The Founders ideas about self-government developed from various ideas. These ideas began from Aristotle who was the man that brought forth an idea that there were corrupt and right types of governments and those governments could be run by one, few, or many people. The corrupt governments were Tyranny, Oligarchy, and Democracy. While the right forms were Monarchy, Aristocracy, and Polity (Mixed). The next idea that they began to look upon was Classical Republicanism which was a government based upon civic virtue and the pursuit of the common good. They felt this could be a way to govern because of the whole working together for the best of all. Then they looked at something that was happening in Britain’s government which was feudalism and nation states. Feudalism was the idea of shared power and government based off a contract. The Nation states part of the government was the idea of civilization and citizenship where the people help to build up the civilization they live in. The Founders then looked deeper into the things Britain was doing to help best their government and this included the Magna Carta, Rights of Englishmen, Parliament, and English Bill of Rights. The Magna Carta was used to make everybody obey the laws no matter if you were a King or a serf you had to obey all laws. The Rights of Englishmen stated that there was no taxation with the consent of the Parliament; people were given a fair trial, and no unlawful entry. The Parliament made it so the people were included in the law making process so no unfair laws could be put into place. Finally the English Bill of Rights talked about limiting the power of the King and making sure people’s rights were included and protected. Then the Founders started to talk about Judeo-Christian, Reformation, Renaissance, Capitalism, and the Enlightenment. Judeo-Christian was all about the individual relationships with God. Reformation was when they made it possible for everybody to have a Bible and decide which religion they wished to follow due to the invention of the printing press. Renaissance brought forth the idea of creation. Capitalism brought up the idea of creating businesses and having to deal with completion when you were selling items that other people were also selling. The Enlightenment brought forth the ability to think and reason on your own which then made technological advancements occur that then began to help us do things easier. They then looked at two Philosophers John Locke and Thomas Hobbes who were involved in the natural rights and state of nature type of government. This was where people lived without a government and risked being taken over and unfairly ruled. They then looked at social contracts in which the people wrote in order to be governed in their way they wanted. Finally the Constitutional government talked about limiting the government’s powers and how they could treat the people they governed. The Founders then combine and pulled things from many of the governments/ideas that they were looking at and put them into our government.

Small steps are how  Governments take over lives.  If they take away your soda, they will want the happy meal banned.  The business of Government is to insure safety on the streets, and to be incidental playing in the background like the music in some love scene in a B movie.  We don’t need them telling us how to eat, sleep, or even heat our homes.  Isn’t their bigger fish to fry in the ever widening family of Government?  Forgot, my bad, fried food is a no no.

Bloomberg wants to ban the everything over sixteen ounces of soft drink being sold t the public.  He says to buy two smalls. The economy is a problem right now so is it really a wise thing to do by forcing people to curb their spending? What will it be next, how much golf one can play, banning street football, or how many books will be allowed to be read in one day? 

With every action, comes a opposite reaction.  The people who like their soft drink, should simply buy a two litter, chill it, and walk around in New York City just to prove a point.  Take our liberties away, and we may as well live in Russia.  Oh hold on, Russia’s economy is doing very well, since they decided to shrink government and stay out of the way of its people.

To Bloomberg, Obama, and all the politicians who think it is their jobs to control every life living free, stop, because it is getting very old fast.  The government already is banning smoking outdoors.  Where do they draw a line?  They wont, so we need to and we will draw it in ink in a way of protest to insure they get it through their thick sculls, that they work for us.  In closing, I am heading over to the  gas station, to fill up my 40 ounce cola eat six hot dogs, and smoke in my car just to prove a point to myself, and one day, soon, maybe I will be arrested for doing that because of the lack of caring, from the apathetic public.  Wake up America, before it is too late.  Set your liberty alarm for 7 AM before the eleventh hour hits us like a ton of bricks. 

