Does Leadership Really Matter?

 In the film, Horrible Bosses, it is highlighted why leadership matters so much in any workplace. Leaders who lead well, will lead to empower and inspire, but the bosses in this movie help us see how some bosses create fear and resentment. 

This cautionary tale, helps remind the audience that leadership is about responsibility and empathy. Without these traits, leaders make everyone around them miserable and they will fail. A couple of reasons for failure are:

Leadership doesn't take ownership or responsibility. Great leaders take full responsibility for what their followers do under their leadership. Trust is a huge aspect when it comes to leading a group of people. When leaders refused to take accountability for their mistakes, their teams will feel unsupported. Being a true leader means owning up to all mistakes. 

Employees live in fear of failing and making mistakes. When people are afraid for being punished for their mistakes, they stop bringing creative solutions to the table. Great leaders create mental safety for their followers, and giving encouragement that mistakes are learning opportunities. 

The work environment is a “gotcha” environment. The "gotcha" environment creates distrust and defensiveness. Employees are always worried about being caught if they make mistakes rather than focus on growth. This also ultimately crushes, teamwork and communication leading to a very unhealthy work environment. As said before a healthy work environment should be encouraging, especially when making errors.

Works Cited: 

Harris, T. R., & About The Author      Thomas R. Harris  Thomas is the owner of The Exceptional Skills. He has taught and worked in K-12. (2023, December 12). 25 major signs of leadership failure - tes. The Exceptional Skills. https://www.theexceptionalskills.com/signs-leadership-failure/

Passive-agressive vs. True Leadership

The 1999 cult classic Office Space is best known for its hilarious takedown of corporate drudgery, but beneath the comedy lies a masterclass in bad leadership. From passive-aggressive micromanagement to soul-crushing bureaucracy, the film exposes exactly how not to lead a team. Let’s break down the leadership failures in Office Space and what real leaders can learn from them.

According to Keller Executive Search, leadership failures come from a couple of different aspects on how a leader treats his followers. First off micromanagement, excessive control over employees' tasks. One of the main things seen in the film, was the boss constantly walking all over his employees and micromanaging their tasks. This led to the main character going to get hypnotherapy and start living his life, stress free. 

Next, poor communication, lack of transparency often leads to distrust and confusion. The leader in the film only communicated demands, nothing more. Communication is key in every relationship, even a professional one. It is important in the workforce to communicate effectively among every individual within the workspace. Effective communication within the establishment leads to greater productivity,  healthier relationships, accomplishing company and personal goals. It is especially important for leaders within the company to have strong communication skills, this helps their teams and employees complete their day to day responsibilities and ensure that goals and tasks are understood and completed efficiently and to the highest level. The results of this can lead to company growth and expansion as well as a stronger morale within the organization.

Lastly, inadequate emotional intelligence, failure to empathize with and manage team emotions can cause leadership breakdowns. This can lead to complete distrust and discord throughout the entire organization. This can cause distractions drama and lead to individuals falling short of their goals and the company performing poorly to their set standards.

True leadership revolves around compassion and active listening. When a follower or an employee feels like you listen to them as well as show compassion towards them not only will that make you a better leader, but that would make them a better follower and employee. In today's society, we see a lot of employers overwork and burn out their employees. With the outrageous amount of workloads is employees get they don't even have time to have a proper work life balance. Being able to connect with your peers and listening to their ideas, complaints, and even random thoughts can help you be a better leader so that way you can connect with them.

Works Cited:

Leadership fails, leadership failures, leaders fail. Keller Executive Search. (2025, March 5). https://www.kellerexecutivesearch.com/insight/why-leadership-fails/

Are We Getting Manipulated?

Politicians are known to be some of the biggest liars in the world. Washington D.C. is the "home of the liars." The movie Wag the Dog, is The title is a play on the old saying, “the tail wagging the dog." In other words, the dog is in charge. He wags his tail. That phrase means, the dog is no longer in charge. The tail is wagging the dog.  

The 1997 film Wag the Dog, is a dark political satire that explores the dangerous intersection of media, deception, and power. In the movie, a spin doctor and a Hollywood producer fabricate a war to distract the public from a presidential scandal. This story is exaggerated yet plausible portrayal of how easily perception can be manipulated to serve political agenda's. Could our leaders really go this far to win votes or cling on to power? 

According to Merriam-Webster, "The tail wagging the dog is a idiom that usually refers to something important or powerful being controlled by something less so. Its earliest use is in the 1858 play Our American Cousin. The 1997 film Wag the Dog shortened the phrase and added the additional meaning of "superfluous (military) action in order to distract from domestic scandal" (America's Most Trusted Dictionary). 

