Limited Government :: Persuasive, The Constitution

In the previous week I agreed with the philosophy of originalism and felt that the Founding Fathers had created a timeless framework for our government in the Constitution. They certainly did not expect the â€Å"modern government† we have now to get past their carefully worded Constitution. I do believe they thought they had protected us and were right in their mistrust of the government and the loss of individual freedom which comes with its growth. The Founders aim in the Constitution was to declare their reasons for independence and show the choice of government they chose over the large unresponsive English Government (Pilon, Page 259). Pilon further explains the only reason to have government is to keep the rights it is bound to protect. Our right to individual â€Å"pursuit of happiness† is perhaps our own idea of utopia. Kristol (Page 299) suggests this crisis of modernity â€Å"will require new ideas – or new versions of old ideas†, We are guaranteed this right of individual pursuit in the Declaration of Independence - as long as our pursuit does not harm or obstruct another’s pursuit. David Boaz (American Vision and Values, Page 86) expressed clearly, â€Å"the Americans sought to devise a constitution that would limit the government†¦..to make it clear that the Constitution was not a general grant of power to the government†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . I believe Ronald Reagan spoke for us all in his Message to Washington, February 20, 2009 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAwAY0LH9hg&feature=related) â€Å"Our Constitution is a document in which we the people tell the government what it is allowed to do. We the people are free.† Government seemed to maintain a path consistent with the Constitution until the period 1890s to 1920s – known as the Progressive Era. This era happened to be about the same time as Roosevelt’s New Deal, but it is not directly related. The creation of a â€Å"fourth branch† of government seemed to appear with the Administrative Branch. The bureaucracy did not really create another branch of government, but did implement agencies which were to oversee legislation and â€Å"empowered it with broad governing authority† (Pestritto, Page 203). Machiavelli (The Prince, Page 229) speaks at length using the term â€Å"Prince† to explain how to acquire and maintain political power, â€Å"Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them.

Is Junk Food Really Cheaper Essay

Junk food is just to provide some of the heat to people’s body, there is no other food nutrients, or to provide more than the body needs, become superfluous ingredients. Including frozen desserts, biscuits, ham, and canned. Sometime, I was thinking why people like to eat junk food. Many people like eating junk food, because they think it is not only so delicious, but also cheap. Tardily, eating junk food becomes a culture, and it also is a very important problem at this era. Like Mark Bittman said people eat a lot of junk food which had obesity. Thus, the nutrition in people’s body cannot balance. Actually, I agree with Bittman that junk food is not cheaper than real food and cooking should be a culture, but eating junk food is still a culture, and eating right amount of junk food is feasible. Although junk food is not health and cheap, like Bittman said, but I think junk food also is very convenient and appetitive. Since the fast food by the people’s â€Å"favo rite†, it certainly has its benefits; otherwise it cannot become a mainstream food culture. First, when people feel hungry, and they do not have time to cook, when you order at the general restaurant, teahouse, people usually need to wait for some time to have a food supply. Thus, it is not easy to satisfy people. Second, junk food usually uses the high cooking method which has the good color, flavor and taste, such as frying and high concentration of ingredients; those can stimulate people’s appetite. People who is weekday rush and poor appetite is very suitable to eat junk food. Many parents are worried about their children eating problem that most children don’t like eating real food. Eating junk food is a way to solve this problem. Same as â€Å"IS JUNK FOOD REALLY CHEAPER?† said, cooking is very good way, it is very health and cheap. Like Bittman said â€Å"the fact is that most people can afford real food†, people can buy some food to cook no matter how poor. And buying food is more convenient than before, such as â€Å" IS JUNK FOOD REALLY CHEAPER† this article said â€Å"the Department of Agriculture says that more than two million Americans in low-income rural areas live 10 miles or more from a supermarket, an d more than five million households without access to cars live more than a half mile from a supermarket.† Before I go grocery shopping with my mother, we bought a dozen vegetables, it took less than 50RMB. Cooking is not only cheap but also very health. Every day we do the different kind of dishes, so daily nutrition is also different. And it do not have many unhealthy ingredients inside. Therefore, people’s nutrition can be balanced if people are cooking every day. Cooking being a culture is very important, people should use more times to cook and enjoy cooking. Eating junk food already becomes a culture, and cooking might become a culture too, especially cooking is cheaper and healthier than eating junk food. People should cultivate the good habit which is cooking every day. Like Bittman said that cooking shouldn’t is defined as work, and fast food shouldn’t is both a pleasure and a crutch. Cooking should be a very happy thing. When you finish cooking a delicious dish, do not you think this is a great sense of accomplishment? Cooking like a game, Enjoy the process and the result is a very pleasant thing. Enjoy cooking is the main paint of how cooking becomes a culture. In a work, people should use more times to enjoy cooking, and you will fell in love with cooking. In short, Bittman has a very good idea which is cooking is better than eating junk food; nevertheless, I think eating junk food also is good at the one side. Whatever people eat junk food or not, people should have a good eating habit. In my opinion, the reason why he wrote â€Å"IS JUNK FOOD REALLY CHEAPER† this article, because he want people to care about their own body. I hope cooking could be a culture; it is help people’s body.

