Discussion 2

Alejandro Aguirre

February 16, 2014

SOC 122 – M/W 3:30 PM

Kubal

 

Weekly Discussion 2

 

In The Day We Fight Back: Activism Sweeps the Internet with Global Action Against Mass Surveillance, the invasion of privacy from the government was met with discontent by the public at large. The public’s response was typically expected considering the various means the government would be able to access if the acts that would ban such personal invasions are not passed. These means include emails, phone conversations, instant messages, etc. The speakers representing the public expressed how many are considering that the majority of “victims” who have been (or will be) invaded have/will not be(en) involved in terrorist-related activity. Many have protested towards acts that will ban these acts of invasion on the public.

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/11/the_day_we_fight_back_activism

 

      The video titled From Jail to Law School: Jim Crow-Era Law Bars Florida Man from Voting, Taking Bar, Serving on Jury, presents the issue of felons (post-incarcerated) not being able to vote, and in the case of Desmond Meade, not being able to take the bar exam. It was documented that 5.8 million Americans fall into this category – 90% of whom are black. Meade provided the shocking report that, in total, a felon must wait anywhere from 11 to 13 years just see if they simply have a chance of voting again. Another surprising bit of information is that this applies to both violent and non-violent felons. What is not surprising, however, is that most felons would vote for a democratic representative. It should also be noted that a party of felons – regardless of size – will not have the capability of legally changing the views of the elected candidates running for president. This same concept is also applied to non-presidential elections. It should be obvious that this issue predates to the issue between the U.S. Constitution and racial discrimination and disenfranchisement. The only difference – which should not exempt such a policy to thrive – is that the subjects are felons – some of which are non-violent.

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/12/from_jail_to_law_school_jim