The Logic of Collective Action

Cassandra Maldonado

Assignment Due 12/12

POL 166

The Logic of Collective Action

Patriotism is probably the strongest noneconomic motive for organizational allegiance in modern times. Meaning the love, support, national loyalty and defense for the countries is the strongest motive throughout all times.

The meaning of this quote is Patriotism matters. When it comes to other things, Patriotism is the one thing that happens. Everyone coming together for the love of our country/nation. Coming together to support our country/nation. Defending our country/nation. Not turning our backs to our country/nation. There is no compromising, no promises when it comes to Patriotism. We all love, support and defend our country/nation. It’s the one thing that won’t change. It’s the main reason why when things happen in other countries, every country comes together for support and to show love.

I chose this quote because Patriotism still happens in society today. Many people may not see it, but it does happen. The attack in Paris, the shootings that have occurred in different countries, many other incidents that have happened and as a nation, we have all come together to show our love and support. 

John F. Kennedy American University Commencement Address

Cassandra Maldonado

Assignment Due 11/21

POL 166

John F. Kennedy

American University Commencement Address

“World peace, like community peace, does not require that each man love his neighbor, it requires only that they live together in mutual tolerance, submitting their disputes to a just and peaceful settlement.” World peace would be easy for this nation. If certain countries were to end their disputes, it would be easier for disagreements to get settled. Disagreements were one of the causes that led certain countries to go to war with each other. If certain countries were to agree on things instead of disagree, then this cause wouldn’t lead to war. Alliances being broken, was another cause of countries going to war. Each country should get along, we are one nation that should be on the same mutual terms. It doesn’t mean that every country has to become close together, it just means that every country should at least be on the same terms with each other to end war or certain disputes from happening. As stated in the pledge of allegiance, we are, “One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” If we are one nation, then each nation should find a way to turn things for the better and make things between each country work out so that we can end the fights and make our nation better. 

What 60 years of political gerrymandering looks like

Cassandra Maldonado

Assignment Due 11/14

POL 166

What 60 years of political gerrymandering looks like

Gerrymandering has risen substantially in Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois, Texas, and Missouri. These states have not been able to control the extent of gerrymandering. Within these states, gerrymandering has been fluctuating over the years and changes within these states started to occur. In New York, gerrymandering has decreased. New York has found a way to control the extent of gerrymandering and set up an independent advisory commission. Due to the setup of the independent advisory commission in New York, gerrymandering has declined. If Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois, Texas, and Missouri were able to set up something similar to the independent advisory commission, or if these states were able to set up an independent advisory commission, there will be a decrease in gerrymandering and these states would’ve succeeded in finding a way to control the extent of gerrymandering. 

The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro

Cassandra Maldonado

Assignment Due 11/7

POL 166

The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro

The quote I chose states, “The evil, that men do, lives after them. The good is often interred with their bones.

The meaning of this quote is, the wrong that men do will follow after them even when they die. The good they do often dies with them.

The evil/wrong doing men do, is usually known more than the good they do. People will only know of men’s wrong doings, which is why the good men do often dies with them without anyone knowing of it. The evil men do usually follows them in their life and even after they die. The evil that follows them after their death and in their life is known as karma. In today’s society, many of the wrong doings people do is always followed after them and returned to them with karma. The good they do isn’t known by anyone else unless they make an initiative to make it known to everyone. 

Revisiting The Constitution

Cassandra Maldonado

Assignment Due 10/10

POL 166

Revisiting the Constitution: Do We Really Need the Second Amendment?

The quote I chose is from Melynda Price; it states, “This nation was constructed and reconstructed in the aftermath of violent and bloody conflicts. Still, the Framers believed that not only the Constitution, but also the peaceful way the document was created, would penetrate the Americans' minds and change they engaged.” 

            The meaning of this quote is, aside from the nation being built on violence and bloody conflict, the framers believed that because of how the document was created in a peaceful way and because it’s a part of the constitution, it would change the minds of the Americans. They believed that because it was written on paper and it was written by higher authority and Americans are expected to follow it, that it would be successful enough for Americans to stop the violence and bloody conflicts. They’re wrong.

            There is an increase in society today when it comes to violence and bloody conflicts. That is the reason I chose this quote. It can be written on paper by higher authority, but that doesn’t mean that people are going to follow it. People look at it as a piece of paper and don’t take it serious until they have to suffer the consequences for their wrong doing. With the document being created, more actions should be taken so that there can be a decrease in violence and bloody conflict in our society. A change has to be made, this pattern has to be broken. If this nation was constructed and reconstructed, then it should be reconstructed again to put an end to the violence and bloody conflicts. 

Constitution Of The United States

Cassandra Maldonado

Assignment Due 10/3

POL 166

Constitution Of The United States

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

In reading this passage, it tells us of the power the President has. He is the one who is appointed when certain decisions for our country need to be made. The President will take the opinions of those under him, but all other decisions are made by him when it comes to our country. Our country lies in the hands of the President and it is his duty to fulfill what is right for our country. It is his duty to protect our country and keep the peace with other countries.

I’ve chosen this passage because the President is the only person that should be the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States. As stated in the reading, “He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law.” The President is the one who is in charge if anything was to happen and he is the one who should be making the decisions. We picked this President because we believe in him and trust him in making the right decisions for our country. This is important because, in picking a President for our country, we are picking a person who is going to do what’s right for our country and a person who is going to fight for our country and keep us from harm’s way. He has the power. The power to not only keep us safe, but the power to make decisions that we all cannot make on our own when it comes to our country. He is the one that will lead on the right path.

Despite Negativity, Americans Mixed on Ideal Role of Gov't by Frank Newton

Cassandra Maldonado

Assignment Due 9/19

POL 166

Despite Negativity, Americans Mixed on Ideal Role of Gov't

In reading Despite Negativity, Americans Mixed on Ideal Role of Gov’t by Frank Newton, it states, “Some of the negative views of government are related to politics. The fact that Democrats were more concerned about government power when Bush was president and Republicans are more concerned about it with Obama as president shows that some people will be negative about the government simply because of political partisanship. Additionally, there are clear philosophical and ideological differences in views of the government that create the dynamic tension that exists in any democratic system, with conservatives generally favoring less government and liberals favoring more government.”

Political parties are never going to agree on government power depending on who the president is and what party they belong too. The political parties want the same thing, but they have different views on how they want to achieve it. The liberals believe in government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all, while the conservatives believe in personal responsibility, limited government and traditional American values.

I chose this passage because it’s a true statement. Political parties are going to defend their own party and aren’t going to go against the president of their party no matter how good the ideas the actual president has. The opposite parties are always going to go against it because it’s not what they believe in or what they decided upon.  Each parties are going to go back and forth no matter what the case maybe. Following a different approach for example a more liberal approach, might be a good idea as some people have said. At the end, it makes you wonder if the back and forth between parties will ever end and if following a different approach would be better.