Link to Prezi.com
Many students are now using Prezi.com to make eye-catching presentations for use in the Modern Studies class.
It’s free to get an account with a school based email address. Sign up here http://prezi.com/
Obama backs down on vetoing Bill but struggle goes on
A quick update on the previous post about President Obama threatening to use his veto power to stop a proposed Bill linking a payroll tax with a new oil pipeline between the US and Canada. Earlier this week it appeared that a deal had been struck and the President would now sign the Bill into law.
More on the story can be found at BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16232716
However, today the Speaker of the House of Representatives said that he and his fellow Republicans would now reject the proposed bi-partisan (supported by both parties) Bill.
BBC News has this to say: “If Congress cannot reach a deal by the end of this month, the payroll tax rate will rise by 2% in the new year, which analysts warn could hurt a fragile economic recovery. The package, supported by President Barack Obama, would also extend benefits for the long-term unemployed and avert deep cuts to doctors’ Medicare fees. Public confidence in Congress has hit historic lows after a series of bitter and last-minute fights between Democrats and Republicans over spending and taxes.”
Full story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16251124
Defending voter’s rights
More USA material from BBC News – The US Attorney General (most senior government lawyer) Eric Holder, is challening changes to voting laws made by states which he says breach the 1965 Voting Rights Act and would unfairly disadvantage minority voters. He is also critical of changes to electoral districts made in Texas which are currently being challenged in the Supreme Court.
More here
Good USA politics example
Payroll tax cut passes House with pipeline conditions
From BBC News today comes this story that gives a good example of US politics in action. The Republican dominated House of Representatives has passed a Bill to cut taxes for businesses. The HOR wants to link the Bill to a proposed oil pipeline between the USA and Canada (a little bit of pork barrelling by the Republicans).
However, the Senate (where the Democrats have a majority) is unlikely to pass the Bill and President Obama has promised that he will veto the Bill if the link to the pipeline is included.
Full story here
Let it snow!
The site is currently being updated so expect to see the theme change a few times over the next few days while I try out some different styles. Also, to get you in the festive mood I’ve added some snow!
Email for work
Homework, questions and suggestions can be sent to robertsonw@st-macharacademy.aberdeen.sch.uk
USA illegal immigration Powepoint
As I mentioned in the class today, I have uploaded the powerpoint showing illegal border crossings into the USA. Iwill upload the other one when we finish it in class. There are also many video clips and other resources located on the Higher Revision page.
It was the Sun wot won it!
The Sun’s famous headline is frequently mentioned by students in essays about media influence. To be honest it is a little dated now. However, of interest to pupils might be this webpage from the Sun which talks about them switching their loyalties back to the Conservatives. As well as analysis there are some interesting video clips too.
I’ve also had a request to upload some of the powerpoints we’ve used on the media to the site so I will link to them below…
Evidence that the Media Influences political behaviour - basically an essay plan
HMSC2011-TheRoleoftheMedia_001[1] - from last year’s Higher Modern Studies Conference. Takes a wider look at the role fo the Media in politics and society but some useful parts.
Health and Welfare reforms
A key exam question is usually one that asks you to assess the impact of government policies on health and wealth in the UK. With the recent election lots of new policies and initiatives have been announced by the new Coalition to replace those of New Labour. Smart candidates should start finding out about these as soon as possible!
Over the next week or so I will be updating the blog with some links to resources for you to look at on the topic.
To get you started you might want to have a look at this programme currently available on iplayer: The Future State of Welfare with John Humphrys
Description: “In February 2011, David Cameron announced a welfare reform bill he described as the most fundamental, ambitious and radical since the benefit system began. The cost of benefit, he said, had gone up by nearly 60 billion pounds in the last decade. Critics say that the welfare state is in crisis.
And yet at the same time, there’s resounding support among the British public for welfare. In an Ipsos MORI poll commissioned for this programme, 92 per cent of adults agreed with the statement that it is important to have a benefits system to provide a safety net for anyone that needs it.
John Humphrys travels the country to talk to the people with the most to lose: people on incapacity benefit; the long-term unemployed; people on housing benefit; lone parents. Are they prepared for the harsher future ahead? He returns to the area where he was born – Splott in Cardiff – to show how attitudes to work and welfare have changed in his lifetime. When he was growing up, a man who didn’t work was regarded as a pariah; today, one in four of the working-age population in Splott is on some form of benefit. John also visits America, where 15 years ago they embarked on what has been called a ‘welfare revolution’. Is this more punitive model where the UK heading? He looks at specific reforms the Government has in mind or has begun already.
Humphrys concludes that the public don’t like what they see as a growing sense of entitlement among some groups claiming benefits, and politicians respond to the public mood. He argues that there is strong consensus across political divides, and that reform would edge the UK back towards the original Beveridge vision of welfare.”
This poll was commisioned to go along with the programme and is good evidence about public attitudes towards welfare.
Even some MPs are concerned about the new policies
Some useful information on Pressure Groups
Dr Justin Greaves from the University of Warwick has kindly allowed me to link to a video of one of his lectures on Pressure Groups. The page also contains links to some useful youtube clips (still not viewable from school sadly) and the powerpoint presentations he produced to accompany the lectures. This is probably of most use to Higher and Advanced Higher pupils looking to supplement their lessons on Pressure Groups.
Click here to visit the site.
Many thanks again to Dr Greaves for allowing us to share his work.
