Part 5. Blog posting (or email to Bromley) (10 min):
What do you question about what you previously knew about government and politics before this course, what do you question about what you have learned, what do you question about what you know, and what do you question about what you don’t know?
I don’t know if I necessarily question anything that I previously knew about government. I don’t know why, it just makes sense and fits into my outlook on government.
I question a lot of what I have learned, especially about the two-party system and its effectiveness. Though, to be honest, I’m kind of “political” about my views. I tend to see things from the standpoint of an average citizen and from the standpoint of an individual who wants to gain power in government. I also love to play devil’s advocate, which can make my views seem contradictory as well.
I often question what I know because I also have an issue with pleasing people – I tend to think things or do things just to make other people happy. I’m trying to break this habit, but it really makes me question a lot of what I believe…
As for what I don’t know, how can I question it if I don’t know what it is?
What I question about what I previously knew was why there are various existing groups in our nation. After getting deeper into the course I came to realize these groups are called factions, and that these factions are good because it allows our society to compete for each other needs and eliminates the possibilities of having a certain group rule our government. The only thing I question now is whether the people, the citizens, should continue giving power to the government. The government has been corrupt but how do we get people who have integrity to be part of the government? In addition, I really do not know if I still question anything on what I do know now because if I know it why question it.
I question many things about what I knew previous to this course. Mainly i question my bias based upon my socioeconomic background and family. Before this course i took many of my family’s views for granted. Although I still agree with many of my family’s views i have learned to question them thoroughly and develop new, slightly different thoughts than I have been fed all my life. I question what I have learned in this course in the way that it will effect me when I become a voting citizen. My new intellect has most definitely taught me to analyze political situations from every angle, not just my point of view. I have also learned to question the government. Coming into this course i knew that the governmental system was corrupt in some sense, but know I understand WHY the government is how it is and i understand the functions of the two party system, different branches of government, and the protections of legal documents. I question what I don’t know in one particular way: how will the things i don’t know effect my views on political issues and help me become a better part of the political strata? Since my school does not offer credit for this AP Gov. class i will have to retake it in 2 years (my senior year). I hope that i can bring many of the concepts that I have learned throughout this course o my AP Gov. class and learn more about the topics that we didn’t cover through a different perspective than my peers at home.
Throughout this course, the topic of pluralism interested me the most. The complexity i found within the concept of pluralism was stimulating and i found it very enjoyable, and its also the reason why my term paper is wholly based on pluralism. Something else I found pretty interesting is the entire legistics of the government. I was amazed at how it works and what has to be done simply for a bill to be passed and so on. It really motivates me to get more into the study of PoliSci. But specifically, the fact that the President doesnt have as nearly a much power as Congress blew my mind. I always thought, “Wow, the POTUS, he can make ice cream cost 5 cents.” But in reality, the most he can do appoint judges and the measly thigns while Congress has the power to exercise their powers all listed in Article 1, Section 8 (which i think is ridiculous for Congress to have that much power). But in addition to everything i have said, everything else that was discussed in class pleased me one way or another. I hope to take this information back and apply it to my daily life.
First entering this course, I had little to no idea about American government and politics. Now I have a much better understanding about the political system as whole. I questioned the origins of faction, contingency, and pluralism but I know a lot more about these concepts and their role within the political world. I still question about the balance and distribution of power abd how authority can be abused leading to corruption.
This course has helped me so much, at first when I was applying for JSA I was so skeptical. I thought that it would be a waste of time and I would not learn anything or meet anyone fun. Needless to say everyone exceeded my expectations by 1000000000. So much of this course, I wish I could have in real school, and last year. I lost the final round in Varsity Lincoln Douglas debate by one vote largely because of my opponents use of the Leviathan Theory, knowing what I do now I could have won easily. What I questioned about government before this class I realize shouldn’t have even be a question. My understanding of the Constitution has gone through the room, learning theories from scholars such as Dahl, Heclo, ect. has helped me understand how this country came to be, its shortcomings, and it’s triumphs. I don’t have any questions about what I learned because, although this class was short, it overlapped and built upon itself leaving no holes or gaps for me. As far as knowing what I don’t know, I don’t think thats possible, but as Biggie Smalls said “If you dont know, now you know.” I think this sums it up nicely.
