Blog # 5

Blog # 5

From the readings, the green learning community shares the same values that the green ideology. In students in charge, they talk about the harmful effects of democracy, but acknowledged that it is crucial if done correctly. This is why democracy is brought into a green learning community, but not in a way to pin a majority against the minorities. It attempts to create a democracy that makes consensual decisions. The small classes work well with this system allowing for discussion and a participatory democracy. With this democratic structure, authority becomes lost, student take on the responsibility of teaching, and the class room, including the professor, become equals.

It also mentions the support of a the class can combat negatives characteristics like student bias. Students can be more influential than the professor times. This is because students crave for the respect of their classmates. I can agree with this statement and that would explain one reasons why our class stresses so much on building a connection between class makes. We are attempting to build a community.

Green learning communities are easy to spot because they are decentralized. All decisions are made in a compromising consensual style. It wont look like a class but like a true community coming together.

Blog # 4

Blog # 4
Green Party values vary from groups but they all share a left wing ideology. From the values I have read tonight, it reminds me of a very mild Libertarian and Socialist mix. This is were I become 50-50 on Green Party values. I consider myself an democratic economic socialist. I strongly agree with values " COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMICS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE" and the weakening the economic disparity. The main green value I disagree with is the a value strongly supported by democratic socialists. This value is the non aligned internationalism and decentralization of a central government. The worst idea is to create a confederation system because peace can never be obtained by such a way. Human nature wants power. I believe the best 2 options would be to support a strong federal government that protects the working class enforcing economic socialist values. The second option would be to a federation type idea  or uniting under one banner while removing all boundaries; uniting under one central government. 

So now going back to the values I support. I am a strong believer in human rights values, Gay a lesbian equality, racial equality, and pretty much all the social green party values.  These social values are strongly shared among left wing ideologies though and are not strictly green values.

Nothing really surprised me in the readings since I have knowledge about the green values and party. I was a strong supporter of Tom Clements in the senate election so I understand the party values.

BLOG #3

BLOG # 3

On the Sustainable Carolina site, I was most interested in the Transportation project. I mainly use my bike around Columbia instead of a car so I have a few ideas to help make Columbia biker friendly. Also since they coordinate with Vehicle Management and Parking Services, they would be able to suggest areas that need more bike racks. One example would be in front of the Jones building. I mainly believe I can really contribute to the project since I use my bike on a daily basis.

As for the AASHE site, I found the Campaign for Environmental Literacy (CEL) to be the most interesting. CEL attempts to acquire and increase the amount of federal funding dedicated to environmental literacy and funding for environmental education programs. As I have said before, I am very liberal thus education is an important fundamental factor to my ideology. Fundraising or lobbing for educational funding is something I could find entertaining. Plus it would have a positive outcome on the community while increasing the value of education and informing the public and environmental politics.

If I had to ask Margret Bounds one question, I would ask if USC has considered about investing in any form of solar energy. While it may be expensive, the green quad could run completely on green energy.  To be more specific to the projects, I would ask if the Transportation project ever meets with the SC legislatures. I would be interested in attempting to modify current laws about bikes on sidewalks.  

Blog #2

    So by now everyone knows my name is Matt and that I am a yankee (sounds like the intro to an AA meeting). I was born in N.J. and have spent a lot of  my time in Manhattan NYC. I moved to S.C. a few years after September 11th which I remember just as if it happen yesterday. Any way, I am a political science major and very active in the political sector. During the 2012 election, I worked with the DNC in the outskirt areas of Charlotte N.C. I also participated in several campaigns at the statehouse for USCA and for several other projects. 

     So besides my political "career," I have also been working as a cook for over 5 years and at one point worked for the City of Aiken at a tennis center. My job was to assist customers, manage customer files, record the profits, manage the courts, and assist in retail. As for my cooking experience. I started when I was 15 at a place called Wingplace to help pay for my father medical bills. He had a terminal illness. I stayed with the company for about 4 years until offered a job by Cracker Barrel who I have been with since. 

     Even though I have stable jobs, I have no intention on staying with the companies after graduation, although they have been very good me. Once I graduate I will attempt to begin my career with a local News station as a political or news analyst. This will hopefully build some name recognition and allow me to transfer to a station back home in NYC. My main goal is to work with MSNBC if I can be so lucky. 

     So the last things I'll mention are what I do for entertainment. I'm a debater, it comes with the politics. I am always looking for a political debate. Besides debating I also working with computers and play some games at night I'm not out with friends or working on something. Finally I love to be on ice rinks. I have spent a lot of my life on the ice rinks whether it be ice skating or ice hockey. Oh one last thing, I never turn down a walk around the city. 

Me in my biohazard grill cleaning uniform----->

Blog#1
I took the Green Political course mainly due to my ideology. I have a very strong liberal ideology thus resulting in my support for alternate energy. While I may support the idea of sustainable clean energy, it has never been a major factor in my political decisions. I have normally put economic prosperity over the environment in many cases despite many of the negative outcomes. My hopes are that this class will help create a better understanding of "Green" policies and add to the current information I already know. Then I will determine at the end of the year, if my political thought about Green Politics has changed throughout the semester. Personally I do not believe my opinions will change due to already hitting the age of political crystallization.
  I also took this course to learn about local green projects and committees around Columbia, and how they gain funding for such projects. Whether the funding comes from private donors or state or federal grants, the fundraising campaigning would be both entertaining and useful information to know. Whether I work on Green projects in the future or not, there is a good change my career will require some form of fundraising knowledge or experience.
  The final reason I took this course was simply because it appeared to be different from any other political class I have taken before.