WEEKLY TASKS:

There are three tasks each week:

First, there's a blog entry (about 250 words)which will have you respond to a hopefully thought-provoking question.

Second, there's a reading. There’s no blog entry associated with this. Just read.

Third, there's a written response to the reading. Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by the Friday (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls.This entry should be a long paragraph.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

WEEK FIVE BLOG

I am hereby outlawing the Republican and Democrat parties...gone forever. Well, let's get rid of the Constitution too (that one hurts). The whole system of politics is wiped away. Here is the good news. You get to design a new political party or system or Constitution or way of thinking about political culture. What will you do?
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78 comments:

  1. UnknownOctober 8, 2012 at 11:15 AM

    I will begin by having some close people to help me with new ideas about political culture. I will consult with these people in hopes that their ideas and mine will lead to a great future. I would begin by letting people have freedom, like in the Constitution. I would also ban violence and try to make peace with the other countries around us, in hope that this will lead to trading of goods. I would have law enforcement because I know violence in the country is inevitable. I would try my best to get rid of all violence and would start by banning weapons. I would then try to help the less fortunate by trying to make everybody of equal status; only if the people who are less fortunate are willing to work harder for a living. I wouldn't want to help the less fortunate if they don't want to help their selves out of poverty. Some people are just too lazy and want all their needs to be handed to them, I would make sure they are willing to work just like the middle and upper class have worked for their money. I would tax people depending on which class status they are. I would not keep raising taxes on middle class because that would just be out of greed for the upper class. I would raise taxes on the rich, not so much to where they move into the middle class, but enough so that it could help our economy get started. I don't like greed so that is why I would try to help even out the money amongst the people. I would let the people who are illegal in our country stay in our country, most people that I know came here at such a young age the U.S. is practically their homeland. I would try to make the U.S. become equal in status/class, only if I saw that people who have less are willing to work for more; laziness would not be tolerated and if you would choose that path then it would mean you really don't mind staying in that status/class. I would try to make the U.S. more kind and open to other races, religions, ethnicity, genders, etc. I would try to make a country in which all people are united, just like the name United States of America.

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    1. UnknownOctober 8, 2012 at 7:38 PM

      Hi Nancy,

      You make some good points. It would be nice to live in a World where all our Governments can work together to build a better life for everyone. I agree that people who don't want to help themselves shouldn't get help from the Government, and everyone should be treated equally. Nice post.

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    2. Gina C.October 9, 2012 at 10:35 PM

      Nancy,

      I am on board with your idea of creating taxes for those in upper classes as clearly that is nonexistent in our current form of government and society.

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    3. UnknownOctober 11, 2012 at 7:38 PM

      Nancy,

      I agree with you when you say to make everyone in society equals because for example, if you are rich you get treated better and better benefits oppose to those who are middle class of even poor.

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  2. UnknownOctober 8, 2012 at 11:20 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. UnknownOctober 8, 2012 at 11:24 AM

    If the Constitution was gone and the political parties were diminished, then it would be very difficult to rebuild a new system. It would not be impossible of course but whether we keep the same system or create a new one, there will always be room for improvement and not everyone will be satisfied with it. I would begin by not getting rid of the Constitution. The Constitution has been put together carefully and it's a solid piece of rules that should stay. The political system I would definitely change though. First, I would start by making sure that whoever is in Congress all having the same goals. For example, the house is always split in two. There is always a disagreement and laws that would and could help our country but never get passed. My idea of a new political party would involve more of a mixture of democratic and republican views. It would be called demo publicans. This party would take into consideration every single person in the United States. For example, people should be taxed in how much they make. I hate the idea that republicans live to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. But Democrats want to always give the poor everything and that is not good either. Instead, being a Demo publican would tax people on the income they make and if people need a helping hand the government offers it but only for a certain amount of time until people get back on their feet. People can afford most needs but people do deserve a helping hand especially if they are working hard to make an honest living. Healthcare and education would be other points that would be encompassed by this political party. I would create a party that makes education important. Also, a political party that takes the President's ideas into deeper consideration. I know there will always be problems in the political system and even in the one I would like to create but change does need to occur in this area.

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    1. UnknownOctober 8, 2012 at 9:13 PM

      Andrea I agree there will always be problems in our political system because of people differences. What you think is important isn't always important to other people. I really enjoy saying demo publicans I think it would catch on quickly because it is fun to say. Overall great ideas!

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    2. UnknownOctober 8, 2012 at 9:58 PM


      Andrea, in the world where there will always be different types of classes of people, there will be disagreements on how to deal with those differences. It would be very difficult to take away our political parties. There is no easy solution for our dysfunctional governing system but it works better than most. Democracy is the only governing way the whole population or at least the eligible members of a state can control an organization or group by the majority of its members. I agree with you that changes need to occur, but the changes need to be by the people and from the people. The majority of eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. However, we as the people need to be more involved and educated on what is going on around us. Most people of today do not, hence creates a more dysfunctional governing system.

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    3. Octavio BarajasOctober 10, 2012 at 1:52 PM

      I like the idea of only giving a helping hand until people get back on their feet because their are some people who take advantage of government assistance.

