Honors History Blog #4

1. What did you gain from your experiences as an honors student in the first semester (please consider novels, leadership opportunities, writing, history, projects, etc.)?

• From my experiences as an honors student this past semester, I believe I have grown as a writer and as a student. By being required to take on additional responsibilities during projects, such as critiquing and editing other's papers, I have become better and more skilled in those areas. So, by looking over the work of others, I have gotten better at looking over my own work, and writing so as to avoid mistakes I may see being made by others.

2. Discuss what you might have done differently if you could do this past semester of honors over again.

• If I were to do this past semester of Honors Humanities over again, one thing I might have done differently would be choosing Honors book that truly interest me. Although none of the three books I chose over the past semester were necessarily boring, had I looked into it before hand and chosen books that seemed like they would captivate me, rather than just choosing one, I may have been able to enjoy this portion of Honors work a little bit more.

3. Discuss your goals for honors in the second semester.

• For next semester's Honors, my goals would be to read my Honors books quicker so that I am not hurrying at the last minute to finish them, in addition to choosing a book that I like, and continue to keep on top of Honors assignments, either individual ones such as blogs, or in a specific role during a project.

4. If you could choose any specific parts of literature and/or history for our honors work next semester, what would you pick and why?

• If I could choose a specific part of literature or history to focus on for my honors work next semester, I'm not sure what I would select. There's not necessarily a particular area in which I have a direct interest in - I'd be open to most literature or history, as long as it was presented in an interesting manner.

Honors History Blog #3

The New Deal is a series of economic programs implemented by the United States Congress, under 32^nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. These programs were a response to the Great Depression, with goals of relieving to poor and unemployed, recovering the economy to normal levels, and reforming the country’s financial system in order to prevent a repeat depression. The New Deal represented a major transfer in political and domestic policy in the United States, and ultimately resulted in a long-lasting increase in Federal government regulations in the economy. Some programs included in the New Deal were the Wealth Tax Act, in which inheritance taxes were increased in an attempt to redistribute the wealth, and the Federal Writer’s Program, which gave jobs to writers, musicians, artists, and theatre personnel. Acts such as these were successful in stimulating the economy after the previous financial crisis, and, if implemented correctly, similar acts could be helpful in stimulating today’s economy.

One such act that I believe could be utilized today in an attempt to stimulate the economy today, during the time being heralded as ‘The Great Recession’, would be the Economy Act. This act, drafted by Budget Director Lewis Williams Douglas and passed on March 14^th, 1933, was proposed to balance the Federal budget. This was attempted by cutting the salaries of government employees and cutting the pensions to war veterans by fifteen percent – the result of these cut was a saving of $500 million per year. If a similar program was enacted today, maybe not to such a high degree, millions of dollars could be saved, and the country could become less in debt.

Another act that could have the potential of helping the economy of today would be the Works Progress Administration. This program hired single women, widows, or women with disabled or absent husbands, usually in jobs pertaining to sewing or the arts. By giving jobs to those who would otherwise have had a difficult time sustaining themselves and their families, the economy was stimulated, and, as intended, relief was given to the poor and unemployed. If a program such as this one was initiated today, there could be a boost in the economy. An act like the Works Progress Administration nowadays could be aimed towards not just women, but anyone who has a higher need for a job, such as a single parent.

If acts similar to either of the ones listed above were enacted today, perhaps we could pull out of this ‘Great Recession’ in a way like we did the Great Depression.

Honors History Blog #2

Dear Mr. President:

          As you know, the time we are in right now is being heralded as 'The Great Recession'; nearly eight billion jobs have been lost already. This time of weakness in our economy has led to loss of faith in the Government, and something needs to be done about it. If you want to be popular as a president, and have any hope for re-election next term, you need to start taking steps towards figuring out a solution to this recession. Perhaps, since this current financial crisis is being considered, by many economists, the worst sinces the Great Depression of the 1930's, we should take some hints from the man who helped to get us out of that issue - Franklin D. Roosevelt.

          Franklin Delano Roosevelt, also known as FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States of America, during a time of economic crisis and world war. He was inaugurated in 1933, during one of the darkest times of the Great Depression, and was liked by the people of the United States so much that he was the only President elected to more than two terms. Roosevelt took many steps to drag the country out of the Great Depression, such as initiating public works programs to get American citizens back on their feet, thus stimulating the economy. Additionally, he proposed and passed regulations to control and stabalize the stock market, and proclaimed a 'Bank Holiday', which halted the collapse of banks. Through these bold steps, among others, FDR was able to help the country through the Great Depression.

          Wouldn't you like to be known for something great, such as pulling the United States out of the second greatest financial crisis it has seen? I believe you do, and so you should indeed follow some of the initiatives set by Franklin Roosevelt. You have already passed a bill for Universal Health Care, which is a step in the right direction, in getting this country out of the current recession. It has been said that your defeat of John mcCain in the 2008 Presidential election was the most important victory of a Democratic candidate since 1932; since Franklin Roosevelt. You have the opprutunity, and ability, to pull your country out of the financial crisis it is in. Because of his actions, FDR was re-elected multiple times - whether or not you will be is based on how you respond to this crisis.

Works Cited

Coll, Steve. "The Test : The New Yorker." National and World News, Profiles, Culture, Reviews, Fiction, Poetry : The New Yorker. Nov. 2008. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. <http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/11/10/081110taco_talk_coll>.

"Franklin D. Roosevelt." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt>.

