World Issues? What Issues?

So it seems to me, that as the world careens towards a global economy, it is becoming increasingly important to have a president with a firm plan of action with regards to foreign policy. I also have a penchant for reading newspapers from other countries. This is not to criticize American newspapers, I have just found that it is helpful to get an outside view of events; a birds eye view of our country. With those two things in mind, I highly recommend reading the following article, an overview of each presidential candidate’s stance on foreign affairs, from the BBC News. The article is divided into world regions; first listing McCain’s plans for a given area, then Obama’s. Included is each candidate’s experience or past reactions to the different regions.

US Election Issues: Foreign Policy

Should We Rewrite the Constitution

This was my response to a question posed by my government teacher. I welcome any discussion on this topic. The question was :

Some parts of the Constitution seem unclear, unnecessary, or outdated. Should the Constitution be rewritten to reflect modern concerns?

The real question here is whether the form of government that the Constitution outlines functions in the modern world and whether our concerns are the same from the 1700’s to the present day.

To both questions, I say yes. For the first, our founders had a great deal of foresight when structuring our government. They anticipated the growth of the country, as evidenced by Article IV, section 3. They anticipated disagreements, as seen in Article III. They even anticipated the necessity to add to the constitution, as shown in Article V. The very structure of the government, with its checks and balances, ensuring that no one gain too much power, shows an intimate knowledge of human kind’s tendency towards self-serving purposes. Overall, the framework for our government allows for flexibility, while providing a strong enough foundation to build a nation on.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html

This leads to the second question about past verses present concerns. As humans, what we desire and what we need has changed very little throughout history. We like to think that in our enlightened times we are somehow different from our cave dwelling ancestors. We are not. Consider this; is graffiti on the side of a building that different from paintings on cave walls? Both show a desire for self-expression and decoration of our homes. Is the alleged clubbing of hapless cave women that different from going to the - perhaps too aptly named - club to find a date? Both represent the desire to reproduce. We may have more toys nowadays than those of our forebears, but even that represents a continuing human desire to ease the sufferings of life.

http://changingminds.org/explanations/needs/glasser_five_needs.htm

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/04/09/caves_arc.html?category=archaeology&guid=20070409110000

http://www.matrixbookstore.biz/caveman.htm

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v15/i4/stoneage.asp

In summation, we as a people still desire the right to be treated fairly. We still desire peace in our homes, the ability to defend that peace, and the right to promote our own well being. Above all, we desire freedom. These ideals are perfectly expressed in the opening of the constitution:

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Journey Begins

After turning 18, I dutifully registered to vote. At the first opportunity I went to my neighborhood-voting center, armed with a book in hand to keep me occupied in the anticipated line.

On arrival, I discovered no line. The rows of voting booths were empty. The workers, excited to have a person come, any person, explained to me how the process worked. I stepped into the booth feeling confident; proud to exercise the right that my fore sisters had fought for. I closed the curtain, turned to the table, and proceeded to read the first line.

That’s when I found that I had no clue what I was doing. On the ballot were district things, law things, and things that I had no name for. What did this law mean; it sounds good, has a lot of big words, but what is its practical application? Who is this person I can vote for and how come they have no competition? What if I don’t want to vote for them; do I leave it blank; will blank become district judge; what is a district judge anyway? Just WHAT is going on?

After an hour of picking tigers by their toes, I left. The "I voted" sticker seemed to mock me. It said things like "you really didn't do anything" and "you should've just stayed at home" and "you proved the opponents of women's suffrage right".

I realized then that if I were to become a responsible, informed participant in democracy, I would have to learn how the government works. Only after can I decide if I am a democrat, or republican; if I am for, or against; if my voice is really heard, or if - like Mao’s paper tiger – I am all show, and no substance.