SUMMER PROJECT: Money and Health Care

This post applies more to AP Government than AP World History, but anybody in either class can respond to it.

As if the health care reform issue weren't complicated enough for the average American, consider the role special interest groups play in framing the national debate. This situation is not unique; special interest groups are a serious force to be reckoned with in the American political system.

Click here to read an article that does an excellent job describing why the various special interest groups care so much about this issue and what they're doing to ensure their groups' concerns are protected in any health care reform legislation. Then respond to one or more of the following questions:

Why DO the special interest groups described care so much about this issue that they're willing to spend huge sums of money to impact health care reform legislation?

In your opinion, are the activities of special interest groups such as those described in this article a more positive or negative force in American politics? Explain why.

As a citizen, why might it be important to know what groups are sponsoring some of the ads on health care reform?

What does Mary Matalin mean when she says in the article, "They're stakeholders when they're with you, and they're interest groups when they're against you"?

SUMMER PROJECT: Is America Ready for Women in Combat?

OK, Rex Truax, this one's for you: you wanted controversial issues, you got it.

Historically, women were not permitted to serve in combat roles in the U.S. military. However, that seems to be changing with our experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Click here to read a New York Times article about this issue; then respond in writing to one or more of the following questions:

Why do you think women in the U.S. have not been allowed to serve in combat roles? What has changed, if anything, that makes a change in this policy possible?

In your opinion, should women be permitted to serve in combat roles? Be sure to explain WHY or WHY NOT.

Should American public opinion play a role in determining whether women should serve in combat roles? (The article will tell you how Americans do feel about this issue.)

If the draft were ever reinstated in our country, should women be drafted, just as men are? Why or why not?

SUMMER PROJECT: Media Censorship in Venezuela? Or More Democracy?

The Venezuelan government has shut down the operations of 34 radio stations, many of which have been critical of President Hugo Chavez and his policies. The government says closing these stations will create a stronger democracy in Venezuela, because about a third of Venezuelan radio stations are owned by 27 families.

Click here to read an article about the radio station closings, and then respond to one or more of the following prompts:

How important is a free press to democracy? How could closing media outlets pose a threat to democracy in Venezuela? Do you agree with the Venezuelan government that closing some radio stations will strengthen democracy there?

How do you think international scrutiny of the radio station closings will affect this situation, if at all?

Do you think this type of situation could occur in the U.S.? Why or why not?

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, spin control is "the act or practice of attempting to manipulate the way an event is interpreted by others". Is spin control taking place in this situation? If so, who are the spin doctors (those who practice the art of spinning)? Does our own point of view affect our answer to this question? How so?

SUMMER PROJECT: Online Grassroots Politics: "Take Back the Beep!" Campaign

Don't you hate that 15 seconds of useless airtime when you call someone and want to leave them a voicemail? Did you know the cell phone companies are making MILLIONS of $$$ from us consumers for those collective 15 seconds? Why not just have a beep? We KNOW what to do!

David Pogue, tech blogger and columnist, wrote an article in the NY Times recently that started the "Take Back the Beep!" campaign in which millions of annoyed cell phone users are writing to their cell phone carriers to get rid of that dead 15 seconds we're paying for.

Want to get into the act? Here's a link to a website that provides the email addresses for all the major cell phone carriers so you can express your opinion.

If you twitter and you're interested in technology, you might want to start following David Pogue @Pogue, where you'll be able to get updates on how the campaign is going.

As an avid observer of politics and social networking technology, I can't wait to see if it works! Join the cause if you're interested, and/or respond to one or more of the following prompts:

In what ways do cyber campaigns like this one alter politics and policy making in America?

Do you think online grassroots campaigns like this one are positive or negative forces in American politics? Explain why.

Predict how and why the major cell phone carriers will respond to this campaign.

SUMMER PROJECT: Should/can judges be above politics?

Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee began its hearings to determine whether to confirm President Obama's first nominee, federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor, to be a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. By the time some of you read this post, Judge Sotomayor may already have been confirmed -- or rejected -- by the Senate.

Click here to read the article about the first day of the confirmation hearings, and then address one or more of the following prompts:

How do these hearings provide an example of the Constitutional concept of checks and balances?

If confirmed, Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic American and only the third woman to ever serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Do you think diversity on the nation's highest court is important? Why or why not?

Some Senators are concerned about comments made by Judge Sotomayor in a 2002 speech when she said that, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life." What do you think she meant by this? Do you share these senators concerns? Why or why not?

All federal judges are first nominated by the President and then confirmed by the Senate. Knowing that, do you think there is any way for them to be "above politics"? Why or why not? Should they be?

SUMMER PROJECT: Can $25 Help Change the World?

The article posted here is actually several years old, but still applicable. It's about an online organization called Kiva that allows people around the world to loan small amounts of money (as little as $25!) to other people in developing nations who are trying to start businesses to improve the economic viability of their lives, their communities and their nations. Click here for a link to the article.

One reason I am posting this article is that my husband Glen and I have become involved with Kiva and have been making loans to some of these entrepreneurs (look it up if you don't know what that means!) in other countries, but we want to have my students decide where to loan that money in the coming year. To do this, you need to become familiar with Kiva so please check out the Kiva website and explore its features.

A related reason I'm posting this article is that I think students learn more when they do more than just read about what's going on in the world. Our Kiva class project will allow you to become actively engaged in what's going on in the developing world by having an economic impact on the lives of those to whom we lend. Maybe it's just a few lives that are being impacted, but when you add up all the loans being made by individuals around the world through Kiva, the potential for change is immense.

Once you've read the article and checked out Kiva's website, respond to one or more of the following questions:

Should we as people of the richest nation in the world lead the way in helping developing nations, simply because it's the right thing to do (moral idealism)? Or should we do it because we might get something in return (political realism)? What benefits might result from assisting developing nations?

Does Kiva refute the argument that technology isolates people? Why or why not?

Are you surprised that virtually everybody who receives a loan from Kiva pays it back? If so, why are you surprised? If not, why not? Are your personal biases about developing nations reflected in your response? What is your image of the typical loan recipient?

Why do you think Kiva has taken off the way it has?

SUMMER PROJECT: And you thought Facebook was just for fun...

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm pretty addicted to Facebook and Twitter. I love finding out what friends and family are up to and what they're thinking about. But social networking isn't just for socializing; it can be used for business, educational and even political purposes. In Iran, for example, where the results of the recent presidential election have resulted in massive demonstrations and political upheaval, the government has shut down access to events in the country to members of the foreign media. Find out how individuals in Iran are getting information out to the rest of the world, including the U.S., by clicking here. Then respond to one or more of the following prompts:

Why is it so important that "technology is able to play its sorely needed role in the crisis"?

Who might try to shut down access to social networking sites by Iranians? Why?

Why do you think the U.S. is trying to stay out of the election outcome dispute in Iran?

Can you think of other ways that social networking could be used politically in the U.S. or any other country? Please describe.