Last Blog... bittersweet

Before I begin I just want to say that for the first time in my life, I am bummed that a class is coming to an end. I had so much fun learning about government issues, and issues that apply to how I live my life. This was my first POL class and I am actually registered for 3 more classes next semester. I'm sure it will be challenging but I find that I have a genuine love for this subject.

The most interesting section was the one on interest groups. I personally was always under the impression that interest groups were these bad people who hid in the shadows and did drug deals with politicians in the back alley in order to get what they wanted. I never really thought of the "good" interest groups though. For example; I never knew what GLAD's was until this class. Additionally, doing minor research on the websites of these groups was an eye opened since they showed that they were not looking to make politicians rich. In GLAD's case, they just want Washington to have equal rights for ALL human beings, not just heterosexuals. Also, seeing how much money is actually given by some of these interest groups was astounding, like the NRA for example! Wow! Those guys are pretty hardcore. Overall, this was a fun section in my opinion.

The least interesting section was probably the section on the courts. It wasn't do to the teaching style or any external factors, it was do to me already having a good knowledge on the topic. I have read about Marbury v. Madison numerous times, the premise of judicial review, how the judges are selected, etc., etc. The information just wasn't new to me. Not to mention when I think of judges I get the mental image of really old people droopy robes kind of go with their droopy neck-skin, and the smell of a nursing home.... not a pleasant thought personally.

Prior to this class I thought I knew a considerable amount about government, but it turns out I wasn't as informed as I thought. For example; like a lot of Americans I thought Congress is doing an extremely crappy job with the country since they argue and gripe so much. However, I know realize that nothing ever gets done in Congress because it takes so long to pass legislation, and that term length for the majority of Congressmen (i.e. the House of Reps.) hinders efficiency becasue they need to concentrate on getting reelected. It's not necessarily the fault of Congress, but instead the circumstances that they are subjected to. Also, learning about the national debt and how far in the abyss (or maybe black hole is a better word), we are in terms of debt, was both interesting and scary. $11.4 trillion is just impossible to comprehend to me and to see that the government is not moving to fix the issue at all is mind-boggling to me. Why not fix something know instead of letting later generations deal with it?! I knew nothing about the debt, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid before this class, but know I feel like I am better equipped with some tools that I can now use in regards to this subject. Overall, this course improved my knowledge of government issues in our country.

I honestly feel like our generation does have a somewhat indifferent feeling to most issues; however, when an issue bothers us and we see people's lives being affected negatively because of it, we want action. We are children of the internet and a generation that likes to know EVERYTHING! We are the most open-minded generation in my opinion, the whole freedom and equality for ALL idea is something that we take to heart and truly believe. We have learned about the mistakes of our ancestors; the wars fought, what money can do to people, and what can happen if you choose not to take action. I feel that we will get a lot done in our lifetime in terms of civil rights, technological advances, space exploration, and social issues. We don't anything to interfere with our social time so if there is an issue at hand, we want to work out ASAP.

I honestly plan to volunteer on a campaign for a candidate whose views and agenda I agree with. I'm just not sure if I want to do it for the local or state level. So much seems to be at stake to just be passive and not care about what is happening in my country. There are serious issues in this country, and the world that should be taken care of and I am not going to sit around and wait for someone else to take care of it. From now on I will be voting. Additionally, I hope to find an issue I am passionate about and start making some old people feel really uncomfortable.

My impression of this class was outstanding. The floor was open daily to questions, issues, and facts that concern everyone. Also, the people in class were great, and I the enthusiasm was through the roof. Even though I am glad to have a 2 month break until classes start back up again, I am sad that this class must end. It was the best class I have taken so far. Thanks for the great time and useful information!