The story intruded into real politics not long after its release. In 1998, when Bill Clinton's scandal regarding Monica Lewinsky broke, he was accused of wagging the dog: Three days after admitting he had inappropriate relations with Lewinsky, he ordered missile strikes against two countries, allegedly to divert public attention from his sex scandal. 

The phrase "wag the dog," refers to a strategy where a political leader engages in diversionary tactics, often involving military action or another high-stakes maneuver to distract the public from a pending or existing scandal. The "wag the dog," strategy capitalizes on the rally-around-the-flag effect, where citizens tend to support their leaders during times of crisis. This is a well-documented psychological phenomenon where, during crisis, the public tends to support national leaders and overlook their shortcomings.  

Works Cited:

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). America’s most trusted dictionary. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/

An essential guide to the language of power. Political Dictionary. (n.d.). https://politicaldictionary.com/

Is Too Much Really Too Much?

The distinction between being demanding and overbearing at work hinges on the intent, delivery, and impact of leadership behavior. A demanding leader sets high expectations but provides clarity, guidance, and support to help others meet them. In contrast, an overbearing leader exerts excessive control, often disregarding others' autonomy, well-being, or contributions, creating a toxic work environment. 

In The Devil Wears Prada, Miranda Priestley embodies the traits of an inspiring yet demanding leader who challenges her team to achieve excellence. While her methods are sometimes harsh, her standards and relentless pursuit of perfection reflect a leadership style that fosters growth, innovation, and resilience. Miranda's role as the editor-in-chief of Runway magazine demonstrates how being demanding, when balanced with a vision of excellence, can inspire those around her to reach their full potential. 

What makes Miranda an inspiring leader is her uncompromising standards of excellence, pushing for growth and adaptability, and empowering through inspiration. Miranda's vision and unwavering committed to quality set her apart as a leader who transforms Runway into a globally respected authority in fashion. Her meticulous attention to detail and ability to foresee trends inspire her team to deliver their best work. An example of this is in the iconic cerulean sweater scene, Miranda dissects Andy's dismissal of fashion, showcasing her unparalleled understanding of how decisions made in high fashion trickle down to everyday consumer choices. This moment reflects her ability to see the bigger picture and demand the same insight from her team. 

Miranda challenges her employees to go beyond their comfort zone, pushing them to develop skills and resilience that ultimately benefit their careers. An example of this is Andy Sachs starts as a unpolished assistant with no interest in fashion, but under Miranda's leadership, she learns the importance of professionalism, adaptability, and attention to detail. By the end of the film, Andy has transformed into a confident and capable individual, crediting much of her growth to Miranda's high expectations. 

Miranda leads by example, demonstrating an unparalleled work ethic an deep industry knowledge. Her ability to command respect and navigate high pressure situations inspires her team to emulate her poise and competence. Despite personal challenges, such as her impending divorce, Miranda maintains composure during Paris fashion week, securing a strategic move that solidifies her resilience, motivating her team to adopt the same determination. 

Unlike an overbearing leader who relies on fear and micromanagement, Miranda's demands are rooted in her desire for excellence. While she can be intimidating, her approach reflects the high stakes of the fashion industry rather than lack of trust in her team. Overbearing leaders diminish creativity and morale, while Miranda fosters an environment where only the most committed thrive, ultimately producing top-tier results. For instance, Miranda does not hold her assistants' hands but expect them to rish to challenges independently, teaching them problem-solving and perseverance. 

Miranda Priestley exemplifies an inspiring leader whose demanding nature motivates those around her to excel. Through her vision, work ethic, and high expectations, she cultivates an environment that fosters growth and innovation. While her methods may seem harsh, the skills and confidence her employees gain under her leadership underscore the value of her approach. Miranda's legacy serves as a testament to the power of inspiring leadership in demanding industries, proving that greatness often requires pushing boundaries and embracing challenges. 

HPU Sports Link

HPU Sports Link

Q News 

Reagan Smith 

 

Imagine, while being in the sports media program at High Point University, a student had the opportunity to perform live as a broadcaster for the amazing and practical experience of learning, firsthand, what it’s like in a variety of jobs both in front of as well as behind the camera.  The pragmatic training acquired by a student in that situation would be invaluable in building a resume to launch a career.  Now imagine, as a result of circumstances beyond anyone’s control, the benefits of a program of that caliber are suddenly and entirely taken away.    In the spring of 2020, the world-wide pandemic, as a result of the infectious disease and the ensuing panic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Coronavirus), put the lives of everyone on hold.  During the alarming and deadly initial outbreak, schools, jobs, and life in general were shut down for the safety and security of the most vulnerable people in our communities.  For those students in the sport media program who were a part of HPU Sports Link and had dedicated so much time and effort to honing their craft, it felt like all of the hard work they had devoted to start their professional journey was pointless.   