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    4. GrantBinghamOctober 11, 2012 at 9:59 AM

      Your part on giving a helping hand until people get back on their feet is exactly what Welfare is. However, because of our lackadaisical society, they just milk that for as long as people can. From personal experience, while at the grocery store, the lady 2 people in front of me told the cashier to stop ringing her up as soon as she got to $200 because she could not afford anymore than that and the rest, she would have to just put back because she can't pay for it. Then, literally, the next lady after her..with all name brand foods and what have you, pays for it all with food stamps. So she reaches into her LV purse to grab the stamps and drops her DG glasses while searching for them.
      I found something wrong with this picture. But it is apparent she needs a helping hand until she can get back on her feet..or at least that is how Welfare defines it.

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    5. Kazi AhmedOctober 12, 2012 at 10:42 AM

      Andrea great post! Your party has my vote for the fact that people needs to be taxed based on their income, and I also liked the idea that there needs to be some control over giving out too much.

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    6. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 7:49 PM

      I'd vote for your party as well. I like that you state that help would be given, but only for a while until people get on their feet. It would be nice for people to get a helping hand, but not be fully supported when they are capable of doing some things on their own.

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    7. Arianna PrendergastOctober 12, 2012 at 7:56 PM

      Hello Andrea, I liked your post. My favorite part of your post was helping people till they are able to get on their feet. I see many people that live off of welfare, and do not work because they get $500.00 for staying home. Also, having congress members all have one idea will benefit because many times they cannot come to an agreement easily.

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    8. Hannah ChudyOctober 12, 2012 at 9:12 PM

      I agree, I think that it would be very difficult to rebuild a new political system especially with all the differences in opinions. I think your goals for your new political system were really reasonable. Good post!

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  4. Jessica FloresOctober 8, 2012 at 6:25 PM

    Well thank goodness that the Republican and Democratic political parties are banned for now. This question is a very hard one because I try not to get too much into politics. In my political system we would still have a president, senators, representatives and the Supreme Court, but without a bipartisan system. There would be more power given the people and less to voted leaders. It would be required law to vote, so any citizen that does not vote would be thrown in jail. It sounds harsh, but it gets people to stop complaining about their constituents. The president, senators, representatives and Supreme Court would be paid less if they aren’t listening to their people.

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    1. Abby KielpinskiOctober 11, 2012 at 9:00 PM

      Jessica,
      This question was hard for me to address as well. I do not follow politics at all. I do like how you have kept the positions of office that are familiar in your new political system but how more power is held by the majority...the people.

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    2. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 11:57 AM

      I found this question very difficult to answer as well. I do not follow politics much either. I do like the idea that people are required to vote by law. This will force people to educate themselves on the issues at hand and also keep them from complaining about issues they are educated about.

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  5. UnknownOctober 8, 2012 at 7:32 PM

    If I’m going to be designing a new Government system, some things are going to have to change. I’m not ignorant enough to assume our World could exist without some kind of governing-body, and I understand it has its place. The first thing I will do with my Government is design a clear and concise plan for distributing both responsibility and accountability because I know where my Government will end up without these two key parts (it would probably have some very noticeable similarities to our current Government). We, still, have a set of rules much like the Constitution that we govern by, and we, still, have a Commander and Chief. We have two Political parties, and we, still, allow the people to vote for who they want in office. We do not allow slanderous campaigning because it’s detrimental to our goal as a Government. In this new system, we have salary limits in place, so out officials can’t be paid $3,000,000 a year because they feel they deserve it. Each position has a predetermined pay scale, and no one in that position is able to make any more money than the next. We no longer have more than one level of Government because we feel it creates division between the Governments from State-to-State. Our Government spends within our budget, just like to private sector. We do not use foreign money to subsidize our need for revenue. We maintain strong and respected armed forces, but we are selective as to when we display our strength. We run a lean and modest Government, and we all stand together as one cohesive unit with one common goal, to lead our Country into a brighter tomorrow.

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    1. UnknownOctober 8, 2012 at 9:21 PM

      Brandon I really liked how you stated that our government would spend within our budget because I feel this is very important. If a government is just spending every penny it has and it keeps spending this would put the government into depth, and when the government is in depth it puts the people in depth as well. Also I liked the ending where you put we stand together as one cohesive unit because I feel that this is very true when people agree on one outcome the results could be great. If we learn to all get along and see that we all have similarities even through all our differences, it could help our country in a big way. It is sad to say but as a society not everybody is connected there is still racism and differences being sought in ethnicity, religions, and genders. I really liked all your ideas.

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    2. Gina C.October 9, 2012 at 10:33 PM

      The idea of no longer subsidizing using foreign money is right on point!

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    3. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 11:19 AM

      Great ideas! I agree that the political parties should not slander one another. It is so childish to watch the campaigns and see ad's solely based on hurting one anothers image. I also agree that we should have a limit on the salaries on all lobbiest, congressmen and elected officials. Or maybe they should do it out of charity? I feel like they waste time and money and that there is way too much corruption in D.C.

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  6. UnknownOctober 8, 2012 at 9:35 PM

    Outlawing the Republican and Democratic parties would be chaos and getting rid of the Constitution will be devastating. The system of Government that we currently function on is dysfunctional, but in a world that does not stand for something will fall for anything. The country we live in is strong because of the well-built governing systems that developed on the emphasis on giving a voice to the voiceless. If I were to create a political system that would function better, it would be a system with no political parties at all. The United States of America began with its first President George Washington as just a person who wanted to help give a voice to the voiceless. George Washington was not a member of a political party at the time of his elections or during his entire tenure as president of the United States. George proved to all of us that the country does not need the division between the people. The political parties of today do not even stand for their parties beliefs any more. Dealing with things that separate the people into groups such as different beliefs, values, and economical standings would be issues dealt with among candidates who run for office. The candidates who stand for the majority will obviously win office. In my new government, candidates would be accountable for the truth based on facts they shares with the people. Debates would have an instant fact checker to keep the candidates honest. Political leaders should be leaders that the people can trust to look out for the best interest of the majority of the people not just a small number of them.

