Saturday, September 27, 2014

The Federalist #51

               “In order to lay a due foundation for that separate and distinct exercise of the different powers of government, which to a certain extent is admitted on all hands to be essential to the preservation of liberty, it is evident that each department should have a will of its own; and consequently should be so constituted that the members of each should have as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others. Were this principle rigorously adhered to, it would require that all the appointments for the supreme executive, legislative, and judiciary magistracies should be drawn from the same fountain of authority, the people, through channels having no communication whatever with one another. Perhaps such a plan of constructing the several departments would be less difficult in practice than it may in contemplation appear. Some difficulties, however, and some additional expense would attend the execution of it. Some deviations, therefore, from the principle must be admitted. In the constitution of the judiciary department in particular, it might be inexpedient to insist rigorously on the principle: first, because peculiar qualifications being essential in the members, the primary consideration ought to be to select that mode of choice which best secures these qualifications; secondly, because the permanent tenure by which the appointments are held in that department, must soon destroy all sense of dependence on the authority conferring them.”By James Madison

             They are many ways in which the government can be split/run. In James Madison’s “The Federalist No. 51” he give us a “general observation” on ways the government runs. In the passage above James Madison states that for us to have a basis of government and to  see the differences in each parts in “it is evident that each department should have a will of its own; and consequently should be so constituted that the members of each should have as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others”. He wants the different departments and that each division should have little to no hand in the appointment of each members. The people would have a hand in saying who is to rule. James Madison states ”Some difficulties, however, and some additional expense would attend the execution of it.” He believes this will have some problem areas in they way in which things will be done, this will also cause problems in the way they Constitution will be interpreted. Many other problems will be in determining the “qualifications” of said individuals to be put in which every divisions, who authority must and should be followed in order to have a smoothly run government. One main concern would also be what “mode of choice” is best to determine the qualifications of the person to be in charge. 

         From James Madison’s  “The Federalist No.51 I choose the passage because I feel that in a way that is how the government is being run currently. Every branch is a separate entity unto itself. They are not working together for the greater good of the people anymore. An example of this is going on today which “Obama care”. Instead of everyone  sitting down and work together to make this happen for the American people they are many disagreement going on in the government regarding this issue. The branches of the government looks to be set again each other, some within the same branch

The Federalist #10

   “The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society. A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good. So strong is this propensity of mankind to fall into mutual animosities, that where no substantial occasion presents itself, the most frivolous and fanciful distinctions have been sufficient to kindle their unfriendly passions and excite their most violent conflicts. But the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property. Those who hold and those who are without property have ever formed distinct interests in society. Those who are creditors, and those who are debtors, fall under a like discrimination. A landed interest, a manufacturing interest, a mercantile interest, a moneyed interest, with many lesser interests, grow up of necessity in civilized nations, and divide them into different classes, actuated by different sentiments and views. The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation, and involves the spirit of party and faction in the necessary and ordinary operations of the government.”by James Madison

       They are many ways in which to describe the nature of man and ways in which they thinks, acts, and do things. In James Madison’s’ “The Federalist No. 10” he imparting to us the readers of then and now they ways in which certain situations would play out depending on his certain actions taken. In the above passage James Madison is  giving us the reader his view on why “faction” are formed. He states on “a zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good” is a way in which factions come into existence. According to James Madison the most long lasting factions is having to do with the “distribution of  properties”. He states that the haves and have not will continue to have friction through out time. Factions will be form from civil to hostile depending on the severity of the issue and will disrupt they way in which things are done, some will make changes and some will cause pandemonium and will affect the way in which the government does things, in the end a decision will be made such as changes in the Constitution. 

      I choose this particular passage from James Madison “The Federalist No. 10” because the reason for mankind building factions have not change throughout history. In todays government we see that they are still parties that do not get along so each find ways to discredit each other. An example of factions coming together to make changes in a religious way is in toward the “Pledge of Allegiance’s…….’under God we trust”. Many groups and individuals have brought forth change to be made to the Pledge throughout the years and has continue to do in hopes of getting to change. They are hoping to take this case to the Supreme court if necessary. I also choose this passage because these issues are still affection us today and they are factions forming to make a difference in the way things are done and will be done in the future. 