1.      This article is talking about how we the general public have many wants and desires but we tend to run into points where resources are limited/ scarce. When people have to feed off of others it tends to take down the person getting feed off of because they aren’t getting enough income to pay for multiple people that just sit around hoping some job will pop out in front of them. This is why America has accumulated all this debt through having to give things free to people who either choose to not work or are physically unable to work. While the people that are physically unable have a reason for not work the people who choose to not work need to get up and find a job. This is all shown through the growing amount of Americans on the food stamp program which is currently at 45.8 million and growing every day. He speaks of his grandfather and how he used to feed raccoons food and the animals became so unfit they were unable to support themselves. That kind of sounds like what the U.S. government is doing for the people who are unemployed they are just feeding them and not expecting anything in return. Soon when the U.S. no longer has these programs these will be the people out on the streets because they have no clue how to support themselves. This is causing generations to come having the thought in their head I don’t have to support myself the government will help me out with whatever I need. But while it is putting that into those kids heads its putting the thought into the middle class kids saying “why work if the government is going to tax me so badly to help out the people who aren’t contributing to society.”  He speaks of a young looter in England who says “We heard that other people were getting things for free, so why not us?” this is showing how our country gives too much to people who sit and don’t do anything. I see this as America’s death trap due to the attitude being passed down from generation to generation.

2.      This article is very news worthy because it is showing how America began to build up their debt and how people who are able to work should and shouldn’t live off the government. Everybody should be extremely concerned because this spiral of living off the government could cause America to just fail due to all the accumulated debt to China and other countries. I really believe this should be the focus in the upcoming election finding a way to differ between the people who need this additional help and the people who take advantage of the system. I am not saying this program isn’t good I am saying it needs to help the people that have to have it and doesn’t need to help people who don’t work because they see that the government will just hand them a paycheck for doing nothing at all.

3.      I believe it should be heavily addressed in the upcoming election on how if we only help the people who need it. We would see a great decrease in U.S. spending on this program and how it might just kick the people who were using it as a free paycheck into actually working for once. This might just be the way to turn America’s debt from growing to actually decreasing for once. So I believe we should definitely address this as a main idea of how to reverse the debt in a way.

4.      If action is taken we may be able to help decrease the debt while still helping the people who actually need it. In the long run this can help us to work through our countries needs and wants and how they can save us money if we just use the systems for the people with the needs. Now if no action is taken it will just keep the spiral going from generation to generation leaving kids with the thought I don’t want to work so I’ll just live off the government like my parents did. I mean because if they don’t have to work for the paycheck they need why would they? It’s like if you offer a kid a candy bar if they run 20 laps and then you offer another kid a candy bar and they don’t have to do anything for it. So it needs immediate action to stop this spiral from going on and on.

5.      This is a big concern in my eyes and to me I feel like the system needs to be for the needy and not for the people who are essentially the laziness of America. I know that many of the current runners for president are working to figure out how to help this program out. I hope they can figure out a way to fix the program so it is a positive influence to the general American public.

6.      This is crucial for me as I have a cousin is on the program but she is currently going to college so she can get a job to be able to pay for her son and her lifestyle. So I see her as a person that is actually in need of the program because she isn’t using having a son as a reason not to go to school or get a job. In fact even with her going to school she still works at a restaurant to try and help pay for everyday needs and some wants. I have never had to be on any government programs and my parents haven’t had that problem either.

Clear, concise reporting with integrated hardware

Software programs like Microsoft Excel and Google Drive Spreadsheets will  allow you to process up to the minute and precise details. Ladies, this will definitely let you know all of your partners abilities in the bedroom and make it easy to remember names, dates, locations, positions, and activities.  In fact, every thrust, tug and pull will be automated with the state of the art Naughty Bit Counter™.  Upon entry in the orifice of your choice, this device will be like a black box for your boxes.   With this technology, no longer will you have to wonder whom the baby daddy might be, or how you  contracted that infection or disease that gives you that milky discharge and baked cod odor that could land you in a hospital emergency room or on a slab in the morgue.

English: Plot of y=x 2 made in Microsoft Excel. All proprietary art work is stripped, leaving a generic graph. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For American public safety 

While gentlemen will be able to use the Top Notch® Technology App to digitally carve more notches in their bedposts post-coital, it is important to understand that the United States Federal Government must receive the documents concerning Americans’ private lives.  That is why Sex Lives of the American People Service (SLAPS) stands to provide this quality assured package to ensure the safety and security of future generations.

In Short when I see the state the country’s in the answer is yes. Border control is a joke and the agency has even admitted their mistakes but they aren’t going to do anything about it because that would take too much effort and money.

As well as immigration being out of control our justice system for foreign criminal is laughable. Our Government is letting people into our country without the proper checks and its putting our country at risk. The Government knows how bad it is they just won’t admit they’ve done anything wrong even though its clear for all the world to see.

I think we should be like France and Australia and have tougher rules. Australia will not allow anyone to stay in their country illegal and your only allowed in via visa if you have a trade and are able to work.