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    1. London TaylorOctober 10, 2012 at 11:48 AM

      Great post Claudia! I definitely agree that the emphasis on giving a voice to the voiceless is very important. Also the idea of 'fact checking' alone would change our current system drastically.

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    2. UnknownOctober 10, 2012 at 9:03 PM

      I do agree that it is sad when a political party isnt truly representing what that party actually represents. Good Blog!

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    3. UnknownOctober 11, 2012 at 7:41 PM

      You are right we are a strong nation and that is due to the Constitution and political parties we have. I mean we do have more freedom oppose to any other country but I would have to say that these political parties themselves are become corrupt as well.

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    4. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 11:13 AM

      Hi Claudia, good post and you made excellent points. Although George Washington was a great leader and brave man the country was a different place in his days. The constitution was signed in 1787 and a lot has changed since then. We might be holding on to traditions and ideas that are out dated.

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    5. Arianna PrendergastOctober 12, 2012 at 7:41 PM

      Hello Claudia, I enjoyed reading your post. You made some very clever points. I never knew that Washington was not a member of a political party at the time of elections. I think its crucial for us to have a say in what happens with our county. I agree with you on that we should trust our political leaders.

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  7. UnknownOctober 9, 2012 at 9:55 PM

    This was a little hard to think of, since I think we are use to having a political party to fall back on to for describing ourselves. I think that people get to wrapped up into, I am a democrat or republican (or another party) and do not really look at what the presidential candidate truly stands for. If I were to create a new way of political thinking I would want it to stem from seeing people as just people not in a stereotypical way. I would like to start of with really teaching equality of people and work to eliminate hate for different races, sexual orientation, religion, culture, background and so on. Put laws in place making sure there was no superior race and there are extreme penalties for discrimination. I feel as if we could eliminate racism in this current world, a lot of our problems would be solved and other issues would just work out on their own. I would try too keep a system where my people and nation close to God, I believe if we did that our country would also thrive. It would help to bring a unity that we use to have when this country was first established, although I would not want discrimination if we had a person of a different religion enter our country. I just think if we really live by the God that we founded our country on, we would be so much better off. First starting off I would not like to establish political parties but maybe just one that everyone agrees under. As our country changes and grows, we then may incorporate more political parties and ideas. I would always want these to be founded on the idea of keeping equality and that all people all equal beings. From the classes I have taken on social psychology, it seems like most of our problems stem from prejudice and racism; it just seems if we could eliminate that our world we be so much better off.

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    1. Gina C.October 9, 2012 at 10:32 PM

      I like your idea of eliminating prejudice and racism, but how can this be achieved?

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    2. UnknownOctober 9, 2012 at 10:39 PM

      I honestly do not know that it can be or ever will be eliminated which is sad. But we have prejudice/racist generation after generation raising children to think in that mind set. The only way is for our children to not be raised to think that way, but it takes a whole effort. It seems pessimistic, but it really is going to be hard to eliminate it.

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    3. London TaylorOctober 10, 2012 at 12:11 PM

      Interesting ideas Erica. I think it is also important to look specifically into each candidate and base your vote on what the candidate truly stands for. It is unfortunate that many the candidates themselves can't seem to figure out what that is.

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    4. UnknownOctober 10, 2012 at 10:08 PM

      I think that is how people should vote, by what the candidate truly stands for. But it seems as people vote based on their political affiliation and not their morals.

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    5. GrantBinghamOctober 11, 2012 at 9:42 AM

      What would you do for the people that want a separation of church and state?

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    6. Abby KielpinskiOctober 11, 2012 at 9:06 PM

      Erika (to your original post),
      I agree with you completely on the flaws stemming from the stereotypes and labels we place on ourselves and others. Unfortunately I fear stereotypes, prejudice, judging, and racism will always be a significant part of our society. The goal is to get a system that best works around these flaws. I have no idea what that would even look like but I like what you had to say!

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    7. UnknownOctober 11, 2012 at 9:17 PM

      Hi Erika,

      I would be nice if we could do away with many of those things, but I'm not sure how that could be done. I do agree that it seems many voters stick to their particular party regardless of their individual beliefs.

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    8. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 2:15 PM

      @Grant it would be difficult when someone would want a separation of church and state, but I personal believe from what I have seen in my life that when I am full of God and the spirit my life just keeps getting better. I know that there may be some cases where people argue that there needs to be that separation but I feel like God can heal this nations problems if we were to walk closer with him. I don't want to sound like a judgmental person here I am far from that, but I just see the amazing things God has done in my life and I wish those changes could be made for our people as a nation as well.

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    9. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 2:18 PM

      @Abby, I don't know how stereotypes can be done away with either and it is really sad to think that prejudice/racism will never be eliminated. The only way to eliminate it is how the future generations of children are raised but that I think won't be changed either; it just seems that prejudice/racism just continues to be passed down. I am glad you liked my post!