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I question many things from since the beginning of the AP Gov class. Like how is it that I am so knowledgeable on my island when it comes to politics and even senators say I am more interested in politics than they were at my age? What does that state about my island? Why is the youth and even adults so uninterested in politics and how it can affect them? How is America going to continue as a nation if the leaders are limited since majority of the youth don’t want to know or don’t care about politics? Before I actually thought that America was a great country now it just seems like a wise country with an effective government. I thought that the democratic system was direct I was very confused and uninformed about the electoral college system before I came here. But now i have a broader understanding and perspective of the government. I also question a lot of people I once thought were so great. I am no longer a slave to the media and actually do my own research and dig deeper so that i can find where I stand on a position based on my own opinion and not of the general population around me or the media.
I question how much longer the American government will last? Whether it will become tyrannical, dictatorial, or monarchial? How will the Constitution protect the people when the government is constantly giving itself more and more power each decade? Is checks and balances really effective considering that each branch has powers of its own that can not be removed or vetoed? Also the fact that they can give theirselves more powers by just simply saying the Constitution IMPLIED it when it said so, so, and so?
I don’t question what I know but I question what I do and what I WILL do with what I know. I question whether what I know is enough? Am i going to be able to use what I know to help or make a difference? Can I help people become more informed and knowledgeable? If I have a one-sided opinion and close mind when it comes to what I know? Or if I like at both sides first and keep and open mind and try to gain more knowledge and evaluate my opinion based on logics and morals? Not on biased beliefs.
I honestly question what I do not know. I question why I do not know it? How can I know about it? Who brought this unknown thing to my attention? Why did they know it? How much and how fast I can learn about it? How could I not know this if I am trying to increase my knowledge? I question big words? Why were they made? Why do I have such a heard time learning the ones I don’t know? Why do I have so many questions? I do not know these things but I do know I question them.
Hope it was insightful. Thanks so much Bromley for deciding to teach our class (even though its just because you didn’t get to do what you wanted) you are an awesome teacher and I hope you come back next year!!Also thanks to your wife Terry because she is so completely awesome and she forced you into doing JSA!! :p Bye gonna miss ya and don’t forget to come to graduation!!!!
Before entering the course, I knew where I stood on my political views and how I thought things should work. However, I also always saw the American system through a very critical and skeptical glass; I don’t know if I say so anymore. After taking the class, I suppose I give a little more leeway towards the founders for the government, but only a little. I still believe the system is corrupted to a point where it needs to be reformed.
Personally, I question almost everything we’ve learned throughout the course and how the system should work. If the system was made a certain way and doesn’t work towards that intended purpose, do we want to continue it? Mainly, I question the constitution and the government in general. I question the branches, the intended and unintended consequences of the government, and how people become political throughout their lives.
I always question what I know. What I mean by that is, I am always trying to shift my views towards what I see as a more logical and fair world (while still being accomplishable). And so that helps me shift my views to expanding areas (coming from a Democrat-> Bush Republican -> Democratic Socialist).
I don’t question anything I don’t know (because I don’t know it) until I come by it, in which case I question everything about it.
What I question about what I knew before here is why is welfare set up in such a way that the people on it cannot get off it unless the find a job with a significantly higher salary?
What I question about my I have learned is that do we the people establish better internal efficacy with the government?
What I question about what I know is how can we make the different factions find some sort of agreement so that our government (specifically congress) does a better job?
What I question about what I do not know is the degrees in which regulation begins t harm business and if across the board regulation is not fair to the small businesses and bank then why can we not just lower the regulations for them? Would this not be bill of attainder because you are no technically singlingbi business you are rather making the regulations have the same effect (so that the regulations are do not put small business and banks out of business and the bigger business either gets around or goes untouched by the regulations? Could this same notion successfully be applied to the tax code.
