The Government’s Transition an Example of the Topic Government and Law Essays by

The Government’s Transition The government we have today has come a long way since its creation by the Founding Fathers. With the new disappointments arising towards the current administration, many have begun to question and asses the purpose of the constitution structured by the Founding Fathers and how it still applies to us today. Some go so far as to suggest that the federalists who framed the constitution insisted on limited federal involvement, but the history of America shows this is not the case. The Federalists protested limited government, while secretly creating a constitution that might one day form into an all powerful force. Need essay sample on "The Governments Transition" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed In fact, history shows that every official in any given office usually tends to take actions to increase the power of the government, whether state or federal, regardless of party classification. This is a formula specifically structured to maintain a minority class of wealthy elite to rule over the majority. The only difference between then and now is technological advancement and experience in the elitist control of the masses. If it were not for the presence of these traits in American society, there would be no real physical change to analyze. In a sense, nothing has really changed; money is still as much the emperor of our nation now, as it was then. People Often Tell Us: I'm not in the mood to write my essay. Because I don't have the time Essay writers suggest: If You Think About Someone To Write Your Paper - Essaylab The Right Place! Buy Essays Cheap Get Paid To Write Essays For Students Buy Essay Online Writing Service Top Essay Writing Until the twentieth century both scholars and the public revered the Framers as demigods and canonized the Constitution as the crowning symbol of a democratic revolution against tyranny. However, the many publicized political and corporate scandals of the Progressive Era in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries influenced historians to begin viewing the Constitutional Convention with a more jaundiced eye. (Krawczynksi, 2003) In his essay, The U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, Keith Krawczynksi, convinced that men were motivated primarily by economic self-interest and that class conflict pervaded human events, argues that the Founding Fathers carried out a counterrevolution by creating a reactionary document to protect their interests against popularly controlled state governments that passed cheap paper money legislation, debtor laws, and other measures that favored small farmers and artisans at the expense of wealthy creditors (2003). To prove their case they pointed to the many provisions in the Constitution that checked popular sovereignty: the difficult procedure for adopting amendments, the judicial veto, the election of senators by state legislators, the election of the president by an electoral college, the appointment of Supreme Court justices by the president, and the awesome power conferred to the central government to suppress popular dissent. Thus, the Constitution was equipped with a system of minority checks and vetoes designed to prevent majority rule (Krawczynksi, 2003). There are many myths applied to American history. One of these myths in particular is that the founding fathers were all selfless and priceless politicians who were able to rise above the tyranny of their day to advance the workings of Democratic government. American reverence for the framers and the undisputed worship of the constitution are virtues instilled in all citizens born within this society. The majority of the Founding Fathers were wealthy conservatives who were actually opposed to democracy. Krawczynksi notes that they often referred to it as a mobocracy. This perception resulted in this elitist class constructing laws that would better maintain the control of government in the hands of the wealthy, and prevent the majority from realizing their strength. Krawczynksi further points this out in his essay when he says, the Founding Fathers deliberately designed the new American government to make it difficult for any mass political movement to challenge the political dominance by the traditional ruling elite (2003). He points out that their behavior is justifiable by the fact that these framers were also the main men who risked hide and limb to protect their political standings from the British, and they werent about to just turn around and hand it over to the public after winning the war. It is Krawczynksis view that these patriots did not intend to revolutionize democracy and turn an elitist system, based on upper-class leadership, on its heals; their sole intention was to gain independence from Britain in order to get the country out of their pocket. The Patriot elite did not for-see the way the American commoners would view independence from Britain as the time to adopt egalitarianism. Aware that this Constitution would be aggressively opposed by the majority working class, the signing and construction of the deceleration was held in private. The media was used conceal the constitutions true purpose as well as to sway people in its favor. We see this control of the media used daily in news papers, on television and the web, an example of this is the Republican Partys financial hold over Fox News. The constitution adheres to freedom of the press, but the press doesnt represent the freedom of the people. Sociological genius Pierre Bourdieu asserts that public opinion does not truly exist. This poses the question, how should we conceive public opinion? If it is true that the public does not exist, than the real question is, whose opinion is public opinion? Rational Choice Theory poses the idea that human beings form their opinions and decisions based on collective observations and calculations. It also assumes all inpiduals are well informed of all of their options and that it is an inherent human tendency to think everyone makes decisions this way. If this is true, it would explain the blind faith people have in public opinion. It is a faith so devout; it often sways and molds popular culture ideals. Pierre Bourdieu strongly negates this view. In all of Bourdieus beliefs, his most popular is his assertion that the public does not exist (1984). This concept is addressed in his book, Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste, in that he feels there is a different of class taste between the ruling class and popular culture. But, within this conflict, there is no public, only a media mediating between the two and a culture to which they often cater to do so. Jon Simons addresses this concept in his essay, Governing the Public: Technologies of Mediation and Popular Culture, when he says, technologies constitute the people as a mediated public. The public is only amenable to representation in the form of an electorate which is an effect of technical organization that can mediate between people at a distance from each other. The key point of this analysis is that the public does not exist prior to or outside of its constitution. (Simons, 2002) His essay evaluates the importance of media technologies within a democracy. Bourdieu feels that in this field