11/17/14 Assignment

1.  What issue was addressed in the case?
Petitioners filed this action in Federal District Court for damages and injunctive and declaratory relief against respondent school officials, alleging that petitioners and other junior high students had been subjected to disciplinary corporal punishment in violation of their constitutional rights.

2.  Explain the basic facts of the case.
The Florida statute in effect authorized corporal punishment after the teacher had consulted with the principal, specifying that the punishment was not to be "degrading or unduly severe". A School Board regulation contained specific directions and limitations, authorizing punishment administered to a recalcitrant student's buttocks with a wooden paddle. The evidence showed the the paddling of petitioners was exceptionally harsh.

3.  How and why did the case progress through the courts?
The students lost in the trial court and at the Court of Appeals and then appealed to the Supreme Court.

4.  Why was the case heard by the Supreme Court?
Ingraham and another student brought suit alleging that Florida law allowing corporal punishment violated the Eighth Amendment, violated their due process rights, and sought damages in addition to declaratory and injunctive relief.

5.  What was the Court's decision in the case?
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court decided that public school students could be paddled without first receiving a hearing.

6.  How does this case impact the nation and its people?
Ingraham is one of a series of cases in which the Supreme Court has struggled to find the proper balance between the rights of individual students and the needs of school officials to maintain order to protect the rights of students as a group.

7.  What do you think about this case? (Do you think this is an important case?  Do you agree with the Court's decision?  Any other comments?)
I think that this case is one that isn't as important in the Supreme Court as many of the others that are addressed. I disagree with the decision that the Court made, believing that students should first receive a hearing before being paddled.

11/6/14 Bell Ringer & Assignment

1. I think that it's a big accomplishment for someone her age to beat her opponent who is older and has more experience.
2. I feel that her age will definitely hinder some of effectiveness in legislature due to the fact that people might not take her seriously because of her young age. Some people may agree that she is too young for the position and she may prove them wrong. It will also help her to make decision based on the younger generation because she can connect with the age group better than some of the other members may be able to.


     One topic that I would choose to address would be the issue of health care. In our country we need to have more affordable health care for everyone. In other countries around the world they have much better health care than us. There should be more options available for those who can't afford them. Also health departments should offer free health screenings to encourage more people to go to the hospital when they are sick. There are many people in our country that will avoid going to the hospital when they are sick simply for the fact that the cost is too high.
     For crime rate being at an all time high I would address the issue by proposing the solution of hiring more cops. Also video surveillance in more places may serve to deter criminals from committing crimes if they knew that they had a higher rate of getting caught. I would also propose to have better training schools for police officers so they can reach their full potential at keeping our towns safe.
     I believe that the cost of colleges in our nation are too high which dissuade many people from going to college for the fact that they don't want to be in debt for the rest of their lives. I believe in offering some basic college classes for free to  the people who are in need of them. In some countries they don't even have to pay a tuition to go to college. More scholarships and benefits should be offered to those who complete college.
     On the subject of taxes, I believe that the wealthy should be taxed more than the people who make minimum wage and barely get by. Taxes should be lowered for the working class who barely has enough money to scrape by. It's unfair to charge everyone the same amount of taxes when there are groups of people who make significantly more money than other groups.
     As for welfare reform, I believe that some changes should be made to the way the welfare program operates. I strongly believe that to qualify for welfare, a mandatory drug test should be held to assure that the people applying will actually use their money for the necessities to get by. Too many people abuse the power of welfare and use it as an easy way to get by. Many people are perfectly capable of going out and getting a job but are simply too lazy to make a change in their life.
     I believe that I fall in the category of being a democrat due to the fact that I am very liberal and support many of their beliefs. I have the same stance on many of the issues including taxation, military issues, gay marriage, abortion, health care, and government regulation. I support many of the same ideas as democrats.

11/5/14 Bell Ringer

1. For Barbour County, half of the people who won were democrats and the other half were republicans. Voter turn out was less than the previous years. More winners were republican than democratic overall. There were more male than female voters. It is important to vote so we can have a say in the people who run both our country and state. It is important to have elections so to determine the results of who the general population thinks should be running our state. 

2. The topics addressed included tax money, recreational activities, littering, improving education in schools, pets. I voted for the male candidate because he has many good ideas to improve the city. The candidate believes in more police control to keep the neighborhood safer and also a higher minimum wage. He also believes in starting a program to train homeless dogs so they could help the blind.