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    10. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 2:20 PM

      @Brandon, yes there does not seem to be a fix for those problems which is sad when you think about it. And yes people just seem to vote based on their party affiliation, not even realizing (or caring) what that candidate really stands for. As for my I just don't think I can vote for either of the popular candidates and may have to vote for a different party.

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    11. vanessa zamoraOctober 12, 2012 at 7:51 PM

      I too, believe that getting rid of discrimination and racism is important to do.

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  8. Gina C.October 9, 2012 at 10:31 PM

    Wiping out our entire political system would mean having to create a new set of ideals as a foundation for a political system. In order to start the creation of a new government, the first step would be the notion of a classless society. Those who were considered the elite will no longer have this type of status and will be required to submit to the same government as everyone else. Those composing the society will have a say or a vote in what they will consider to be natural rights, or the rights that cannot be given away or sold. All votes would be counted and taken into consideration as the majority vote will be taken into effect in comparison to what happens today. There would be a clear cut out of all the expenses being made by the government chosen by the people. The overall of the new government would be as translucent as possible in order for everyone to feel as if they are part of the society instead of feeling alienation from those in power. Finally, everyone will have equal access to education, health care, and resources in order to achieve the best they can be. The new form of government will be by and for the people to the fullest extent. Our society will no longer refuse to participate or become apathetic to a form of government because they will know their voices will be heard and that they will enjoy the fruits of their labor and contributions.

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    1. Octavio BarajasOctober 10, 2012 at 1:48 PM

      That sounds like a good idea, i especially like the idea of making everything translucent. i also like the idea of showing all the expenses that the government is making.

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  9. London TaylorOctober 10, 2012 at 11:42 AM

    The idea of wiping out the current political system and starting a fresh one is beyond a difficult task to do. The mere idea of knowing where to start frightens me. I do however believe that the current system that is dominated between two parties is not working for most American people. From my understanding is seems as though many Americans may agree with certain aspects of a political party that they do not associate themselves with, but given the chance to vote their loyalty lies with their identified party. It is unfortunate that voters are given an all or nothing approach to political candidates. There are many specifies that I am unable to work out; however, if there were to be a complete reform of our current government the most important ideas that should be taken into consideration are the voices of the voters and the emphasis on issues rather than on the basis of a political ideology.

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  10. Octavio BarajasOctober 10, 2012 at 1:41 PM

    If I had the opportunity to design a new political party I would choose to turn down that opportunity. I don’t think that the political parties are the problem; I think it’s the system that they are placed in. I would decide to keep the current political parties but I would change the way we go about them, and the way the system works. Everyone has the freedom to make his or her own decisions, however not everyone makes an informed decision. I would change the way we vote for the parties as well as the way these parties run. Just how everyone is required to pass a driving test, I would require people to pass a test in order to vote. I think it is very important for people to make an informed decision instead of making a decision on what they see on TV. I would change the number of terms that are allowed for reelection from 2 to 1, and from 4 years to 6 years. I would do this because this would give the president enough time to make a significant change as well as them not having to worry for reelection so they would do what they think is best instead of doing what will get more votes. The Constitution is another thing I would not get rid of. I think it is a well-written peace of history that has got our country as far as we are today. I don’t think it is the constitution or the political parties that are the problem I think it is the system in which they are placed in.

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    1. UnknownOctober 10, 2012 at 9:00 PM

      I think that testing people before they vote is a good idea. A simple test on what that particular candidates policies, beliefs, and values. That ensures that every voter is properly educated on the candidates that they are interested in.

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  11. UnknownOctober 10, 2012 at 8:54 PM

    Throw out the parties and the corruption, and bring equality and justice. In my new system, I would want every ones vote and voice to be heard. I want to eliminate the possibility of a law that is voted by the people be turned down and rejected by a hire authority. My new system would allow every citizen to vote on major foreign policies, wars, and federal laws. There will be no more state laws each state would be governed by the federal law. I do not want the states laws to conflict with federal laws. I want the equality to stretch nationwide. Under this new system, no person in society will be looked at as a minority. Everyone will be looked at as an equal individual. For example, gay marriage would not be considered a law. Human rights will be given to every individual. Gray areas will be eliminated, and there will be no discrimination because of sexual orientation, race, gender, age, or any other factor. In this new system, class classifications would be erased and there will be an equal divide of taxes across the nation. Health care would be available for everyone, and would not have to be considered as a law but more of a natural right. The voting age would remain at eighteen. Commander and Chief, House of Representatives, and Senate would still be elected and remain in place to enforce laws. Local law enforcement would still be in place, but actually protect and serve. In my new system much would not be eliminated, just changed for the better. I also feel that minimum wage should be the same nationwide.

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  12. GrantBinghamOctober 11, 2012 at 9:36 AM

    I would become a dictator. Oh wait, wrong blog.

    If I would restart our government, I would focus on a lot of the infrastructure within the country. I believe this is a major core to the whole picture. If we, as a government, can provide public transportation to the general public and not require each and every person to own a car, this would ultimately better our society. Having actual paved roads and highways with no potholes and no trash in it doesn't sound like a big deal, but when you actually get to experience this, it makes the whole city look so much better. And when we are proud of our city and the way it looks, the harder we work to keep it that way. A last example of something we would implement, would be a high speed rail system. This would benefit our whole country in a number of ways. First, we wouldn't have to rely on airlines and being over charged for everything. Second, it would be incredibly better for our environment to take the trains. Lastly, the amount of jobs that this would create all across the nation would be the most beneficial. Then, of course, I would put a lot of focus into the spending that we do as a government. I would do my best to limit spending on unneccessary things and focus it more into programs like EDUCATION (You know, something that benefits everyone, now and in the future).
    Then we would work on things such as natural rights and laws. But I feel that we do a decent job at those now.
    Oh yes, I would also make the Superbowl a national holiday where nobody has to work!

