Blog #11: The 2nd Amendment

      Are we to interpret the 2nd Amendment in the context of the actual text and historical setting in which was written OR in terms of the reality of guns in America today?

          The facts on what's written on the books compare to what's is happening these days in America is different because of the change of time. Literally, old American people had the rights to use firing arms were affected by the wars, in which, one of the example, people mostly use guns on the battle and got back to home have their weapons as part of their memories. They have no license of using guns because they were soldiers, they kept their weapons in a safe place without using them. Therefore, they are not using their weapons or no one have had seen it, this is why they think register or license is unnecessary. Continuing, old people could have affected to their children conservatively by what they thought was right for them, and the idea of that keeps go on. Today, American politicians think of bearing arms and using them is extremely important that needed to register and license, from that the government can control the gun use. After all the tragic events that happened in 2012-2013, gun control is a very big topic to talk about. Many solutions came out differently because abundant comments and questions from people were giving out harshly. Politicians think it is a time to restrict strongly on gun use. The main point of the discussion is, the rights of using guns in the past and now is different. We might have to have firing arms as our protection, this is right as written in the past and the today. But using it as a cause of tragic, then it can't be accept. Overall, having guns as protection is slightly different from the past because some people can't control it and use them for their bad plan.

      Based upon your answer above, if you had the FINAL say on gun rights/gun control debate in America today, how would you rule?
          I would strongly restrict the gun use for the safe of people. If people want to use guns, then what they would do is to register and need a license for it. No exceptions are accepted. Airsoft guns and paint guns also need to register, preventing from harmful situation. Some people might think they don't have the rights of using guns, what about the military and police that would use their weapons no matter for good thing or bad. One of the example people would point out is, what if there's a protest's going on the road. Would the police have shields and fences, also guns pointing at protesters, we may predict what would occur. In this case, military and police would be limited the gun use also, they are allowed to use the tasers to control the gangs in any situation. Guns only used for military to defend the country. Finally, my ideal of using guns is extremely restricted.

Blog #10: Duty or Choice

      Is the Affordable Care Act a modern manifestation of Classical Republicanism or an infringement upon our Natural Rights?

          Yes. The Affordable Care Act is an infringement upon the Natural Rights. According to the "Summary of the Affordable Care Act", everybody has to buy the insurance; the cost of insurance takes 8% of their annual income. Otherwise, if they don't buy the insurance, there is a charge of $695 as a penalty. Natural Rights is your right to do whatever is good for you or for others, the ability to help you or others, and also allow you do whatever you want but no harm to others. Buying health insurance helps you in case of not feeling well or having signs of illness, prevent bankruptcy and other issues. But also, part of your payment for health insurance and others will be granted for hardship and immigrants, etc. This is for the good of others by taking part of your money and helps them. Speaking technically, people who live well without signs of illness still have to pay for their penalty, because it's the laws' rule. This is Classic Republicanism type (obey the laws the government has made) but more on against the Natural Rights (because the advantage from the penalty is not necessary, and for those who live healthy don't want to pay the charge, they still have to pay for it). Because it's required from laws and keep pushing people to pay for it, then it's more like an infringement.

Blog #9: Current Event II (North Korea)

Source:
         www.telegraph.co.uk
Holehouse, Matthew. "Move to North Korea If You Want to Trust Politicians." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 03 Aug. 0013. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.

Summary: Taking about  political system, "Dictatorship & Communist system" would be the two that have gained the most "trusts" from people, whoever, people in the country no matter old or young, they all have to to follow and obey every commands a leader willing to speak out.  Although, unlike the two above, democracy and republic are different, ruling a government or a country require a big "YES" from people to make changes. Mention only government members, some politicians may agree on the plan that a leader (or a president) have discuss about, but later on, they secretly make things happen in order to stop it work. Is every government or some government have a good trust on the politicians? The article "Move to North Korea if you want  to trust politicians" - Matthew Holehouse, political correspondent, he has wrote this article based on a speak of Eric Pickles

● Who? The communities secretary, Erik Pickles has a statement on the most trusted government that he had mentioned, Dictatorship and Communism.

