Census 2010: Congressional Reapportionment

Look at some of the analysis of the recently released 2010 census data.  It appears that much of the population shift can be attributed to migration to the South and West.  Here you can find some of the most notable changes and this graphic illustrates the population shifts and the political changes this causes.

Using your knowledge of redistricting and gerrymandering, explain how the population shifts benefit Republicans.  What do the midterm elections have to do with this?  Do you think the changes are fair?  What effects do you think this will lead to nationally or locally?

Extending the Bush-era Tax Cuts

The lame duck Congress recently voted to extend the so-called "Bush-era tax cuts."  The extension is the product of a compromise made through negotiations between President Obama (while not actually a congressional voter, he is the leader of the Democratic party, so Democrats follow his lead) and Republican leadership in the Senate.  Click here for an illustrated representation of the deal and the failed alternatives.

Understanding these tax cuts are far more critical than simply knowing how much your family owes the government.  Taxes represent one of the most fundamental and significant differences between our two major parties.  To simplify, Democrats want progressive taxes that tax the rich at higher rates so that the government can provide necessary services while the Republicans believe in a more standardized, or "flat" tax structure that taxes similarly across incomes, so that the rich might stimulate the economy.  Underlying this divide is a philosophical division: Democrats believe the government spends tax money most fairly and appropriately, while Republicans believe this money is spent best by the earners.

Where do you fall in regard to these divisions?  What do you think is more important: tax breaks for everyone?  Tax breaks for the middle and lower classes only? 

The ideological division remains when we move to the topic of reducing the deficit.  To reduce the deficit, do you think it is better to reduce spending or increase revenue?  You balance the budget and decide which you favor.  After you have balanced the budget on the interactive website, report back to classmates sharing whether you preferred cutting spending or increasing revenues and why.

Should Photo ID be Required to Vote in WI?

Wisconsin's new state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has announced that next year, after the Republicans elected Nov. 2 take control, the first order of business will be requiring photo id at the polling place.

Remember how this issue connects to ideology - Democrats tend to favor less restrictions in voting on the grounds that it reduces democracy and Republicans tend to favor more restriction on grounds of reducing fraud.  You be the judge.

To better understand how this issue connects voting and ideology, you can listen to a radio debate on the topic on WPR's Joy Cardin show.

Do your research: this blog post discusses the viewpoints of Barrett (D) and Walker (Governor-elect - R) on photo IDs at the polls.   This editorial explains the proponent argument and this blog post and this blog post take the opposing viewpoint.

Would this really disenfranchise voters?  Who would be most affected?  Do you think fraud is an issue in Wisconsin?  Is this a solution without a problem or a needed change?  How does this issue reflect the larger ideological battles regarding voting in America?

Political Participation and Technology

First, listen to the predictions of Matt Bai, a New York Times journalist on how technology will impact voting and political participation.



Do you agree with him? What predictions would you add?  Bai mentions voting online, but what other forms of political participation will technology influence or completely change?  How will communication between citizens and leaders change?  How do you think social networking plays a role in political participation?

Citizens United v. FEC and the Midterms

When we looked at the recent (2010) decision handed down from the Roberts Supreme Court, we were essentially looking at the Constitution and asking "who is a person?"  This decision holds that corporations and political organizations are "people" according to our founding document and therefore have freedom of speech, including "speaking" with their money.



What are you thoughts on this recent shift our political system.  What do you see are the pros and cons of the Citizens United impact.  Do you see an impact in the midterms races?  Do you think it will change any election outcomes?  For better or worse?

[Note: As I find new material for blog posts, it will be added.  It does not change your minimum expectation of 1 educated comment per week, but instead offers you options.  Feel free to comment more and please keep the conversation going.]

Midterm Elections 2010

In case you weren't following, this video provides a basic (and very rapid) overview of significant events influencing the upcoming election.



To understand the big picture of the upcoming congressional elections, it helps to look at maps showing several polls simultaneously, such as this one from CBS News or this one from the New York Times.

Check out the polls, especially in Wisconsin and the "toss up" states.  Next week we can see just how much the media and the electorate knew about the elections before voting ever took place.

An Anti-Politician Politician?

We've discussed this campaign ad in class briefly.  How do you think it relates to polls?  How does this ad reflect the widely reported anti-incumbent mood in the United States this election season?   Could it be that political polling actually increased this sentiment over the past few months?  Make connections between this campaign in which anti-incumbent Ron Johnson has a lead over Russ Feingold or other national campaigns across the country.  How do you see polls reflecting American opinion, and where you view polls influencing public opinion?

Snyder v. Phelps

Snyder v. Phelps (2010)



Watch this discussion of the current SCOTUS case, Snyder v. Phelps on the PBS News Hour.
Oyez.org - Snyder v. Phelps
SCOTUSblog - Snyder v. Phelps main page and Argument Preview (class handout)

While the case may divide American emotionally over the issue of homosexuality, the case being decided is a more fundamental question of free speech vs. privacy.  Remember, basic constitutional civil liberties can often conflict.

What do you think are the best arguments for each side?  How does the precedent on privacy set by Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) connect to this case?  What about cases protecting free speech, such as Hustler v. Falwell (1988)? What do you think the outcome will be?  Discuss connections to class and other thoughts you have on the case.