What do you question about what you previously knew about government and politics before this course, what do you question about what you have learned, what do you question about what you know, and what do you question about what you don’t know?
Before this course, I had minimal knowledge on the subject of the US government. I had taken a 2 week course at school that had glazed over the vital and general subjects, like the checks and balances and judiciary system. I knew a little on world politics and foreign affairs. I question the legitimacy of the government sometimes, as it seems as though the bipartisan qualities and checks and balances really cause ineffectiveness. From what I learned, I question the idealism, as there is no ideal world and we need pragmatism. I question if we can use these ideals but only as a cornerstone, and still come out with a successful outcome. I have questions about the stuff I don’t know, like the sequester and the various court cases.
Thanks Bromley. It was the best!
What do you question about what you previously knew about government and politics before this course, what do you question about what you have learned, what do you question about what you know, and what do you question about what you don’t know?
I have learned more from this course than possibly any other class I have taken. It’s taught me to question my knowledge and inspired me to learn more about every new bill or proposition to congress and to not trust the news or my parents solely for information. I also know how to benefit society by improving the flow of traffic. I have learned so much about government, politics, power, and people, but most of all I have learned to question everything. At first I didn’t understand why we had to write thoughtful questions on all the readings, but having to write them made me question big picture ideas and narrow topics I never even knew I was curious about. That first day of summer school when we got our late assignment of thirty pages and I stayed up until 2 in the morning trying to finish it, I thought I might not be cut out for the job. After finishing this course, I’ve accomplished more than I thought was possible in three weeks, and I’ve learned that maybe I can do this after all. Most importantly, being here at Stanford, taking this class, and questioning everything I know about the way things are has filled me with a passion to change the world. It seems like a bit of a lofty goal, but if there’s anything I could do with my life, I would want it to be up on that capital hill, ensuring liberty, equality, security, and democracy to make the world a better place.
Thank you so much for an amazing three weeks Bromley!!! It’s really changed my life.
Before entering this class, I knew that I was interested in politics but the actual skematics kind of bored me. I enjoyed voicing my opinions to people about my political beliefs and I knew that I was very Democratic. However I never really bothered to learn about the actual government system nor in detail how the three branches worked. Admittedly I didn’t know exactly what each amendment was about but I did know what I viewed to be the important ones. To say this course has changed my view on government is an understatement. I didn’t realize how narrow my knowledge of how government worked was. Nor had I realized the intricacies behind the idea of democracy. I didn’t see the difference between Federal with a big F and little f and nor did I understand that Liberals and liberalism were independent of each other. I don’t think you can really have an appreciation for American History without first understanding the foundation its made on and this class helped give me that foundation.
Honestly hands down this was one of the best classes I’ve taken considering I never once fell asleep (can’t say the same for Catherine). I loved the discussion and to actually be able to talk to people who were knowledgeable and cared about the same things I did. You rock Bromley.
Well for one I question everything now. I had close to no background knowledge before this class. All I knew basically was the fact that our government has a separation of powers and that we are all equal. Since that’s all I knew, I just took that in with no further questioning
Now I understand who, what, and why better but I now question the legitimacy. I wonder if some tactics and practices are genuinely fair for all. Dahl made me question if it is possible for all people with the will in the apolitical strata to enter the political strata? And if they all can’t , then isn’t the government inherently unfair for those people? I also question the validity of factions of whether they help us or not. I mean really, sure groups are good to suit your own needs but can a house divided really stay standing?
I still also question whether or not a great vocabulary will aid me to get far in life.
Before I entered this class, I was very cynical about the way our government runs. When I was reading each night, I noticed that some of the papers were a bit more cynical than I was, but I also noticed that a lot of the papers were trying to justify America’s wrongdoings, and were addressing people who are cynical about the government, like I am. I also questioned everything from the beginning, and because of that, I came into the class questioning how the American Government system really works. I just came out of the class knowing just a bit more about how corrupt some aspects of the government are, and how we are in the need for massive reforms in some areas.