HPU Sports Link is a student organization at High Point University that allows students to broadcast Division-1 college sporting events on radio stations as well as ESPN+ streaming service.  Before the outbreak of the Coronavirus, also referred to as COVID-19, this club was beloved and appreciated by the athletes from all of High Point’s varsity sports teams for the exposure they received as the sports media students covered the games, meets, and events on HPU’s campus.  It was a wonderful opportunity for the athlete’s families, many of whom live out of state and cannot always attend the games, to watch their loved one’s compete. 

HPU Sports Link works directly with the High Point University Athletic Department, the coaches, and staff members to enrich their programs through professional broadcasting.  This is often used as a recruiting tool for many coaches to attract the most outstanding high school talent to High Point.  HPU Sports Link broadcasts more than100 games on the beautiful HPU campus every year. These broadcasts not only display the male and female athletes and coaches from a variety of sports programs such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and lacrosse, but also display the beautiful first-class facilities that embody the extraordinary atmosphere for which High Point is known. 

As a result of the pandemic that began in the spring of 2020 and impacted our world in a way that was not imaginable, all of the schools across America were shut down and the students were sent home. Unfortunately for the sports media students at High Point University, who were a part of the HPU Sports Link crew, they lost the chance to continue working with professional broadcast and production equipment for almost a year. However, in spite of this unforeseen setback, Sports Link was not at its end. President of the organization, Wendell Epps said, “there was never a point where I thought Sports Link was going to end. I knew there was a risk of us losing some opportunities or having to make adjustments, but I never thought that Sports Link would go away forever.”  As the pandemic continued and the government lockdown seemed to be unending, frustration began to escalate causing students to doubt if the opportunity to return to campus and continue to learn the skills of sports broadcasting and production would ever become a reality.  Epps went on to say, “It was a total team effort to get everybody on the same page. When we came back in 2021, all of the sports were played in one season after the fall sports were postponed.  We were scrambling as we were forced to do four to five games within 48 hours. It was insane but we had a great crew that made everything easy and fun.” 

Upon returning to campus, the students worked diligently to revitalize their organization.  Despite the complications of the pandemic, the director of creative services, Nicole Frechette, and her staff, worked extremely hard to give the students a semblance of a return to normalcy. Frechette said, “I wanted to help the students get these amazing opportunities back. The opportunities that come with Sports Link are some not every college student can say they had. I had to work extra hard throughout the COVID year to be able to provide the students with the chance to broadcast and produce. These are incredibly talented students and I wanted to make sure that they got as many reps as possible.”  The organization started to flourish again once the COVID year had passed. Student engagement in HPU Sports Link has increased tremendously since the return to campus following the pandemic lockdown.  “Because of the increase in student engagement, the organization has reached new heights as it has continued to grow year after year. We have a new control room for our production staff, our broadcasters have access to new high-quality equipment, and we have added a press room for interviews after basketball games”, according to Piper Sirois, the Sports Link Vice President. 

All in all, HPU Sports Link is an organization that is growing bigger and better than ever since the setback experienced during the Coronavirus pandemic.  It seems as if the opportunities that were lost during the Covid lockdowns serve as motivation to keep the club going strong.  With the realization of how quickly their amazing opportunities can be lost, students seem to no longer take these things for granted and are more willing to take advantage of the extraordinary experience offered to the sports media program through the Sports Link club and High Point University to develop professionally and put them on the path for a successful career. 

 

 

 

EOTO #2 Response: Sherman Antitrust Act

The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was passed by Congress that prohibited trusts. This Antitrust Act "authorized the federal government to institute proceedings against trusts in order to dissolve them." This act's goal was to promote fairness in the economy while regulating interstate commerce. Ever since this act came into play, it has prohibited combinations that restrain trade between states or foreign nations. In 1920, the Supreme Court creates the Rule of Reason which says that not every contract restraining trade is unlawful. All of these things still come into play today with the internet. The U.S Department of Justice "filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, alleging that the online giant engaged in anti-competitive conduct to preserve monopolies in search and search advertising."If this would have happened, many small companies would not stand a chance against this competitor. The promotion of economic fairness is strongly advised in the Sherman Antitrust Act. Hypothetically, if Apple started raising their prices on their products and creating a monopoly for them, other competing companies would not be able to compete against Apple. This act has helped all the smaller competitors overcome and achieve their ecumenic goals. However, this at was not very successful because of narrow judicial interpretations of what constitutes trade among states. Overall, monopolies have ben outlawed. This is fantastic for Americans who can't compete with larger companies. Without this act today, the larger companies would have monopolies that no one could take charge of any of the trade that would go on between states. 

