Oil Prices & Middle East Events (Please respond by Friday, March 4)

It is important for all of us to be aware of the rising prices of oil here in the United States and the connection it has to all of the events occurring in the Middle East over the past several weeks. Please watch this brief two minute video from CBS about rising oil prices:

Libya turmoil and oil prices

Here is an article with more information for your reading:

Oil Price Spike

Thoughts? reactions? What do you think will be the end result from this entire situation?

Model of Presidential Leadership (Please respond by Friday, Feb 25)

Every new president is given a multitude of advice regarding how to perform as a president. In addition, many media outlets enjoy comparing him to past presidents in a variety of measures from policy to mannerisms. Yet, what often lacks is the description of what the ideal president is or how the model president should act.

Every president is asked to take on a multitude of roles and thus fill many different shoes. Therefore, the ideal president must meet many different criteria.

If you were to give an incoming president five characteristics he or she must possess in their new role, what would they be?

Crisis in Egypt (Please respond by Friday, February 18)

As the historical situation in Egypt continues to unfold before our very eyes, opinions on this issue in the United States continue to evolve.  The latest announcement by President Mubarak that he will cede power to his hand-picked vice president has caused an uproar amongst some of the citizens of Egypt. What is your opinion on this? What role do you believe the United States should play in this international crisis? Should this be a cause for concern in future relations in the Middle East? Please read this article published in The Washington Post on Friday, February 11, 2011.

Demonstrations Across Egypt

Health Care and Federalism (Please respond by Friday, February 11)

Health Care and Federalism (Please respond by Friday, February 11)

"[The Congress shall have Power] To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes;"
~Article I, Section 8, Line 3 of the U.S. Constitution

In 2010, the United States Congress passed landmark health care reform. Among the law's intentions is the closing of the "uninsured gap" that sees nearly 50 million Americans living without health insurance.

From the outset, this legislation has been controversial - not a single Republican voted for the law that President Obama signed in late March. Democrats have pushed for some version of national health insurance since the presidency of Harry Truman, and in recent decades, Republicans have stood staunchly against most attempts at reforming the national health care system.

What mostly divides the parties on the health care issue is a question of federalism: does the Constitution provide the power to Congress to regulate the health care industry?

More than 20 states (most with Republican governors or attorneys general) have joined various lawsuits against the new law. These suits take aim at the so-called individual mandate, a requirement that all Americans buy health insurance or pay a fee. Critics of the mandate claim the national government does not have the power to require individuals to purchase health coverage.

In the months since the suits were filed, judges in federal courts have ruled for both sides, likely foreshadowing an eventual decision by the Supreme Court.

This week, Judge Roger Vinson of Federal District Court in Pensacola, Fla., concluded that "It would be a radical departure from existing case law to hold that Congress can regulate inactivity under the Commerce Clause.” The plaintiffs that brought the case claim the mandate is an unprecedented effort to regulate inactivity because citizens would be fined for NOT participating in commerce (purchasing health insurance).

Whether Congress has the power under the commerce clause to require citizens to purchase health insurance will likely remain an issue for debate until the Supreme Court decides.

Please respond to the question posed above and share your opinions. Feel free to comment on others thoughts as well.