Reflection wk 6 October 21 (Alexander Hamilton)

                “While all believed that the credit of the new government should be established, these were highly controversial proposals.  First, the new taxes appeared to be laid disproportionately on tea and the other widely used consumer items and on activities carried on only by back-country farmers, such as making whiskey out of whatever surplus grain they could not transport to eastern markets.  Second, the current holders of Revolutionary War bonds and other obligations were speculators and financiers who had avidly bought at very low discounted prices; to pay them back at full value would result in enormous profits for them and nothing for the people who had actually provided the money in patriotic response to the urgent call of Congress.  James Madison led the fight in the House of Representatives to pay the original purchasers at least some proportion of their investment, but Hamilton’s argument prevailed.  This issue precipitated the first in the series of internal conflicts that soon drove Madison and Thomas Jefferson to form a political party to oppose the Federalists.  Third, some states had already paid back their wartime debts, and their representatives objected to contributing further revenues to pay the unpaid debts of other states.  Fourth, a national bank would overshadow state banks and give its wealthy investors additional power and profit and did not appear within the Constitution’s grant of powers to Congress.”  (Alexander Hamilton’s Program)

            What was interpreted from this paragraph was that the credit that the new government created was controversial for consumers and country farmers; while persons that had purchase War bonds were cashing them in at full value making a huge profit and nothing was there for the genuine patriots.  While some states have managed to pay the debts they refuse to contribute to the debts of other states, and national banks were form to overshadow state bank which would provide huge profit for wealthy investors and power.  This led Madison and Jefferson to form a political party that opposes the Federalists.

            I choice this paragraph because Alexander Hamilton aim was rapid growth and expansion and to do so he worked on arm forces and by sending men to war he manage to make the rich richer and the poor continue to struggle; this brings back the memory of When George Bush became president, within 6 months of his election Bush manage to send troops to war, 911 and watch the stock market crash, and the person that seem to have benefited from these events were those who were already wealthy.  With the 911 dilemma and the stock market jobs were lost and poor/lower class started to suffer as jobs, home and benefits were lost; while the rich were able to file bankrupt and still live a wealthy life the poor continues to feel the pain of all that have happen.  

Possible Mid-Term Questions

1. As an African/Caribbean/Latino/American what does the creed of America mean for you? Do you think how society is today the Creed of America stands for all Americans? What would you define as being patriotic to America?
2.  What are the difference between federalist and anti-federalist?  How have the two impacted America historically?
3.  What is Liberty? List and define the two types of liberty?  Do you think that the Amendments written affects our liberty? If yes/no explain?

Reflection wk 5 October 14 (Federalist 54)

“It is not contended that the number of people in each State ought not to be the standard for regulating the proportion of those who are to represent the people of each State.  The establishment of the same rule for the apportionment of taxes will probably be as little contested; though the rule itself, in this case, is by no means founded on the same principle.  In the former case, the rule is understood to refer to the personal rights of the people, with which it has a natural and universal connection.  In the latter, it has reference to the proportion of wealth of which it is in no case a precise measure, and in ordinary cases a very unfit one.  But notwithstanding the imperfection of the rule as applied to the relative wealth and contributions of the States, it is evidently the least exceptionable among the practicable rules and had too recently obtained the general sanction of America not to have found a ready preference with the convention.” (Federalist No. 54)

This statement is in reference to portion of representative in each State; it also brought to light the apportionment of taxes which the rule does not apply equally to all members of State, as person of wealth in this period of time seem to gain more from the head count within State.  During 1620-1800 slave would not be counted as they were property of slave owners, however for State such as New York they would be counted as 3/5; although not a whole number they still made numbers for the State.  This process still today affect the economy in New York when you take in light the prison system where prisoners from New Jersey are counted; although they are members of New Jersey they are counted in New York as they are being held in New York prisons.  Only difference is they are now counted as whole and not 3/5.

I choose to reflect on this portion of federalist 54 as many may say slavery as been abolish, however  as the 13 amendment states “neither slavery or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted”:  This means that slavery have been abolish except for those who have been convicted of a crime.  Federalist 54 no longer counts them as 3/5 however they remain slave of the State because of their conviction and they continues to make larger numbers for the State.

Reflection wk 4 October 4 (The Constitution of the United States of America)

AMENDMENT VI

                In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial Jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witness against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witness in his favor and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

This states that anyone that is accused of a crime should receive a speedy trial, under the stat or district the crime have been committed and that the Jury of the state be aware of the crime committed by the accused.  It also states that this individual as the right to a counsel of his choice to defend him. 

                In review of the current justice system in America this amendment is one which has not been followed accurately.  There are people that have been locked up and have not been tried for the crime they have been accused of.  I may be looking too deep as the Amendment did not give a full definition of a speedy trial which may lead to people being locked up for a long time but not tried.