Privacy on and offline

 Technology is a wonderful thing. It has been advancing throughout the centuries and continued to provide society with news, entertainment, and media. Many people around the world use social media networks to get new information and connect with others online. However, there are negative aspects of technology. There have been many cases where big online companies have violates people's privacy. A big mistake people make is letting technology turn against you (aka letting it violate your privacy). By this I mean, letting the computer learn more things about you than normal. We voluntarily put personal information about ourselves online, thinking that no one will have access to it but us. As careless at that is, the companies who's websites we put our information on has direct access to the information we put on the website. According to FTC "Facebook violated the law by failing to protect data from third parties, serving ads through the use of phone numbers provided for security, and lying to users that its facial recognition software was turned off by default." This affects me by companies like Facebook can take my information and post it for everyone to see along with my friends and families. In order to protect ourselves from this danger is to keep our personal information like our phone number to ourselves, not posting the online. The government should be protecting us, by protecting out 4th amendment, which justifies the protection of private information, more strictly online. If this violation keeps up, the big internet companies will use our information and sell it like Facebook did and there will be no way we can get it back. The government should play a big part on the internet to help protect us and our information. 

Final Post: Option #1

 I have been using technology all of my life. From the computers at my elementary school I used to learn to type to my cell phone I have today.  Social media became a part of my life when I was in the 5th grade. I downloaded Instagram for the first time and ever since then I have used instagram everyday. I have other social media networks such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook but Instagram was the platform I use the most. Today, I use snapchat more. I was very exposed to things on the internet at a young age because of Instagram. I got to keep up with new songs that came out, new artists presenting new music, and a new platform because of social media. My time in middle school and high school was a time of growth and realization. I was a very quiet girl during this time. I never spoke in class, kept to myself, and got scared whenever I was called on. Whenever I had to presentation assignment, I would do the minimal vocal parts as possible out of fear of failure and being wrong. However, behind the screen I had all the confidence in the world. Posting filtered pictures of myself on my Instagram feed brought in likes, which boosted my confidence. Getting that type of satisfaction behind the screen was bad for my mental health. I became increasingly more lonely. When the pandemic hit, my "digital footprint" expanded from Instagram to Snapchat and TikTok. These two platforms expanded my exposure to media and communication. TikTok gave me the entertainment I enjoyed during my day-to-day routine and Snapchat let me see what my friends were doing rather then taking their word for it on a text. Despite all the connections I received from social media, it decreased my mental health, lack in confidence, and lose the social aspects of my life. When I got to college I slowly learned that I do not have to be perfect in order to be liked. The reality is, everyone has their flaws and you don't have to be "picture perfect" in order to be liked. I stopped going on social media as much as I used to because I want to go out and be with my friends more and I want to experience the world without looking on a screen. 

Despite all my exposure to technology, I have experienced the horrors of the internet. Some days I will be on my phone talking to my friends about the Corgi I want to get after I graduate. I will go on my social media platforms and ads for Corgis/dog products will pop up out of no where. This Artificial Intelligence is scary because it is listening to what I say while my phone is completely off, violating my privacy. The most A.I. tech is Alexa. My parents got an Alexa for Christmas about 3 years ago. The device knows my parents voices just by them saying "Alexa." Once they tell Alexa their command, the device will follow their command by recording what is being said and searching the internet and telling them what they want to hear. With the Alexa being connected to their phones, "she" goes everywhere with them, learning about them; where they go, what they do, what they like to eat, what music they listen to, etc. This is a violation of privacy by recording conversations. The biggest danger is intruders can access Alexa through your window. The location of the window "could potentially give anyone from the outside access to your other smart home devices." If a hacker potentially gets connected with the Alexa, they have access to everything that you said in the house when you think no one was listening. I think this issue will be presented more in the future. The countries who have access to AI tech are quickly advancing it. In the video, "In The Age of AI" it mentions how China uses AI tech to watch all of the society and "give people a 'social credit' score, punishing some for certain behavior and rewarding other for what the government considers good citizenship." If China can violate their own residents privacy, nothing will stop them from compromising America's technology. If this issue doesn't get presented and stopped soon, then I believe that China will find ways to slowly take over/destroy America from the inside out. 

