This week's article

Some of you asked for this, so here it is. Two whole paragraphs and a graphic to look at. You will be asked to identify trends from the text and the graphic. Feel free to jot down a note or two to help with your 2 questions on MONDAY. On the AP US Gov't test, there is a very good chance you will see some sort of graphic and you would be asked to identify and explain what the graphic is telling the reader. HINT: Pay particular attention to the midterm election years.

US Voter Turnout

Enjoy Mr. Thompson

What if?

What if no parents?

World-wide caste system?

Government controlled birth rate

No family values (or at least, different ones)

Drugs wo consequences  (I did this one!!  No le tocas!)

No set relationships (free love)

Moral standardization

Conditioning BEFORE birth (modification of DNA)

Conditioning AFTER birth

No privacy/never alone (except sleep)

All babies out-vitro

One world-wide religion

Homogenous culture

One government – no wars

What if we valued community more than self?

There was complete social order?

Government had more control?

We were cloned

We lived in defined caste system?

Science has a limit – benefits of additional knowledge does not “help”

All desires fulfilled

More heavily conditioned --- or at least, differently than we are now. . .

No individual identity

A perfect drug

All belonged to each other

Monogamy was discouraged – “smut”

Repro was regulated

Always content

What if we valued community more than individualism?

What if we want security more than chaos?

The Election Horse Race

Sometimes, people complain that media coverage of elections is more about the horse race -- who is likely to win or lose -- than any actual discussion of issues.  I suppose in our era of instant gratification we want the answers now, and would prefer not to delay until after the first Tuesday in November.  This can also suppress voter turnout as people believe the election is already set.

Nonetheless, for those wanting the current, best data, here are the two sites with the most accurate predictions.

Electoral-vote.com   The "Votemaster," an expat computer professor in the Netherlands.
Fiverthirtyfive.com   Nate Silver - the statistical guru, now employed by ESPN, formerly with NYTimes.

Did you know you can legally "bet" on elections?  The U of Iowa runs a non-profit "business" where investors can purchase "shares" in upcoming elections.  Real money.  As of October 21, you could buy an option for $0.94 that the US Senate will be controlled by Republicans in the next session.  If this happens, you can sell your share for $1.00.  Prices fluctuate: two months ago that same share would have only cost you $0.64.  Their model has been accurate in that once real money is on the line, most of the emotional bias is removed.  Iowa Electronic Markets.

Enjoy, but please, still vote.

This week's article

As we debate topics that are current issues in the United States...here is an interesting and seemingly contradictory article about the Supreme Court and the Constitution. Enjoy the article and on Friday I will have a question or 2 for you.

Mr. Thompson

This week's article from a recent Gallup poll of 1252 Americans

This link gets you to this week's article. Read for Wednesday. Pay attention to the charts that have been included as they paint the same picture that the article does.

Mr. Thompson

Google Site

Just a reminder, the Google site contains documents and powerpoints students have asked us to upload, including the review for Friday's test.

"Trying something new"

Each week or two, I am going to post an article relevant to what we are studying in class. Your job will be to read the article looking for main idea and relevance (jotting down some key notes would be appropriate). At the end of the week, you will get a couple of key questions asked of you about the article.

Here is your first article - America's Post Crash Constitution. Friday Oct. 10th will be our first evaluation.
Mr. Thompson

Mid Terms Election Predictions

Here is the link to the info I shared with you in class for those of you curious or politically inclined. Click on the map to open the graphics I showed you in class.

Mr. Thompson