POLI 330 Poli-Sci Discussion Week 1

Greetings class,

The current political issue that I would like to discuss today is the debate surrounding gun control laws. Unfortunately, in recent years, there has been a significant increase in gun-related violence, particularly in school shootings, which has sparked discussions about the need for stricter gun control measures to prevent such tragedies. This is a sensitive and emotive issue, especially for the families who have lost loved ones to gun violence. The debate is polarized, with some arguing that the problem is not with the guns but with the people using them, while others believe that the ease of obtaining firearms is at the root of the problem. In any case, it is impossible to satisfy everyone with any decision that the government makes about gun control, and as a result, there will always be ongoing discussion about the issue. This is true of any political debate or change in laws – it is impossible to please everyone, but healthy debate is important. Without political debates, we would not be able to fully consider all aspects of a situation. Debates allow us to bring diverse perspectives and opinions together and to examine a problem from every angle.

Reference:

Roskin, M. G., Cord, R. L., Medeiros, J. A., Jones, W. S. (2014). Political Science: An Introduction. (13th ed.). New Jersey. Pearson. (p. 4)

Hello class,

Political science research is similar to other sciences in that it involves forming a hypothesis and then collecting and analyzing data to draw a conclusion. Political scientists conduct research to understand the behavior and interactions of people within government structures. However, the analysis of behaviors and interactions can be biased based on the researcher’s perspective, which is why it is crucial for researchers to provide proof and articles to support their findings and give their research credibility.

Reference:

Roskin, M. G., Cord, R. L., Medeiros, J. A., & Jones, W. S. (2014). Political Science: An Introduction (13th ed.). Pearson. (p.4)

POLI 330 Poli-Sci Discussion Week 1

Hello everyone,

Reflections remind me of looking into a mirror and seeing my own reflection. When I look at myself in the mirror, I see the person I have become, and I think about the friends, family, and religious beliefs that have shaped me. A reflection is a small representation of a larger story that includes the people and values that have guided me throughout my life. As we go through life, we face many challenges, and it can be scary to navigate the world on our own. As children, our parents provide guidance, and we learn from our faith. As young adults, we have our friends to share the journey with, and as adults, we continue to face new struggles, but we have our loved ones to support us. In response to the discussion prompt, I believe that the reflection represents myself, but the light source that creates the reflection represents the friends, family, and God who have been a guiding force in my life. Without their support and influence, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

Dear Professor and Class,

According to Roskin (2014), classical liberalism refers to a political philosophy that emphasizes individual liberty, equal rights, and a limited role for government. The proponents of this philosophy believed that the government should not interfere with people’s decisions and that decisions should be made in a fair and equal manner. Similarly, conservatism advocates for minimal government intervention, as people are comfortable with the current state of affairs and any changes should be implemented slowly to allow people time to adjust. These two philosophies share the idea of limited government involvement, as classical liberalism prefers individuals to make their own decisions, while conservatism advocates for minimal government intervention to maintain the status quo. However, modern liberalism is different from these two philosophies. It advocates for a fair and just society, where the government provides for the poor, so that they can live on the same level as those who are not poor. Modern liberalism aims to eliminate social and economic inequality by promoting social programs and policies that help disadvantaged groups. This is different from classical liberalism and conservatism, which prioritize individual liberty and limited government intervention over social welfare programs.

Reference:

Roskin, M. G., Cord, R. L., Medeiros, J. A., Jones, W. S. (2014). Political Science: An Introduction. (13th ed.). New Jersey. Pearson. (pp. 37-39)

Week 3

Hello Professor and Class,

The word democracy comes from the Greek city of Athens, where it is defined as “rule by the people” (Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2018). This definition emphasizes the citizens’ right to freedom and participation in decision-making. In our textbook, democracy is described as a complex system that requires thoughtful citizens, limits on power, rule of law, and protection of human and civil rights (Roskin, Cord, Medeiros, Jones, 2010, p. 96). I believe the Greek definition best defines democracy in simple terms because it highlights the people’s leadership in a democracy. Citizens vote on laws and elect officials, and they have the freedom to voice their opinions and protest against government actions they disagree with. According to our lesson, a unitary system is a form of government where state power is centralized within the central government, and little or no power is given to the local government (Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2018). This means there is a single central authority that delegates responsibilities down to regional authorities. One advantage of this system is that decisions can be made more efficiently as they are left up to one person. However, the disadvantage is that the decision-maker may not fully analyze all the pros and cons or understand different perspectives, leading to neglect and potential negative consequences. The federal system is a form of government where power is divided between the central and local governments, providing a balance of authority (Ruskin, 2014). For instance, in the United States, the national government and the state governments share authority. One benefit of this system is that state governments are better equipped to meet the needs of their citizens since they are smaller and can focus on local issues. However, a drawback of this system is that if a problem arises that a local government cannot handle on its own, the national government may be slow to respond due to higher-priority issues.

Week 4

POLI 330 Poli-Sci Discussion Week 1

Hello Class,

Interest groups are coalitions of individuals who come together to promote their shared interests and make their voices heard by the government. As our lesson notes, interest groups and political parties can help individuals to amplify their voices and demands (Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2018). However, these groups often prioritize their own interests over those of the general public. The government also creates certain interest groups, such as the National Governors Association, to influence policies and receive federal grants for projects within their states. Bureaucrats are responsible for implementing policies and carrying out the interests of these groups. Without their efforts, interest groups would not be as effective in achieving their goals. In terms of electoral systems, a single member district is a system in which one person represents the entire district. This system is commonly used to elect members of the House of Representatives and other state legislatures. In contrast, proportional representation (PR) systems use multi-member districts and allocate parliamentary seats proportionally to the percentage of votes each party receives. As our text explains, the PR system carries the risk of abuse of power, but it can also benefit smaller parties by enabling them to tackle specific issues (Roskin, Cord, Medeiros, Jones, 2010).

References:

Chamberlain College of Nursing. (2018). POLI330N Week 4: Interest Groups and Political

Parties [Online lesson] Downers Grove, IL: DeVry Education Group

Roskin, M. G., Cord, R. L., Medeiros, J. A., Jones, W. S. (2010). Political

science: an introduction. (11th ed.). New Jersey. Pearson.