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    1. vanessa zamoraOctober 12, 2012 at 7:47 PM

      I really like the idea of providing public transportation. Helping save the environment is very important.

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    2. Lauren ChinOctober 12, 2012 at 8:39 PM

      I like that you would address infrastructure first. I feel like this is an important element of government often overlooked.

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  13. Jason WilliamsOctober 11, 2012 at 7:18 PM

    The biggest problem with trying to create a government is the fact that most systems that sound good on paper have some horrible flaw that becomes apparent when you implement it. The first example that most people think of is that of democracy. After all, if every decision about the laws is made by the people, what could go wrong? The answer: not every voter will make the decision based on the facts. Mostly because they won't have access to the information or will be too lazy to look it up. Think about it, how many of us simply read the voter's guide summary for a law instead of reading and understanding the wording of the law itself. It is almost impossible to write a summary of a political issue without some bias leaking into that summary. Additionally, a particularly clever and unscrupulous individual would be able to bury something that benefits them only into a larger law, and the masses would vote for it if he or she made it sound good. Our current system of government is a representative democracy, and look at how messed up it is. We have politicians who lie, cheat, and find any dirt on their opponent they can sling to gain or keep power. There is no system of government that is without flaw and no system of government that cannot be abused for personal gain. I don’t think I could even come close to creating a system of government, and I don’t want to even try.

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    1. Dr. Brett SchmollOctober 12, 2012 at 9:44 AM

      Uh oh, no system of government without a flaw...this will make me sound like an anarchist, but does that mean we should have no system of government?

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  14. Abby KielpinskiOctober 11, 2012 at 8:55 PM

    This is a difficult question to address for several reasons. First, I do not follow or pay attention to anything political in the most extreme way possible. I might start paying attention to a conversation about politics and will be completely tuned out in under a minute. Just the other day I started reading an article addressing flaws in both presidential candidates and stopped within two paragraphs (I briefly perused the diagrams). This was not for lack of quality it was for sheer lack on interest and understanding. The second biggest hurdle in addressing this question is a psychological one. Since entering school we are talk about the basics of out government and political system. We have been classically conditioned, meaning automatic responses to a stimulus, to think of our political system divided into parties. Even with a new system we would not be able to stray from this thinking (unless a major memory wipe were to take place). To answer this question would produce a horribly naive response that would surely be worse than what we have now because it would describe a utopia that is not obtainable.

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    1. Dr. Brett SchmollOctober 12, 2012 at 9:43 AM

      Hmmm, that was a brilliant response with a cop out at the end. Of course it's not attainable, but what would your utopia look like? I guess all utopias are just that, dream states.
      I also like your idea that our thoughts would be imported into the new system which would result in the same system being re-produced. Can we ever break away from a thought paradigm?

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    2. Kazi AhmedOctober 12, 2012 at 11:25 AM


      Abby, I understand your way of thinking because that is how I felt maybe five years ago, but as time passing I am realizing that politics effects our lives each and every day, and sometimes it is frustrating to talk or read about them but when we are on the work force or our children attends public schools then politicians decides and directs us to how should we live our lives, and yes we may not ever be able to obtain a genuine, honest party but at least by discussing and talking we can come close to our goal.

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    3. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 7:47 PM

      Abby, I loved your post because you are honest! Most people our age or even period do not even pay attention politics so I think this question was hard for most. But I liked your post and they way you approached it!

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  15. Dr. Brett SchmollOctober 12, 2012 at 9:45 AM

    People, these ideas are brilliant. The prompt was a bit flawed, kind of too general and probably even frustrating for some of you. Sorry about that...I still enjoy reading all these fabulous thoughts of yours!

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  16. Kazi AhmedOctober 12, 2012 at 11:14 AM

    If I had to involve myself in politics, I would name my party People’s party. I know it does hurt to diminish the constitution, however with changing time we do need to write a new constitution. There will be a congress with members from two different parties, and our people’s party’s focus will be on welfare and education because both of them are intertwined. We desperately need welfare reform, and our party will make sure that every citizen will be accountable for their action, so people on welfare won’t think that it is their innate right to get welfare, rather, they will take classes not to learn how to get more welfare but the classes will focus on how to get off of welfare. Currently, our seniors in this country, who worked all their lives, don’t get medical or enough social security support, but seniors, who never worked in this country, comes here at the age of 65 and receiving medical and monetary assistance every month, so once we are in the office, we will make sure that this totally stops. Also our entire education system needs reform, and we will not only hold teachers, but also hold parents accountable for their children’s academic success, and every state will be responsible for generating money for their schools, and each state will only receive Federal fund when their schools will perform above the national average. Our party's focus will be on the citizens of this country and on the children who are the future of this country.

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    1. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 11:45 AM

      I agree with you about a welfare reform, there needs to be some accountability and classes to show them how to get off of welfare. Holding both teachers and parents responsible for the education of children is an excelent idea. I wish it wouldn't have to get to point were government had to be involved but if that's what it takes, I am all for it. Good post.

