed the state can and will be penalized. This is an ideal system since there has to be a hierarchy of power in order for the country to run effectively.

 “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.”

James Madison

The Federalist No. 51

        In this particular quote Madison is describing the systems of checks and balances that is needed in a government. The powers of each branch of government should limit the powers of each other so that “abuses of government” does not occur. People are not perfect therefore it is inevitable that problem of powers may arise if this system is not put forth. 

       This quote by Madison relates to this class as it outlines the checks and balances system within the American government. Each of the three branches of government has a specific set of powers that can limit the powers of the others so that no one branch is too powerful. This has proven to be effective in our country. 

Assignment # 4 Due 10/08/13

Part 1

Article 1 Section 8 Clause 2

"To borrow money on the credit of the United States"

       According to the United States Constitution, Congress has the right to go in to debt to pay for government programs and servicing by borrowing money. I chose this quote because over the past recent decades deficit spending by the government has been a huge political topic as it has been consistently increasing. The United States is in a massive amount of debt (about 16 trillion and counting) due to government spending. The United States owes money to the public (people, businesses and foreign governments) and to itself. Allowing the country to borrow money from itself can be viewed from two different perspectives. If the government were not allowed to go into debt many government programs and services would be non-existent. In the short run people and the economy benefit from deficit spending as government programs and services are able to continue to operate. However, in the long run deficit spending might slow the economy down as interest payments to debt holders might potentially increase. An increase in interest payments would further increase the deficit. In my opinion deficit spending is needed in order to keep our country running and functioning properly.

Part 2

Article Title: Obamacare exchange websites still full of glitches and errors

Link: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/obamacare-exchanges-glitches-97932.html#ixzz2h4DYnwyV

       After reading this article I feel a great amount of empathy for President Obama. In my opinion, Obamacare is a lifesaver, as it will provide many people who lack healthcare, affordable healthcare. As with any new electronic, program, retail store, etc there is going to be glitches. Nothing works out perfectly on the first try. Things take time. This is the first time in American history that something like the Obamacare has been administered so of course there are going to be obstacles. I chose this article because I was listening to a speech in which Obama described the challenges many people were facing in trying to enroll in Obamacare. He took full responsibility for what was happening and vowed to fix it. The president said the site “hasn't worked as smoothly as it was supposed to work” and “nobody's more frustrated by that than I am.” “There's no sugarcoating it. The website has been too slow. People have been getting stuck during the application process. There's no excuse for the problems. ... These problems are getting fixed.” Republicans and people who are trying to enroll in the Affordable Care Act need to be patient and give the system time to make the adjustments that are needed in order for it to work correctly.