Progressive Era

 The Progressive Era started in 1880's. Women started their own magazines about women specifically and talking about their right to vote. However, the Progressive was fired up by WW1, specifically with the antiwar protesters who did not want America to get involved. Hundreds of them were throw into jail just for voicing their opinions. Today, many antiwar voices are not seen in the media/main stream news. Examples of this are ANTIWAR.COM and The American Conservative.   The writers of these websites have very strong antiwar voices, yet are never seen on mainstream media. The American Conservative website has a lot of talk about the war between Russia and Ukraine. Many people in America think that America should get involved in this war and help give aid, supplies, and troops to Ukraine who is suffering a drastic amount because of this war. Others disagree. They think that America should not get into the war because it does not involve America. Since Ukraine is not apart of NATO, American should not have to get involved in this war. America is in deep debt, decreasing economy, and under a horrible presidency. The Biden Administration announced that the United States will provide more than 1 billion dollars for those affected by the war in Ukraine. "This funding will provide food, shelter, clean water, medical supplies, and other forms of assistance." As humane and generous as this sounds, this will not do well for America. After going through a global pandemic, this amazing country is not in the proper condition to give countries that absurd amount of money. America needs to be focusing on her own basic needs to be able to function properly. Because of these strong antiwar options people want to spread the word to get others on the antiwar side. However, since the democrats practically run the media, you will not see such antiwar opinions anywhere (unless searched on the internet) because the far left is keeping people from seeing these opinions to prevent others from having their own opinions on the war. If it is not pro war/pro Ukraine then that opinion is wrong. The pro war supporters (aka democrats) keep this off of the media to make sure that only their word gets to the people in order to ensure that it is only their opinion that is correct. 

EOTO #1 Response: Bluetooth

Bluetooth was introduced in 1994 and was named after King Harald Bluetooth, king of Denmark and Norway. Bluetooth was named after Harold "united Scandinavia and Bluetooth wanted to unite mobile PCs and cellphones to communicate. But Harold reportedly got his 'Bluetooth' nickname from a dark, dead tooth not from eating an extreme amount of blueberries." With this technology it can communicate using low power radio waves. This allows the phone to connect to a speaker, wirelessly to play music and answer phone calls. Because it is wireless, this technology got put into cars, stores, and other facilities to play music and other uses. Bluetooth is affordable for all people and is very easy to access and use. To connect to Bluetooth, one has to go to the settings on their phone, click the Bluetooth icon, and click the device you want your phone to connect too. Some devices ask for a password in order to connect with the phone but that is very rare. Bluetooth also avoids interferences with other wireless devices. Meaning, that if a device is connected to it another device can not can not connect to the same bluetooth product while it is being used. The problems with Bluetooth is that there are distance limitations to it. Depending on the Bluetooth device, Bluetooth devices can stay connected within ten meters to one hundred meters. Bluetooth also has very poor security. When paired with a Bluetooth device, smartphones pair for data transfer  however, this makes it easier for hackers to pounce at the opportunity. It is easy for someone to lose data if your Bluetooth gets paired with the wrong device. Bluetooth has horrible battery power. If connected, one's phone battery and Bluetooth device battery will drain at a drastic speed, leaving one to constantly charge both devices. With a Bluetooth device connected to another, it can have an effect on the data transfer. Bluetooth is much slower at transferring data than WiFi. Because of this, one will have to constantly reconnect the devices together. The transmission can also be affected by too many applications being opened and running at the same time. 

Diffusion theory

Why do so many people use instagram? Why is it relevant in society? Instagram is a social media platform that people around the world use to spread information, spread content, and post about day to day lives. The diffusion theory, described by Everett Rogers is that "diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated over the among the participants in a social system." This franchise has grown in the last decade with users joining online every day. With the last decade, Instagram has be used for the promotion of the self image online. People (especially young users) will post pictures of themselves online and get hundreds of likes. Because of this, Instagram has spread all over the world. The idea of getting satisfaction of the self image on the internet promotes the idea of posting more and more. The early adopters of this app have gotten the idea of how to make themselves look better and better on the internet so they can become a popular content creator. This app can also lead to toxicity and horrible mental health. Because image is everything on the internet, lacking in likes on this app can lead to a low self esteem. Many people online use the anonymous ability behind the screen to cyberbully others. This is an incredible downside to this platform because many people have taken their own lives because of the cyberbullying and lack of confidence one gets from seeing prettier people on the internet. Users will do anything to "look the part" in order to get the amount of likes to satisfy their confidence. With girls especially, many decrease is self love because of how society perceives women to look/act. However, despite this idea, many women have chosen to ignore what society asks of women and have chosen to be themselves on the internet to spread a more positive vibe to show how women do not have to be picture perfect in order to be liked on the internet. I do have instagram despite all of negative impacts social media has on people. I use social media to keep in contact with people I do not see in day-to-day life, post pictures of me and my friends, see promotions on news/movies/media/fashion, and promote the university I go to. I benefit greatly from this platform because of the friendships I have kept over the years of being apart from all the people I went to high school with. For me, this positive outweighs the negative outcomes of social media. I have learned to not care about what people think about my looks on social media. With the careless attitude towards what people think, I have gained confidence and love for myself while spending positive reinforcements to others. 

