Blog #14

NSA phone data collection 'illegal', US court rules

A former NSA employee Edward Snowden has leaked info about collecting data from private phone lines. Since then he has fled to Russia. The program hasn't been stopped yet but the supreme court is urging congress to take action. The NSA has been collecting phone numbers called and the times when they were called but not the actual content of conversations. Don't worry they aren't monitoring peoples conversations. Also it may have spied on some European businesses.

I think that the NSA shouldn't be doing this in the first place. I understand that since 911 terrorism has been an issue but I don't know if this is the answer. We have the freedom to privacy and that shouldn't be broken. I think that the NSA should try to protect us in other ways or try and get warrants on the people they are really worried about.

This related to AP gov because it deals with right to privacy and the patriot act which allows the government to interfere with the right to privacy with some limitations. It also shows the bill amending process.

Blog #13

Peaceful protests return to Baltimore streets

After a night of violence and looting peaceful protest has returned to the city of Baltimore. Demonstrations and protests are being carefully watched by 2,000 National Guard troops and 1,000 police officers trying to keep things calm. There is a 10pm curfew in place. Protests have been continuing daily since April 19th when a black man died in custody. There are still street battles and arson going on right now. 200 people were arrested and and over 100 cars were set on fire along with 15 buildings destroyed. Rioting came after Freddie Gray (a black man) was fatally injured while in custody. Some people think that they are taking advantage of the special situation to do things normally not allowed at all.

I neither agree or completely disagree with these protests. I think that the Black population is overreacting. I was not able to find any info about death in custody but I did find statistics related to arrest related deaths. The information said that 61.5% was by Homicide (Killed by someone else). This would most likely show that deaths are most likely from the police themselves. The interesting part for me was that the characteristics specified that most deaths were from White (42.1%), Male (95.4%), and from an age of about 25 to 34 (28.9%). So the graph and the math say that most police deaths are from young-ish white dudes. I am fairly certain (unless I am don't pay attention at all) that there aren't many anti-police protests about the Hispanic guy killed or the White guy killed. Only the Black guys. That's all I have to say about that.

This relates to AP-Gov because is shows the Judicial process and also the Executive power to call the National Guard (militia) and the Executive responsibility to enforce the law.

Link to Statistics done by the Department of Justice

Blog #12

Loretta Lynch confirmed as new US attorney general

Loretta Lynch was recently confirmed by the senate. It was a 56-43 vote that resulted in her being appointed. She is replacing Eric Holder for this position. Eric Holder has been the attorney general since Obama became president. During her hearings to become the attorney general she talked about her plans to protect against terrorist threats and increase cyber-security. She also plans on making better relations between law enforcement and minority communities. She is expected to take office on Monday.

I think this is good. Eric holder wasn't doing his job and hopefully Loretta Lynch will better enforce border security and do her job. When she gets into office she will be immediately met by several financial cases involving US banks helping citizens evade taxes. I hope that Loretta Lynch does her job and makes sure that everything goes smoothly.

This relates to AP Government because it is related to the approving process of the senate. It shows the checks and balances system in place to make sure no branch is to powerful. I am glad this is in place to make sure that random people aren't appointed to these very important tasks.

Blog #11

US fast food wage protests expand to other industries
Jack Farmer

Fast food and Home care workers are now demanding an increase in minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 and hour. They feel like they aren't getting enough money to support them self and they feel like $15 would support their needs. This would increase unemployment though. It would mean businesses would have to lay off many of their employees due to how much more they would have to pay. Almost twice as much as they are now. The other alternative is a price increase in the goods we buy. If businesses are paying more they have to make more money to support their new expenses by raising prices of their goods which would defeat the point of increasing the minimum wage. Barrack Obama does support this because it would help the economy even though the effects could be worse.

I think that the minimum wage shouldn't be increased so much for several reasons. This change would increase unemployment by 200% in fast food restaurants just because of the cost. Also if the minimum wage increase and people pay more for their products a devaluation will occur where the value of money decreases. If this happens inflation will occur and the cost of imports would increase which would in the long run hurt the economy. I also believe that unskilled labor should not be payed that much that much because they didn't go to college and get any skill that makes them useful to employers.

This relates to A.P. government because it shows the first amendment rights to assemble and petition. The employees protesting are practicing their rights. Today's efforts with protesting the minimum wage have been the largest protest made by this group yet.

Iran nuclear deal: Can the US Congress sabotage it?

Iran nuclear deal: Can the US Congress sabotage it?

The white house officials are happy about new framework made with Iran recently. Republicans in Congress are remaining skeptical about the situation though. The deal is to contain the Iranian nuclear program. They are planning to reduce how the uranium can be. It cant be strong enough to be a weapon and it also will be monitored by other countries.

I think that this is a good thing. I really don't think that Iran should have a nuclear program. I think that they would abuse this power and create nuclear weapons if they haven't already. I think that the senate should not get rid of this because of how much it limits Iran's power.

This relates to AP gov because it shows that senate has power to do things like control treaties and agreements made with other countries. This would be a check made against the executive branch by the legislative branch

Blog #9

Indiana set to enact 'religious freedom' bill

The Indiana governor is going to enact a religious freedom bill soon. The bill is expected to be signed this week because of lots of protests. This bill will prevent businesses from being forces to provide services that are contrary to their religion. The governor of Arizona recently vetoed a bill very similar to this because of pressure from big companies like Apple and American Airlines.

I think that this is acceptable but I don't necessarily agree with this. I don't think it is good that companies were forced to give service to people but I do think that the companies should be able to choose whether of not to allow service for certain people. I think that this is the specific business's choice to allow or not allow some people service because it is their own private business.

This has to relate with AP government because it has to do with the legislative branch of government passing laws. It also has to do with states being able to make their own laws and regulations based on their certain situations.

Blog #8

Target follows rival Walmart in wage increase


In this article explains that Target will increase their wages to compete with Walmart for jobs. The new raise in wage will begin in April. This decision came recently after Walmart and TJ Maxx's owners decided to also increase wages. Also some labor unions have been petitioning for a greater "living wage" for their workers which will be greater than minimum wage.


I think that this is good. I think that this move is a direct effect of economic improvement. It is great for employees and if the employers can afford it then i think that they should. I think the minimum wage is good right now and if the government increased or decreased it the businesses wouldn't be able to go through wage change in their own way and at their own pace.


This has to do with AP gov because labor unions were involved. It also shows separation of powers because Obama has tried to change the minimum wage in the past and congress most likely disagreed. The labor unions are also exercising their rights be petitioning.