Transportation in the Philippines

About 14 percent of the 158,810 km (98,110 mi) of roads in the Philippines are paved, this is in spite of the difficult mountainous terrain. In Metro Manila, there are many modes of transportation available. Buses, jeepneys, LRT, and taxis are readily available for use in getting around the city. Buses are available with air-conditioning or without. The price for riding in air-conditioning is about double what you would pay for riding without and use certain main routes. There are also charter bus lines available for those wanting to travel outside Manila. The most popular mode of transportation in Manila is the jeepney. As the name implies, it is basically a colorful jeep that looks like those used by the Americans during World War II. They have regular stops, as do buses, but will also stop if they are flagged down. Taxis are air-conditioned and can be found practically anywhere in Manila. On occasion a driver will say his meter is broken, if so, traveler beware! It is time to get out and find another taxi, as you will probably get overcharged by this scam. If a person traveling to the Philippines wishes to travel by car, but not in a taxi, they can rent a car, but need to have a valid international drivers license. For travelers staying in deluxe hotels, many offer limousine services. The LRT (Light Rail Transit) is the best way to get downtown and get around in Manila. It's relatively inexpensive and is very fast. In addition, the PRN (Philippine National Railways), which run by the state, is also an option for those traveling out of Manila. Railroad tracks cover about 1,060 km (660 mi) of the Philippines, and is limited due to its being mainly on Luzon. An option for traveling between the islands is to use ferries. For travelers not wishing to be on water, airline travel is another option since there are over 40 major provincial airports. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is just a kilometer from the Manila Domestic Airport and is about 7 miles from the center of Manila. NAIA also has many amenities from a medical clinic to banks and postal service in addition to duty-free shops, souvenir shops, tourist information centers and more. The airport in Cebu, Mactan International Airport (MIA), is about 45 minutes from the city's center and has duty-free shops, tourist information centers like the major airports in Manila. Roughly a fourth of the airports in the Philippines have paved runways – out of 262 airports, 75 runways are paved. PAL, the Philippines Airlines, is the national air carrier and serves Manila with links to 12 cities in 7 countries. It also has daily routes to 17 local cities. Major airlines from other countries also serve Manila. In addition, Cebu has chartered flights from Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. For chartered travel to smaller locations, there are several carriers available – Cebu Pacific, Asian Spirits, Mindanao Express Airlines, and SEAir, Incorporated. Cruise ships are served by Manila, with inter-island ships connecting Manila to other major island ports. The busiest seaports are Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga which are a part of the 3,219 km of waterways and seaports.

