U.S. Policy in the Middle East

DUE MONDAY APRIL 4, 2011 Please read this Op Ed by Thomas Friedman of the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/opinion/30friedman.html?_r=1&hp

1. In your first post, write a 100 word (max) letter to the editor in response to this piece. A good letter to the editor presents ONE idea in reaction to the original piece, and brings in NEW information or insight. It can be in agreement or disagreement.


2. For your second post, read at least four letters from your classmates and choose one to briefly comment on.

Law Lab - Should we test first?

Due Date: Mon Jan 24

Read the attached analysis piece from the Boston Globe Ideas section.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/12/12/law_lab/

Do you agree with the proposal? What are the pros and cons? Which types of policy areas are most suitable? Least?

New ground rules for comments, in order to reduce repetition:

1st post: Say whether you agree/disagree, and give ONE pro or con which is most important to you, and ONE policy area most OR least suitable.

2nd post: read at least 5 comments of other students, then write in reaction to one or more.

The Incoming Speaker

Due Date: Mon Dec 20

On Sunday Dec 12, Lesley Stahl interviewed incoming House Speaker John Boehner for 60 Minutes. Please watch the 13 minute segment here: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7143552n

FYI -- THIS IS A NEW LINK AND SHOULD WORK

What conclusions can you draw from the piece about how Boehner will run the House? About how he will work with Pres. Obama? Did anything surprise you or give you new insights?

Remember to post two comments: one in reaction to the piece and one in reaction to another student's comments.

Optional / Just for fun
Take a look at this satirical take on Boehner's style, from NY Times columnist Gail Collins:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/opinion/16collins.html?_r=1

The Widening Income Gap

Please post your comments by Thurs Oct 21.

According to IRS and census data, the gap between the incomes of the richest and poorest Americans has been growing since the late 1970's. Timothy Noah of Slate has written a series of articles about this, and posted a slideshow of the data and his interpretations here: http://www.slate.com/id/2266174/slideshow/2266174/fs/0//entry/2266173/

Take a look and consider the political implications of these trends. What could it mean for political participation, polarization, and fiscal policy? How would you advise either the GOP or the Democratic party to respond for the mid-term elections?

Also posted by Timothy Noah at Slate is this chart, which shows what different groups of people BELIEVED to be the distribution of wealth in the US and compares it to the actual. Does this change your thinking about the political implications of the income gap? Why?

Welcome!

Welcome to AP Gov! This year we will spend much of our time discussing controversial issues. You will try to make the best arguments you can for your points of view, and you will listen respectfully to the opinions of those who disagree with you. But, to what extent will the arguments and facts presented by others change your mind? We all like to think that we have arrived at our points of view by a rational process of fact-gathering and analysis, but perhaps we flatter ourselves. Some political scientists now believe that people's views can actually become more firmly entrenched when they are presented with facts that contradict their beliefs. What do you think? Read the following and share your ideas.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/07/11/how_facts_backfire/

Please make your comments by Tues Sep 21.