Mariama Diallo
Pol 166
Homework 11
12/19/15

“institutions no longer represent voters. Instead, they have been short-circuited, steadily corrupted by an institutionalized system of bribery that renders them responsive to powerful interest groups whose constituencies are the major corporations and wealthiest Americans. The courts, in turn, when they are not increasingly handmaidens of corporate power, are consistently deferential to the claims of national security. Elections have become heavily subsidized non-events that typically attract at best merely half of an electorate whose information about foreign and domestic politics is filtered through corporate-dominated media. Citizens are manipulated into a nervous state by the media’s reports of rampant crime and terrorist networks, by thinly veiled threats of the Attorney General and by their own fears about unemployment. What is crucially important here is not only the expansion of governmental power but the inevitable discrediting of constitutional limitations and institutional processes that discourages the citizenry and leaves them politically apathetic.”

I chose this passage because I can understand how the media can put fear in citizens heart.  I believe citizens need to stand up for their rights and ask for political correctness without feeling powerless or as if there will always be a repercussion if they make their voice be heard or if they fight for what is correct. Citizens should never be uninterested in what they have a right to speak up about.

Free Ride

Mariama Diallo
Pol 166
Homework 10
December 12, 2015

"There is a logic to social movements, which brings up the same problems of collective action, namely the free-rider problem. People have an incentive to free-ride as well, if civil rights legislation is passed it will benefit all minority groups affected, but there is still a tendency not to contribute assistance and to allow someone else to do the work of providing this benefit."

This passage from the reading by Olsen is describing the average American. Most people have an opinion on who their political representative should be, but they believe that their voice does not count. As mentioned by Olsen, people tend to "free-ride."  In other words, they sit back and relax while others contribute to an action that's going to benefit the whole group. I chose this passage because as part of a minority group and a Muslim I have been in situations where I find myself trying to persuade my fellow minority group to make their voices count and it is their opinions that whatever is going to happen politically will happen whether or not they take a part in fighting for that benefit.

The Texas Abortion Laws

Mariama Diallo
Pol 166
Homework #9
11/28/15



“Roe (P), a pregnant single woman, brought a class action suit challenging the constitutionality of the Texas abortion laws. These laws made it a crime to obtain or attempt an abortion except on medical advice to save the life of the mother.
Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit included Hallford, a doctor who faced criminal prosecution for violating the state abortion laws; and the Does, a married couple with no children, who sought an injunction against enforcement of the laws on the grounds that they were unconstitutional. The defendant was county District Attorney Wade (D).”

    At the end of this trial the plaintiffs Roe and Hallford both won their lawsuits; However, the Does’ lost their suit. The decision that dismissed the Does’ was in regards to the fact, that according to the district court, “injunctive relief against enforcement of the law was not warranted.” The court believed that the case was based off something unsubstantiated and was unnecessary. Whereas, with Roe and Hallford there was a clear standing to sue. They won their cases on the fact that the the Texas abortion laws were “void as vague” and because of the plaintiffs Ninth and fourth Amendment rights. I choose this passage due to its plaintiffs and particular suits. The ending decisions were clear yet complicated.


   

The Speech of President Obama

Mariama Diallo

POL 166

Homework # 8

President Obama's’ Inauguration Speech.

“The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works, whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.”

A size of a government doesn't really matter when it comes to its functionality. For example, some nations have a large government, but serves its citizens very poorly. On the other hand, other nations have a small government, but have a very functioning government by meeting all of its citizens need (jobs, health care, and education etc...). Therefore, the goal of every nation leaders should be to ensure that all its citizens are treated equally and fairly. These kind of assurance can only be achieved when each family in this nation can find jobs with decent wages, affordable health care benefit, and retirement that is dignified. Moreover, the size of a government is very insignificant to its functionality.

“We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth.”

The United State of America is one of the greatest country in the world because it gives the citizens the freedom to practice their religions and cultures freely. For example, the New York City population is made of different people from around the world that speaks different languages.  Walking on the streets of Harlem in the summer you will see Africans wearing clothing from their country and hearing them speak their native languages.  I as a Muslima, I feel really blessed to be living in this country (USA) because I get to practice my religion (Islam) freely. I get to wear my hijab outside the home without being harass by others, and I get to perform my Salah (prayer) anywhere without me being judged by others.

What is Gerrymandering?