● What? He was saying how the members in the government act out to please their leader in the meaning of "I'm trusting you". No doubt on what he's saying, "Cynicism is good. You should always doubt people who have power. Power does corrupt." Yes, folks that are the members of the political system and aware of what would happen. Less power folks, they are affair of being kick out by a leader, because this is a dictatorship system. So they have to be really carefully on behaviors and attitude to their leader, such keep applauding nonstop as Pickle mentioned later. Because the members in political system are having a wealthy life and good condition for their children, yet, they might have others reason. However, it's a bad idea for them to against the government, they could be in trouble later.

● When? & Where?  On 13 Nov 2013, Matthew Holehouse evolved the conversation that Mr. Pickles had talked at Oxford Union.

● Why? Mr. Pickles wonders what could be the request to restore trust in politics. Because after the event of the "Shutdown of White House", it seems like a good topic to discuss about.

Blog #8: DJ TJ, yo!

          Let these truths to be the perfect facts for the Rights of People, the utopia world for people as they would live in. All men and women are created equally to live on this planet, wherever people are living, they have the Rights to live as human. The Liberty, Happiness, Sacrifice, the delightful symbols for perfect form of government. Live strong and free as eagles fly among the big blue sky, be happy with the living of love, sacrifice something to find the best that connects the community. The form of government shall not be tyranny, shall not follow the evil's pathway of selfishness. Here, the statement of strong rule, "Live for the good of people, they will live for the good of you. We all shall share love and present the rights for others, and to develop virtual environment rather than live for the bad side of stupidity. System of Government is the former of people, people are the government, protect the Rights of people as protect the government; without people, there's no government. People deserve the ability to show their morals to others but not the tragedy of harm. Show other countries the history of Great Britain as an example of the freedom independent state; establish the non-tyranny institution states for people to find their utopia world. Let these truths stay strong as for future secure of people, to prove that this world has hope for everybody who wants their rights.

Blog #7: Locke and State of Nature

      "According to Locke, the State of Nature, the natural condition of mankind, is a state of perfect and complete liberty to conduct one's life as one best sees fit, free from the interference of others. This does not mean, however, that it is a state of license: one is not free to do anything at all one please, or even anything that one judges to be in one's interest." - page 1, paragraph 3.

          -In the phrase, "The natural condition of mankind... free from interference of others", the author pressed hard on the key point that human are born with nature ability, human automatically would find out the best environment they want to live in. The understanding of human allowed them to have good decision on how to survive and live well.    

          -In the phrase, "This does not mean... one judge to be in one's interest." It's people's rights to do what they want, but there's a limit of that. It's unlawful to harm others and against human's rights. For example, in other hand, the U.S Government allows citizens to have freedom speeches, in the other hand, it's against the laws speak of hate (really hate on other groups).  The author, Friend, wants to show that Locke a person who is on the balance scale of justice. The author expressed that Locke cares about humans rights and freedom, there is the rights for human to do what they are interested in but also have a limit of what would they do. Humans need to be wise to make the right decisions.

      "The State of Nature is pre-political, but it is not pre-moral." - page 1, paragraph 3. 
          -In this phrase text, the author meant "pre-political, but it is not pre-moral, humans are born with their moral, rights and freedom, treat others kind and well. Thus, without government, State of Nature is still there, people know what's right to do. The author uses this quote as a reminder to people, pre means before, in case of using pre for his sentence, pre-political means before having the government. Therefore, he said but not pre-moral, understand that the State of Nature is, humans are born with moral.

Blog #5: The economist.

"Land free starting look ungovernable enough is enough, no way to run a country" - The economist.

            The U.S is known as a big country that has a strongly growth on economy and science, technology, also a huge military. But, what is happening to the U.S now, which is really bad, a government has shut down nearly two weeks and not yet end. The economist has posted a news on their page about the U.S government has shutting down. On a news page of "The economist", they mostly gave us the facts about what's going on with the government, also the claims that they have written down for people who want this to stop because people can't take this anymore, they are uncomfortable with their feelings. A question people might ask is: "When will this problem end?"

            Claim: "When you are brawling on the edge of a cliff, the big question is not "Who is right?", but "What the hell are you doing on the edge of a cliff?" This question is a big title that people living in the U.S want their government to think about.

            -The quote that an author has written down, that all people ask their government. Folks are living in perturbation, "the talking time of government". They can't take it any longer; they want the government to think about their folks.  What would they do to live without being paid, no job, no money; what about the people who have a hard life condition that is receiving the help from the government, how will they be able to live? So this is a quote that I think it's about. People are complaining their government, and want the government to stop being care themselves more than caring the people.