A.I. Tech

In the film, pbs.org/frontline "In the Age of A.I.", there was talk about A.I. technology in the lives of society. This video expresses many concerns about how in the major world countries A.I. (artificial intelligence) are contravening privacy and trespassing in people's lives. The film showed China having A.I technology all over their cities, scanning the faces of all the people in the area. This A.I. project "uses AI to give people a "social credit" score, punishing some for certain behavior and rewarding others for what the government considers good citizenship." Xiao Qiang says "China is on its way to building a total surveillance state." With this in mind, the idea of China technologically advancing is scary for other world countries. China could get the power to violate America's privacy in their own country. If this is the case, China will figure out America's secrets and use it as ways to take over out beloved country and look into the lives of the civilians everyday lives.

Alexa, the voice assistant that speaks through an Amazon Echo has been proven to be dangerous to people's privacy. This device is listening to every word someone says all the time. Inputting the Alexa into your home is allowing the device to record the things you say without knowing what will happen to them. Alexa awakes whenever the name "Alexa" is spoken. Once the Alexa is turned on it records your voice and what you are saying. It will collect the information on how people interact based off of what they are saying. Though Alexa has an awake word, it will not exclude other voices. Because of this, Alexa will be engaging with whoever is talking in the room. It is almost like Alexa is constantly listening the surrounding voices in the room it is in. This form of AI technology will learn people's everyday routines, what music they like, things they want, and things they say. This is very dangerous because this can lead to information about yourself getting out into the world for people's viewing pleasure. 

EOTO #2: Net Neutrality

The internet we use today is a diverse, equal substance that everyone in the world can use. Imagine if that didn't exist. Only the wealthiest people and business owners could have a fully functioning internet, while keeping other users/businesses from accessing content, spreading ideas, and speaking truth. The people who can't afford this internet would have limited access on news, media, music, and other accessibility's we have right now. 

Net Neutrality "is the idea that the relationship between you and content on the internet shouldn't be altered by internet service providers --- that ISPs should provide nondiscriminatory access to internet content, without manipulating the transfer of data, and treat all web traffic equally." With this implication, free speech and idea sharing is promoted. ISPs are not allowed to regulate what the people see/have access to. Without this concept we will not have as much diversity on the internet and it can quickly turn political. Some think that without this, that it is a violation of one of our First Amendment rights of freedom of speech/expression. We have the right to say whatever we want (with limitations) and express how we feel about certain issues. Without Net Neutrality this will be taken away on the internet. In a political sense, if one party takes over the internet the other party will not have the ability to speak freely on the internet. 

The younger generation will be greatly affected by this concept if it doesn't keep coming into play. ISPs will have access to the users ability to access different types of information by limiting the amount of information the people can see. Another affect is the younger generation will be limited on the distribution of ideas and speaking truth on the internet. This is where a political conflict can come into play. The people who can not afford to have access to all information will be express that this action takes away their freedom of speech/expression on the internet. This does not violate that First Amendment right because it is not involved with the government directly. Only the government can violate your rights. However, this action should not be taken lightly. This problem can lead to online bias with the companies that can afford to have access to the information getting posted. People will not be able to see both sides of the arguments and will have to take the writers word on what is being presented. 

A way that Net Neutrality can effect me is by how I listen to music. This music streaming service is very dependent on third-party platforms and other ISP connections. Because of this they are not their own independent service, so without Net Neutrality Spotify will be in danger. Spotify expressed worry that this service would be "put at a competitive disadvantage relative to larger competitors if broadband providers in the United States decrease across to certain content." This company would be competing hard for consumers to be interested in their streaming service against bigger/more expensive companies. Because they can not buy their way to get exposed to others on the internet, the companies that can afford to be on the internet can block the smaller companies from other consumers screens. Because of Net Neutrality consumers can freely choose whatever internet service they want and determine which one is the better option for them. 

