PolitiVote

Announcing the Upcoming Release of a Guide to our Government

njessen — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:28:45 +0000

Announcing the upcoming release of A Guide to our Government

Before we can effectively be heard and participate in our government, we need adequate information not only on the current issues, but on how our government works. Therefore, a guide to our government will soon be available on politivote.com. With this guide, you will be able to understand the elements of our government and how they work together.
Our government consists of three branches. They are: the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial. In this guide to our government, you will learn the role of each branch, how each branch of government works, and the system of checks and balances that keep one branch from having power over the other two. In addition, we will provide references for further reading if you want a more in-depth understanding of our government.
This guide to our government is quick and user friendly information that will benefit you as you strive to become more politically active. I now encourage you to register with Politivote and become informed as you use this site to participate in our democracy.

A Key to our Nation’s Survival

njessen — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:17:36 +0000

My friend Nick and I were discussing a class he was taking on organizations. One thing he learned is that an organization is more than any one person. It is a set of activities and patterns. The organization must be bigger than even the person who founded it in order for the organization to endure. If the success or failure is solely contingent on one person, then when that person becomes unable to run the organization, it will die. As I thought about our discussion, it occurred to me that the principles that determine an organization’s success must also determine the success of our nation. When we encounter a national crisis or difficult constitutional question, we tend to look to our founding fathers for the answer. We cite their writings and speeches as support for our chosen solution to the situation. Their advice is valuable and should be considered, but we must realize that the principles that govern our nation are bigger than even the founding fathers. Through out our history, the leaders that followed Washington and Jefferson have used the original founders as guides in their decisions; but, at the same time, they realized that they could improve upon what the founders had accomplished. Over the past 200 years, slavery has been abolished, and equal rights have been assured for all citizens. We now need to continue the legacy begun over 200 years ago and make this nation better than it has ever been.
The philosophy of Politivote plays a part in accomplishing this. With each vote we cast, we have the power to influence our representatives and make a positive impact on our nation. As more and more people register with and use the site, the contribution of Politivote to the betterment of our nation will increase.

Gaining a Perspective on our Presidents

njessen — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:31:30 +0000

The head of our executive branch is arguably the single most scrutinized individual in our nation. From conversations at the dinner table to speeches in Congress, millions of Americans examine and debate his actions and policies. Throughout our history, it has always been this way, but now more than ever, we have more access to information on both the public and private life of the President through television, radio, and the internet. The president always has his supporters and detractors. The former will do their best to defend the president’s policies, and the latter will attack the head of the executive branch. During this exchange, the opposing groups continue to hurl charges and countercharges at each other.
Amidst this constant chaos, it is important to gain a perspective of our presidents throughout history. In studying our president’s predecessors, I always try to figure out how our current president will be rated in comparison to those who previously occupied his position. Will he be considered one of the great presidents, or one of the worst? Many Americans already have formed their own judgment on this question. However, it is important to remember that some of the great presidents were not well liked while they were in office. In studying the history of our presidents, I cannot find one who was immune from criticism. Even the presidents we most revere such as Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt endured their share. In gaining a perspective on our president, we should remember that the consequences of his actions may not be fully understood and appreciated years after the president leaves office. As for rating the presidents, historians use two criteria: the difficulty of the circumstances of the nation, and the president’s response to those circumstances. It takes a considerable amount of time for us to realize the full impact of the president and the context in which he worked. It is difficult to rate our most recent presidents because new revelations about the president’s decisions and the context in which those decisions were made always will surface, and our opinion will change over time.
While it is difficult to have a clear perspective on our current president, we should actively participate in our government. Most of us will not communicate directly with the president, but our congress can be the conduit through which the will of the people is expressed. The bills presented to Congress will need to come before the president for veto or passage. We can facilitate the passage or abolishment of legislation. Through Politivote, we can make our feelings known concerning legislation, and this will dictate what bills make it to the president to sign into law. I would encourage the reader to register with Politivote and use this site to be a part of this process.

The President’s Proposed Spending Freeze

njessen — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:13:14 +0000

The President’s proposed spending freeze

In his state of the Union speech last night, President Obama proposed a spending freeze as a solution to the rising national debt. He said that this would affect discretionary government programs, but that Medicaid, Medicare and spending related to national security would not be affected. He said that this freeze would go into effect in 2011 when the economy would be stronger.
In reading this segment of the President’s State of the Union speech, I generally agree with the proposal. I wrote an article on December 10, 2009 criticizing H. J. Res.45 which authorized the increase of the national debt. It is refreshing to hear the President in his State of the Union speech advocate a curtailment of government spending and say that we need to examine our money management and eliminate the spending which is not appropriate. You’d think he read my article! I know he didn’t; so I won’t flatter myself. This idea goes back much further than my December 10 article.
Although I generally agree with the sentiment, I wonder about its implementation. Good financial management is the sort of thing that households across the nation are practicing, but here, we are talking about a household that is around three hundred million strong. Everyone is clamoring for their share of the pie. Another concern I have is the health care being considered in Congress. This bill carries with it a large price tag, and if it passes, I am concerned that the national debt may increase despite the spending freeze. I hope that the President can implement the spending freeze equitably and that the freeze will recognize our most important priorities. At the same time, I hope that it will at least stop the growth of the national debt. These are some of the challenges the President will face.
If this spending freeze is implemented, bills on our expenditures will come before the Congress. This is where Politivote fits into the situation. We will obtain the data on these bills and anyone can register for free and vote for or against these bills. We will then send the aggregate of these votes to legislators. Now is the time to be involved to make sure that the government recognizes your priorities.