10/30/14 Assignment

     Alex Mooney and his wife live in Charles Town in Jefferson County with their two children. Listening to his parents’ inspiring stories, Alex knew from a young age that he wanted to spend his life fighting for the American ideals set forth by our previous founding fathers. As a state senator from 1999-2010, Alex consistently fought for conservative fiscal and social values, including lower taxes, less government spending, protecting our Second Amendment rights, pro-life legislation, job creation and caring for our seniors.
     As West Virginia’s congressman, Alex will fight to protect our values and make sure that our state continues to be a great place to raise a family. Alex believes that West Virginia is poised to be a leader in defending and promoting the all-American values of hard work, faith and freedom that have made our country great. With a proven record of fighting for conservative values, Alex ready to defend West Virginia from President Obama’s disastrous policies and encourage the job creation and prosperity West Virginia deserves.
     Nick Casey is a West Virginian attorney and accountant that has previously served as the former chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Congress. Nick Casey strongly supports the plan that we need a government that gets past the petty partisan infighting and gets back to work for the American people.On the topic of infrastructure, Nick Casey believes that we must prioritize spending through a budget, cut waste, find savings, and apply that money to badly needed infrastructure projects here at home. He states that he will create good jobs, revitalize our economy, and pave the way for a brighter future.
     Nick Casey says, "Energy gives us a tremendous opportunity to provide many more good-paying jobs and to keep our children in West Virginia...I will to work to make that happen." He hopes to create a plan that will use all of West Virginia's energy resources as cleanly and efficiently as possible. Having served as chair of a local hospital board, Nick Casey is already fully aware of the importance providing good, efficient healthcare. Congress needs to make sure veterans benefits are delivered on time without delays -that’s the bottom line.
    When trying to decide on who to vote for, I would have to choose Nick Casey. He has lived in the state of West Virginia and worked here for many years, unlike Alex Mooney. He has very strong beliefs and values that will help shape our state. Many of his ideas show his good intentions to better the state and help us to reach our full potential.

10/30/14 Bell Ringer

1. I believe that the death penalty should only be applied in extreme cases, but in this situation I believe that he should be sentenced to life in prison.
2. I believe that the court was correct to postpone the execution until it can be handled correctly in court.

10/29/14 Bell Ringer

Independent Journal Review and Policy Mic have pulled together 50 of the most ridiculous laws, one from each state. Many of these laws are absurd things that no one would think of doing in the first place. However, if you were to break one of these laws, chances are that punishment would not be enforced. Things such as in Maryland you can't spit on the sidewalk and in New Hampshire it's illegal to show a movie before 2 p.m. are not likely to be enforced.

10/28/14 Bell Ringer

1. They are seeking the death penalty because the captain of the ferry abandoned the passengers on the sinking ship, which led to the death of hundreds.

2. I don't think that he should be punished with the death penalty, because he didn't intentionally kill all those people. I believe that he should face time in prison for his reckless actions.

3. I believe that the death penalty should be allowed for cases that are bad enough. There are some crimes, such as purposely murdering hundreds of people, that should be punished by death. They shouldn't assign the death penalty to people who didn't do anything to deserve it. Sometimes a life sentence in jail would cause more suffering than a death penalty.

10/13/14 Bell Ringer

1. No, it doesn't surprise me. With using apps such as Snapchat, we risk other people seeing the things that we send.
2. I think that many people would like to believe that privacy exists when transmitting messages, but there's no way to know for sure how private the things we send actually are.

10/10/14 Bell Ringer

1. I agree that she should be able to make the decision of whether or not to end her life, because she is suffering much pain that will only continue to get worse.

2. Euthanasia is intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering, while suicide is killing yourself voluntarily.

3. I feel like it would be very hard to make this type of decision to intentionally end your life, knowing that it will affect everyone who is a part of your life. She is very brave for making this type of decision.

10/9/14 Bell Ringer

1. It makes it seem like in other economies some people can afford very high priced food.
2. Of course I would eat the burger, because I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to eat something that's sold for $1,768.

10/8/14 Bell Ringer

1. Yes, I am surprised that women still get treated so unfairly in today's society.
2. They should adress the issue in a responsible manner that will help to fix the problem.
3. They should have a law in order to stop sexual harrassment in the workplace.