Its clear British people are getting angry here are the reasons why:

“ YES!!!!!!! look out the window. do you see more brits or immigrants? theirs your answer.”

“ Britain seriously has to stop letting just anyone in. I completely agree with you, the number of black and Asian in England now outnumbers the white and the number of foreign immigrants is rising in Scotland, Wales and Ireland.”

“ Europe are encouraging people to come and take our benefits. I have no problem with helping people but I don’t believe anyone should just come here for handouts. 

Crime has gone up including rape etc. I used to be a Park Ranger and the parks were just rammed with immigrants that didn’t work. 90% foreign. The foreign bit doesn’t bother me, it’s the fact they are just sponging my money to sit in the sun.”

Then again Filipino is a nationality not a race but race has also been acknowledged as a concept with no more obvious purpose than to enforce inequality and control of others. It’s a concept best done away with.

The entire concept of “Proud Filipino” arrives as something that serves to be propaganda. A mere tool to gather nationalistic pride but in a world that is globalized where is the point, at some time one must consider the entirety of the human population to be integrated, the difference of nations is nothing more than pointless pride.At the truly mortifying point we could end up like the United States, not in the wealth but in the creation of a cultural melting pot. A cultural melting pot is not that bad, USA is not that bad but when all cultures dissolve into one and at the same time we lose everything, the identity of who you were and all the culture and beauty that was once “Filipino” becomes nonexistent. At the other end of the table we have the over nationalistic Nazi Germany. Nationalistic to the point of wiping out all that is not German, all that is less than their nation.

Even the popular site called “9gag” has been plagued with the idea of a “Proud Filipino.” Every time there is a post about the Philippines or a Filipino the term “Here comes the Philippine 9gag  army” or what not becomes apparent. Even the whole “It’s more fun in the Philippines” has gotten on people’s nerves. So again I ask is the entire concept of being a “Proud Filipino” good? We have at one end the loss of our culture and values, on the other the possibe propagation of racism and segregation. 

            To improve sentiment towards the government, drastic changes must occur. This type of change would involve a complete overhaul of the political system. A change to the electoral system of the Philippines would be an opportune starting point for change. Currently the Republic of Philippines uses a mixed-member system that is unique in some ways. It is a non-corrective system in a mathematical sense. It does correct in a way that allows for smaller parties to thrive typically. The first vote is done using the plurality formula. Once the first vote is completed, a second vote is held that uses a list system, but parties that have members elected by the plurality vote are not to be represented in the second vote. This stipulation is what serves to encourage the participation of smaller parties. To improve the country, this system will be disregarded due to the second vote seeming to be non-effective on the political environment. This could be clearly seen as only 57 representatives are elected in the second vote in comparison to the 230 representatives in the first vote (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012).

            The electoral system of the Philippines must take a different direction. All 287 seats of the lower chamber of the Philippine Congress should be chosen by way of Single Transferable Vote (STV) by region. The Philippines is composed of eighty providences. In this system, 250 representatives would come from the eighty providences as dependent with the population of each providence. The other thirty-seven would be chosen by the FWOs through absentee ballots as representatives of the interests of Filipinos that have migrated to other parts of the world. The STV system would allow for voters to feel that the power would be more distributed evenly throughout the lower chamber of the congress.  The current mixed-member system attempts to encourage the participation of smaller parties by use of the second vote with the existing stipulations of excluding parties that are already “at large” by way of the first vote. This exclusion of “at large” parties from the list vote takes away credibility from representatives selected by way of the second vote. In utilizing the STV system, representatives would be chosen more based on the true will of the people.

            The issue of constituency would be resolved by dividing the seats among the eighty providences and the PWOs. The PWOs are deserving of the thirty-seven representatives due to overseas Filipinos representing such are large portion of the population and also representing a strong economic support by funneling funds back to their home country. The representatives for overseas Filipinos can be seen as a long-term issue as the overseas population has a large portion of the population for several decades and continues to rise with net immigration rate of -1.27 immigrants for every 1,000 individuals (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012). This means that more people are emigrating out of the country than into the country. Therefore political representation of overseas workers would serve as being a representative microcosm of the real population.    

            The STV would have some barriers to its effectiveness as any electoral system would. The complexity of the STV system in a mathematical sense would result in the population questioning the results possibly. This issue can easily be addressed by making the results available for public examination and allow to be examined by an independent body that is free from political influence and as free as possible from corruption. Possible evaluations could be requested from international organizations that investigate issues of alleged political corruption. A second barrier would be the manpower and effort that would be required to compute election results. In overcoming this issue, technology can aid in computing the finalized results of the legislative process.