The Scott Brown Election: Democracy Put into Action

njessen — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:47:14 +0000

Over the past week, Republican Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts has been a hot item in the news. This was a startling upset because Massachusetts traditionally has been known as a democratic state. Now, however, one of its senate seats has gone to the Republicans. This is an example of people taking control over their politics. Regardless of the traditionally democratic leaning of the state, the people’s voice was heard.
This year is an election year, and we at Politivote encourage people to participate in our government. We invite everyone to come to our site, register, and participate. The people who participated in the Massachusetts election have set the example for all of us to get politically involved. The election of Scott Brown shows that despite of all predictions, if the people want something to happen, and they let their voice be heard, it will happen. The odds were against Scott Brown’s winning the election. Yet, he won because enough people wanted that to happen and got involved politically. The purpose of this article isn’t to promote Scott Brown’s agenda, but merely to show that the people can influence the course of politics through active participation.
I encourage the reader to follow the example of the citizens who were involved in the Massachusetts election and register for Politivote. We provide another opportunity to let your voice be heard. We accumulate federal and state legislation and we have an instrument on the site that can be used to vote on the legislation. We store the votes on these bills, and will eventually send them to federal and state legislators. Politivote can insure that the voice of the people finds its way to our representatives and accomplishes what the people want.

Fear or Freedom

njessen — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:25:58 +0000

Today, KSL featured a story in which a teenaged Jewish boy was praying using boxes that contained scrolls while on an airplane. This caused anxiety on the part of the captain and crew, and the plane was diverted to Philadelphia where the FBI was waiting with bomb sniffing dogs. Eventually, the boy and his sister were cleared and allowed to resume their travels.
This story reminds me of the aftermath of school shootings when children would get into trouble for bringing toy guns to school. When a major tragedy happens, sometimes, we allow fear of its repetition to take control over our daily activities. We seem to live in a climate of fear which is harmful to the freedom of our nation. The knowledge of a terrorist attack causes us to be more suspicious of people. On the other hand, there is the other extreme of being unaware of situations that can cause harm or threaten lives. At some point, we need to ask ourselves if our fear is inhibiting our freedom.
The constitution is an example of this. There is a risk for some of the rights it provides. The freedom of speech carries with it the fear that someone may say something that is offensive. Thus, people may work to inhibit that freedom. The right to bare arms carries with it the fear that people will kill each other with those weapons. The signers of the Declaration of Independence took the risk of being ostracized and possibly hanged for treason. In some of the cases listed above, these fears were well founded. Yet, we don’t advocate throwing out the constitution, and the signers of the Declaration of Independence are remembered as heroes.
It has been my experience that fear stifles freedom. Fear can immobilize people. It can cause them to not want to leave the house. It can prevent them from expressing an opinion. It can prevent people from making friends, or applying for a new job, or moving to a new place. In effect, it can keep someone from living a fulfilling life. They thus become its prisoners. They are not free to make choices that involve some risk because they might fail or be hurt by that choice even if the choice has the potential of making their circumstances better.
I am concerned that as we allow fear to become a part of our culture, our freedom will be limited. We may find that there is an abridgement of the basic freedoms of speech and of religion. We may find ourselves shackled with excessive laws and unnecessary regulations. Even as fear can immobilize an individual, it can inhibit the freedom of a nation.

S. Res. 188: a Fabulous Piece of Sports Writing

njessen — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:51:06 +0000

On June 17, 2009, S. RES.188 was passed. This resolution congratulates the Las Angeles Lakers for winning the NBA championship of 2009. I am deeply gratified to read the stirring account of this team’s victory over Orlando! I am also gratified to read the stirring account of how this team defeated the Houston Rockets and the Utah Jazz! Evidently, we have some Laker fans in the senate. A regret I have is that the bill passed without amendment. I am disappointed that Senator Hatch as my duly elected representative didn’t do his job and amend the bill with how the Utah Jazz beat the Lakers in a regular season game.
The usefulness of the resolution ends right here! I am absolutely baffled why such a frivolous piece of legislation is passed by the senate which ought to spend its time on more important issues. This isn’t the reason I elect my senators. I am confident that Californians, laker fans though they may be, would rather have legislation of more consequence. I have seen other bills in which Congress bestows honors on members of the entertainment industry. The recognition and praise that the fans give these entertainers ought to be sufficient.
This piece of legislation is the reason for Politivote. We need to question the legislation being considered and passed at both the federal and state levels. If someone has a reason for supporting S. RES. 188, they have the freedom to support it. They also have the freedom to express their support through commenting. I, on the other hand, am disturbed by the bill because it represents a distraction from the business of the Senate.

