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

Discussion question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

...

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

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"Nice examples," Josh said, nodding.

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

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"Writing letters always makes 'em cranky," Josh replied with a grin. "There are entire sections of offices in the three branches of government devoted to answering to the voters. The more informed you are, the harder their job becomes." Josh scrubbed his hands through his hair. "At the end of this class, you should be able to ask them some fairly pointed questions."

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

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam started humming "Hail to the Chief" very quietly under her breath. Parker'd probably end up getting him elected to something sooner or later anyway.

Re: Discussion question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh smiled. "Have you ever thought of running for something? You've got quite a way with rhetoric."

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

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh smiled at Lana, then looked down at his class list. "I'm sorry. Are you signed up for government as well as history? I don't seem to have your name listed."

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

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh nodded. "And motivated young people, even if they are below the voting age, scare politicians," he said. "Because they know that they are reporting back to all of their voting-age relatives who might not care about the issue their kid is talking about but cares very much about how they're being treated." He grinned. "Use that to your advantage."

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

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

*Isabel watches for the smackdown*

Re: Discussion question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh leaned against his desk, blinking, as he listened to the rant. "Well, since you didn't give me your name, I'm gonna call you Clarence.

"So, Clarence. I'll give you that the government produces an awful lot of hot air. But it also provides--and this is just off the top of my head-- schooling for every kid in this country, housing and health care for the underpriveleged and a pretty kick-ass military in case the Canadians start getting a little frisky." He smirked. "Fortunately for you, this particular government also allows for citizens to say pretty much whatever they'd like against it or else this classroom would've been visited by serious-looking guys with big weapons and bad suits and I would've had to spend the rest of the hour reminding everyone that there'd never been a student named Clarence here at all."

He raised an eyebrow. "But you made an interesting point."

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

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh nodded. "A very sensible approach," he said.

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

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"Oh, it'll change," Josh replied with a smile. "I have a bit of a reputation for being a government nerd, even among other government nerds. Welcome to class, Alphonse."

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?"

Re: Discussion question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"Then you are definitely in the right place, Peter Parker," Josh said. "I can tell you all of that. Well, some of it I might not tell you just because it amuses me, but most of it, yeah, you'll learn in this class."

Re: Discussion question

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

"Elizabth Weir, junior.

The government is those who control the power to make and impose laws upon us. As long as we're a citizen or resident of the country, then to a certain extent, the government dictates what we are allowed, and are not allowed to do.

The government is the reason that I'm sitting here in this class, in this school today. The government will be influencing my decisions over attending college due to the cost of education and increasing debts for college students.

Just about every part of my life, the government has some impact on, from waking up in the morning, because my alarm clock was imported into this country and the government sets trade policy, to dinner, where I'll eat the chicken because I know that federal law, implemented by the government, means that it's safe for me to eat. And then to bed, because the government has funded studies on sleep and those studies suggest seven to eight hours a night. And if I have trouble sleeping, then I can use FDA approved sleeping aides."

Re: Discussion question

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh smiled. "Good to see you again, Elizabeth. And you make excellent points."

Re: Discussion question

[wannabelawyer.livejournal.com]

"Lindsey McDonald. Senior. I care because they're the ones in charge. They're supposed to be running pretty much everything. Like everyone's saying, what the government does affects me, so I figure it's a good idea to try and keep up with what they're doing."

Re: Discussion question

[blueskin-mystiq.livejournal.com]

"Mystique. Junior. I care about government because it affects the daily life of all its citizens."