Chapter 13 Blog

1.) I feel like the central intelligence agency is the most important agency that America has. This agency was established in 1947 under President Truman. The CIA is an independent agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior U.S policymakers. The CIA's mission is to analyze, collect, evaluate, and disseminate foreign intelligence to assist the President and senor U.S government policymakers in making decisions relating to national security.

2.) I believe the internal revenue service agency should be terminated. This agency started in 1863 during the civil war under President Abraham Lincoln. This agency was established to collect a temporary income tax to pay for war expenses. The initial rate was 3% on income over 800 dollars. Today this agency employees thousands of workers and they are expected to employee 16,000 more due to Obama-care. I believe this agency could be terminated and a flat tax could be implemented, instead of all the tax loopholes that are currently in existence.

3.) If I were President of the United States, I would not create any new agency's. I would evaluate every existing agency and eliminate the one's that were not needed. We as a nation cannot keep creating government jobs at tax payers expense.

I commented on: Tinisha Key, Robert Cook, and Pam Smith.

Chapter 12 Blog

Chapter 12 Blog

1.) What i feel that makes a President great is his ability to understand the position he holds as the most powerful person on the planet. He must have a vision for the Unites States of America. He must possess the ability to communicate this vision to the people and the ability to negotiate with congress. He must be a leader and understand the constitution of the United States.

2.) Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton in my opinion are two of the most greatest Presidents America has ever had. Both of these men were great communicators. Ronald Reagan was strong in his leadership and they gave him credit for ending the cold war. Bill Clinton lead an economic boom, that had never been heard of before. Even though he was impeached by Congress, but never convicted. Polls predict, if he ran today for office he would be re-elected. 

3.) Lyndon Baines Johnson, President from 1963-1969. The programs he called the great society, were an expansion of FDR's new deal. He expanded the social welfare programs in health care, education, and housing. He convinced congress to pass the civil rights act of 1964. Voting rights act of 1965. Also, the Fair Housing Act of 1968. He was effective because, he knew how to negotiate.

I commented on: Tinisha Key, Robert Cook, and Donna Binford.    

Chapter 11 Blog

1.) The two senators serving the state of Tennessee at this time are Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker. Bob Corker just won re-election to another 6 year term. He is a former mayor of Chattanooga. Lamar Alexander will be up for re-election in 2014, but at age 72 one has to wonder if he will seek another term. He is a former two term governor of Tennessee. Chuck Fleishman is the congressman and was just re-elected for his second term.

2.) Lamar Alexander is someone who I believe really tries to make a difference in Washington. He was recognized by the National Association of Manufactures for his "pro-growth, pro-jobs" record. Alexander said " Tennessee auto industry is strong because we made it possible for manufactures to make it in the United States, what they sell in the United States". He supports policies that would make the United States the best place in the world to manufacture and attract foreign investment, expand access to global markets and to develop a twenty-first century work force.

3.) Senator Bob Corker is just one of three republicans in the senate to be in favor of strategic reduction of weapons. I strongly disagree with this action I believe the United States of America must always be the strongest nation in the world. I believe we are on the verge of a major war as we look around the world is at deteriorating conditions. Now is not the time to reduce our military or our weaponry.

I commented on: Robert Cook, Tinisha Key, and Stephanie Griffin.        

Chapter 10 Blog

1.) In the supreme court case, Bush vs Gore. I agree with the majority, without specific standards for gauging  the intent of the voter, there was no way to determine how they meant to vote except by guessing and that would have no doubt been bias as to who you supported. Also, there had to be a time limit, the election was in November and still no one knew who the President elect was. This could have went on a long time.


2.) It takes a lot of money to run a campaign, especially if you want to win. You can easily spend $10,000 dollars on a county wide race. It takes millions to run a nationwide race. So yes there are a lot of candidates with a lot of great ideas who will never be elected or will not ever run, because of the lack of money. I think it's  a big problem and I feel like we need campaign finance reform. There should be a limit to how much candidates can receive and no loop holes.


3.) I think it's pitiful that we have such low voter turn out for elections. Some countries don't even give their citizens the right to vote. I believe one of the reasons for such Apathy is that the people feel like nothing ever changes. We here politicians make every kind of promise you can imagine when their running for office and when their elected everything pretty much stays the same. I believe one way of changing this mindset is to have term limits for every office.


I commented on: Robert Cook, Stephanie Griffin, and Tinisha Key.