10/6/14 Bell Ringer

1. The articles have titles that may seem interesting to the people who see them, but then when they click them, it will take them to something they didn't expect.
2. I think that Facebook needs to put an end to click-bait articles.

10/3/14 Bell Ringer

1. Occupancy Permits issued with applications and fees currently are legal –in many municipalities in Pennsylvania.
2. Cities such as Monroeville, Pennsylvania have had ordinances such as this one.
3. I don't think that this ordinance is necessary.

10/2/14 Bell Ringer

1. Ebola is rare and relatively difficult to transmit, it kills far fewer people than diseases of which Americans are no longer afraid, such as measles and influenza.

2. People in the U.S. should worry more about measles and influenza. Getting  vaccinated could help to prevent these diseases.

3. I am not concerned about the spread of Ebola in the United States.

10/1/14 Bell Ringer

1. No, I don't believe that he should have been penalized for saying a prayer because it is freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
2. This issue deals with the 1st amendment and freedom of religion.
3. I believe that they should allow an exception in the rules for saying a prayer so this situation doesn't happen again.

9/30/14 Bell Ringer

1. Advocates for victims of sexual assault supported the change as one that will provide consistency across campuses and challenge the notion that victims must have resisted assault to have valid complaints.
2. I feel as if it will make the charge of rape easier because it will be more convenient to press charges and have them followed through.

Amendments

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/state/amendment-2-voters-asked-to-bring-clarity-to-judicial-selection-process_00824294

After decades arguing among lawyers and politicians over the best way to choose Tennessee’s top judges, voters are being asked to resolve the issue once and for all this fall. The request to voters comes in the form of Amendment 2 on the Nov. 4 ballot. In essence, the Vote Yes on 2 campaign asks voters to officially accept the judicial selection system for 29 state appellate court judges that is already in place. The Vote Yes on 2 campaign is a well-financed and well-organized effort led by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam and his Democratic predecessor, Phil Bredesen. 


http://www.trussvilletribune.com/2014/09/22/the-importance-of-the-14th-amendment/

In legal circles the 14th Amendment is often cited as the amendment with the most profound effect on the rights of everyday citizens. The reason this is so important goes back to the 19th century. Prior to the passage of the 14th Amendment, the Bill of Rights was deemed to only apply to the federal government and not the states. Beginning in the 1920s, the Supreme Court began using this section of the 14th Amendment to apply the provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states through a process called “incorporation.”


http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/censorshipfirstamendmentissues/courtcases

Since Anita Whitney did not base her defense on the First Amendment, the Supreme Court, by a 7 to 2 decision, upheld her conviction of being found guilty under the California’s 1919 Criminal Syndicalism Act for allegedly helping to establish the Communist Labor Party, a group the state argued taught the violent overthrow of government.


http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2003/2003_02_628

In 1996, Linda Frew and other citizens settled a class-action lawsuit in federal district court against the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Settlement was reached through a consent agree, in which the parties make an agreement that is subject to court supervision. Texas argued that because no federal rights had been violated, suit could not be brought in federal court.

9/29/14 Bell Ringer

1. Tensions have escalated in Hong Kong since late August, when Beijing announced its highly restrictive framework for the 2017 election.
2. We have more freedom in the United States than they do.

9/26/14 Bell Ringer

1. It shows that the education in the state is very poor.
2. A majority of the people may not find a college education to be as important as it actually is.
3. Offer more scholarships and programs to help people who don't have the funds to go to college.

9/25/14 - Bell Ringer

1. In his annual address to the United Nations, Obama urged all countries and religions to reject the extremist ideologies that fuel bloodshed and threaten global stability.

2. I believe that Obama was fairly effective in pursuading the nations. He tried to persuade them as much as he could without offending anyone.

9/18/14 - Bell Ringer

ISIS' Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is the mysterious boss of the terror group that is striking fear into the hearts of leaders around the world. New data has revealed that ISIS is putting governing structures in place to rule the territories the group conquers once the dust settles on the battlefield. Baghdadi, his Cabinet advisers and his two key deputies comprise the executive branch of the government, known as "Al Imara." As time goes on, ISIS is evolving into a government whose political decision-making cannot be separated from its military capabilities, according to Opperman.

9/16/14 Bell Ringer

1.  I don't believe that whipping your kid with a tree branch or anything like that is a reasonable punishment. There are many other methods of punishment for your children without hurting or injuring them.