The Obama Administrations Animal Protection Record

The Obama Administrations Animal Protection Record Expectations were high during President Barack Obama’s election campaign, and for good reason. Obama and VP Joe Biden both had great records on animal protection issues heading into the election, and won the endorsement of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. Also before the election, Obama participated in Jana Kohls book against puppy mills, A Rare Breed of Love, and promised to adopt a rescue dog. One pre-election disappointment was Obamas statement that a hunter should head the Department of the Interior. Despite pleas from animal advocates, Obama appointed a hunter, Senator Ken Salazar, as Secretary of the Interior. However, Obama also appointed Tom Vilsack, recommended by the Humane Society Legisative Fund, as Secretary of Agriculture. Fast-forward to the present, and Obamas actions since taking office have been a mixed bag: January, 2009: Obama Suspends Delisting of Grey WolvesOn his first day in office, Obama put a freeze on a number of federal regulations adopted by the Bush administration in its final days, including the delisting of grey wolves under the Endangered Species Act. This gave the wolves a temporary reprieve, and gave animal advocates hope.March, 2009: Grey Wolves in Northern Rockies DelistedJust weeks after giving hope to animal advocates, the Obama administration delisted wolves under the Endangered Species Act. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, a hunter and rancher himself, cleared the way for individual states to begin killing wolves in order to protect animal agribusiness interests.March, 2009: Slaughter of Downed Cows Banned in the USSecretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack banned the slaughter of downer cows - cows who are too sick, weak or injured to stand on their own. The decision was applauded by animal advocates across the country.April, 2009: Obama Breaks Promise to Rescue a DogThis was the most disappointing move, probably because it was so unexpected. By getting a dog from a breeder, Obama broke his promise to animal advocates and reinforced the misconception that people cannot get their dog of choice from a shelter or rescue group. The Obamas decision will lead to puppy mills churning out Portuguese water dogs, and one breeder of PWDs described the sudden demand for the breed as general mayhem. April, 2009: Scientific Requirements of Endangered Species Act RestoredSecretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a revocation of the Bush administrations weakening of the Endangered Species Act. With this move, the Obama administration brought back the ESAs longstanding scientific requirements and fulfilled Obamas promise to reverse the Bush administrations change.May, 2009: Polar Bears Wont be Protected from Global Warming Ken Salazar, Obamas Secretary of the Interior, failed to overturn a Bush-era rule that weakens the Endangered Species Act and jeopardizes the survival of polar bears.June, 2009: Michelle Obama is Fur-Free More of a personal stance than a political one, but like the decision to accept a dog from a breeder, the first couples actions are highly influential.June, 2009: Obama to Nominate Sam D. Hamilton, a Hunter, as Head of USFWS Obama announces his intention to place an avid hunter in charge of our nations National Wildlife Refuges. June, 2009: Obama Swats, Kills Fly Obama swats and kills a fly on camera, during an interview with CNBC.July, 2009: Animal Protection Views Hold Up Nomination of Cass Sunstein Although the nomination has been stalled, Obama deserves credit for appointing an animal advocate in his administration.November, 2009: Critical Habitat for Polar Bears Proposed The Obama administration proposes the designation of over 200,000 square miles of Alaskan land, water and ice as critical polar bear habitat. While the designation would be a good first step, the proposal still allows oil and gas drilling and does nothing to address climate change.November, 2009: BLM Removes Thousands of Wild Horses to Make Room for Millions of Cattle The Obama administration continues a long-standing policy of removing wild horses while allowing cattle to graze on public lands.November, 2009: Obama Pardons Turkey Obama continues a 20-year tradition of pardoning a turkey for Thanksgiving, but adds his own comments. Continued on Page 2 Questions or comments? Discuss in the Forum