            Fact: "The shutdown itself is tiresome but bearable. The security services will remain on duty, pensioners will still receive their cheques and the astronauts on the International Space Station will still be able to breathe. Some 800,000 non-essential staff at federal agencies (out of 2.8 millions) is being sent home, while another 1.3 millions are being asked to toil on without pay."

            -This quote is giving the fact of how workers and employees are dealing with the shutdown of the government. Basically, it tells us that the security of people is still remain safely, pensioners are doing ok without worrying; astronauts are used in a sentence as a metaphor that they still live alright and nothing is wrong with breathing, I mean the shutdown of government doesn't affect much in their life. But a large staff of federal agencies went home without pay; 1.3 millions are working as volunteers during the shutdown.

            Claims: "In the short term, House Republicans need to get their priorities straight. They should pass a clean budget resolution without trying to refight old battles over ObamaCare."

            -This quote is opinionated by an author; he thinks the U.S development and the benefits for people in the U.S need to be stabilized otherwise it could be a tragic event for America. Republicans need to be comfortable to Democrats rather than trying to fight them against the ObamaCare and making a harder life more citizens.

Blog #4: Opportunity Cost!

Part I - The Past

Back in September 2010, I moved to America with my family. There were two options for me. First option, I can stay in Vietnam in stead of move to America, huge strange environment, big different society. I can stay with my grandma and see her happy face everyday, also have fun with my great cousins and don't have to say good-bye to my friends. But, the benefits for me to stay in Vietnam is very low. Everything in Vietnam is setup by the government, they arranged how the system works for everyone. Talking about education, all the classes in school are not chose by students, students must take all the classes no matter they like or not. Things are taught in classes mostly based on the USSR academic system, which they don't usually let or avoid students to learn things they are not supposed to know. There are no opportunities for students if they fail on the final test for colleges. Second option, I will move to America to start a new life, be a part of a new society where most of friendly and educated people live. For the living, I can do whatever I want but not illegal things, just things that make life more healthy and precious and also meaningful. I can make new friends and learn cool things from people wherever they are come from because the United States is an International Country obtained all races from over the world. Comparing the U.S education to Vietnam education, the U.S education system let students choose what they want to learn but also arrange students in 4 major required classes. Things that are taught in classes are free sources collected and analyzed by best people, who wants people who live in the U.S to be a better person, better citizens. Although, the opportunity for people to go to college is very high, no matter what at age or any kind of problem.

I chose option B, the second option, which gave me more benefits. Thinking about how I am doing in the U.S compare to myself in Vietnam is a big difference. Living in the U.S, I have a good condition to learn and express myself in a positive way, I learned what I like to and absorbs amazing things from everywhere. I speak out for myself and for others what I think right to do. So, option B gave me more choices in life more than option A, what kept people away from learning things from outside world. The cost is that I felt more freedom and more Bao-style. 

Part II - The Future

First thought appear in my mind was always "How is it gonna be like in my future? I want an happy life." It's been exactly 3 years and 8 days for me living in this freedom land. As a senior who just moved and living here in a short time, I have a lot of things to deal with, such language and cultures. I quickly want to be a part of this new environment and stabilize my life. I think a lot about colleges which will decide what is my life's going to be. One of my choice was joining the Navy after 2 years of college, this gives me an opportunity to learn how the navy soldiers' life is like, travel to the ocean and challenge myself to learn new things. the point is after serve for several years in the navy, I would return home with experience and get a job easily. But this way may take too long for me to stabilize my life. I came up with a new common strategy mean that I will attend to college and study of engineering, which is my dream occupation. This takes about 8 years to stabilize my life and earn a huge amount of money, 4 year degree of college and 2 or 4 more years for master degree maybe. So, the benefit of choosing second choice to me is a good decision. Huge field of study, big environment for me to learn a lot of things and also develop my thinking, I may volunteer (teaching and helping people or schools) sometimes on my free time. Navy life also has a big field of study but I may not be able to do thing I like or volunteer. It's more sticky to a job and it's also not what I really like to do, not enjoying at all (lots of waves: I like to swim but don't like to throwing out). With second choice, I think it's more comfortable and I'm sort of like knowing what to do with my role. 

However, any decision above were good thoughts for me, but I prefer have a steady life that doesn't go up or down too much. I think that would be a good choice for me, just like most of everybody else, go to college and have a stable job.