Lecture Post 2
The UK's had things mostly right since the 1960s. In 1968, homosexual sex was legal--it took the United States until 2003 when the Supreme Court struck down sodomy laws in Lawrence v. Texas.
In the 1950s, one member of the House of Lords was arrested and put on trial for violating the law banning homosexual sex. Edward John Barrington, Douglas-Scott-Montagu was in his late-twenties. The public believed that the legal proceedings were not reasonable and along with the Wolfenden committee led directly to the legalization of consensual sex between adults regardless of gender (Standard). Granted the age of consent was 21 for homosexual sexual activity and only allowed in private, which excluded hotels. Oddly enough, more people were prosecuted after 1968 because the police did not like the law.
It has taken more steps in the UK to "legalize gay" as the catch phrase goes, but the steps started earlier. Now same-sex marriage is legal in the UK. The United States seems to be moving toward legalizing marriage as the latest polls show that a majority of Americans support same-sex marriage. The ABC news-Washington Post Poll, puts support at 58% in support of same-sex marriage (Same-Sex Marriage Poll). Americans are slow on the up take and are behind the UK, but although it has taken several decades the US is moving slightly faster now. Homosexual sex is legal and same-sex marriage is legal in a few states and is becoming more and more accepted.
One thought about why Europe is much more accepting of homosexuality and has been is because of continental philosophy, which is much more liberal than American philosophy. Continental philosophy includes Simone de Beauvoir and The Second Sex. The US is dominated in part by religious extremism and conservative thought.
How do we keep moving forward and broadening our American perspectives?
Bibliography
"Poll tracks Dramatic Rise in support for Gay Marriage" http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/03/poll-tracks-dramatic-rise-in-support-for-gay-marriage/
"Lord Montagu on the court case which ended the legal persecution of homosexuals"
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/lord-montagu-on-the-court-case-which-ended-the-legal-persecution-of-homosexuals-6597923.html
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Lecture Post 1
Is it better to have a meritocracy or a political system when it comes to executive appointments?
In the US, the best of the best can be appointed to executive leadership where as in the UK members of Parliament are the ones chosen for executive leadership. Are people better served by generalists who know the political system or specialists in the field?
In the USA, Timothy Geithner was appointed to be Treasury Secretary. Geithner was He faced many challenges in trying to get his agenda through the political system. Eventually, he was able to chip away and get some of his agenda passed. He had served in various other political positions before becoming Treasury Secretary all relating to economics and finances he just did not have the political muscle that some members of Congress might have had. Geithner has since been replaced by Jacob Lew who is more familiar with the budget as he worked at the Office of Management and Budget along with several other positions after working for Citigroup. (http://www.treasury.gov/about/Pages/Secretary.aspx)
In the UK, there are the MPs with political influence and experience in Parliament. The Prime Minister, David Cameron, is an MP. Cameron has experience at various levels of government and has done some media work according to his biography on number10.gov.uk. Nick Clegg, the deputy PM, has been an academic and done business consulting (number10.gov.uk). Though they have political experience, they have done more than work in and for Parliament.
Does having political muscle necessarily mean the best for the people? Is knowledge of the area more important? Is there a way to have both?
"Timothy Geithner" http://www.biography.com/people/timothy-geithner-391494?page=1
"Jacob Lew" http://www.treasury.gov/about/Pages/Secretary.aspx
"David Cameron" http://www.number10.gov.uk/the-coalition/prime-minister-david-cameron-biography/
"Nick Clegg" http://www.number10.gov.uk/the-coalition/deputy-prime-minister-nick-clegg-biography/
Is it better to have a meritocracy or a political system when it comes to executive appointments?
In the US, the best of the best can be appointed to executive leadership where as in the UK members of Parliament are the ones chosen for executive leadership. Are people better served by generalists who know the political system or specialists in the field?
In the USA, Timothy Geithner was appointed to be Treasury Secretary. Geithner was He faced many challenges in trying to get his agenda through the political system. Eventually, he was able to chip away and get some of his agenda passed. He had served in various other political positions before becoming Treasury Secretary all relating to economics and finances he just did not have the political muscle that some members of Congress might have had. Geithner has since been replaced by Jacob Lew who is more familiar with the budget as he worked at the Office of Management and Budget along with several other positions after working for Citigroup. (http://www.treasury.gov/about/Pages/Secretary.aspx)
In the UK, there are the MPs with political influence and experience in Parliament. The Prime Minister, David Cameron, is an MP. Cameron has experience at various levels of government and has done some media work according to his biography on number10.gov.uk. Nick Clegg, the deputy PM, has been an academic and done business consulting (number10.gov.uk). Though they have political experience, they have done more than work in and for Parliament.
Does having political muscle necessarily mean the best for the people? Is knowledge of the area more important? Is there a way to have both?
Bibliography
"Timothy Geithner" http://www.biography.com/people/timothy-geithner-391494?page=1
"Jacob Lew" http://www.treasury.gov/about/Pages/Secretary.aspx
"David Cameron" http://www.number10.gov.uk/the-coalition/prime-minister-david-cameron-biography/
"Nick Clegg" http://www.number10.gov.uk/the-coalition/deputy-prime-minister-nick-clegg-biography/
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