Mariama Diallo

POL 166

HW 7

11/14/15

“Gerrymandering is at least partly to blame for the lopsided Republican representation in the House. According to an analysis I did last year, the Democrats are underrepresented by about 18 seats in the House, relative to their vote share in the 2012 election. The way Republicans pulled that off was to draw some really, really funky-looking Congressional districts. Contrary to one popular misconception about the practice, the point of gerrymandering isn't to draw yourself a collection of overwhelmingly safe seats. Rather, it's to give your opponents a small number of safe seats, while drawing yourself a larger number of seats that are not quite as safe, but that you can expect to win comfortably.”

In this passage, the author highlights the disadvantages and the misconception of gerrymandering. The weight of gerrymandering always tilts on one side it never balances. Gerrymandering works in favor of only one particular party because this particular party redraw the district boundaries to give themselves an electoral advantage. It has been used at state level by both parties in order to keep control of houses. In recent years Republicans have used Gerrymandering to keep many houses under control even after losing the popular vote in many states. Gerrymandering began in 1812 in Boston; it was created by Governor Elbridge Gerry in reaction to the redrawing of Massachusetts state election districts. Gerrymandering is mainly used for the purpose of political advantages. These advantages are only there to help one particular party or group by manipulating the boundaries of different districts to create strong supporters of a political party. There are several tactics to gerrymandering; the different gerrymandering tactics are as follow: Cracking, which involves the spreading of a particular kind of voters in many districts; Packing, means to focus on many voters of one party into a single electoral district; andKidnapping, involves the moving of areas where there are many supporters of a certain elected official.

I chose this passage because it is very important for every citizen of a nation to know how its voting system works. Before reading this assignment I didn't know about gerrymandering.

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History is Weapon

Mariama Diallo

History Is a Weapon

By Marshall

Citizens, your fathers made good that resolution. They succeeded; and to-day you reap the fruits of their success. The freedom gained is yours; and you, therefore, may properly celebrate this anniversary. The 4th of July is the first great fact in your nation's history-the very ringbolt in the chain of your yet undeveloped destiny.  Pride and patriotism, not less than gratitude, prompt you to celebrate and to hold it in perpetual remembrance. I have said that the Declaration of Independence is the ringbolt to the chain of your nation's destiny; so, indeed, I regard it. The principles contained in that instrument are saving principles. Stand by those principles, be true to them on all occasions, in all places, against all foes, and at whatever cost.

       This paragraph is outlining the importance of the foundation laid by the 56 men that signed the declaration of independence. The declaration of Independence gave birth to a new nation, a free and independent nation from oppressive rule and tyranny. The declaration adopted on July 4th paved the way to all that we as a nation hold true today. Truth that all men are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. It is the moral document that laid the foundation for the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

      These truths and rights have made America today the best democracy on earth, where every human being enjoy all the rights and freedoms listed in the bill of rights- The document that was adopted on July 4th is what hold and allowed for the American ideal we are living in today. It spurred American diversity and superiority around the world. That is reason to celebrate and protect at any cost that which allowed us to hold all these rights and freedoms.

A Lecture on the Anti-Slavery Movement

10/31/2015

Mariama Diallo

                                    A Lecture on the Anti-Slavery Movement

Ladies and gentlemen, I am not superstitious, but I recognize an arm stronger than any human arm, and an intelligence higher than any human intelligence, guarding and guiding this Anti-Slavery cause, through all the dangers and perils that beset it, and making even auxiliaries of enemies, and confounding all worldly wisdom for its advancement. Let us trust that arm—let us confide in that intelligence—in conducting this movement; and whether it shall be ours to witness the fulfillment of our hopes, the end of American slavery or not, we shall have the tranquil satisfaction of having faithfully adhered to eternal principles of rectitude, and may lay down life in the triumphant faith, that those principles will, ultimately, prevail.

In this passage, Frederick Douglass is encouraging himself and the Ladies of the Rochester Anti-Slavery Movement to continue the Anti-Slavery Movement even though the road will be full of obstacles. Frederick Douglass also believed that their hard work and dedication will one day prevail because the higher power of god was is and will protect and direct the Anti-Slavery Movement to victory. In addition, Frederick Douglass believed that one day people’s conscience will change and they (Frederick Douglass and the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society) might not live long enough to witness that moment.  

I choose this passage because it is very important to me. I believe in the power of God; he likes justice; he likes people to be just to one and other regardless of their gender, race, and ethnicity etc. therefore, God will help people like Frederick Douglass win the battle of justice during their life time or after but justice will always prevail.