reaction to sharon hayes (welfare)

This article discusses the reforms to the welfare program in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. I agree with Hayes that there are both positive and negative things that have come out of it. I think that it was a good idea, in theory, to try to emphasize the need for welfare recipients to become financially independent, but the execution of this plan is much more difficult. Reform was definitely needed in the welfare program, though. Once on welfare, recipients had no real incentives to go out and get a job, so they became increasingly dependent on welfare checks. This was extremely expensive for American taxpayers, and it was not really helping people because they were completely dependent on welfare for survival. Under the Personal Responsibility Act, the goal is to put pressure on recipients to get a job and give them the training they need in order to do so. The main problem with this is that the majority of recipients are not lacking the motivation to get a job, but the circumstances in which they live keep them from doing so. Also, most of the jobs available to them provide very low wages which cannot even cover their basic needs a lot of the time, especially when trying to support a family. Furthermore, this reform is even less effective at a time when the economy is doing poorly, as it is now. In our present economic situation, it is even more difficult to find work, so recipients will become increasingly desperate to find work. 

Do elections contribute to good government?

Elections not only contribute to good government, they are the backbone of democracy. Voting allows us to settle our differences without resorting to violence. By voting, there is a universal agreement that the loser will yield and consent to whatever policy or official that has been voted on. In a two party system, this is extremely important. Without elections, there would be constant chaos and bloodshed happening between them in their struggle for power. Furthermore, elections are good for government because they are a resistance to monarchies. The main problem with monarchies is that the ruler is often not the best person suited for the position and he does not necessarily represent the will of the people. Elections were put in place to legitimize a politician's rule. People can alter who they are ruled by though voting, and they choose who will represent them best so their interests will be realized. Also, unlike a monarchy, elections create competition among public officials. This causes politicians to make all of their decisions based on what their constituents want so that they will be re-elected. Officials can also be held accountable for their actions, so they are careful not to make any mistakes. There are several aspects of elections that are detrimental to government, though. Due to the fact that America uses a two party system, politicians from both parties can be elected. Therefore, elections can lead to a divided government in which it is almost impossible to get anything accomplished because both sides cancel each other out. Another negative aspect of elections is term limits, especially for the president. Oftentimes, a president has many policy goals, but with only 4 to 8 years in office, it is very difficult to see these goals realized. Overall, though, elections are vital to good government despite a few problems with them.

Does voting matter

 

Many people often decide not to vote because they think that one vote is not going to make a difference. If everyone had this mentality, though, democracy would break down completely. It is important that all eligible voters cast their vote so that the will of the people is accurately reflected.  To vote is a way of expressing an opinion. Voting definitely does matter, especially with respect to certain groups or types of voters. For example, since a very high percentage of senior citizens vote in elections, candidates or elected official make sure to satisfy the interests of this group in order to obtain their vote. This is why there is a focus on social security during election times. Senior citizens are rewarded for voting because their vote is so important to the candidates.  Although one vote may not make a difference, by banding together as a group, one can see real results.  There are many groups out there who are not getting any attention simply because they are not voting.  Elected officials do not try to satisfy their interests because it will not really help them to be re-elected. One example of this occurring is with people who have disabilities. Since it is difficult for these people to make it to the polls, they vote in much fewer numbers than other groups.  Consequently, politicians do not listen to their problems. There are over thirty five million eligible voters who have disabilities, however, so they could potentially have a large impact on elections if they voted together. Politicians would have to start listening to and helping this group if they want to win elections. As you can see, if people will simply work together and commit themselves, voting can have a large impact.

Federal Budget Process

The United States federal budget process consists of procedures that are named in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.  The first step in the process is a budget request from the president (developed by the Office of Management and Budget), in which he suggests what the budget should be spent on in the upcoming fiscal year. The House and Senate Committees  then hold hearings on this request and create their own Budget Resolution which allocates spending authority for the next year. From here it goes to the House and Senate for the appropriations bills to be passed. After this there is Consideration of Reconciliation legislation if the spending requires changes to the law and Consideration of Authorization 

legislation.

Budget Calendar - http://www.rules.house.gov/archives/budget_time.htm

George Bush is a lame duck

George Bush has pretty much no power or influence left. Americans are focused on the  presidential race, and most of them are hoping for a change from the current administration. Obama's campaign platform is based on this idea since the Bush administration made so many colossal mistakes. Members of Congress are also hesitant to listen to Bush's warnings that neglecting to implement a rescue plan will end up in an economic disaster. This is because George Bush has tried to instill the country with fear in order to justify the Iraq war and the Patriot Act. Furthermore, with the elections coming up soon, many Republicans are intent on making the vote that will satisfy their constituents and get them re-elected. They are much less concerned about supporting and following the president.  http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1843847,00.html

Powers of House vs. Powers of Senate

The Senate and the House are considered equal institutions in the legislative branch, both they both have powers that are unique only to them. The Senate and the House of Representatives make up the two houses of Congress. a bill must pass though both of these houses before it can become a law. One power of the Senate that the House does not possess is that the Senate's Advice and Consent is required in presidential appointments and treaties. If the president proposes either of these things, the Senate has to agree with a two thirds majority for them to pass. The House of Representatives also has some powers that add to their strength. The House has the sole power of impeachment. The Senate does, however, have the sole power to try impeachment cases. Furthermore, revenue-raising bills have to originate in the House.

GRIDLOCK

There are several causes of gridlock. Gridlock occurs most often when there is divided government. Divided government is when the legislative branch and the executive branch are not unified under the same party. For example, if congress is dominated by democrats and passes a bill, a republican president can veto the bill. Then a two thirds majority is needed in both houses to pass the bill. This problem produces a stalemate, and the bill is unable to be passed. Gridlock can also occur even when the government is unified. One reason for this is the structure of the bicameral legislature. Even when a bill is easily passed in the House of Representatives, it can be stopped by a filibuster in the Senate. A filibuster requires 60 votes to pass a bill, which does not often happen. Furthermore, republicans and democrats have become more and more divided. Republicans today are more conservative than in the past, and democrats are now more liberal. This is a problem because there are less members of the legislature who are closer to the political center and willing to make compromises. The nature of the media and technological advancements in communication have also contributed toward gridlock. Since politicians are always in the spotlight, they are more concerned with satisfying their constituents in order to win elections than being willing to make compromises. Gridlock was intended by the framers of the constitution to prevent colossal mistakes from being made. In current politics, however, gridlock has led to government inaction, and changes need to be made to eliminate some of the checks of the federal government that cause gridlock to be more likely