Question from class.

                John Locke’s philosophy is all about equality, equality all the way around.  John Locke believes that there shouldn’t be one appointed above another, but as he goes on in his document he contradicts himself.  He says that one can punish another if they have sinned, but wouldn’t the person doing the punishing be sinning as well? John Locke’s principle starts to become the eye for an eye principle. 

                The Declaration of Independence is what our nation lives by; we follow its exact principles.  John Locke’s ideas are similar in some aspects to our nation, but a lot of things are different.  Our nation is unequal, that’s nothing new, but our nation also fights for equality.  The Declaration of Independence doesn’t contradict itself; it continues with the same thought and doesn’t stray away from it.  I think this consistency is needed for a nation to survive, and that’s why I don’t think John Locke’s principles could be turned into a working nation.  

Rebound time!

“How Obama Can Bounce Back in 2014”

Albert R. Hunt

January 5, 2014

The New York Times

                2013 just ended and President Obama is starting his 5^th year in office.   His 4^th year in office wasn’t his greatest, but there wasn’t any “real scandal”, only a policy blunder.  Bet you can’t guess what it was? The health care rollout.  The health care rollout is the main thing people are talking about related to government and politics.  The heath care rollout has been paused and even gone through some technical difficulties, so what does this do to President Obama?

                President Obama’s public standing has plummeted, due to the health care rollout, and history suggests that President Obama’s rebound from a second-term will be difficult.  The article states 5 ways that President Obama can defy those odds. 

                One way he can rebound from this setback is to “open up the wagons”, meaning that he needs to make some changes, not to completely transform, but to just make some changes.  Transforming his entire image in ways is something that even the president cannot do.  In one of my other blogs, I talked about President Obama changing and replacing a lot of his personnel.  Over the past month, there have been three important additions to the White House ranks: Serving as counselor is John D. Podesta, a former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, who, other than Jim Baker in Ronald Reagan’s administration, was the most effective occupant of that position. Two others with considerable credibility are Phil Schiliro, as health care adviser, and Katie Beirne Fallon, who starts as congressional liaison.  The concern that is still high is that whether he will listen to them in a time of great need.

                Another way he can rebound is to mend health care.  This is the problem that has brought him down.  The goal of seven million enrollees by April 1 is beyond reach. There must, however, be a substantial number, of about five million, with a quarter of those young people to keep the support of the insurance industry and prevent an explosion in premiums.  The third way he can help his public standing is to “go on the offensive”.  This means that the best the House can do is neutralize the issue, and that’s exactly what needs to happen. 

                The 4^th way is called “beyond the water’s edge”.  A nuclear deal with the Iranians would be one such success.  Foreign policy achievements rarely elevate a second-term president’s popularity. Failure with Iran or a conflict in the South China Sea could undermine him further.  The last thing that could help President Obama is pure luck, and you already know what that is. 

                The economy will always be crucial and a tough thing.  “With the House controlled by Republicans, the president is devoid of realistic policy options to accelerate growth. But the psychology and perceptions may matter a lot.”  All in all, the odds still remain against President Obama for recovery, but there is always hope……..or luck.  

Modernizing

Slowly They Modernize: A Federal Agency That Still Uses Floppy Disks

Jada F. Smith

December 6, 2013

The New York Times

                Technology is one thing in our society that is always growing, always changing.  It’s best for society to change with the growing new technology.  Some people are happy with these changes; others are hesitant to change, such as the government.  The government is the one thing that we rely on for literally everything.  We rely on the government to protect us, serve us, and to keep everything in order.  Are there any consequences to the government not growing with society? Are there consequences to the government not updating their technology? 

                The article stated that the government’s technology problems with the HealthCare.gov website rollout may not been surprising to certain areas of the government, especially those who still use floppy disks, the cutting-edge technology of the 1980s.  Every day, the Federal Registrar uploads and updates the website with over 100 changes pertaining to executive orders, proclamations, proposed rule changes and other government notices that federal agencies are mandated to submit for public inspection.  However, the Federal Register employees who take in the information for publication from across the government still receive some of it on the 3.5-inch plastic storage squares that have become all but obsolete in the United States.  Why hasn’t the government changed over to flash drives or CD’s?

                “You’ve got this antiquated system that still works but is not nearly as efficient as it could be,” said Stan Soloway, chief executive of the Professional Services Council, which represents more than 370 government contractors. “Companies that work with the government, whether longstanding or newcomers, are all hamstrung by the same limitations.”  Floppy disks started out in the 1990’s and have become “ancient” in today’s time.  I don’t understand why the government doesn’t comply with updating their ways of formatting and mailing information to different agencies. 

                The secure email system, which uses software called Public Key Infrastructure technology, is expensive, and some government agencies have not yet upgraded to it. As a result, some agencies still scan documents on to a computer and save them on floppy disks.  The Federal Register’s director of legal affairs and policy, Amy P. Bunk, stated “that although many agencies did use the secure email system, The Federal Register could not require it until Congress made it compulsory by law.” 

                Other people are stating that some agencies have adapted to the new technology but that other agencies aren’t ready to adapt.  The truth is that they need to.  Floppy disks are “ancient” and some computers don’t accommodate them, to be honest.  Adapt and survive is what we do and what we should do.  

Shuffling the deck...... I mean the staff.

“Shuffling Staff, Obama Strives for a Recharge After a Tough Fifth Year”

Peter Baker

December 13, 2013

The New York Times

                Changes are a common occurrence.  Ways of living won’t always be the same as they were the day before or even the month before.  President Obama has been in office for 5 years, the 5^th year proving far more vexing than his 4^th.  Talks of changes were wondering around the White House for some time, and they have finally been revealed.  These changes have been regarding the personnel of the White House and to President Obama.

                The president has been seeking to recalibrate a White House operation that failed to win passage of most of his top legislative priorities for the year, struggled to preserve his public standing and bungled the rollout of his signature health care program.  The article states that a new  people and changes can sometimes “recharge” a program that was “stocked” with exhausted people, but the problem is is that nobody knows whether it’ll be a success or just and effort.   President Obama had opted against a dramatic announcement of the changes to new advisors.  

                “The latest came Friday, when he replaced his legislative director, Miguel Rodriguez, with Katie Beirne Fallon, an aide with ties to Senate Democratic leaders. That followed the recruitment of John D. Podesta, President Bill Clinton’s last chief of staff, and the return of Mr. Obama’s former adviser Phil Schiliro.”  Someone stated a metaphor to describe this situation as “needing fresh horses”.  “We’re in Year 5 of an administration,” said Jay Carney, the White House press secretary. “People come and people go after working harder in these jobs probably than they’ll ever work in their lives.”  “But,” he added, “I think those are specific on-off, if you will, assignments and personnel moves that I think reflect the normal kind of churn you see in White Houses over the years.”

                What do you think? Do you think that it was the right decision for Obama to replace some of his personnel? This decision could go good or could go bad.  It was go good in a sense that you would have “a fresh pair of eyes” on the situation, but it could go in a bad way in the sense that the people that have been working on the situation for years are being replaced by people who aren’t familiar with the situation.  I guess time will tell how this will work out, hopefully it will.  What do you think?