of power struggle, the ruling class uses their cultural capital to assert their distinction (1984). This is seen in the way politicians might only use terms or syntax understandable to the elite of society. This separation between popular culture and the elite culture of a society makes it virtually impossible for government officials to ever get the unanimous appeal for which they often aspire. Most political elites view popular cultures apathy towards politics with great disdain. Even still, they relentlessly attempt to relate to popular culture voters, whom they know will support them. In John Fiskes critique on television, Television Culture he analyzes the nature of what makes popular television. He concludes that the shows that succeed in gaining popularity tend to have many symbols and plot lines containing multiple meanings. He also states that remain within a duality of containment and resistance (1987). This idea basically revolves around the fact that television producers, who are viewed as the upper class and political elite, are expected to produce material that correspond with popular culture. This material that the elite minority culture produces for the popular culture contradicts elitist ideals but allows the status quo to remain intact. This means the political elite can only remain the elite so long as they humor the beliefs and ideals of their less powerful but more dominant counterparts. The rules Fiske establishes for television shows can very easily be applied to the media. They present the media as a tool being used to prey on the wants and needs of different cultures. The idea that there is no such thing as public perception in America, and that what we deem to be public perception is just a popular culture molded and created by the media to entertain the American majority, while still maintaining the ideals and power of their elite class financiers, is a common conspiracy theory. It is also true. The Federal government appears to have their hands in everything because they do. This is the result of technological advancement enforcing a constitution designed for a central government to grow in power over time. The biggest myth held about the Federalists is that they were opposed to giving the Federal government too much power. This myth is negated by the actions of the Framers who attained office, as well as the presidents who came behind them. It must never be forgot, that all of these men were of the Financial elite of America. So, those Federalists who claimed to be liberalists in favor of Democracy, were only so in favor as would maintain their wealth. The appearance of caring for the will of the people, to maintain ones own wealth, as demonstrated by Friske, obviously started in America with the Founding Fathers. And, when these men got in office they did everything in their power to increase their power as well as financial stature. A classic example of this is the life and Presidency of James K. Polk. The eleventh President of the United States, Polk was a Jeffersonian Democrat, which meant he was a strong believer of the freedom of speech and that the press was the best defense against a tyrannical government. He also believed in small business and small government, just like Thomas Jefferson. The irony of this is that both men, Jefferson and Polk, played historically the largest part in increasing the size and power of our nations government. His strong belief in expansionism later became referred to as Manifest Destiny. On this stance, Polk won the Presidential election and became the first and only member of the House of Representatives ever to become the President of the United States. Polk was such a proponent of expansionism that he attempted to buy Cuba while in office. In 1848, he and the ambassador to Spain, Romulus Mitchell Sanders made plans to negotiate with Spain. They offered the Spanish government 100 million dollars. Spain rejected this offer. Many countries were undoubtedly aware of Polks ambitions. Polk established a large majority of Oregon as part of the United States. At one point after Jackson had resigned, the Whigs had completely taken over congress and the White house. It was very similar to the way the Republicans controlled the Capital, the White House, and the Supreme Court. They were a new wave radical political party, but they faltered in their true lack of support for expanding the nation. It was through the ideals of Manifest Destiny (Expansionism), that Polk was able to claim is place as the Democratic candidate and eventually claim the Presidency. It should be noted that Polk was a long shot. It is not very clear why the majority of his opposition at the time didnt support expansionism, but their opposition to that simple stance catapulted Polk into office. Many say if it was not for his devout expansionist ideals, he may never have won the election. The Democratic Party was not widely known for fallowing expansionism. In truth it is a more republican ideal. Or at least what we would consider to be Republican today. Polks presidency has been categorized as the most successful, because of all of the power and land he accumulated for his country. Polk is the prime example of a presidential tradition to increase the power of Federal government while appearing to weaken the ramifications of its hold on the people. This is a tradition that has survived, beyond the public eye, in America to this day. So what are the differences between our government now and the one the Framers modeled? Despite the fact that the Federalist constructed a governmental system that is virtually impossible to change, or even use for tyrannical purposes, their still have been a few changes to the original constitution since its construction. Since the original Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791, their have been 17 amendments to the constitution. This is an average of about 1 amendment every 13 years. Since its creation, the constitution has been used to abolish slavery, give blacks and women the right to vote, and even prohibit the right to drink alcohol. Today some of the freedoms the constitution allows citizens are unfathomable to imagine doing without. This is a prime example of the dramatic effect this doctrine has on all our lives. One subtle act in the constitution can lead to the entire sociological, or ideological shift of our entire country. So in response to the question, how has our government changed since its original framing? The truth is, not much on paper, but time has extended it as far as it may go, and Im sure we will continue to do so. Work Cited Bourdieu, Pierre. (1984) Distinction, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Fiske, John (1992) Popularity and the Politics of Information in P. Dahlgren and C. Sparkes (eds) Journalism and Popular Culture, London: Sage. Hirsh, John C., and John L. Motley. "John Lothrop Motley on the American Republic, 1846: a Document." Journal of the Early Republic os 6.1 (1986): 59-65. Jstor. Strozier Library, Tallahassee. 30 Nov. 2006. Keyword: James K. Polk. Krawczynksi, Keith "The U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence."History in Dispute, Vol. 12: The American Revolution, 1763-1789., ed. St. James Press, 2003. Reproduced in History Resource Center. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale

Free Essays on Sexual Abuse

Effects of Sexually Abused Children Sexual child abuse is one of the most impure acts done to a young individual. It indeed violates one’s most precious inner pride and outer glory. Sexual abuse occurs when an individual of more experience and knowledge forces a child to do things for sexual pleasure. Shamefully, the people they trust commit such vulgar acts. The abuse can either be physical or emotional, allowing certain behavioral patterns to form, making the young child feel uncomfortable in particular surroundings. â€Å"One out of every four children will be a victim of sexual abuse† (Sexual Assault Crisis Center’s Home Page). Sexual child abuse is a disturbing act that effects a young mind to corrupt into non-normal behavior, and untrustworthy relationships. One of the most effects of child abuse occurs in the child’s behavioral status. Many children experience disturbing sleeping patterns that can haunt them for as long as they live; making them feel unsafe even in their own beds. Others may develop inappropriate sexual interests, excessive use of drugs and alcohol, and poor performance in school. A sexually abused child would avoid getting undressed around others and eventually wear more layers of clothing. They tend to isolate from society, due to embarrassment. If the abuse occurs at home, sexually abused children find ways to isolate themselves and avoid home as much as possible. In addition, children would draw and make up stories involving sexual deeds, and act out seductive pleasures. Another effect that sexually abused children may encounter is emotional issues. They follow a depression stage that causes them to have suicidal thoughts. They feel as if no one loves them and that they are the ones to blame. Their self-esteem levels decrease drastically, including the amount of confidence they have in their future relationships. The lack of trust plays a huge part in their role as a sexu... Free Essays on Sexual Abuse Free Essays on Sexual Abuse Effects of Sexually Abused Children Sexual child abuse is one of the most impure acts done to a young individual. It indeed violates one’s most precious inner pride and outer glory. Sexual abuse occurs when an individual of more experience and knowledge forces a child to do things for sexual pleasure. Shamefully, the people they trust commit such vulgar acts. The abuse can either be physical or emotional, allowing certain behavioral patterns to form, making the young child feel uncomfortable in particular surroundings. â€Å"One out of every four children will be a victim of sexual abuse† (Sexual Assault Crisis Center’s Home Page). Sexual child abuse is a disturbing act that effects a young mind to corrupt into non-normal behavior, and untrustworthy relationships. One of the most effects of child abuse occurs in the child’s behavioral status. Many children experience disturbing sleeping patterns that can haunt them for as long as they live; making them feel unsafe even in their own beds. Others may develop inappropriate sexual interests, excessive use of drugs and alcohol, and poor performance in school. A sexually abused child would avoid getting undressed around others and eventually wear more layers of clothing. They tend to isolate from society, due to embarrassment. If the abuse occurs at home, sexually abused children find ways to isolate themselves and avoid home as much as possible. In addition, children would draw and make up stories involving sexual deeds, and act out seductive pleasures. Another effect that sexually abused children may encounter is emotional issues. They follow a depression stage that causes them to have suicidal thoughts. They feel as if no one loves them and that they are the ones to blame. Their self-esteem levels decrease drastically, including the amount of confidence they have in their future relationships. The lack of trust plays a huge part in their role as a sexu...