2. The views on discipline have changed as we have advanced in society. Paddling your children is a thing of the past. Although some parents still whip their children, it is not as common as it was 20 years ago.

Amendments 2-10

II - A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. interpretted to grant the right of gun ownership to individuals for purposes that include self-defense.

III - No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

IV - The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

V - No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

VI - In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

VII - In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

VIII - Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. most often mentioned in the context of the death penalty.

IX - The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

X - The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. helps define the concept of federalism

9/8/14 Bell Ringer

     Today, World War II veteran Fred Mayer relaxes at his home in Charles Town. Most people don’t know that Mayer fled Nazi Germany for New York City in 1938 to escape Adolf Hitler’s persecution of Jews. He volunteered to join the U.S. Army, then became a secret agent with the OSS, the precursor to the modern CIA. Mayer was caught by the dreaded Gestapo, beaten for days by Nazi thugs, and later released with the help of a sympathetic doctor. Mayer infiltrated the local army barracks, posing as a wounded German officer, and was able to find out important information from the Germans, including a detailed description of Hitler’s secret bunker complex in Berlin.

9/5/14 Bell Ringer

1. If the fake towers are listening to phone calls or reading texts from average citizens that is an invasion of privacy. If people are listening in, then they could find out personal information about citizens such as credit card numbers.

2. It could have been the U.S. military that put the towers up. They are probably connected to the military in some way.

3. The U.S. government could potentially be behind the towers, yet I feel like they have other means to tap into people's calls without having to put up these towers. No one really knows what purpose the towers serve though, except for the people who are behind it.

9/4/14 Bell Ringer

1. This will have a big impact on the people that live there because it could bring fighting and disagreements.
2. It is targeting Muslims and the people who live in India.
3. The United States should stay alert and monitor the situation as it progresses and not let their guard down.

9/2/14 Bell Ringer

1. No, I'm not surprised that something like this could happen with the hackers and technology that we have in society today. It would be very easy to find out a password if it is short and simple.

2. Yes, it's hard to tell who can see who you send to people nowadays. Most of the time people don't consider the fact that other people can see the pictures they send.

3. I believe the people who hacked their iClouds should be prosecuted because it is a complete invasion of privacy. It would be hard to track it back to the person who actually did it. Whoever it was who hacked their accounts, was probably very careful and took precautions so they wouldn't get caught.

8/29/14 Bell Ringer

1. I feel like the shooting range is at fault for the accident for allowing the nine year old girl to shoot the gun.
2. I believe that nine years old is too young to be shooting a gun. The age requirement definitely needs to be raised.
3. Automatic weapons don't belong in the hands of children. Adults should have the choice of whether the want to use them or not.

8/28/14 Bell Ringer

Article 1 of the Constitution defines the Legislative Branch, it's powers, members, and workings.

Article 2 defines the Executive Branch, it's powers, duties, and means of removal.

Article 3 sets up the Judicial Branch and defines treason.

Article 4  regulates the states' powers, and their interaction with the National government.

Article 5 sets up the amendment process.

Article 6 sets the status of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, to which leaders must be loyal.

Article 7 addresses ratification and declares that the constitution should take affect if 9 out of 13 states ratify.

8/27/14 Bell Ringer

     Students at North Carolina State University have created a new kind of nail polish that doubles as a way to prevent sexual assault. The nail polish changes color when the person wearing it is exposed to date rape drugs.The person who is wearing the nail polish simply has to  use their finger to stir their drink and the nail polish will change colors if the drink has a date rape drug in it. In 2012 it was reported that 55% of about 1,570 colleges and universities with more than 1,000 students recieved at least one report of forcible sex offense on the campus. Undercover Colors, which was started by four males students, is raising money to refine the prototype and to pay executives. I don't see many drawbacks to the solution, other than the possibility that the nail polish may not work 100% of the time. After they finish testing the nail polish and perfecting it, I feel like it will be very effective.

8/26/14 Bell Ringer

 U.S. surveillance flights over Syria have begun and will provide information on potential targets for strikes in Syria if Obama approves. The president has not yet decided which steps to take. Dempsey said that the United States now has a better view of the militants in Iraq, where the U.S. military is flying more than 50 surveillance and reconnaissance missions per day. In Iraq, the U.S. military is coordinating with Iraqi forces in carrying out airstrikes against the militants.

