Monday: We kept presenting out presentations to the class today.
South Carolina has seen great devastation from the hurricane, for 18 in. of rain have fallen in the last couple days, tearing apart millions of homes and killing many people. Storms like these only happen once every 1000 years. Billions of dollars will have to go into reconstructing the utter destruction in South Carolina.
Last week a college in Oregon had a mass shooting where 18 people died, including the gunman who killed himself. The gunman asked everyone there religion and some people say he was targeting Christians. The gunman had 13 illegal guns on his person.
Presentations (cont.)
Gun Control~
Democratic- Are for gun control because they believe that if we have tighter gun control laws we will reduce mass shootings and have a safer society. They believe that legal weapons cause mass shootings and that tighter gun laws are the only way to stop situations like Oregon. Also support further background checks. They want focus more on banning assault rifles than hand guns because in most mass shootings the gunman uses assault rifles.
Republicans- Are against tighter gun control laws; saws it violates second amendment (right to bear arms). They think people should have access to guns so that they can protect themselves from people who misuse them. Believe that background checks are good precautions to take. They have an association to battle gun controls laws called the NRA (National Rifle Association). They are a very powerful organization and have a huge say in Congress.
In the late 80's and 90's we saw a decrease of homes who have guns in the household-just a slight decrease though.
In a recent poll, the a slight majority of Americans want tougher gun laws, though about about 45% of Americans believe in more relaxed gun restrictions.
Taxes~
Republicans: They believe in tax reduction for the middle class and they want to limit the taxes of the very rich.
Republican Trickle Down Theory- Going to cut taxes for the rich and by having less taxes the wealthy will open more businesses and give more jobs to the middle class and benefit everybody.
Democrats: Believe middle class families should get tax cuts and that the wealthy should have higher taxes to pay for programs.
16th Amendment started taxes on the American people-1913. Governments need to tax because that's how they pay for educations and programs for the public and the poor.
Income Tax- Money that is taken directly out your paycheck and goes to the government
Graduated Income Tax- The more money you make, the higher your tax rate will be.
The government has to impose an income tax to pay for social programs and education. For every dollar that goes to the government, 26.5 cents goes to the military, 20 cents goes to health care, 13.6 cents on interest on the federal debt, 12.2 cents on unemployment and labor, 5.4 cents to government, 4.4 cents to food and agriculture, 4.3 cents to veterans benefits, 3.5 cents to education.
Tuesday- I was absent
Wednesday- We took the class Southeast Asia map test and got 10/10. Listened to more presentations
Gun control-
- Mass shootings (Aurora, Sand Hook) don't shift views on gun control
- Our country is basically split in half (52%- pro gun, 48% tighter guncontrol laws) A slight majority wants to protect the 2nd amendment
- Many states allow concealed gun carriage with a permit; different from 1981 where in many states concealed guns were prohibited
What can be done?
- Tougher background checks at gun shows and private sales- vast majority of Americans support that
- Having metal detectors in school entrances
- Ban larger magazines in guns
- Ban online sales of ammunition
Obama Plan:
- Require background checks for all gun sales
- Pas a stronger ban on assault weapons
- Limit ammunition magazines to 10 rounds
- End the freeze on gun violence research
Ensure quality coverage of mental health treatment, particularly for young people
s said that his biggest frustration as president is his inability to get gun control passed and in effect.
Thursday- We went over the last map. The full test will be on Tuesday. Today was also a presentation day.
Our relationship with Syria is really bad, even with territories that aren't ISIS controlled. The Arab Spring was a movement in Middle Spring where young people tried to raise up and over throw the government and it got violent (5 years ago). Some governments stepped down peacefully, but other countries like Lybia and Syria refused to surrender. The U.S. were supporting the rebels, while Assad (leader of Syria) lead attacks against the rebels. Russia and Syria have been friends for quite some time; Russia sent in troops not to long ago to help them with ISIS. Russia has recently sent out cruise missiles to attack ISIS targets, and some believe also Anti-Assad rebels, The U.S. does not know much about Russia's plans, and the two countries need a meeting to get on the same page and to prevent catastrophes out of miscommunication. Russian airplanes are also going over Turkey with out their permission.