Friday, September 26, 2014

The American Political System: 9/20 The Constitution and the Federalist (Part 1)

The American Political System: 9/20 The Constitution and the Federalist (Part 1): "Scene at the Signing of the Constitution,"  Howard Chandler Christy,   1940, U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C. The Articles of ..



       "There
is a controversial passage in Article IV that protects slavery: "No person
held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into
another, shall, in Consequence of any Law of Regulation therein, be discharged
from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of
the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due." There is also a
clause in Article 1 Section 2 that refers to counting slaves as 3/5 of a person
for determining representatives and taxes."




       The way in which I would
interpret the fact that the “Republican majority House of Representatives
begins this session by reading out the Constitution” and omitted the above
listed passage is in two parts. I believe it was done because this is not the
way people of color is being counted in this day and time and also there is no
person that is held in service in this day and time.A person of color is no
longer considered 3/5 of a person everyone is counted as a whole no matter the
race and skin color of that person.They are ashamed and is looking for a way to move and change the Constitution. Another way to interpret this is that they are try to cover up part of our history and is hoping that the wrong that was done wouldn't matter to many people in this day and age. The reader of the Constitution and his fellow members either wanted to steer clear of that issue and "sweep in under the rug".




 
 




 

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Assignment>9.20.14

“Let me begin my American impressions with two impressions I had before I went to America. One was an incident and the other an idea; and when taken together they illustrate the attitude I mean. The first principle is that nobody should be ashamed of thinking a thing funny because it is foreign; the second is that he should be ashamed of thinking it wrong because it is funny. The reaction of his senses and superficial habits of mind against something new, and to him abnormal, is a perfectly healthy reaction. But the mind which imagines that mere unfamiliarity can possibly prove anything about inferiority is a very inadequate mind. It is inadequate even in criticising things that may really be inferior to the things involved here. It is far better to laugh at a negro for having a black face than to sneer at him for having a sloping skull. It is proportionally even more preferable to laugh rather than judge in dealing with highly civilised peoples. Therefore I put at the beginning two working examples of what I felt about America before I saw it; the sort of thing that a man has a right to enjoy as a joke, and the sort of thing he has a duty to understand and respect, because it is the explanation of the joke.”
In my opinion the meaning behind the passage listed above from the chapter “What is America?” by Chesterton  gives us and insight of what he though of America before he came to the country, also his first impression/reaction. Chesterton states “The first principle is that nobody should be ashamed of thinking a thing funny because it if foreign; the second is that he should be ashamed of thinking  it wrong because it is funny.” Chesterton is trying to reassuring us that it is ok to see new and unsuspected things and think they are funny because you have never experience it before. And when you are  thinking something is funny you should not think its wrong because it doesn’t fit you ideal of what is right. People should be more open minded because you are no longer in the safety of your homeland where everyone confirm to your way of seeing and doing things. He confirms this ideal when he mentions in an another passage that American is a “melting-pot that must not melt”-we are now in a country that is very diverse in many way such as its people, religion, and way of life.Chesterton goes on to say that “the reaction of his senses and superficial habits of mind against something, new, and to him abnormal, is a perfectly health reaction.” He is reaffirming that new people and they way in which they do things differently takes time to get use to our reaction is normal when coming to a foreign place and seeing things that we are not accustom to on a daily basis. Prior thinking, thoughts, and reaction may make new experience funny to many individuals but thats no reason to look down at another man and think that your way is better when visiting or staying at a new place. You have the right to your first reaction, but do not let that first reaction be your everyday approach going forward in America. Diversity is American’s backbone.

From G. K.  Chesterton book I choose the above passage from his first chapter “What is America” because I can relate personally. Like many people in America including me ,I was not born here in this country. I got my view and idea of what America looks like from listening to my parents and other family members speak, from pictures in books and magazine, from school and little from television. With the information I was given, be it a little or a lot depending on the source I did my best to come up with an idea of what America is like, most ideas where fantasy-blown out of  proportion and little of reality.   When I came to America I did think things were funny when I first saw them. I was also very fascinated by the new and different things. Some of my experiences have different reactions from many individuals that I’ve been when I first entered this country. From my fellow African-American born classmates I was sneer at for being different and ofter pick on. I believe this was because of the narrow minded view that they were given from their family members. I also chose this passage because it reassures me that my first reaction upon entering this country and meeting and seeing all these different people and things was very reasonable. I did not let my first reaction color my view of things to come. I evolve along side everyone else and learn to love my difference and also others.