Liberty
- Liberty as a value contrasts with equality. Since complete liberty leads to inequality, with some security measures in place, liberty can be compromised. Thus conflict arises as to what extent the value of security should be upheld. As the desire to uphold the value of safety and property stands, fairness can be challenged since poor people would have streets to congregate in and this may seem dangerous to individuals who may call the police when they feel their safety is threatened. In such cases, the government can help through creating a balance between these values to ensure that one is not exploited at the expense of others. For example, through increasing taxation as profits increase for businesses in a reasonable manner, the government can promote equity. Another example of government intervention is through provision of centers for congregation like community centers where all people can interact and share ideas.
- Relative to the constitution which stipulates the laws governing America, the declaration of Independence states that the people have the authority to rule and not the kings. It also states that all people have a right to life and are created equal, with rights to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Declaration of Independence is significant since it also contains the ideals and goals of the nation. This document contained the arguments that the colonists used against the British king as they explained why they wanted their freedom from his rule. The Declaration of Independence shows that the American citizens are free from control or influence by others. This means that they get to exercise patriotism through participating in elections as they express their opinions on who they would want to represent them. Today, those values still hold and they represent the same spirit which the colonists had when they formed it, that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
- Categorical grants are funds given by the federal government to state and local governments used for specific purpose. Block grants are those that are given by the federal government to the state or local government for any purpose decided by the particular local or state government. The impacts of federal mandates vary from state to state. However ever in a general sense, the short term impacts of implementation are significant costs and challenges on the local leaders for example, financial constraints and construction delays. Long term impacts are beneficial since the state governments will develop a stronger system of functionality through increased self-sufficiency. Categorical grants which are specific and can only be used for a specific purpose. This will in turn influence the implementation of particular policies like health agenda directed by the federal government. Block grants on the other hand, aid in influencing particular policies stemmed from the state governments.
- The practice of prohibiting convicted felons from voting should not be continued. These individuals, are indeed serving their sentence but are still citizens of the country. This means that the leadership of the country will affect them, whether directly or indirectly. Some of these individuals also have families living in the country and the leadership of the country will affect their families as well. It is therefore important that they should be included as part of the decision makers when it comes to voting. Considering America to be a country that propels equality, it is important that this is portrayed in giving these individuals a right to vote. However, my opinion is that measures should be put in order to control this freedom. For example, individuals who committed crimes against the state and have been ruled as enemies of the state should not be granted this right until some necessary assessments are done to examine motives.
- In contrast to previous campaigns, campaigns in the twenty-first century are different. In this century, individuals can be reached over a shorter period of time due to the unlimited availability of the internet. The Midlothian campaign was the first modern campaign where it was a series of speeches. But in the twenty-first century, it has been more than just speeches. The candidates have been involved in debates which are live broadcasts and stakeholders are given an opportunity to ask them questions. The twenty-first century has seen candidates calling people to log in to their websites for updates. It has also seen candidates calling people to online fundraising events.