N.A.T.O.- was established in late 1940's. Stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. After World War II, we had the Cold War against the Soviet Union. NATO was once of our links between the U.S. and west Russia; is made up of many European countries. Our alliances with many European countries go through NATO. Defensive alliance- they only help our country if we get attacked.
Presentations-
Rand Paul: a republican
Personal Life-
~ Born January 7th, 1963, Pittsburgh, PA
~ Raised Episocopalian
-Attended Duke University Mideal School; recieved a medical degree; became a surgeon
~Married Kelley Ashby; three sons
Professional Background-
~Became involved in 1994; became interested because of his father (Ron Paul;ran for presdient numerous of times)
~Won a seat for U.S. Senate for Kentucky (December 6, 2009)
Major Platform Ideas-
~ Balance the budget; must cut spending in all areas, especially in areas better run by the state
~Is opposed to abortion; said he would not oppose abortion if it involves a women's health
~ Supports returning control of education to local communities
~ Supports immigration reform; strong emphasis on border security
~ Believes medical marijuana is a state's issue; shouldn't be decided by federal government. Only legal in 4 states.
Hillary Clinton-
Personal Background-
Father-Hugh Clinton. Was a War Veteran and was in the drapery business
~Belonged to a small middle class family
~Mother-Dorothy. Had a tough child;was abandoned by parents and was self-raised at 14.
~ Was in Girl Scots
~ Witnessed Martin Luther's Chicago speech
~Graduated Wesley and went to Yale- one of only 27 women in her class
~Met Bill Clinton at Law School; Married him in 1975
~ Bill was elected in 1992 and in 1996
~ Later moved to Arkansas; taught law and ran legal clinics
~1995- "women's rights are human rights"
Professional Background-
~ 2000- First U.S. senator for New York
~ In 2008 she ran for president; Obama won the presidential nomination
Major Platform Ideas-
~ Supports gun background checks and cracking down on illegal gun traffickers
~ A fair and just immigration system; similar to Obama's plan
~ For the economy to be better, thinks it should be affordable for everybody (like the Middle Class). Wanted to reduce the debt
Friday- Went over Australia maps. Continued with presentations.
China has created a Communist theme park to celebrate all things Communism. There are many displays, and there is also a place to take an oath to join the Communist Youth Club. Communist tourism is a big investment in China. You also have a an option to dress up like Red Army soldiers.
People have suggested that people who own's guns should have gun insurance. If anything ever happens with the gun you own, like damages, losing loved ones, etc. you will be reimbursed by the government.
Health Care- Late 1800'2, early 1900's Pennsylvania was an unsafe place to work to the Industrial Revolution, so Montgomery Ward started the nation's first multi-employee health insurance policy to give benefits to their workers.
Obama Care- Requires every American to have some kind of health care policy. It gives people protection and access to affordable health care. This impacts people who usually don't have insurance since they can't afford it.
Democratic Stance~ Support all American's having access and government-provided health care. Believes it is a human right and necessity. Supports Obamacare. Can stay on parents insurance until age 26.
Republican Stance~ Believes Obamacare should be revoked (thinks it will create lower costs) and health insurance should be patient centered.
Minimum Wage- In 1912, laws were created should have a standard of payment that will go for all working citizens so everyone in America would at least get decent money to have basic necessities of survival. There have been proposals to raise the wage from 7.25 to $10.10. Minimum wage has increased so much during the years; minimum wage in 1960's was $2 but in today's money it would be worth $11.4- was one of the most decent wages in U.S. history. 80% of people who receive minimum wage are over 20 years old. Adults will benefit most from raising it, even though some people say it's teenagers. It will raise 28 million workers out of poverty (according to Obama). People who are unmarried and single will benefit the most.
As of 2013....
Australia is the leader in minimum wage- equivalent to 9.25. Mexico is the lowest, at $1.01 U.S. dollars. Many western European countries have higher minimum wages. Countries in eastern European are struggling since many are coming out of communism.
Seattle recently bumped up their minimum wage to $15- want Bernie Sanders wants to do nation wide. Now that many people are receiving $15, people are losing Welfare benefits and now they are asking to reduce the wage to get their benefits back.
Democratic Stance~ Believe in increasing it to help workers.
Republican Stance~ Republicans are against raising the minimum wage to $10.10 because they think it will hurt businesses. GAP Ceo says increasing it will benefit everybody, even the businesses
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