Final Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Final Project - Essay Example The reason for taking up the diversity consciousness course was to acquire more knowledge about diverse cultures. The topic diversity attracts me or influences me a lot as I belong to the East African originating from Ethiopia and reside in the United States. The cultural differences, the approach and the differences in value helped me to understand and focus on personal growth by staying in between the people of diverse culture (Azcentral, 2013). The diversity course has influenced my mindset and my behavior towards the people of different cultures. I have now started to identify and respect the people of different cultures. The course is helping me in understanding the values of the diverse culture, religion and the behavior. Moreover, the awareness regarding diversity has helped me in understanding the fact that people are different and their attitudes and ideas should be respected. The awareness assists me in appreciating the fact that individuals of different places are â€Å"not like us† and hence have learnt to respect the differences instead of complaining. The diversity awareness has helped me in understanding my peers better, improve my communication and avoid the level of confusion. The prominent reason for the conflicts is differences hence the awareness regarding diversity helps in avoiding the conflicts faced, usually when we are new to the country (McLauren, 2009; The Pennsylvania State University.). The understanding of the diversity in the culture and communication has affected my thought process to a great extent. The differences of cultures have made me more tolerant and allowed me to respect the diverse cultures and their differences in opinion. The understanding of the differences has helped me in understanding the uniqueness of the person. Before identifying the importance of diversity, I thought the USA to be a

Personal Mission Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Personal Mission - Essay Example ds) Exceptional Needs Standards firstly, then it moves towards the understanding of the special educator, after it, it informs about how can the NBPTS Exceptional Needs Standards be applied for teaching students with disabilities, then there is an assessment of knowledge and skills needed to be an effective special educator and in the end, the topic is concluded. NBPTS (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards) Exceptional Needs Standards is a certification for the teachers who teach students with special needs. The age criterion that is applied for exceptional students is twenty one and more than twenty one years of age (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, 2006). The teacher willing to get this certification must be able to identify the needs of students in terms of communication because communication is required to get information, to apply information and to understand information. The NBPTS Exceptional Needs Standards require the teachers to be sincere to their teaching job and that they have full interest in enabling the students to learn. NBPTS Exceptional Needs Standards are a set of principles, which the interested candidates should be aware of before applying for it (Bond, et. al, 2000). The principles are related to the teaching attitude and interest of teachers and also about the devotion of teachers towards the students with exceptional needs. These standards make sure that the teachers that are certified according to these standards are able to let the students with special needs to learn to a great extent. The teachers are assessed according to their knowledge concerning relative subjects for the students with special needs. The teachers must be able to generate a positive correspondence between them and the students. The teachers should not keep any kind of prejudice or bias with the students, they must be fair to all. The teachers should have all the legal knowledge required for special education. According to these

