High School Discussion at Crossroads this Saturday
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This Week's Survey on Proposed Auto Bail-out
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1. Under which, if any, of the following conditions would you favor federal assistance to help the domestic automobile industry (you can check none, one more than one, or all items):
a. Because the domestic automobile industry is so large and simply can’t afford for it to fail. b. With the condition that the companies present workable plans to make their cars more fuel efficient and “green.” c. With the condition that the companies give government good reason to believe that their products will be better able to compete with foreign automobiles. d. If current top management is replaced. e. If current top management of the automobile companies make no more than six times the salary of the average “line worker” on an assembly plant. f. I would give the auto industry priority over financial institutions because they make something ‘tangible;’ i.e. automobiles. 2. Do you have any comments on this topic that you would like to share?
Click here to take survey.
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Survey from Last Week: Would you like Barack Obama to become President IMMEDIATELY?
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The election of 1932 was a watershed, just as 2008 was. According to author Jonathan Alter, FDR's transition with sitting president Herbert Hoover was much more difficult than President-elect Barack Obama's is with George Bush. First, Roosevelt and Hoover had real animosity towards one another where as Obama and Bush seem to have a cordial relationship. Second, the inauguration in 1933 was not until March 4; it is now January 20. Some in 1932-33 thought that Hoover should find a way to appoint Roosevelt Secretary of State and have anyone above him in the line of secession resign so that FDR could quickly become president. FDR was apparently even open to the idea himself. Some Americans feel that the current economic situation requires an immediate change of administrations. So our question is, "Do you think that Dick Cheney should resign as vice-president; George Bush should appoint Barack Obama vice-president (with the consent of the Senate), and Bush should resign so that Obama could immediately become president?" [Note: this is just a hypothetic question; there has been no serious talk about it and Barack Obama has a very measured transition plan stretching through January 20.] Civitas likes to live in an "interrogatory world," so we ask.
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Results | Do you think that Dick Cheney should resign as Vice President; George Bush should appoint Barack Obama Vice President (with the consent of the Senate), and Bush should resign so that Obama could immediately become President? | | 1 (5%) Strongly support idea | | 3 (16%) Support idea, but with reservations | | 0 (0%) Neutral | | 5 (27%) Oppose idea, but am tempted | | 8 (44%) Strongly oppose idea | | 0 (0%) Not sure | | Response | Comment | | Oppose idea, but am tempted | Sorry, but one of the hallmarks of America's so-called "democracy" has been the orderly transition of power, with no shenanigans [except, of course, for the Supreme Court coup d’état in 2000, which is, of course, a huge exception]. Still, I'm sticking with the Constitution. | | Support idea, but with reservations | I think Obama needs and wants the transition time he has planned for but I do like the idea! | | Oppose idea, but am tempted | | | Strongly oppose idea | I support Obama completely, but I see an immediate change in office as unnecessary and a bit dramatic | | Strongly oppose idea | Bad idea which sets a terrible precedent. Who sits in judgment of the necessity to make a change such as this? I suppose if you are among those liberals who think government is the be-all answer to every problem we have, you would favor this. If you prefer the healthier market-driven approach, you would see this idea as a non-starter. | | Strongly oppose idea | Though tempting, let's not muck up a democratic election system that mostly works (except for lack of participation). I also think that Obama needs and deserves this time to organize and prepare so that all systems can be ready on Jan 20th. Would sticking him with Bush's failed system any sooner really be helpful? | | Strongly oppose idea | This is a constitutional question and just illustrates the arrogance of liberals. | | Oppose idea, but am tempted | | | Strongly oppose idea | The answer to your question should be and emphatic "no". This would set an absurd precedent not intended by the founding fathers. January 20th is not far off and Obama needs this time to set up his government anyway. Actually, the argument can be made that Obama needs this time to set up a solid team and think about how he should approach the severe economic and foreign policy | | Strongly support idea | | | Strongly oppose idea | Obama needs the time to plan for success. In a short seven weeks he will be the leader. Although this country has suffered as a result of Dick Cheney, I would not want to set a precedent. | | Strongly oppose idea | Are you on drugs | | Oppose idea, but am tempted | | | Strongly oppose idea | | | Support idea, but with reservations | | | Oppose idea, but am tempted | I think it makes more sense for Obama to ease into the role of President. Having Obama take Cheney's place if he were to resign seems to be potentially stressful. | | Support idea, but with reservations | Obama seems to be acting a lot like the president already, and Bush has pretty much been out the door for the last 4 years anyway. If nothing else it would probably rally the stock market. | | Strongly oppose idea | Besides the fact that I have differences with Obama’s economic viewpoints, I don’t see a different executive as being able to do much now without a strongly supportive Congress. |
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Discussion Returns to Crossroads This Week
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We will return to Crossroads College Preparatory School (map) this Saturday for our final discussion group of 2008. At left is rendering of renovation now underway at Crossroads. Congratulations to Crossroads for the expansion. While work is underway, we will need to adjust our parking patterns, please see new system by clicking here. This week we will have a "free and open" discussion group as well as a 20-30 minute prep session for our "Carefully Getting Out of Iraq" conference on Sat., Jan. 17. We will review roles that students will take on and go over the key issues that will be at play. We will have one more combination prep session/discussion on Sat., Jan. 10. [Note: this is a change of date from Jan. 3]. Thanks to all who came to last Saturday's discussion at the Clayton Community Center. We spent considerable time discussing the "holiday spirit" at Wal-Mart and the automobile bailout. You can check out photos from last Saturday by clicking here.
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Update on Conference on
"Carefully Getting Out of Iraq"
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Yesterday we sent students notification of the roles they will be playing in the conference. We will include them in next week's e-newsletter; we are waiting for feedback from students. Students, if you have any questions, please contact us! Reminder: We have changed the date of the conference to Saturday, Jan. 17 at Crossroads (map) from 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon. You can still sign up to play a role in the conference; click here for further description, click here to register. If you have questions, contact us at info@civitas-stl.com or call us at (314) 367-6480.
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Read about Susan Rice, President-Elect Barack Obama's nominee to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. |
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Upcoming Civitas Events
(Actual events in bold -- always subject to change when change occurs!) Black: High School Blue: Middle School
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| Date | Time | Place | Activity | | | | | | Sat.,
12/13/2008 | 9:00 AM -
11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Civitas Discussion #8 and short preparation for "Carefully Getting out of Iraq" Conference (also ACT date) | Sat.,
01/10/2009 | 9:00 AM -
11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Civitas Discussion #9 and preparation for "Carefully Getting out of Iraq" Conference | Sat.,
01/17/2009 | 9:00 AM -
12:00 PM | Crossroads (map) | "Carefully Getting out of Iraq" Conference | Sat.,
01/24/2009 | 9:00 AM -
11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Discussion Group #10 (also SAT & subject test date) | Thurs.,
01/28/2009 -
Sat.,
01/30/2009 | varies | varies | Pulitzer Global Gateway Project on India: Conflicts Within | Sat.,
02/07/2009 | 9:00 AM -
11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | "Politics of Green" Conference Prep Session | Sat.,
02/14/2009 | 9:00 AM -
11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Discussion Group #11 | | Fri., 02/20 -
Sat., 02/21/2009 | varies | Comfort Inn & Spazio's (map) | Active Citizenship Conference: "The Politics of Green" | Mon.,
02/23/2009 | 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Richmond Heights Comm. Center (map) | Middle School Teacher Meeting #3 with Resolution Selection |
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What's Civitas? See video below: |
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