Free Expression? (8 Values)

 Freedom of Expression, why is it so important? Why is it that America values this more than other countries? The freedom of expression comes with the First Amendment, giving U.S. citizens the right to freely speak, peacefully protest, freedom of the press, petition the government, and express our religious views without government interference. These five inalienable rights are the most precious and valuable right of a free people against governmental tyranny.  We have a strongly protected right to disagree with the government and any one else. We as citizens of the United States have a patriotic duty to criticize the government when they begin to abuse the power given to them through the United States constitution by the consent of the governed.  An example of this goes back to the founding ideals of America. Frustrated and angry with Britain, the American colonists began to express their anger with the British taxes that were levied to eliminate the debt as a result of the French and Indian War. The freedom of expression began with the famous "No taxation without representation" mantra. When this spoken protest got very little results, the colonists realized that actions speaks louder than words. The Sons of Liberty out of Boston, Massachusetts began to boycott British products and protest British taxation as a more effective means of expressing their discontent. As the events continued to unfold the British government became more tyrannical and the colonists became more expressive. Events such as, the Stamp Act Riots, The Boston Massacre, and the Boston Tea Party, were the ultimate examples of freedom of expression for the American colonies. The Stamp Act Riots were caused because of the British tax on the colonies for every piece of paper. The Boston Massacre was a riot that broke out because major force the British were putting on the colonists. This rebellion led to the British shooting at the colonists, ending in a bloody slaughter. The Boston Tea Party was a protest on a tax the British put on tea. The colonists dumped chests of tea imported from Britain into the harbor out of frustration for the imposing tax. The oppressive actions of the British government coupled with the fearless and patriotic expression of antigovernment protests by the colonies would be the spark to ignite the American Revolution for independence. This goes to show that the freedom of expression in a variety of forms is built into the DNA of every American. 

EOTO #1: Television

 The Television is one of the most revolutionary items that came about in the United States. It helped bring together the country in times of grief and patriotism. The television started in the United States in 1927 by a man named Philo Taylor Farnsworth. He started his experiment while he was in high school. His invention scanned images with beams of electrons and is considered the direct ancestor of modern television. 

There were not many things to watch on the television at first. You couldn't change the channel and see different shows like you can today. On every TV the same thing would be playing for everyone to watch. This helped bring the country together to be informed on the news and watch the same entertainment. The channels would not run all night like they do now. They would end at the same time every night and the screen would go grey. The primary source of news and entertainment was the television. 

The biggest turning point in television history is the 1960 election between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. This event showed how television changed politics. Those who listened to the radio sided with Nixon and those who watched television sided with Kennedy. The percentage in voting for women increased during this election because many of the women watched the television and saw how handsome Kennedy looked. This motivated them to vote for Kennedy. With the television as a political tool, the image of the president became just as important as their political skills. Following this, Kennedy's assassination was the very first time a president had gotten killed on television. This tragic event united the country in sadness and grief. 

As the television's technology grew, the media industry also grew. This helped form the entertainment industry today. Television is no longer the primary source of news and entertainment. Now, there are smart phones, computers, and other ways to get the news and entertainment. People's attention span is on more than one source such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Instagram, TikTok, and many others. No one sits with their family and watches the news or a tv show together. Because of this, people are uninformed about elections, politics, and news that is happening. They blindly go into elections to vote for candidates or they do not vote at all. 

There are many negative effects to this piece of technology. People have gotten into the habit of binging. They will binge watch shows for hours on end without seeing the light of day, face to face interactions, or physical movement. These three things led people to have a low self esteem, negative mental health, and weight problems from binge eating. Our society losing our social aspect of communication because of so many eyes stuck on the tv. People do not know how to physically interact with one another because of the many hours spent on the screen. Unfortunately, this is a problem that will not be solved because the technology is so advanced, it is used as apart of every day life. 

U.S. Supreme Court: SCOTUS History

The U.S. Supreme Court has been around in our nation's history for more than 100 years. The founding fathers had the offsite to separate governmental power for the protections of the people so that no one person or branch of government would have too much power. The legislative branch makes laws, the executive enforces laws, and the judicial branch interprets laws. The difference between the judicial branch from the others is that they have a lifetime appointment. They can also retire and get impeached just like regular political officers. The general electorate/population believes that when we elect the president they are the leader of the country and are the most powerful person in the country and in the world. But it is arguable, that the Supreme Court is the most powerful branch of government. In Marbury v. Madison, the supreme court granted themselves judicial review so that any action by the U.S. Congress and the president can be interpreted/deemed unconstitutional by the supreme court nor congress or the president can ignore the Supreme Court. They have no authority over Supreme Court decisions. The only check and balance the constitution holds for the Supreme Court is that the president can nominate the Supreme Court Justices and Congress has to approve of them. 

