Essays 11 and 12

 a) Two patterns displayed in the graph are high incumbency rates in the house and senate.
b) Two factors that contribute to incumbency advantage is experience because they have been around the block more than once, and also name recognition because voters have had the chance to get to know the incumbent in office.
c) A disadvantage to incumbency for other candidates is that the incumbents have already established their interest groups, therefore causing challengers to back out.

a) Divided government is split by separation of powers. A frustration the citizens feel from this type of government is the slow pace in which anything moves. There are so many aspects that have to get passed that it takes a long time.
b) Increase in campaign spending has caused a decline in governmental confidence because officials spend a lot of time raising money to be reelected instead of focusing on the important tasks they were elected for in the first place.
c) Two consequences for the decline in governmental trust include more protesting from angry citizens and a decline in voter turn out, which is the core of our government.

(2001_2) the graph above shows reelection rates for incumbents in the House and Senate. From this information and your knowledge of of the US politics, perform the following 
tasks. (Fig 12.1)
a) identify two patterns displayed in the graph
b) identify 2 factors that contribute to incumbency advantage. Explain how each factor contributes to incumbency advantage.
c) Discuss one consequence of incumbency advantage for the US political process
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/sg_govpol_us_01_7046.pdf

2004_4
3) Trust and confidence in government have declined in recent decades.
(a) Explain how divided government has contributed to the decline in trust and confidence in government. Be sure to include a definition of divided government in your response
(b) Explain how the increased cost of election campaigns has contributed to the decline in trust and confidence in government.
(c) Explain two specific consequences of the decline in trust and confidence in government for individual political behavior.
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/ap04_sg_gopo_us_37090.pdf

Meth Epidemic in America

In the Frontline showing of The Meth Epidemic, researchers tell about the negative effects of U.S. citizens on meth. Meth increases one's dopamine levels by massive amounts and alters the typical function of the brain. Meth users feel no emotion unless they are high. Even more scary, meth is very expensive and users begin desperate actions to obtain the drug. Criminal actions such as stealing are very common. The government tried to gain control of the epidemic by removing Sudafed from the shelf at super markets and forcing doctors orders to obtain the medicine, but that didn't last long. Now meth from Mexico seems to be smuggled into the country and posing as an even bigger issue. The reason for this is because the Mexican drug cartel are receiving the pharmaceuticals in mass amounts from an unknown source.

The Meth Epidemic. Dir. Carl Byker. May 2011. PBS Frontline. Web. 6 Feb. 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/>.

According to an article published on NPR, most people believe that cold medicines should become over-the-counter drugs. However, large, powerful pharmaceutical companies don't want to risk the decrease in business and are posing as an obstacle. Oregon led the way to prescription cold medicines back in 2006 and 24 other states have followed our lead since then. What I personally think is the most scary factor of meth is the aftermath. Old meth labs can lurk behind every corner and average people would never know. Breathing awful chemicals in at night while one is on a relaxing vacation is terrifying.

Engle, Jonah. "Big Pharma and Meth Cooks Agree: Keep Cold Meds Over the Counter." NPR. N.p., 26 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. <http://www.npr.org/2013/09/26/226476602/big-pharma-and-meth-cooks-agree-keep-cold-meds-over-the-counter>.

After reading about the mess labs leave behind, I looked up some stories in Oregon. In an article I found on The Oregonian website, I discovered a story of a couple attempting to pay a bill at a steakhouse in Seaside with crystal meth. Supposedly, the waitress immediately called the police and investigated the situation. Turns out they were two meth dealers with over 17 ounces of meth in their possession. Police investigated the couple and, sure enough, found their lab cooking at the Holiday Inn. It just goes to show how dysfunctional the brain can become after using. Not to mention, the vulnerability of the citizens around users. What if the chemicals in the lab were to blow up putting innocent people at the hotel in danger?

Dixon Kavanaugh, Shane. "Oregon couple's meth tip at Seaside Steakhouse lands them behind bars, police say." The Oregonian. N.p., 7 Jan. 2014. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. <http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2014/01/oregon_couples_meth_tip_at_sea.html>.