8/25/14 Bell Ringer

     Residents in Napa, California were awoken at 3:20 A.M. on Sunday by the magnitude-6.0 earthquake, the worst temblor to shake the Bay Area in 25 years. Three people were in critical condititon and 172 were treated for injuries at a hospital. Most of the damage was restricted to the older central downtown area and about 15 buildings were damaged too severly to allow people inside. Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency due to the damage in the Napa area. According to Pacific Gas & Electric in Napa, 20,786 homes and businesses lost power. The USGS predicted that the quake is likely to produce 30 to 70 small aftershocks of magnitude 3 to 5 within the next week.
     All earthquakes in California are caused by motion between two tectonic plates - the North American plate and the Pacific plate. Some early reports suggest that the quake was perhaps provoked by the Franklin Fault, a crack in the Earth that was thought to be dormant for 1.6 million years. However, it can take scientists some time to identify the particular type of fault-line activity behind a specific earthquake, such as this one.

8/22/14 - Biggest Issues in the U.S.

     Today the United States faces many problems that we need to overcome, such as unemployment rates, government debt, and health care issues. Unemployment rates has always been a problem that we face, because there simply aren't enough jobs to fit all the people who live in the country and the many others that will migrate here. The government debt will continue to rise as the country continues to spend more money. Affordable health care is a big issue in our country compared to others. There are multiple other issues in our country today, but I believe these are some of the most important.
     In July 2014 job growth slowed and the unemployment rates unexpectedly increased to 6.2 percent as more people entered the labor market. There are many people in society who want to work but have given up searching and those working part-time because they cannot find full-time employment. Also, the ranks of the long-term unemployed continued to grow and the length of time Americans are spending unemployed rose after reaching its lowest point in more than five years in June. There are many approaches the U.S. could take to reduce their unemployment rates. Faster economic growth could be viewed as a means of generating more jobs for the unemployed.
     Another big issue that we face is the U.S. government debt. America looks like a rich nation, but our overall debt tells a different story. At the end of 2014, the total government debt in the United States, including federal, state, and local, is expected to be $21 trillion. During the past decade and a half, the U.S. national debt has grown at four times the rate of its national economy. There is no easy solution to getting out of debt, but a few possible changes with things such as efficiency, financial stability, and real spending cuts could improve the economy.
     For many Americans, the cost of health care has been an obstacle to receiving needed treatment and valuable preventive services. There are many people who can't afford health insurance so they will often avoid going to the doctor when they are ill. Compared to other countries, the United States falls behind on quality, efficiency, and health outcomes. As a solution, the Affordable Care Act has been set into motion, providing health insurance to some of the 50 million people who lacked it. Studies show that due to how bad our health care is, it will take more than better access and equity to resolve them.
     There are many major problems in America that don't have easy solutions and will be around forever. With the right leadership and persistence, there are different steps that can be taken to make the country a better place for everyone. It won't be a simple process and will take several years, but I believe that it can be done. A country's economic issues reflect the distribution of intellectual and material resources in its society. No country is perfect and each faces their own set of problems.

8/20/14 Bell Ringer

1. Large U.S. companies, such as Mylan, want to invert to other countries so their taxes won't be as much. Most other countries operate on a territorial system, where the companies operating abroad are only on the hook for the host nation's tax bill. American companies are finding loopholes to shift earnings to low-tax jurisdictions. Inverting makes it easier for companies to make money.
2. Taxes are the charges that the government levies on individuals and companies living and working within its boundaries. The government uses these taxes to finance the expenses, encourage and discourage behaviors, and redistribute wealth.
3. I think that the wealthy people should have to pay more taxes compared to the working, lower class people who struggle to get by with the money they make.

8/19/14 Bell Ringer

1. revealing the name of the cop who shot Michael Brown and the local police using t hings such as tear gas to disperse the protesters
2. excessive force is the use of force that is greater than what is reasonable. the cop could have easily handled the situation in other ways instead of shooting him.
3. one thing that could be done to help restore order in Ferguson would be to arrest the cop who shot Michael Brown to show everyone that he's not going to get away with what he did.

8/18/14

Dear future me,

My goals for this year include finally getting my license, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and getting a job somewhere. Five years from now I hope to be living in my own apartment and have a steady job. In ten years I would like to be graduated from college and have the job that I have studied for.