To those of you who have made connections between the history of the Gilded Age and the economic issues facing our nation today, you are not alone. Our President has also criticized the proposed Republican budget as "radical." He says, "It is antithetical to our entire history as a land of opportunity and upward mobility for everybody who's willing to work for it. It is a prescription for decline."
ARTICLE ONE: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-slam-republican-social-darwinism-103004622.html
ARTICLE TWO: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/President/2012/0403/Slamming-social-Darwinism-Obama-reignites-debt-clash-with-GOP
VIDEO LINK: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/46941784#46941784
What do you think the role of government should be with respect to:
- Transporation
- Education
- Healthcare
- Retirement programs
If you have the time, you should listen to at least the first 10 minutes of the speech. President Obama outlines the role of Republican American Presidents, starting with Abraham Lincoln, who have invested in government programs that benefit the majority of Americans.
I'm looking forward to hearing your comments.
I know I've always been one for cut cut cut, we can't spend what we don't have, all of that. But I've also always been one for cut RESPONSIBLY! Across the board cuts like the GOP is advocating are reckless, endanger the "recovery" we are in, put the well being of the people who already can't help themselves, and puts the richest 1% in even more charge than they already are. I don't agree with Pres. Obama that often, but when he says that budget proposal is social Darwinism, he's completely right. The American Dream is supposed to be that ANYONE can make it, not just the ones that already have.
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ReplyDeleteOkay, the Rebublicans are full of crap on this one. The budget they propose helps no one put the upper classes, under the guise of helping the people. Gilded Age much? Futhermore, they accuse Obama of slandering them and twisting their words. Are you kidding me?! What about Obama-Care? What about the "death panels" all the Rebuplicans swore were in that bill, and turned out to not be mentioned in any capacity whatsoever? Besides, why should the 1% pay a smaller percentage of their income? They own 99% of all of the wealth! Their the ones who can actally afford to pay a larger percentage! The Democratic party may have been acting fairly passive for the past few years, but the Rebuplican party appears to be activly trying to pull this countre back to the age of corporate domination!
ReplyDeleteI feel like Obama has the common people's best interest. By the common people I mean middle and low class. I think so because his plans are the same as the republicans but he's making sure the rich pay what they owe on taxes. For example when article one talks about how he's pushing for the Buffet rule which will make anyone who earns more than 1 million will pay at least 30 percent in taxes. I think who he's campaigning towards USA good audience though because there are more middle and low class people than there are wealthy so if he campaigns towards them the majority will vote for him.
ReplyDeleteDear, Ms. Blatteau,
ReplyDeleteWhat does antithetical mean? Also what does Mr. Obama mean by a “land of opportunity?” Because the last time I checked, a person must meet certain qualifications, if you will, in order to qualify for this so called “opportunity.”
Sincerly,
brianna miller
Transportation: The Government, federal and state, should build, plan, and maintain transportation.
ReplyDeleteEducation: The Government should set up public school as well as offer private or excelled programs for students. The federal government should keep track and hold test scores, set up test scores and pay cost for test takings. The state government should be in charge of getting test scores, organizing and planning tests, set up how many schools each city should get/needs, building schools minimum requirements for building standards, school 'day' set up (type of scheduling system), smoothing transitions from one school to another (school transfer, middle school to high school, high school to college). The city government should be in charge of enforcing state requirements for testing and building requirements, get funding for schools, provide lunches for students, provide equipment to students, arrange students in schools according to skills and test scores (from placement test or previous test scores).
Healthcare: The government should help organize and help citizens obtain healthcare. It can also help with setting payment plans as well as ways to get certain coverage for varying cost, but the government shouldn't have to be completely in charge of healthcare, they should encourage people to get it and help set up the best plan for people to obtain it when needed.
Retirement Programs: The government should help people set money aside for retirement. But it should be optional. when it comes to being taken care of when we are older, we should have family for that to help us in our 'later years'.
the article i read was the article on high suicicde rate in the time of the civil war. i was pretty suprised on how these rich man killed theiur selves. i figure they woukd be happy rather then poor peoplle with their lives. but then again i understand how they would feel stressed and broken from the battles and such. it changes how a person loos at life. they might feel alot of of pressure to support and fight for the side they are on.both north and south. some might of felt they were going to die battling anyway.i would like to know more about how these suicides affected the wives and families of these men because women didnt have all equal rights with men so what did they do once their husbands died?
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think about the Industrial era. I read about Social Darwinism in Zinn's packet and it made me think about how the strongest should move up in society well the weak shall be paid no attention to.
ReplyDeleteI want to know more about the lead to "Social Darwinisim" in this day in age. After the industrial revolution how could thr United States repeat the same problem?
I also think this is important because it effects a majority of Americans who are trying to make it in America but fall under the idea that they arent strong enough to flourish in society.
I completely agree with President Obama. I believe that accusing the republican party of "social Darwinism" was an excellent battle strategy. The Republican Party is conceded and they want to keep the rich 1% of the population at 1 %. They want to keep the poor 99% at 99%; by proposing ideas which they market as beneficial to society but aren't such as the Budget Proposal, which according to Obama in article 2 " would bring draconian cuts to education, transportation, and the social safety net for seniors and the poor as the wealthy receive tax cuts." I think that by responding to the public in ways that reveal the true intensions of his opponents, Obama will gain the upper hand in the race.
ReplyDeleteWell like many of my classmates said : Obama has our[ working people ] interests at heart.
ReplyDeleteI feel that he has not been able to do such a good job because of the division in politics. Aside from that, despite what people do or don't like government plays a big part in all areas. I feel that they should regulate all areas of our lives. But not to the crazy extent of china. I mean if we don't have regualation then we don't have a country right ?
At this time in american politics , I'm kind of sitting back and watching , because all this is pretty confusing.
What caused president Obama talk out on the Republicns budget plan and why did he use the term "social drawnisim"?
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I feel so confused at what the government should control and what it should not. I mean who’s to say the government will manage something better than someone else - the government can become corrupt too! But, I feel like transportation, education, and health care should all be controlled by the federal government. I say this because I like uniformity and with each state having this law, and that state having that law, I have to say I don't really like it too much. To me, it seems disorganized and complicated. But then again, the federal government can't make ALL the rules or handle all the situations that relate to them... I think transportation should be controlled by the government (not of just the US but all transportation of the world) because I think it will be easier. Instead of having Jet Blue Airlines and Delta managed by corporations, why can't they just have one umbrella airline managed by the government? That way instead of paying corporations, we will pay the government! Let people keep their jobs and all that too! And, I also don't think employers should control health care. You should have health care whether you have a job or not. I think there should be like a medical branch of the government that controls health care. And I think that health care should be free to all (paid for by the government instead of war!). It’s our health not a luxury! But retirement, I think that should stick with your employer since they are who pay you and the government doesn't really affect your pay/when you retire. It depends what type of job you have and who you work for. Confusing…
ReplyDelete-Alyssa Mae