What do YOU believe? Why?

Who would you like to see win the Whitehouse in November?   Do you want to see Joni Ernst re-elected?  Who would you like to win our open seat in the House of Representatives in November?  Should states expand absentee / mail - in voting, or is it true that it is too vulnerable to fraud?  Are we doing enough to ensure that the Russians don't meddle in our elections again?  Should partisan gerrymandering be ruled unconstitutional?  Should the Supreme Court revisit Citizen's United in order to decrease the role of money in politics?  Should the U.S. speak out against Israel's plan to annex West Bank lands?  Should U.S. withdraw from the World Health Organization?  Is it time to pull our armed forces out of the longest war in the United States' history?

These questions may not interest you at this point, but you now understand that these decisions that will be getting made for you will have a tremendous impact on you and what options are open for you as you reach the end of your high school path, and possibly college path in just five short years.    For your blog post this week, pick one of these questions, or a different one of similar importance, and research and write your opinion.  Your two paragraph mini argumentative essay should be titled with your opinion... something like....  "President Trump's re-election in Novemeber would be best for the U.S.."   Then make your case with a knowledgable basis and references to the article you selected as a basis.   You don't have to agree with the article - but it must inform you in your opinion in some way.  This is not a typical summary and reaction paragraph - and I will not give you credit for that.   You must take a position on an important question of political or national importance.

Your post should be made by Wed. midnight.  Your comments on 2 classmates posts are due Fri. midnight.  One comment must disagree (respectfully) with your classmate, and provide reasoning. 

2020: What's at Stake?

An election like 2020 only comes once every 20 years. Here's what’s at stake.

Watch the video above before searching for an article to read and post that addresses the significance of the 2020 election.  In future weeks we will get into Iowa politics and personalities.   I want this post to focus on the current events with national electoral implications.

As with previous posts, post a link to the article you selected, the title, a summary paragraph and a reaction paragraph.   This should be posted by Wed. midnight.  Commenting on 2 classmates for the 4 assignment for this interval should be done by Friday midnight.

For those of you who are 18 by November 3, you should already be shopping for your canddiates.  Iowa will hold a primary election on June 2.  This election that will determine candidiates running for the Senate (Joni Ernst is up for re-election).  Dave Loebsack from the 2nd district U.S. House of Representatives is retiring so his seat is open.  Remember that incumbency advantage is so huge - an open seat is seen as big opportunity - so many candidates on both sides are vying for that seat.

To register to vote, check out this web site:
https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/primary/index.html

To check to see where your beliefs align with the candidates running for these seats, check out
isidewith.com     I just took that quiz again recently as a short cut to see who I should take a closer look at.  Click on My Ballot  to see alignment to statewide candidates.

Talking about Checks and Balances!!!

Does the President have absolute immunity from investigations by Congress and local prosecutors  into his conduct as a private citizen, as long as he's still in office?
The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments via telephone and video this week.  You might even catch real time Tweet commenting by interested parties for the first time ever!!

President Trump to claim 'absolute immunity' from subpoenas in Supreme Court appeal

For Assignment 1 in Interval 3:  due Wednesday midnight

Read the posted article that summarizes the background and current status of this issue.  Then look for an article that challenges or looks deeper into something related to this topic.  Post the link, a paragraph summary and a paragraph reaction.  

For Assigment 2 in Interval 3:  due Friday midnight

Skim classmates and comment on the content / opinion of 2 of your classmates - respectfully.  If you do not submit both comments by the end of the day Friday, you will have to email me a screenshot of your comments, as I will comb through all posts and comments only once.