US Government (Wednesday, January 11, 4th period)

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh looked up from the pile of electoral data he had been studying when students began arriving.

"Welcome to US Government. I'm Josh Lyman and up until a few weeks ago I was the deputy chief of staff for President Josiah Bartlet. You may all be suitably impressed now." He looked around the room. "Good."


"This is a class about how the US government works, or on occasion, comes to a screeching, painful halt. I've worked in both the legislative and executive branches and worked extensively with the judicial branch as well, so I'm very excited to bring my wealth of knowledge of all things government to your eager young minds."

He took a sip of coffee. "Okay, maybe I'm not excited, and maybe you're not eager, but work with me here, people. Knowing how the government works is part of your responsibility as Americans. Um, if you are Americans. If you're not, learning about the government of this completely other country is a fascinating hobby that will get you lots of dates." He raised an eyebrow. "Really.

"This class will focus mostly on the federal government and how it operates because I'm running the class and find all things dealing with state and local politics to be stupefyingly boring." He held up a hand. "You might have other opinions, but I, well, don't care that much."

He handed around copies of the class syllabus. "As it says so clearly at the top of the page, today we discuss why you should care about government. Now I know why I care about the government, but explain to me why you care at all what bills the House of Representatives is debating, or who sits on the Supreme Court. Or who's elected President, or governor, or to the local school board." He waved his hand. "Or if you don't, explain that too."

He sat down at his desk and pointed at random to a student. "You. Name, class, why you care about government."

Comments

Sign in (January 11, Government)

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

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Re: Sign in (January 11, Government)

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

Lee signs in.

Re: Sign in (January 11, Government)

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam signed in.

Re: Sign in (January 11, Government)

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John signs in and reads the directions this time!

Re: Sign in (January 11, Government)

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel signs in.

Re: Sign in (January 11, Government)

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana signs in.

Re: Sign in (January 11, Government)

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

Marty signs in like he was a rock star.

To Joshua Lyman,
Thanks for teaching! You're class is a ray of sunshine on an otherwise dreary cloudy day! Keep on rockin' in the free world!

-Martin Q. Blank

Re: Sign in (January 11, Government)

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

Kawalsky signed in.

Re: Sign in (January 11, Government)

[kitty--fetish.livejournal.com]

Alphonse signed in.

Re: Sign in (January 11, Government)

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

Peter signed in and casually made note of who works in present tense vs. past tense because it amused him.

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[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth signed in

Re: Sign in (January 11, Government)

[wannabelawyer.livejournal.com]

Lindsey signs in.

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[blueskin-mystiq.livejournal.com]

Mystique signs in.

Discussion question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

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Re: Discussion question

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Sam Carter. Junior. I care about the government because they pay my stipend checks because they possess the big working 'gate to other planets and galaxies because the rules it makes have a direct effect on my life. Like voting, drinking, or minimum driving ages to name three things I can't do anymore , as examples."

Re: Discussion question

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I care about government because, um, despite the big words and confusing terms they use, they're affecting my life in some way, shape or form and I believe I should be well informed about that so I know what's happening and what I can do to be proactive about it."

Re: Discussion question

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

“I’m Lee Adama, junior. I believe very strongly in PRINCIPLES in democracy and the consent of the people and all that good stuff and that we all have the right to strong leadership in a government that works.”

Re: Discussion question

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"I care about what goes on in the government because what it does effects me or people around me. A friend died fighting overseas, sons, brothers, fathers are fighting in a war I still don't think I understand.

Re: Discussion question

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Like so many of my classmates have said, I care because the decisions they make affect me, even if I'm only 16. Is the power plant down the road getting a waiver on clean air emissions because they donated to the right party? What does that do to the air I breath? I'd also like to know why they'd like to dissect me but that's another conversation entirely."

Re: Discussion question

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

Marty rolls his eyes. "I *don't* care. I'm just here for the credit. The only service the government truly provides these days is public realtions. Why should I care about a bunch of corrupt bureaucratic entities? Their only agenda is to keep power away from the people and dupe the American public into thinking that the government actually gives a damn."

Re: Discussion question

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

Kawalsky had a feeling some of this class was going to go straight over his head, but so far it was okay. "I'm Charlie Kawalsky. Junior. I don't care so much about who makes up the government. I do care about making sure they do their jobs and what they do while they're doing their jobs." He ticked off a list of stuff he cared about. "Defense spending, health care, the economy, industry. I like this country a helluva lot and the government keeps it running."

Re: Discussion question

[kitty--fetish.livejournal.com]

"I'm Alphonse Elric, a freshman. I actually don't know a whole lot pertaining to different governments and politics, so it would be nice to learn about them. I do know that they rule countries to a certain degree, and keep order. I know there's a lot more behind it to that, but I'm afraid I don't know it in-depth. Hopefully this will change, though."

Re: Discussion question

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

"I'm Peter Parker. Sophomore. I care about the government because I was almost forced to kill the President because I pissed off one of the very top military leaders in my dimension and the government is going to be breathing down my back soon because I find the way power works at that level fascinating. Who makes what decisions, why they make those decisions, and why I should actually trust any of it. It's fun stuff. I figure this class may be able to help me get to the point where I can actually look at this stuff with something more than regular paranoia. But is it really paranoia if one of the most powerful men in the world actually is out to get you?"

After class...

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

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OOC

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

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