METH

"The Meth Epidemic Summary":
Meth is the most addicting illegal drug in America. Meth cooks have found ways around the laws passed and pharmaceudical companies are fighting them.

Byker, Carl. "The Meth Epidemic." PBS. PBS, May 2011. Web. 07 Feb. 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/etc/script.html>.

 "Big Pharma And Meth Cooks Agree: Keep Cold Meds Over The Counter" Summary:
 Law enforcement's efforts to stop the problem by limiting access to pseudoephedrine (a key ingredient in meth) have been opposed by the large pharmaceutical companies. The "shake and bake" method of cooking meth has put production in the hands of addicts but also has tremendous risks. Wherever meth labs are found, there are bad gases and byproducts left over. Burn victims from meth accidents have tripled because meth addicts are now cooking. Oregon has successfully made pseudoephedrine a prescription drug, and the number of meth labs in the state has fallen over 90%. CHPA in Kentucky set a new lobbying spending record. This group spent it's money to fight against over the counter medicine. 24 states have tried to follow Oregon's lead by making access to pseudophedrine difficult by putting it behind the counter. 23 out of these 24 states have failed.

 "Big Pharma And Meth Cooks Agree: Keep Cold Meds Over The Counter." NPR. NPR, 26 Sept. 2013. Web. 06 Feb. 2014. <http://www.npr.org/2013/09/26/226476602/big-pharma-and-meth-cooks-agree-keep-cold-meds-over-the-counter>.


 "Candy-Flavored Meth Targets New Users" Summary:
During an investigation, police officers found materials used to cook meth in a trash can. Digging deeper, they were surprised to find strawberry-flavored children's drink next to it. This "designer meth" can be cu with lollipops, soda, drinks, and a variety of candy that makes is easier for first time users to try. This new marketing trick was created to increase Meth's market share. Cutting meth with something sweet also helps cut down the burning sensation when snorting powdered meth. Changing the color or the taste just lowers the intimidation factor, seeming less dangerous and luring in a new customer base.

Vries, Lloyd. "Candy-Flavored Meth Targets New Users." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 2 May 2007. Web. 07 Feb. 2014. <http://www.cbsnews.com/news/candy-flavored-meth-targets-new-users/>.

NoKoBloPo

Using internet, Brief History of North Korea since WW2. (1-2 Paragraphs)
Summary of Current state of affairs in Korea (1-2 paragraphs)
Do you think there will be regime change/ state change/ Neither/ Both? (It's what the movie was about) and why (1 paragraph).

Korea was ruled by Japan for nearly six years. However, following Japan's collapse after WWII, Korea was liberated in 1945. The Soviets occupied the north while the Americans were in the south, splitting the country down the 38th parallel. The two countries agreed to temporarily occupy Korea as a trusteeship in order to establish a Korean provisional government that would be free and independent. Kim Il-sung began he rule of power in North Korea as the Prime Minister in 1948 and then became President in 1972. Kim Il-sung led the communist North to invade the democratic South, starting a war in 1950 that lasted for 3 years and killed over 1.2 million people. Kim Il-sung remained in power until his death in 1994.  

In 1994, Kim Il-sung's successor, Kim Jong-Il, came to power and tried to gain support and allies to help and unite Korea under a communist government. In April 2009, North Korea's constitution was amended to refer to him as the "supreme leader". After the Cold War and the Soviets were defeated, North Korea became subject to severe UN sanctions. In 2011, Kim Jong-Il died and his son, Kim Jong-un came to power.

North Korea is in a state of highly controlled dictatorship under the rule of Kim Jong-un. All televisions are tuned to state-controlled domestic programming, the internet is virtually non-existent and cell phone use is highly restricted. Some North Koreans go to very far measures to try and smuggle entertainment or other illegal use of technology, risking not only their life, but the lives of their entire blood related family. The country is suffering from severe famine. The World Food Program estimates that almost 6 million out of 25 million are in need of food.

I think that eventually, there will be change in North Korea. I think that either poor leadership will lead to the the country's downfall, or the citizens will grow tired of oppression. Kim Jong-un's rule is maintained through his ability to limit the amount of information that can enter the country. Once the Korean people discover what is happening outside of their border, they will be eager to force change in their country. 