            The other branches of the political system would utilize other electoral systems. The Philippine senate would utilize a district level vote to elect 80 representatives through use of the alternative vote system.  Each district would elect a single representative, and the overseas Filipinos would vote based for a representative based on their providence from which they originate or associate as a home of record prior to emigrating. The Philippine Senate would address the issue of constituency as each representative would answer to the voters of their providence for their actions. Between the two houses of the congress, constituency will be a clear them as can be seen in the thirty-seven representatives from the lower house being representative of overseas Filipinos.

            The President of the Philippines would be elected through a plurality vote at a national level. The major difference to the structure of the executive branch would be that the President and Vice-President would need to run on the same ticket as opposed to how the President and Vice-President are currently elected on separate votes. The authority of the President would be greatly limited and divided among the other branches of government to answer the concerns that the public would have about political corruption at the Presidential level. Throughout the Marcos era and post-Marcos era, the executive branch of the Philippine government has been cited for numerous instances of corruption and abuses in altering legislature for purposes of self-interest (Haynie, 1998). In light of prior presidential corruption, several checks would need to be put into place. Firstly, the executive branch’s ability to alter the constitution would need to be removed. The power to originate laws should be provided exclusively to the legislative branch. Alterations to the constitution would require a vote from both houses. The declaration of martial law would require a joint majority vote from both houses of the Congress. Similar, major decisions that were made in the past by Presidents would be removed from the power of that office.

            The judicial branch would serve as being independent from government and politics. The judicial branch would have two highest courts. The first would be the Supreme Court of Appeals. This court would maintain the ability to provide judicial review. Decisions made by the Supreme Court could be referenced by the lower courts as case law to affect other parties. The lower courts would operate on code law with the exception of Supreme Court decisions that would be able to be referenced since the Supreme Court does hold judicial review. The other court of significance in judicial branch that holds a status of highest court would be the constitutional court which would be similar to that of Sweden in that it would hold judicial preview in examining Congressional decisions to provide advisory decisions on proposed legislature. The Supreme Court of Appeals would consist of thirteen justices with lifetime appointments selected and appointed by the President upon approval by a majority of the providential governments. This facet of including providential governments in the approval of justices to the Supreme Court further checks the power of the national branches. The Constitutional Court would not be chosen by the government, but the twenty-five members of the Constitutional Court would be chosen by the legal professionals throughout the country for five year terms in which five seats will be filled each year.  The selection of the members of the Constitutional Court would also serve to disseminate power away from one centralized point.

            In conclusion, the use of the single transferable vote system in the lower house of the Congress with the alternative vote being used in the upper house would serve to balance the power among the various differing portions of the country while still maintaining stability and a strength of the legislative branch of the government. The executive branch’s use of plurality in electing a president would serve to allow for that office to be elected in simple manner that would be easily understood by the people while realizing that the legislative and judicial branches along with the providential governments would be given enough power to effectively check the executive branch and limit presidential powers. Challenges do exists with this system as would any system that would be put into place in an area that is heavily concerned about corruption, but the limits and processes to check various offices would assist in curtailing future efforts to create a political environment of corruption. The blending of various different facets from different systems would provide the Republic of the Philippines with an electoral model that serve as a starting point to address many of the concerns of a country that has survived such great exploitation and corruption as has been seen during some of the prior regimes.

Many of you have probably already heard of CISPA, the bullshit law that the government is attempting to shove down our throats. Basically the aim of this law is to help the government have all the information it deems necessary, information about your online habits, purchases, conversations and much, much more. While the government seems to be wanting to make this law seem like its a benefit to society, it clearly is not. CISPA takes away our right to privacy and gives private companies and the government a new way (after SOPA and PIPA) to “spy” on us.

Though the government wants to write CISPA off as a law that helps the government have information to stop future cyber-attacks against private companies or itself. It doesn’t draw the line as to why and how the government can receive information. At this stage, the government will basically be able to ask any company about anyone’s private information regardless of what they have done. Therefore it allows the government to watch over us whenever they deem necessary. Cause enough for outcry, especially for me.

CISPA, also referred to as SOPA’s meaner brother has already caused public outcry, however without enough public support no administration will veto it. Even though the white house has given statements that say that they will veto the law look what happened with NDAA the white house had said that they would veto that as well but as it happens to be that law stands firm. If the people of this country don’t stand together against CISPA it will pass as well.