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    2. Lisa LawrenceOctober 12, 2012 at 5:11 PM

      I think there needs to be a reform in welfare, education, insurance... or should I just say "all the above!" I am for the world, so I'm not sure if I agree with you on the citizens of this country only.However, I understand that there is a lot of unfairness to many. Thank you for your post! It is very thought provoking.

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    3. Kazi AhmedOctober 13, 2012 at 9:44 AM

      Lisa definitely enjoyed your comment; however, my way of thinking is you can't help others if you are at distress. Our current unemployment rates are high, people can't find jobs, losing their homes, parents are working two odd jobs to make ends meet and because of that children are growing up in daycare and these are only few mentioned problems our country is facing everyday, so I believe we need to fix our problems at home first before we solve the problems of others. Thanks for you comment.

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  17. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 3:46 PM

    If I had the opportunity to create a new government system I would not even know where to start. I have not kept up politics over the years and I am not sure I ever want to get into it. There are many good and bad aspects about our current system. If I had to create a new system it would be similar to what is in place now. There would be a president, a Supreme Court and law enforcement to keep a structure and act as the voice for the people. The major part of the government system I would do away with is the Democrat and Republican parties. I would love to create one big party with all the same views but I know that is not possible for everyone to agree. It would be a very tough task to make a party that would not eventually divide into more than one because of disagreements. A very important part of a government system I create would be providing funds and resources for education. Children and young adults are the future of this country and I think it is very important to provide all the resources we can to them. After all, they are going to be the ones running the country in the long run.

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  18. Lisa LawrenceOctober 12, 2012 at 5:02 PM

    This is such an interesting topic. It is also a sensitive one to most people. Throughout centuries, there has always been some kind of ruler ship, whether it has been a ruler ship of kings, presidents or legislatures. The problem that always seems to be at hand is “money.” When looking into the government system now, I find loopholes that really question my idea of democracy. “Electoral votes,” for example, seem deceptive to me and I feel that those sorts of practices limit the people. I feel that the constitution should be amended once again. I feel the different party systems should be mixed, and that the Republican/ Democrat titles be done away with. I would create a system that provided work to those in need. Instead of handing out thousands of dollars in food stamps (which one family receives up to $1200.00/month today; only for groceries) plus money cards, I would go back to the idea of when men could load up in trucks and work a day’s wage. I think it is important for the government to provide those sorts of opportunities rather than having the people depend wholly on the government. However, I personally feel that our programs now are for that reason. It keeps the people dependent on the government and in essence it keeps them oppressed. This why the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. I would definitely want to change that mindset, and provide jobs to people that enhance and clean up our communities, and at the same time that allows them to provide for their families. This kind of system would definitely require a lot of changes.

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    1. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 10:26 PM

      I agree with you. I think work is important. Everybody who is able should have to work.

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  19. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 5:07 PM

    Considering most dictators and totalitarians are self serving I think I will be one. In any democracy it would be absurd to even consider a government without the will of the people. So it is with great pleasure to announce the United State of ME. In my country there would only be one state and that would be “my state of mind.” I would have a country on an island somewhere with tropical climate. The only inhabitants of my country would be myself, visiting family, and friends. I say visiting because I’m sure I would exile many of them after a while. I would allow, from time to time, visiting foreigners who are willing to pay a hefty tax; however, the wonderful climate and gorgeous beaches would make up for the ungodly amount of money the visitors will pay to visit. No one is allowed to live in my country unless they are willing to put up with my laws, which will change from time to time to better suit my needs. There couldn’t exist any political party because that would mean conflict, and I can’t have conflict when passing my legislation and then revising it. I wouldn’t be an inhumane ruler, I just wouldn’t put up with anyone who didn’t agree with me, and if they didn’t agree with me they would have to learn how to sail quickly.

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    1. Lisa LawrenceOctober 12, 2012 at 5:16 PM

      Oh man Joseph! I think I would be one of the many who would not visit your island! But it sounds like that is okay with you. I really enjoyed reading your post! It was witty and funny!

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    2. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 7:38 PM

      In a way I really like your post, because it is different than most people's. Most people would not even think of a dictatorship, and I defiantly would not. I just think it is interesting that you picked this and how you want things ran.

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    3. Lauren ChinOctober 12, 2012 at 8:34 PM

      Well, a dictatorship was certainly not my first thought. This was a very entertaining post.

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    4. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 9:09 PM

      My Island would probably be a lonely island. That was the feeling I was trying to get across. A totalitarian government would inevitably be a corrupt government. I personally don't see anything wrong with our system of government. Democracy is a just ideal and, the founding fathers had great intentions for liberty and justice when they wrote our constitution. Our political system is a reflection of our democratic system of checks and balances. Though the political parties may seem way off base when it comes to important matters, I think it is our duty as citizens to take action and put the right people in office.