British Liberation Movement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

British Liberation Movement - Essay Example In order to be able to better understand about Gay Liberation (Gay Lib), not only does the history of this issue have to be discussed, but as well the present state that it is in, and what has come from it. The aim of this paper is to discuss the matter of Gay Liberation, as well as any and all key and related issues surrounding it, in order to allow us to attain a more knowledgeable and informed understanding on it overall. This is what will be dissertated in the following. Gay Liberation is a term which is used to describe the radical lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered movement, which took place from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s. This was not only a movement which took place in North America, but also Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. In regards to the history of Gay Liberation, there are basically two different categories that can be considered: Gay Liberation during the first half of the 20th century, and Gay Liberation during the second half of the 20th century. ... fferent from the way that it had been during the first have of the 20th century, as a series of different developments took place during this time, developments which truly led to the creation of a gay liberation movement. It is truly fascinating just how much the way that homosexuality was looked at changed during the latter part of the 20th century, as it seemed to instantly go from being looked at as a horrific sin to being an issue that was not a deal to worry about at all. There are many different milestones that took place throughout the 20th century in regards to Gay Liberation, and the changes that took place from these milestones was incredibly far-reaching. For instance, the ban that had previously been put on the employment of homosexuals in most federal jobs was lifted, police harassment was sharply contained, and as well many large cities began to include sexual orientation in their civil rights statutes. Lisa Power is a woman who joined the Terrence Higgins Trust in 1996 as the Health Advocacy Team Manager, where she organized health promotion and information for people with HIV, and as well she developed the organization's work on new HIV treatments and with African communities in the UK. She has consistently been involved with human rights campaigns all throughout her life, first as a writer and activist for gay and lesbian rights and then, since the 1980s, in HIV and sexual health. One of Power's most respected and well-known books, No Bath but Plenty of Bubbles: An Oral History of the Gay Liberation Front, 1970-73, is a literary work which discusses the matter of gay liberation and how the Gay Liberation Front dragged homosexuality 'out of the closet', and into the public eye. It discusses all of the important issues, from how and when London

The Crisis in Darfur

The Crisis in Darfur Maddie Palmer The War in Darfur, a region in Sudan, has been the reason for mass slaughter and rape of Darfur men, women, and children. The U.S. named it The Genocide.Powersearch The war in Darfur has been called the worst humanitarian crisis of the century and its effects are still seen today. The UN wanted to help so the UN Security Council visited the President to try to get approval. The Crisis in Darfur is a major armed conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan due to the Sudanese burning villages murdering, raping, and more. The UN Security Council visited the President wanting approval to end human rights violations taking place in Darfur. Muslim festivals are timed to local sightings of various phases of the moon. Revolution day in Sudan is a national holiday, that commemorates the bloodless coup of 1989. Revolution day is on June 30. The African nation in Sudan is a country with strong Islamic and Christian influences. Partially ruled by Islamic law, the type of clothes worn in Sudan is similar to those worn in the surrounding nations of Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia. The climate also usually affects how the dress. The UN has warned that violent attacks on international peacekeepers and civilians in Sudans conflict-torn Darfur region have been increasing, forcing tens of thousands of people out of their homes. Darfur has been turmoil since 2003, when ethnic Africans revolted accusing the Arab domination Sudanese government of discrimination. Hassan Hamid Hassan, Sudans deputy UN ambassador, told the Security Council that the violence and displacements were mainly due to tribal clashes and attacks by rebels, not government forces. In the past twenty years, Darfur has been in a disastrous famine. Darfur is affected by poor rainfall, resulting in sudden market fluctuation, livelihood changes and displacement. The May 2010, West Darfur Food Security Monitoring Survey reported that the cost of a minimum health food basket has increased 14% between February and May of 2011. In recent years, the percent of food insecure households has decreased but it was still a staggering 45% in 2008. Access to clean water in 2007 stood at 76%, while 3 million conflict-affected people had access to basic health services. The Bush administration invested heavily in negotiating an end to the north-south was, and the signing earlier this year to a formal peace agreement-however limited and flawed-must be recognized as a major foreign policy achievement. But precisely because of the administrations investment in a north-south agreement, including the appointment Senator John Danforth as a special envoy to Sudan, there was a widespread reluctant within the State Department to hold Khartoum accountable for the genocide that was clearly unfolding in early 2004, when north-south negotiations had entered their final phase. The thinking by U.S. officials involved in the negotiations, and their British and Norwegian counterparts, was that pressing the National Islamic Front regime too hard on Darfur would undermine the chances of consummating the north-south agreement. But this diplomatic strategy was of course transparent to Khartoum and thus perversely provided an incentive for the regime to extend negotiations as long as possible-always promising a light at the end of the diplomatic tunnel.(People Involved) The last issue of substance between Khartoum and the southern Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement was resolved in a protocol signed by all parties in late May 2004. Two weeks later, following months of terrifying reports from human rights groups, the State Department announced that it would begin an investigation to determine whether Khartoum was guilty of genocide in Darfur. The close sequence of dates was not a coincidence. But a tremendous amount of the violent destruction in Darfur had already been accomplished by June 2004; indeed, this marks the approximate point in the conflict at which deaths from malnutrition and disease began to exceed those from violence. Moreover, Khartoum continued to use the north-south peace agreement as a threat, declaring with brazen confidence that if it were pushed too hard on Darfur, the negotiated agreement might be endangered. The agreements final signing ceremony occurred in Nairobi on January 9, 2005; the inauguration of a new government took place six months later, on July 9, 2005; the killing in Darfur, of course, continues. The AU began to deploy a small number of monitors to Darfur following a ceasefire signed in April 2004 in NDjamena, Chad. A commitment in late summer 2004 to increase the monitoring force to approximately 3,500 went unfulfilled for over half a year, and during this time the AU was unable to secure from Khartoum a mandate for civilian protection-only a mandate to monitor the largely nonexistent ceasefire. Recently, the AU has said it will increase its force to 7,700 by September, and possibly 12,000 by spring 2006.(The AU deployed) As many have recognized, the AU is quite unable to deploy to this force-level with its own resources and NATO, as a consequence, has very recently agreed to provide logistics and transport capacity. The bigger problem, however, is that even with NATOs help, the nascent AU Peace and Security Commission is simply not up to this mission if the goal for Darfur is adequate protection for civilians and humanitarian operations.(NATOs help) Works Cited Darfur Crisis: Death Estimates Demonstrates Severity of Crisis, but Their Accuracy and Credibility Could Be Enhanced: GAO-07-24. GAO Reports (2006): 1. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 7 Feb. 2017. Darfur. Britannica School, Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, 15 Jun. 2015. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/28769. Accessed 6 Feb. 2017. Jumbert, Maria Gabrielsen. Third World Quarterly 35.2 (2014): 284-99. History Reference Center. Web. United Nations Childrens Fund. Funk Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. N.p.: World Book, 2016. 1p. 1. Funk Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. 7 Feb. 2017. Van De Walle, Nicolas. Making and Unmaking Nations: War, Leadership, and Genocide in Modern Africa/From War to Genocide: Criminal Politics in Rwanda, 1990-1994. Foreign Affairs 95.3 (2016): 189. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 7 Feb. 2017.