Independent Executive Agencies of US Government

Independent Executive Agencies of US Government Independent executive agencies of the U.S. federal government are those that, while technically part of the executive branch, are self-governed and not directly controlled by the President. Among other duties, these independent agencies and commissions are responsible for the vitally important federal rulemaking process. In general, independent agencies are tasked with administering laws and federal regulations that apply to specific areas such as the environment, social security, homeland security, education, and veteran affairs. Responsibilities and the Chain of Command Expected to be experts in the areas they manage, most independent agencies are headed by a presidentially-appointed board or commission, while a few, such as the EPA, are headed by a single presidentially-appointed administrator or director. Falling within the executive branch of government, independent agencies are overseen by Congress, but operate with more autonomy than federal agencies headed by Cabinet members such as the Departments of State or Treasury which must report directly to the president. While independent agencies do not answer directly to the president, their department heads are appointed by the president, with the approval of the Senate. However, unlike the department heads of executive branch agencies, such as those making up the president’s Cabinet, who can be removed simply because of their political party affiliation, heads of independent executive agencies may be removed only in cases of poor performance or unethical activities. In addition, the organizational structure independent executive agencies allows them to create their own rules and performance standards, deal with conflicts, and discipline employees who violate agency regulations.  Ã‚   Creation of Independent Executive Agencies For the first 73 years of its history, the young American republic operated with only four government agencies: the Departments of War, State, Navy, and Treasury, and the Office of the Attorney General. As more territories gained statehood and the nation’s population grew, the people’s demand for more services and protections from the government grew as well. Facing these new government responsibilities, Congress created the Department of the Interior in 1849, the Department of Justice in 1870, and the Post Office Department (now the U.S. Postal Service) in 1872. The end of the Civil War in 1865 ushered in a tremendous growth of business and industry in America. Seeing a need to ensure fair and ethical competition and control fees, Congress began creating independent economic regulatory agencies or â€Å"commissions.† The first of these, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), was created in 1887 to regulate the railroad (and later the trucking) industries to ensure fair rates and competition and to prevent rate discrimination. Farmers and merchants had complained to lawmakers that railroads were charging them exorbitant fees to carry their goods to market.   Congress eventually abolished the ICC in 1995, dividing its powers and duties among new, more tightly defined commissions. Modern independent regulatory commissions patterned after the ICC include the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Independent Executive Agencies Today Today, independent executive regulatory agencies and commissions are responsible for creating the many federal regulations intended to enforce the laws passed by Congress. For example, the Federal Trade Commission creates regulations to implement and enforce a wide variety of consumer protection laws such as the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act, the Truth in Lending Act, and the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act. Most independent regulatory agencies have the authority to conduct investigations, impose fines or other civil penalties, and otherwise, limit the activities of parties proven to be in violation of federal regulations. For example, the Federal Trade Commission often halts deceptive advertising practices and forces business to issue refunds to consumers. Their general independence from politically motivated interference or influence gives the regulatory agencies the flexibility to respond rapidly to complex cases of abusive activities. What Sets Independent Executive Agencies Apart? Independent agencies differ from the other executive branch departments and agencies mainly in their makeup, function, and the degree to which they are controlled by the president. Unlike most executive branch agencies which are overseen by a single secretary, administrator, or director appointed by the president, independent agencies are usually controlled by a commission or board made up of from five to seven people who share power equally. While the commission or board members are appointed by the president with the approval of the Senate, they typically serve staggered terms, often lasting longer than a four-year presidential term. As a result, the same president will rarely get to appoint all of the commissioners of any given independent agency. In addition, federal statutes limit the president’s authority to remove commissioners to cases of incapacity, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or â€Å"other good cause.† Commissioners of independent agencies cannot be removed based simply on their political party affiliation. In fact, most independent agencies are required by law to have a  bipartisan membership of their commissions or boards, thus preventing the president from filling vacancies exclusively with members of their own political party. In contrast, the president has the power remove the individual secretaries, administrators, or directors of the regular executive agencies at will and without showing cause. Under Article 1, Section 6, Clause 2 of the Constitution, members of Congress cannot serve on the commissions or boards of independent agencies during their terms in office. Agency Examples A few examples of hundreds of independent executive federal agencies not already mentioned include: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The CIA provides intelligence regarding potential threats to national security to the president and senior U.S. policymakers.Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): Protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from a vast array of consumer products.Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board: Oversees the nuclear weapons complex operated by the U.S. Department of Energy.Federal Communications Commission (FCC): Regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.Federal Election Commission (FEC): Administers and enforces the campaign finance laws in the United States.Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Administers the national flood insurance and disaster relief programs. Works with first responders to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all forms of hazards.Federal Reserve Board of Governors: Functions as the central bank of the United States. The Federal Reserve System (the â€Å"FED†) oversees the nation’s monetary and credit policy and works ensure the safety and stability of the nation’s banking and financial system.

Johnny Cash Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Johnny Cash - Essay Example Partly of Indian descent, Johnny Cash was born in Kingsland, Arkansas on 26 February 1932 into the family of a poor sharecropper, Ray Cash. Little Johnny was raised in a shotgun shack in Arkansas’s cotton zone. The Cash family eked out a hand-to-mouth existence supported by working long hours at farming cotton. Johnny joined the family occupations from the age of five. His first exposure to music came when singing along with his family as they worked in the fields during the day and sang hymns on the porch at night. After working hard during the day, Johnny liked to listen to the radio at night. The country songs aired on the radio inspired him to write his own songs, and he started doing this at the age of twelve. While at school, Johnny once sang on the Arkansas radio station KLCN. His mother Reba encouraged him to write songs, and also taught him how to play the guitar. In later life, his singing career began when he auditioned with Sun Records and its owner Sam Phillips.T

Zoltan Kodaly Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Zoltan Kodaly - Research Paper Example In 1906, he attained a PHD with a thesis on Hungarian folk music, and from then, he started to work together with his friend Bartok. They both collaborated in collecting folksong and in advocating for a new vitality in Hungarian musical sector. Like Bartok, the administration at Budapest Academy nominated him to a professorship in 1907, and he stayed in the city for the rest of his life (Griffiths, 1). In his adolescence, Kodaly toured various parts of Hungary due to being the son of a stationmaster. This made him to gain a lot of knowledge of the variety of the nation’s folk music. In addition, he inherited his parents’ passion for classical music. His early work including sonata for cello and piano demonstrate his familiarization to folk aspects into a principally melodic style (Wintle, 279). Contribution to Music education As a well-known Hungarian composer and musician, Kodaly utilized a considerable part of his inventive efforts to the musical education of the Hungarian country. He developed this concern over several years beginning with the folk song collection in 1905. In the 1920's, he started composing for children's choruses and required his composition learners to practice the same. This was after being conscious of the great concern to advance the quality of singing and music training of children and teachers equally. Folk music offered motivation, in addition to the musical foundation, for many of the compositions. By 1929, he resolved to change the teaching of music and make it an essential part of the education of every child (Singers.com, 1).