Political Parties

nytimes.com
October 5, 2011
Robert Pear
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/us/politics/democratic-leaders-propose-millionaires-tax-to-pay-for-jobs-plan.html?ref=us

Summary-
    Democratic leaders in Congress have recently proposed an added tax for those who earn more than $1 million per year. The main purpose of this proposal is not to pass it, since Democrats know that the Republicans will not agree to it; the purpose is to draw a contrast between the two parties. Democrats are using the fact that Republicans are opposed to any tax increase in order to regain the loyalty of voters who are not as rich. In the unlikely event that the new tax passes, the money garnered from it will be used to help pay for the American Jobs Act.

Connection-
   The two party system has been the norm since America's beginnings. Political maneuvering and attempts to win over voters are crucial to any party's success. When one party loses enough favor, another eventually replaces it. If Republicans are not careful, they could be replaced, which would have a huge impact on government policy.
    This connects to a paper read in class, Federalist 51, which basically said that the many different groups in America would keep each other in check. If some groups feel the need to exert this power and no longer favor the Republicans, political differences will be felt.

Personal Reaction-
    If only most politicians actually cared about policy, rather than arguing over which party has been more successful! It seems that both parties have lost focus, and perhaps they should be replaced. The Green party, the Libertarian party, and others have been looking more appealing for quite some time now.