Are Americans Allergic to Traveling Abroad? :: essays research papers

â€Å"Are Americans allergic to traveling abroad?† I asked Poonam, an immigrant from Nepal, who states that such a notion is â€Å"ridiculous†. Nepal has suffered lately due to a despotic ruler. The newspapers have recently reported that the king has cut off Nepal from the rest of the world by closing airports and shutting down communication. Poonam’s father owns a resort in Nepal, and his family has struggled to keep business open through these tough times.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"How do you explain that only 15% of Americans have passports to travel abroad? Is it because we are lazy?† Poonam furthers that Americans are not lazy or allergic to traveling. He points out that Americans do not have the time to travel abroad. The strength of our economy is based on the working class. He points out that most employees only receive one to two weeks of vacation. In Nepal if he were to take a vacation, his employer would give him one to two months off so that he can travel and enjoy himself. He explains that to travel to Nepal, it takes two days to get there and two takes to get back home (Baltimore). The weary traveler usually needs a day or two after each way to recover from any jet lag or from the pure exhaustion of balancing airplane and other time schedules. Poonam also points out, the vast land in United States allows Americans the opportunity to take mini-trips that can be very enriching. This is one of his favorite aspects of ou r country. Poonam who works 72 hour work weeks without overtime, will spend his only day off taking his son and wife to Washington D.C. or Philadelphia.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We both agree that this point is overlooked. Traveling abroad is reserved for those who do not have to work – the independently wealthy. Poonam does not believe that apathy prevents us from travel, but rather our drive to succeed in our careers. I posed the question as to whether or not we work too much? He reminds me of the French government who require mandatory vacations and 35 hours work weeks. I counter with a recent news article that reported a decline in the French economy. The French government is thinking of reversing the 35 hour work week law.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I am definitely very interested in traveling. I have started taking French lessons so that I can travel abroad.