Reflection Paper Three- Federalist No. 10 and 51

Federalist No. 10

"No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity."

I believe that this quote applied to Madison's point the most. Madison goes throughout this article trying to explain the importance of the Union, especially amongst factions. The Union should be made up of majority. That is that no one or two people,races,genders,etc, should make up what is done within the Union. The people should elect who falls within the Union as well as what the are allowed to control, and how. 

There is a great importance of the Union amongst Factions. Madison stated: "There are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects." In order to remove the causes or effects there has to be a central government, or union able to do this. For example oil companies aren't allowed to pollute/liter, they cannot dump oil anywhere they please. The Union regulates this, if they did not the faction (oil company) would do whatever they please , hurting the people. The union is acting in interest of the people , for the people.

Federalist No. 51

"TO WHAT expedient, then, shall we finally resort, for maintaining in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in the Constitution? The only answer that can be given is, that as all these exterior provisions are found to be inadequate, the defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places"

Madison is stating how we  can enforce the power that one person or branch has , other than just writing it within the Constitution. That they've tried other ways of controlling who has how much power, and none of these ways have yet to work. Therefor a system should be in place where one branch of government is kept honest, or held accountable by another branch, through a system of checks and balances.

Reflection Paper Two - What is America?

“What he has no right to do is to laugh at it as incomprehensible, and then criticize it as if he comprehended it.”

Chesterton is trying to explain how people should react about the unknown. He gives example of odd traditions or ways of other cultures (at least odd to the outsiders). In this quote he is explaining how it is a completely normal human reaction to laugh at something that is unknown to us. However, we can’t criticize the unknown if we don’t understand it. What is normal to us may not be normal to others. There are different norms in different cultures.

I believe that overall Chesterton's quote speaks on how uncomfortable the unknown makes people. Which is ironic in a way. Considering America is supposed to be based on the unknown, mixed with every culture being about to carry out their traditions, un-judged. America is supposed to be land of the free , and yet the Constitution dictates what is allowed. Meaning that you are allowed to believe what you want as long as it falls within what the Constitution deems appropriate. So Even though people are indeed allowed to think and believe what they want , they are hesitant to.  They are afraid to be judged, or punished for thinking differently. Both socially and legally.

I think this article applies to the class very much. In the class we explore the government system, and how its evolved over the centuries. One thing that I believe has yet to evolve is the biases that people hold, and how that bias can impact the government. Mainly through the workers of the government. For example, if a senator is a white man, raised as a Christian and a republican, it will be hard for him to relate to a woman Muslim. Although he is supposed to work for the interest of the people. His beliefs may have an impact on the decisions he makes, whether he means them to or not. He may not understand the importance of this woman’s cultures or what she may believe is right. Hence “criticize it as if he comprehended it”.

Reflection Paper One- Article: Despite Negativity, Americans Mixed on Ideal Role of Gov't & Lecture

“Americans have divided opinions when asked to think broadly about the purpose of government. About as many Americans (35%) prefer an activist government that tries in every way to improve the lives of its citizens as prefer a government that provides only the most basic government functions (37%), with the rest placing themselves between these two positions.” (Newport) 

In this quote from Newport it speaks how majority of Americans think government either overstep's its boundaries or underplays it roles. This is a huge issue that i believe also ties into the lecture on power. Power seems to play a concerning role in American lives , the abuse of it, as well as the neglect of it. One person being put in charge cannot accommodate to everyone, only to the majority. So if the majority is low class , they become the focus and everyone else becomes pushed to the side with no one to lend them a helping hand.  Simply put, the government system will never work for everyone. Some will say that they need more, some less because some are receiving more help than others. 

For example a current issue is welfare, there is a overwhelming amount of people considered to be "low class" and they receive a lot of help from the government. These individuals may think that they need the government less. However, the middle class (who just barely made it to that class) can be struggling just as much , but on paper they don't qualify for special benefits. This class may want the government to help MORE. It depends on whom the individuals are and in what type of living situations their in.  However as i've stated, its based on "majority" and no individual situations. 

I think its interesting how the idea of religion plays into government as well. As talked about in the Lecture the Declaration of Independence and other powerful documents are almost holy, as if they were a bible . Laws are "holy" , and are to be unbroken , if broken those criminals are punished. However i believe this can be somewhat of  downfall. Many start to believe the law is the law no exceptions. Sometimes there is more to the story. But when do we bend the rules, who shall decide to bend them? Does the person who bends them become more powerful than the others? Yes looking at laws as "holy" can maintain a somewhat stable environment, order if you will. However it also makes one person seem holy, above all else. The President begins to look like a God figure, and sometimes they develop that God complex.  They begin to make major decisions themselves. Although there is the senate or other forms of netting  ( a group that the person has to go through), in the end if they want something they can make it possible.