Church and State Debate

What are your views about the relationship between religion and the government? Does the establishment clause of the First Amendment deny the government any power over religion? Are you a seperationist, accomodationist, or a non-preferentialist? Why?

Gay Rights Debate

What are your views and opinions on the gay rights debate? For instance, should same-sex couples be allowed to legally marry; adopt children? Are people born gay or is being gay a choice? Are their any religious arguments FOR gay rights? And, what are any non-religious reasons to deny gay rights?

Why does it take so long for Congress to act?

Shoud Congress run under strong leadership, or should it allow its members a lot of freedom?

Are the members of Congress representative of the American people?

Refreshing the Tree of Liberty

Please respond to this post by class on Monday 2/11. Enjoy the weekend! -- EJOlson

Explain what Jefferson meant when he asserted that "the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." What is the meaning of this statement for the current generation of Americans?

A Question of Liberty

I apologize for the late post. The school's server was down all day. Please answer the question below with a thoughtful answer. Please reply by 12:00PM on Sunday 2/3.

Why, if one is concerned with protecting human liberty, would one want to make the legislative branch of government dominant (rather than the executive or judicial)? Are there good reasons why someone concerned with liberty would distrust a strong executive? A powerful judiciary? Is liberty most often threatened by (a) powerful political elites who escape public control or (b) a majority intent on imposing its will on a minority? Which of these cases would lead one to favor a strong legislative branch?

EJOlson