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  20. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 6:23 PM

    Our forefathers created our Constitution in 1787. I do believe that the world has changed greatly since the Constitution was put into place. We are no longer the country we once were. Instead we are a country filled with greed, laziness and low moral standing. Giving the United States a political facelift may not be such a bad idea. Under the new Constitution the United States most important duty shall be its people and its country. Our borders will be strongly manned and anyone attempting to cross over will be deemed terrorist and dealt with accordingly. We shall respect our country and make it illegal to burn the American flag. All people, regardless of color, race or age shall be equal; as long as they are American citizens. Any person found to be in the country illegally will be immediately deported and fined heavily. Health care will be offered to all. Money will be spent on our children and their education in art, science and social studies. We will invest in our countries productivity and banned outsourcing to other countries. We will pay any debt owed to other countries and never be borrow from other countries. The United States will no longer rescue other countries in a time of need without a fee. It is no longer the United States obligation to protect the world. The United States will not spend another dime on protecting another country when we have Americans starving in our own country. Multiple political parties will be encouraged. The funds allocated for American President Candidates will be limited to $100, 000. It will be the government’s responsibility to educate the American people of the candidates running and to promote each party. Never will there be only two parties again. Government assistance will be limited and applicants will be drug tested monthly. Any persons receiving benefits will work for their benefits; cleaning local roads and parks. The death penalty will be lifted in every state. States will no longer be separated. Laws will be equal across the country. The Country will no longer house criminals, prisons will be entirely eliminated. Every proven crime will have a punishment equal to the crime. Thefts results in loss of limb. Murder, molestation and rape will result in death. Although harsh, I believe that these changes will make for a better United States.

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  21. Arianna PrendergastOctober 12, 2012 at 7:34 PM

    First and foremost, I would be glad to have republican and democratic parties wiped out. Many times people focus too much on the “party”, and not enough on the morals of the person who intends to run for office. I used to think I was a republican; however, there are issues that I agree with on both sides. However, the constitution would not need to be abolished because that started our foundation and has helped this country in many ways. One thing I would definitely change would be that we would make everything in the United States. We are giving China so much money from buying products from them, almost everything we buy says, “made in China.” Imagine if we had factories where we make our own stuff, we would create more jobs for the people. There are many people that I know that cannot find work due to the economy. Not only would it create jobs but the welfare department can finally give people that depend on welfare an ultimatum. At some point in almost everyone’s life, there comes a time where they find themselves in a financial crisis. There is nothing wrong with people receiving the governments help; however, some people abuse the system. The government can help all the people on welfare get a job at the factory, and if they decline then they would not get any more assistance. Working at a factory may not be someone’s dream job, but working is better than depending on other people who work to take care of you. As far as taxes go, I think I would have everyone taxed the same.

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  22. vanessa zamoraOctober 12, 2012 at 7:42 PM

    Designing a new political party or system or constitution or way of thinking about political culture would not be a very hard task to do. I find it interesting, that this country is known to not like change. Yet, it is constantly changing. The equality in this country has made a drastic change. Though, we are not all equals yet. We are closer to it then before. If I had the opportunity to design a new system I would start off by fist making all individuals in this country equal. There will be no more discrimination or racism. Everyone will be given the same opportunities, regardless of skin color, age, or gender. Next, I would make it mandatory for everyone to receive the same education. There will be no more private schools. All schools will be teaching the same material. I feel that equality and education are the two most important aspects that will make a better country. If we were all the same, there would be no need for anyone to feel inferior then anyone else. I would also make the cost of living more affordable. I would definitely get rid this materialistic world that we live in. Prices of food, clothes, cars, televisions etc., will be set at a price that everyone can afford. And finally, everyone would have healthcare.

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  23. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 8:23 PM

    I don't follow or understand politics at all and am finding it a bit messy to think about how building a new political system would work, since I barely have an understanding of how it currently works.

    I would want to throw out the parties, people can have their own opinions but not have an actual party they have to be considered as. I would raise the age to vote to at least 21, since most people at 18 don't know what is going on anyway (I'm 25 and don't know what is going on in politics). I would still keep a President, and the offices; however, I would have more attention paid to education and the economy. We should try to rebuild our own economy before trying to assist other countries.
    As for the social classes, I would have a higher tax for the upper class. I would implement lower taxes for military members.
    Even though I think these things would be great, I think we need the Constitution, I don't know what rules could be made up in it's place that would work.
    I guess overall, I'd probably build something that is similar to what we have now, but with no party affiliations. I'd like to have people have more say in what happens in America, as long as we could have a way to make sure they understand what is going on in America. For example, my input would not be as useful as that of a classmate of mine who follows what is going on in politics. My classmate should have their opinion counted whereas mine shouldn't. But that would lead to problems, too. Some people would say it's not equal to have some people's opinions count and then that would cause issues, too.

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    1. Hannah ChudyOctober 12, 2012 at 9:14 PM

      I'm similar in the sense that I'm not super knowledgeable in the world of politics. But I liked your point of providing more support for the economy and for education. I think those are both really important and should be paid attention to.

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  24. Hannah ChudyOctober 12, 2012 at 9:09 PM

    To be honest, I don’t know a whole lot about politics. This will be my first time voting since I wasn’t of age during the last election. I have taken a political science class and an economics class, but I still do not have a whole lot of knowledge in that area. But I do know that our economy is currently in a major crisis, so I guess I would start by trying to restore it. I want to make sure that everyone has equal opportunity so I would try to present as many job openings as possible so some of the issues can be resolved with that. I think that there should still be a President that is elected into office so there is a sense of organization, and a person to help lead our country into the right direction. But that person will obviously be chosen by the people. I really want the idea of safety to be emphasized. In result of that, I want our law enforcement to really crack down on the drinking age, driving under the influence, anything violence related, etc. I want to find a way to ensure that schools will be provided with enough support to afford the things they need. But I truly think that the only way these goals will be achieved or accomplished is by trying to rebuild our economy, and bring it out of its current condition.