The Political Party: a Tool or a Tyranny

njessen — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:04:02 +0000

An article appeared on ksl.com on January 2, 2009 about the trouble the Democrats are having and are expecting to have this coming election year. The Democrats are in danger of losing Congressional seats to the Republicans. Reading this article causes me to reflect again on the important role political parties have played in our country’s history. In my article of July 18, 2009, I used George Washington’s farewell address to argue that political parties are inherently bad for the country, and that while we cannot get rid of the party system altogether, we should avoid the spirit of the political party.
As I read this article, I am led to think that it is a little more complicated. Through out our history as a nation, control of the government has changed hands between two major political parties. First, it was the Democrats and the Whigs. Then, when the Whig party was dissolved in the 1850’s, the Republican Party took its place. When Americans tire of the rule of one party, they elect members of the other party to Congress or the presidency of the United States. Through out the twentieth century, other countries have allowed themselves to be controlled by one party with disastrous consequences for the nation. Nazi Germany and Communist Russia were two examples of this. However, in the United States, our democratic system of government has allowed us to be governed by a two party system and not let one party maintain power permanently. Ultimately, it is the American people who control the party system instead of the party system controlling the people.
However, one weakness of the political party remains. Just as, in other countries, political parties had the tendency to unite the people, in our country; they have the potential to divide us as a nation. It has been shown that no one party will maintain permanent control over this nation as long as there is no radical change in its form of government. However, we need to make sure that our American citizenship takes priority over party loyalty. To me, this is one of the main problems that plague the Congress and the presidency. I have the impression that politicians are too busy trying to score points for their own parties and they lose site on the welfare of the nation.
We at politivote claim no party loyalty. We aim to encourage and facilitate greater political involvement on the part of our citizens. The single most important reason for the vitality of our nation’s political system has been the participation of citizens. As long as citizens vote and as long as citizens focus on the good of the nation as their number 1 priority, the political party will be a tool of the American people instead of the American people becoming a tool of the political party.

Closing out 2009: Reflecting on the Past and Pressing Forward into the Future

njessen — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:21:07 +0000

The year 2009 has been the grand inaugural year for a truly great experiment in promoting and simplifying democracy. For Politivote, this has been a great year of growth and expansion. More and more people are becoming members and voting on important issues. Through out the year, health care reform, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and our economic troubles have been at the forefront of our thoughts. My experience as a member of Politivote has given me the opportunity to examine, critique, and vote on bills being brought before the legislature.
In examining these bills, I have seen good bills that will contribute to the welfare of our nation, and others that are a complete waste of time and tax payer’s money. To me, this is the essence of Politivote. We should become more knowledgeable on the areas in which our government does its job well and those that need improvement. Having gained this knowledge, we should use politivote to vote and be heard.
So, as we go into the New Year, I resolve to become more informed than I was last year about political issues that may impact my life. In addition, I will make more use of politivote to make my voice known on these issues. I strongly urge those who read this article to do the same. If you are not yet a member, go to the site and register. Your free registration allows you to vote on the bills that effect you. If you are unhappy with something that your representatives are doing, use the tools of this site to vote and be heard! In the year 2010, we can become more informed citizens and in so doing make our nation a better place.

a Failed Terrorist Attack and Its Implications for Our Democracy

njessen — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:18:58 +0000

Last Friday, Umar Farouk Abbulmutallab attempted to explode a plane when he lit a bag which contained a combination of potentially explosive materials. However, his concoction did not explode and he was subdued by other passengers. President Obama ordered a review of the nation’s watch-list system and of its air safety regulations because of its failure in this case.
As I reflect on this incident, I realize that there are implications for our democracy. Many times, when systems put in place by our government fail to work, it is up to the people to take the initiative and insure there own safety. In the year’s sense 911, I have heard other stories of incidents that could jeopardize the safety of airline passengers in which the passengers took control of the situation. On the surface, this might not seem relevant to democracy, but the idea is that everyone participates and has a role in securing the safety of the group. The people do not sit back and passively expect the government to take responsibility for their safety. They realize that they must take some of that responsibility themselves.
The second implication is on measures the government takes to prevent future attacks. Contemplating the government’s potential reaction to last Friday’s aborted attack causes me to reflect on my thoughts on what took place in the aftermath of 911. I was disturbed by the fact that torture of prisoners was a part of the discussion on preventive measures for terrorist attacks. I was also ambivalent about some of the other measures taken which included keeping detainees in prison without trial for an indefinite period of time, and the patriot act. To me, this is a confusing and ambiguous piece of legislation that attempts to describe what our government may or may not do to prevent more attacks in the future. My attempts to understand the provisions of this act only left me more confused and increasingly uncomfortable.
In reflecting on the problem of terrorism, it is my overall conclusion that the American people have an active role to play in the solution which consists of being vigilant and of holding the government accountable for its actions in dealing with national security with regard to terrorism. In an ideal world, we would be perfectly safe and enjoy our freedoms. However, in enacting stronger security measures, it is possible that our basic freedoms will be curtailed. However, if we wish to maintain these freedoms, it is possible that our safety will be compromised. Sometimes, we may have to sacrifice freedom for safety or vice versa. These are the issues we face when confronting terrorism.