I believe that there will indeed be change in North Korea eventually. The execution of North Korea’s second-most powerful leader, Jang Song-thaek, is an example of the dangers associated with being next in line of command in an authoritarian society. This reflects just how unstable and insecure Kim Jong-un really is. I think that this poor leadership will lead to the the country's downfall. That or the citizens will grow tired of oppression. Kim Jong-un's rule is maintained through his ability to limit the amount of information that can enter the country. Once the Korean people become more defiant, they will start discovering what is happening outside of their border, they will be eager to force change in their country. I also believe that this will eventually lead to a regime change.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/secret-state-of-north-korea/

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2010/02/a_nation_of_racist_dwarfs.html

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2013/12/19/2003579334 

Essay Number 10 Interest Groups/Political Parties

2006-1 While interest groups and political parties each play a significant role in the United States political system, they differ in their fundamental goals.
(a) Identify the fundamental goal of interest groups in the political process.
A fundamental goal in interest groups is to change the laws they are interested in.
(b) Identify the fundamental goal of major political parties in the political process
One fundamental goal is to elect people into office
(c) Describe two different ways by which interest groups support the fundamental goal of political parties in the political process
1. Political Action Committee (PAC) donations
2. Media campaigns(d) For one of the forms of support you described in (c), explain two different ways in which that form of support helps interest groups to achieve their fundamental goal in the political process.
With PAC donations, interest groups have access and influence of policymakers. They also will have like-minded people in office that will be more willing to support their views on different subjects as well.

Essay Number 9 Media in Politics

DATA for 2009_4 (below)

Viewer’s Ages and Frequency of Viewing of Network Nightly News: 1974 and 2002 Combined

1974                  frequently (%)                    rarely (%)

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18-29                  45                                                  13

30-44                  50                                                 12

45-64                  68                                                  8

65+                      71                                                  5

2002                 frequently (%)                    rarely (%)

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18-29                  19                                                  22

30-44                  22                                                17

45-64                  40                                                  11

65+                      53                                                  8

2009_4. One of the most important ways the news media influence politics is through agenda setting.

(a)  Define policy agenda.

A set of issues, problems, or subjects that gets the attention of the people involved in policy making

(b)  Explain how the national news media engage in agenda setting.

The media raises awareness, provides information, demonstrates importance, and draws attention of policymakers

(c)  Explain the primary reason the president tends to have an advantage over Congress in gaining media attention.

The president speaks with only one voice to represent the nation while Congress speaks with many voices to represent the states/districts

(d)  Consider the table above.

-Describe the difference in the viewing patterns of older and younger age-groups.

-Describe the change from 1974 to 2002 in viewing habits that exists for all age categories.

1. Younger people watch less TV news than older people

2. People in all categories watched less News in 2002 than 1974

(e)  Given the information in the table, describe one implication for presidents in their use of the media to promote their political and policy objectives to the American public.

The nightly news is not as effective in promoting the president's policy agenda as it used to be.

Essay Number 8 UNited States Congress

2009_3In the United States Congress, the majority party exerts a substantial influence over lawmaking. However, even when one party has a numerical majority in each chamber of the United States Congress, there is no guarantee that legislation supported by that majority party will be passed by both chambers. Rules of each chamber independently influence the likelihood that legislation will pass in that chamber; legislation passed by one chamber is not always passed by the other.

(a)  Describe two advantages the majority party in the United States House of Representatives has in lawmaking, above and beyond the numerical advantage that that majority party enjoys in floor voting.

(b)  Describe two differences between House and Senate rules that may make it likely that legislation may pass in one chamber but not in the other.

(c)  Explain how the differences identified in (b) can lead to the passage of a bill in one chamber but not in the other.

A)The majority Party holds more committee chairs. They also control the committee rules and the agenda

B) The Senate has Filibusters and the House does not. 
Rules Committe in the House not the Senate

C) Filibuster-even though the House may pass the bill, the Senate can kill the bill with a Filibuster
Holds-

Essay Number 7 Campaign Finance Reform Proposals

A: Raising Limits on individual contributions: the increase in money that individuals may give to a campaign, parties, or PACs
-Candidates can spend less time fundraising and more time focusing on their campaign
-This allows the rich to have too much power and can influence politics easy with their money

B: Eliminating Soft Money: Not allowing contributions to political parties and/or contributions for party building activities
-It levels the playing field and lets the campaigns be more even between different candidates
-Weakens political parties. With less money, they have little ability to have strong campaigns

Christmas Song

Republican Party
Republican Party
Republican Party
Their party platform is conservative

Democratic Party
Democratic Party
Democratic Party
Their party platform is liberal

The republicans want more tax breaks
The democrats want Obamacare passed
But we wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of our hearts

John Andrew Boehner
John Andrew Boehner
John Andrew Boehner
is the republican speaker of the house

President Obama
President Obama
President Obama
is our democratic president

The republicans want more tax breaks
The democrats want Obamacare passed
But we wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of our hearts