There are only a few ways that we can stop CISPA in its tracks. First find a website that has an anti CISPA petition and sign it, hell if you can find ten websites sign them all. Secondly, call your senators or email them tell them how you will never again be in their favor if they agree to have CISPA pass. Lastly call your friends, text them do something become proactive in this campaign against CISPA, if your have even five minutes to spare spread the knowledge or refer people to this article or any other article that shows how CISPA will take away your privacy.  

In considering a world in which there is no currency, and depository institutions only issue transaction deposits and desire to hold no excess reserves, I think it’s best to define each of these terms.

First of all, currency is basically is a generally accepted medium of exchange.  It is also important to know what transaction deposits are in this case.  Transaction deposits according to the textbook are checkable and debitable account balances in commercial banks and other types of financial institutions. 

Next, those depository institutions as defined in the text are financial institutions that accept deposits from savers and lend funds from those deposits out of interest.

Excess reserves are the difference between actual reserves and required reserves.  Required reserves are the values of reserves that a depository institution must hold in the form of vault cash or deposits with the Fed (aka the minimum amount).  Actual reserves are all the deposits held by Federal Reserve district banks for depository institutions.

The discussion question also mentions the required reserve ratio is 20 percent.  What is the required reserve ratio?  It is the percentage of total transactions deposits that the fed requires depository institutions to hold in the form of vault cash and/or deposits with the Fed, according to the textbook. 

In this world where depository institutions only issue transaction deposits, that is known as a liability, which are amounts that are owed.  This helps later on when looking at balance sheets. 

Back to required reserves, there is a formula to calculate their amount.  Required reserves equals transaction deposits times the required reserve ratio.  In this case, since the central bank sells $1 billion in government securities, that is equal to the transaction deposits.  The formula would look like: required reserve ratio = $1 billion times 20 percent, which would be $20 billion. 

Finally, what would happen to the money supply in such a scenario?  I believe in time that the money supply would run out and financial business would shut down.  If there was no currency (or perhaps people used the same form of money worldwide), it would be harder to maintain a supply of money, and if the depository institutions didn’t hold excess reserves there would be no safety net to fall back on, and those institutions wouldn’t be able to run any longer.

Components in the US Money supply based on Federal Reserve historical data (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today, Defence Minister A K Antony said, “IAF has undertaken upgrades of MiG-21 and MiG-29 aircraft. Contracts have also been signed to upgrade MiG-29, Mirage-2000 and Jaguar aircraft.”

Contract for upgrade of MiG-29 was signed with RAC MiG at a cost of USD 964 million and it is scheduled to be completed by 2016, he told the House.

For upgradation of Mirage-2000 aircraft, a contract has been signed with French firms Thales and Dassault Aviation at a cost of 1470 million Euros. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will also participate in the programme and a contract worth Rs 2020 crore has been signed with it also.

“All the aircraft (Mirage-2000) are scheduled to be upgraded by mid-2021,” Antony said.

On upgradation of Jaguar aircraft, he said, “The contract has been signed with HAL at a cost of Rs 3113.02 crore and the aircraft are planned to be upgraded by December 2017.”

The Defence Minister also said that IAF has prepared a Long Term Perspective Plan (LTPP) for procurement of aircraft and equipment in next 15 years (2012-2027).

“This plan lays down the roadmap for capability-building and enhancement of combat potential of the IAF,” he said.

Antony also said that various contracts have been signed in last three years for procurement of Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft, Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Medium Lift Helicopters, Intermediate Jet Trainers and Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers as well as various types of radars, airborne weapon systems and air defence missile systems.

On allocation for the force in present fiscal, Antony said, “The Budget allocation for capital procurements for 2012-13 is Rs 30,514 crore.”

He denied reports of lobbying by defence firms which had responded to the Request for Proposal for procurement of 126 Medium-Multi Role Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA) for the IAF.

On shortage of fighter pilots in IAF, he said, “Present strength of pilots is 3,406 against the sanctioned strength of 3,783. The available strength of pilots in IAF is sufficient to meet its current operational requirements… Presently, 180-200 pilots are commissioned every year in the force.”

Several steps have been undertaken by IAF to attract youngsters such as improvement in job profile and training infrastructure, implementation of the recommendations of 6th Pay Commission, publicity campaigns through print and electronic media etc.

“The Short Service Commission for flying branch has also been modified to make men eligible for induction in this branch,” the Defence Minister said.