Unit One - Response to Teddy Milam

Iraq – Wanting the military out of Iraq, but wanting the military out of Iraq for the right reasons and at the right time is the perfect scenario and ending to this war.  Removing the military from Iraq at this point could in fact be construed as a move for political gain.  Unfortunately, only time will tell if this is a decision because this is the right time for this decision or if this is a decision to boost the image and approval rating of the current president.  The fact that you are currently serving in the U.S. Navy is not relevant to this political issue.  Allowing the Iraqi people to stabilize and have a functioning government without the assistance of the United States has always been the desired end state to this situation.   Since the current administration has been in office, there have been wide ranges of conflict between the Commanders on the ground and the administration’s decisions.  There was also campaign promises made prior to the last presidential election.  With the next presidential election happening within the very near future; this decision begs the questions of whether this is a timing decision for political gain or if this is the right time for this decision and in the best interests of Iraq, the Iraqi people and most importantly, the United States.

Unit One - Response to Kate Kilpatrick

Netflix, Inc. – Very good information and research on an issue that is obviously very important to you.  While this may be an economic issue on a personal level, this issue will not necessarily affect all people the same.   Those that have never been associated with Netflix, that don’t rent movies or go to the movies, the price of Netflix will not matter to them.  What Netflix charges for movies received in the mail or streamlined via online is irrelevant to that same group of people.  Conversely, there are those that don’t care what the price is, because this is their choice of entertainment, so they are willing to pay no matter the cost.  I am sure all people live on some type of budget; however, the amount that a person will spend on this type of entertainment is a personal choice and not something that is forced on the consumer.  The price will indeed be decided by the provider, but the initial or continued service is a choice made by the consumer.

Unit One Blog

In many cities across the United States, one particular item that is very much the topic of discussion these days, is the use of traffic cameras at red lights to identify and fine those individuals that travel through an intersection after the light has turned red.  The debate continues to revolve around this subject with questions about constitutional rights, burden of proof and safety.  The debates of constitutional rights arise from the motivation that constitutional rights are being invalidated.  Driving is not a constitutional right; driving is a privilege.  Individuals that break traffic laws have violated their privilege to drive.  The verbiage of the laws will differ from state to state and even from city to city, but most have written these laws in such a way that this type of citation is very similar to that of a parking ticket.  Here is the process of the ticket for traffic camera violations: there is a court date posted on the citation and the owner and or operator has the choice to either argue the citation in court or pay a fine either in person or by mail, thus ensuring those citizens have been given the opportunity to exercise their right to due process.  The burden of proof for these citations is satisfied via the pictures from the camera.  In most instances, these red light cameras also provide a very short, ten to 15 second video clip, of the intersection during the same time the still photographs are capturing those vehicles that are in violation of proceeding through a red light.  Just like the parking tickets, it is the owner and not the operator of the vehicle that is initially held responsible for the violation.  When these citations are received in the mail, there is an affidavit attached that the owner of the vehicle can sign indicating who was operating the vehicle at the time of the incident and then the owner will no longer be held responsible for this violation.  Safety should always be a concern for government, at any level.  Government has an obligation and an over-riding interest to write into law those regulations that will keep their citizens alive and, at the same time provide for the safest environment possible.  Research has concluded a decrease in accidents at the intersections where the uses of red light cameras are being used.  Since safety should be the most important issue and with the conclusions research has provided on the use of red light cameras, the use of these traffic cameras can provide a positive impact on cities and citizens throughout the United States.
http://www.edmunds.com/driving-tips/caught-big-brother-may-be-watching-you-with-traffic-cameras.html