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  25. Lauren ChinOctober 12, 2012 at 9:26 PM

    I think this is the most difficult question to address thus far on the blog. I like the idea of getting rid of the political parties. It seems to many people focus on the party and not where the politician actually stands on the issue. Because of this is would institute a test to be taken before one is allowed to vote. It would not be based on intelligence but instead on politicians’ stand on the issues. The test would be a few short questions on each candidate’s political beliefs. I would still keep the structure of the government a democracy because I think keeping a system with checks and balances is important. I would also keep the Constitution. The main goal of this new government would be to stabilize our own economy and reducing the national debt before assisting any other country’s needs. I would also focus on improving our schools because a good education system is important for a thriving nation. I would put the most funding into the education. I would also reform welfare; I would make it mandatory for people on welfare to take classes that show them how to get off of welfare and support themselves. Infrastructure would also be an important issue in this government. I feel like infrastructure is often times put on the backburner in government but this is an easy way to generate more jobs, taking care of that important issue. Of coarse there would be people who exploit these changes but that is the case in any government.

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  26. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 9:37 PM

    I dont really know a lot about politics but in my mind i think a dictatorship would be better for this country. That is, saying that a dictator could be voted out if he wasn't a good leader, and that every four years this leader would have to leave office and have someone new take his place. I would change the laws about how schools get their money. They would get whatever money they needed before anyone else, because without our children being educated then there wouldn't be any smart people in the future. I would change the amount of time kids were in school to year around school. they would attend school all of the way through college until they were 21 years of age. At this age they would be allowed to vote. I say this because children are incompetent and have little understanding of the world around them until they are this age. Most don't even care about politics and just go vote for the popular guy. I would also change how welfare was done in the country. People would have to have a compelling reason to have to be on welfare and they would be required for a month drug test and psych evaluation. To many people are getting free handouts just because they want to be lazy. I would also set a limit to three children per household due to families not being able to afford to raise children if they have more than that. This is all just speculation, but it could be a good change or a bad change.

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  27. UnknownOctober 12, 2012 at 10:56 PM

    This question has really got me thinking very hard about what I do with my life. Like most other students in this class I have also noticed that I do not follow politics enough to know how to answer this question. That actually saddens me because I do believe that people need to be educated about is going on in their own government and need to be able to have educated opinions about our government and laws. Even though I do not know much about politics or how a good country should be run, I do know that if I were to make up the rules for a new government and new constitution, I would want it to be fair. Fair for the rich and the poor. The more money you make the more taxes you should pay. If the poor need help, they need proof that they really need it and deserve the help by trying to find jobs and taking drug tests. If you commit a crime, actually do the time. A lot of people who have money get away easily with things just because they have money, that should change. In my government, every person would have rights including homosexuals. They are people who are not harming anyone and therefore deserve to have rights. The only people who would not have rights in my government would be people who are serious criminals, such as murderers. Also, I would make it easy for immigrants to come to the US. Criminal background checks would be done on them, but if they come here for honest work, they would be allowed to be here.

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  28. Tavon GhashghaiOctober 12, 2012 at 11:54 PM

    Since I don’t like how the government runs, I would make a few changes. One contributing factor of the government that I would make changes to would be the constitution. One major factor would be the prohibition of alcohol. They changed it because it should have not been against the law. Today it seems socially acceptable to drink. Today alcohol is one of the biggest beverage industries and our economy could not afford to lose the revenue from producing and selling alcohol. Another factor would be women rights to vote. I would have made it possible for women to vote early on in history, as well as African Americans. I would take away the freedom of press because sometimes they abuse that power and ruin lives just to get a good story. I would not want my personal life in the tabloids where people can see and make judgments. I would put a restriction on criminal’s rights to bear arms. I would not trust an armed criminal to walk around freely. How do we know that they won’t use that gun to commit another crime? I would take away the right to a speedy trial because the accusers don’t have enough evidence at that time. So it gives criminals the chance to walk freely. I would legalize gay marriage because I believe in equality for all. Telling someone that you can’t marry them because they are the same gender shows disrespect. If two people are in love and they care for one another then they should have every right as a human being to get married.

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  29. Dr. Brett SchmollOctober 15, 2012 at 1:11 PM

    HERE'S A POST FROM TAREN:


    I wish the problems of our country were easy and can be fixed by making easy choices. I wish that politicians were genuine in their responses and could tell the public the truth. Truth and honesty is relevant in my book. The sad thing is I don't think that will ever happen. I hardly vote. I think all politicians are just filling my head with nonsense and saying whatever it takes to get the vote. They key point in this essay "One day -- let us hope it comes soon -- voters will demand that their political leaders present them with a more realistic sense of possibilities and choices they face." We as American's are responsible for choosing and voting the next leader of our country. Yet we allow these false remarks to be sustainable answers. Are we as American dumb when it comes to political leaders? This essay made great points when it talks about the promises the Obama gave us four years ago. He had unrealistic answers and promises that resembled the end of a Disney movie. He dreams were too big and far fetched. We should be demanding realistic answers. In debates, if the answers are not answered we should go back to the question and demand a straight answer. Presidential candidates should not be allowed to give different speeches to different audiences. How can we expect a honest leader to rule our country we he can't be honest about what he believes in. I want a President that is not filling my head with nonsense. I want a President that present me with realistic sense of possibilities and admits when his choices we not the right choice. But will that ever happen? Probably not.

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