http://professor-lyman.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2006-09-05 11:59 pm
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US Government (Wednesday, Sept. 6, 4th period)

Josh stopped doing what seemed to be a highly choreographed dance of joy as he read through a sheet of papers when students began arriving.

"Welcome to US Government. I'm Josh Lyman and up until January 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."
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Why government is so great

[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 07:03 am (UTC)(link)
Or isn't. Josh just won't believe you if you don't think it's fantastic.
forgottenpants: (thinking)

Re: Why government is so great

[personal profile] forgottenpants 2006-09-06 07:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Government is there to make laws. And break 'em, like tryin' some dear friends of mine for false accusations of high treason and then gettin' 'em shot for it." Okay, so technically, Pete had testified (falsely) against Brisco and Bowler, and they weren't so much dear friends as they were highly regarded enemies, but that wasn't the point. "But a good government is important so you don't get people gettin' all uppity and creatin' an unnecessary war with Mexico just to make themselves look good, when everybody knows it's much more profitable to just stay neutral in a conflict and sell to both sides. . . ."

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Josh was very obviously trying to keep up with the flow of thoughts.

"The Mexican-American War?" he finally asked. "In 1846?"

Sometimes Josh forgot where he was teaching.
forgottenpants: (Default)

Re: Why government is so great

[personal profile] forgottenpants 2006-09-06 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"No, after that. We stopped 'em, though." Pete leaned over to spit. "1894."

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] dorky-broots.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 08:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Government brings order and protects its people? But it took them two weeks to catch me, so I'm really wondering where our tax dollars go."

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"I know I shouldn't ask, but...why were they needing to catch you?"

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] dorky-broots.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Er...I um hacked into the government's something handwaved that I can't remember right now." Broots said sheepishly. "I even almost got out uncaught. Computers and I get along very well."

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] ktarian-wildman.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 08:32 am (UTC)(link)
"I think the government is great because it helps you out when you need it and encourages its citizens to do well to make society a better place," Naomi paused, "or at least in my century it does," she's not to sure about the politics in this time period

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Josh smiled. "We're giving it a pretty decent shot in this century as well." He paused. "Well, depending on which country you're in, of course."

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] ktarian-wildman.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm not too familiar with the politics of this time period," Naomi replied, "I guess you can say that's why I'm here,"
absolutesnark: (Contemplative)

Re: Why government is so great

[personal profile] absolutesnark 2006-09-06 11:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Government is great because..." Summer tried to think of an answer that would allow her to keep a straight face. "Um because it makes laws and passes important bills. These are needed to bring some sort of order to the people."

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not to mention naming post offices," Josh said, nodding. "Because what would America be like if your hometown post office wasn't named after some Congressman who's been dead for 127 years?" He grinned. "Can you think of an example of a law that's slightly less self-indulgent?"
absolutesnark: (Hmmm)

Re: Why government is so great

[personal profile] absolutesnark 2006-09-06 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"How about the Bill of Rights? I think that's a pretty good way of keeping society in order," Summer said.

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] once-a-king.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 12:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Peter had to think for a bit before giving his answer. "Government is important because it provides security for the subjects - err citizens of a country. A good government protects them and allows them to go about their daily lives without fear of invasion or bandits or the impulsiveness or cruelty of the government itself." He thought again. "Government should be stable, but nimble enough to respond to changing circumstances as you can't always predict an invasion or famine. It also should have no official position on the seasons."

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] once-a-king.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 12:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"And I'm a junior," Peter added hastily, remembering the question about his class.

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"And British?" Josh guessed. He'd caught the "subject" slip. "Have you had problems with official positions on the seasons recently?" he asked, looking a little confused. "I don't think I caught that in the Times."

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] willbedone.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 12:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"Willow Rosenberg, junior," Willow said. "I think government is great because when it works well it helps to organize society into bigger and better things that individuals couldn't do on their own. When it's not so great it results in giant snakes that try to eat you. Though to be fair that might not be the fault of government specifically."

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Josh blinked. "I've never been responsible for giant snakes, on or off of a plane," he said. "This is a problem where you're from?"

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] willbedone.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Only the once," Willow told him, cheerfully. "Then there was explosives and not so much big snake as lots of little bits of ex-snake."
fates_jaye: (normal)

Re: Why government is so great

[personal profile] fates_jaye 2006-09-06 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"Jaye Tyler, senior. Government works in that sort of 'we should probably keep the people from completely destroying themselves' kinda thing, but I think for it to work right, people should probably actually care about it."

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"That tends to help," Josh agreed, smiling. "At least for a stable and working democracy--if no one shows up to vote, you can't implement change. In a dictatorship, they don't really care if they people care about, well, anything."

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] senor-chado.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 01:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't know enough about government to know why it's great. Or not great. There's where this class is supposed to come in, I guess."

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Josh pressed his lips together. "Hmmm. Do you have running water where you come from? Roads? Schools? Soldiers?"

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] proudsidekick.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"Um, Layla Williams, sophomore, and I think the government is great because they make the rules that keep everything running and make sure that society doesn't like, fall apart with no guidelines on what's right, and what's not right."

Re: Why government is so great

[identity profile] professor-lyman.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Josh smiled. "What happens if a government can't decide what's right?"
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