Packer, George. "Obama, the Economic Crisis, and the Democrats : The New Yorker." National and World News, Profiles, Culture, Reviews, Fiction, Poetry : The New Yorker. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. <http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/11/17/081117fa_fact_packer>.

Federalism vs. Anti-Federalism

The two stark viewpoints throughout U.S. history have been Federalist (wanting a strong, centralized government) and anti-Federalist (wanting a less-centralized government, more for state’s rights). One instance in our country’s history when these views have been apparent was during the Civil War. The Civil War was a war between the states that took place between 1861 and 1865, in which the North fought to bring the South back after their attempt to secede from the nation. The South had tried to secede over the issue of state’s rights, and their fight for anti-Federalism was in part a fight for slavery. In the end, the North won, and so did Federalism.

Interview:

What is federalism?

·       A strong central government.

What is anti-federalism?

·       Power should be maintained by the states.

In the civil war, which side was which?

·       So, the North were Federalists, and the South were anti-Federalists because they didn’t believe the federal government should be able to tell them they shouldn’t hold slaves.

What do you feel is more going on in the U.S. now? Federalism or anti-Federalism?

·       I feel that federalism is more prevalent under the Obama administration.

Honors History Blog #1

            America’s Health Care legislation history can often be defined by several major milestones – one such being Medicare. Medicare is a United States government-administered social insurance program that provides health care coverage to those aged 65 or over, or those with other specific needs. It would appear to me that Medicare is one of the most, if not the most, significant elements of health care legislation in American history, because of the government providing health care to those who needs it most, paid through taxes from those who will need this program in the future.

              Medicare was signed into law, along with Medicaid, by President Lyndon Johnson, under the Social Security Act of 1965. This occurred twenty years after then-President Harry Truman sent a message to congress asking for the establishment of a national health insurance plan. As a result of this, at the bill-signing ceremony, Truman became the first Medicare beneficiary, and was given the first Medicare card by President Johnson. About 19 million citizens enrolled in Medicare during its first year. In 1972, amendments to the Social Security Act led to the expansion of Medicare coverage, and in 2003 President George W. Bush signed the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act into law, which provided prescription drug benefits to seniors and those living with disabilities.

              In order to be eligible for Medicare, you must be a citizen of the United States, or have been living in the United States legally for five year. Age-wise, you either have to be 65 years of age or older, or be 18 or older, and have had Social Security disability benefits for at least two years, or have been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease or End Stage Renal Disease.

              Medicare is made possible, and partially funded, by payroll taxes imposed by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act and the Self-Employment Contributions Act of 1954. These taxes give a portion of you income to Medicare, and, in turn, you are able to partake in the program when you are older. One eligibility requirement of Medicare is having paid Medicare taxes for at least ten years, or four quarters. Some of the benefits to being a part of the Medicare Program are getting hospital insurance, medical insurance, prescription drug plans, and Medicare advantage plans, which is another way for beneficiaries to receive the rest of their benefits.

              Medicare was an important milestone in U.S. Health Care history, because, due to the rise in insurance, medical and pharmaceutical costs, it caters to the part of the population that both is at highest risk of needing treatments, and also has less of an ability to afford coverage because of a lack of regular income when retired. Despite having to pay slightly higher taxes, the general population now helps fund those who need help paying, and, in turn, buy into a Health Care program that will become available to them when they need it later on in life.



Works Cited:

"BriefHistoryofMedicare." Senior Citizen News and Information Daily On The Web at SeniorJournal.com. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. <http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/2000 Files/Aug 00/FTR-08-04-00MedCarHistry.htm>.

"Eligible." A Simple Guide to the New Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D). Web. 09 Dec. 2010. <http://www.mymedicarematters.org/aboutmedicare/eligible.asp>.

Hareyan, Armen. "The History of Medicare." Emaxhealth: Daily Health News. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. <http://www.emaxhealth.com/72/1272.html>.

"Medicare (United States)." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_(United_States)#Taxes_imposed_to_finance_Medicare>.

"Why Is Medicare Important?" Retired Senior Volunteer Program - RSVP Information. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. <http://www.seniorcorps.org/medicare/why-is-medicare important/>.

Life: The Book Work Reflection

1.       What are you most proud of in your Life: The Book writing? Try to describe this is detail!

a.       In my Life: The Book writing, I am most proud of the fact that I was able to compile all of the data I collected into an informative article. In addition, I am also proud of how I wrote it – I feel that it is written in a professional manor, with very few, if any, errors.

2.       What are some changes or new ideas that you have developed in your writing through the course of this semester?

a.       Something that I have begun to incorporate into my writing throughout the past semester is the writing tips we periodically learn.  Tips, such as ‘cut down on your –ings’ and ‘what’s your engine’, help you to create a better piece of writing.

3.       If you had a little more time to work on your writing for Life: The Book, what would you do differently? What would you change about your writing?

a.       If I had a little more time to work on my writing for Life: The Book, I perhaps would have had it critiqued a few more times. Since I was absent during this process, I had a lot less feedback on my article. Although I was happy with the outcome of my article, it most likely could have been improved upon by going through a few more drafts.

4.       How has the additional element of publication in a book affected the way you approach writing?

a.       By knowing that your work is going to be published in a book, you try to make your writing more professional and polished. Both in writing and in critiquing other’s papers, you have to be necessarily more scrupulous than if it was just a paper being turned in normally. Things that may have been fine for a normal paper may not be as professional as needed for a paper that’s going to be viewed by people outside of the class.