Article 3 of the Constitution establishes The Supreme Court, granting them power to create federal courts. SCOTUS is the highest federal court in the country and the head of the judicial branch. The courts can make judgments over laws in the country through the power of jurisdiction. Jurisdiction is the official power to make legal decisions and judgments. An important takeaway from the Supreme Court is that they are the most important part of the government. Without them this country would not have a federal court system and no one to interpret the Constitution. If the president and Congress had the power to interpret the Constitution, there would be multiple disagreements about interpretations and nothing would get done. 

https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/opinion/us-supreme-court-pines-bygone-america 

5 Sources of News and Information

 The first source that I use to get all the news and information is my family, specifically my father's side of the family. My father's side of the family keeps up with all the news and updates that are going on in the world. I have two cousins in the coast guard who also update us on their experiences where they are in the world. My family and I text our group chat everyday with updates on the president, economy, Ukraine, and other political issues. I really enjoy hearing from my family about their opinions on the issues going on today. My family looks at both sides of the situation and will take into consideration what the opposing side is presenting. They are well educated in our country's history and have a keen sense of knowledge in politics. I enjoy getting information and news from my family because they are reliable and they use historical events/evidence to help backup their arguments. I highly recommend my family as a source because you can have a mature conversation about any topic that is going on in the world and they will use their own experiences/knowledge from their past to help provide a better image of what they are trying to present to you. 

The second source that I use to get the news and information is from Ben Shapiro. I have been listening to Ben Shapiro with my father for years. He makes amazing points about the situations going on around the world and political statements about what happens in America. Shapiro dives into a deeper political standpoint in a variety of circumstances that go on in the world and in the U.S. He is a blend of conservative and libertarian, but leaning more libertarian on most issues. He will criticize both democrats and republicans if they are doing something, saying something, or even tweeting something wrong, outrageous, or extreme. He's not just political. He goes big into cultural issues as well such as movies, TV, and music but also religion, education, cancel culture, critical race theory, and transgender/children/athletes/etc. He is also very funny. He impersonates Trump, Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Biden, John Kerry, Bernie Sanders, etc. are hilarious. Most importantly, he is very confrontational. He will debate anybody, any time, anywhere, and defend conservative values. I highly recommend Shapiro as a source because of his intellectual knowledge on politics and how he challenges listeners about their political beliefs with reliable sources, his unique charisma, and almost irrefutable arguments. https://www.youtube.com/c/BenShapiro/videos

The third source that I use to get the news and information is Andrew Klavan and Michael Knowles. My father and I listen to them together when we are taking a long ride trio to Tennessee to visit my older brother or to Atlanta, Georgia to visit my older sister. They are apart of Ben Shapiro's media outlet "The Daily Wire." They are all very intelligent and very informative. They are solid Christians with strong Judeo-Christian values that shaped now not only America but also western civilization as a whole. https://www.dailywire.com/listen?utm_source=adwords&utm_term=the%20daily%20wire&utm_campaign=Search+-+Daily+Wire+Brand&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_kw=the%20daily%20wire&hsa_ad=574893493628&hsa_src=g&hsa_ver=3&hsa_grp=130229292688&hsa_cam=13840369865&hsa_tgt=kwd-37788212924&hsa_acc=6411461344&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&gclid=CjwKCAjw8sCRBhA6EiwA6_IF4cX1PVeHUUGjOwBAjvGjN7goScTEnAgkmZG54Vg_iAdi-e4rxhp_ahoCzoAQAvD_BwE

My fourth source that I use to get the news and information is TikTok. TikTok is an app that is used worldwide for entertainment, stunts, and news. Millions of people around the world have TikTok and get informed about what is going on in the world. There are many videos informing the viewers about Ukraine, the president, LGBTQ community, conservative/liberal arguments, and many more issues. Many news teams have created a TikTok account to inform the young viewers who are watching about the new information they are getting on certain issues. It is not often that young viewers watch news channels or read news articles. TikTok is probably the best way to get information out to any young viewer. https://www.tiktok.com/search/user?q=news&t=1647406649681

My fifth source that I use to get the news and information is through Instagram. Instagram is a social media platform that teenagers and young adults use to post pictures of themselves and to keep up with what is going on with their friends. Just like TikTok, news teams have created instagram account to get information out to the young adults and teenagers. Many Presidents, congressmen/women, caucus's, members in the House of Representatives, and Prime Ministers. They use their accounts to help with their campaigns, spread political information, and post their political opinions. They use this platform to connect with the youth and to keep them informed about what they are going through and what they are doing to make America better. https://www.instagram.com/realdonaldtrump/?hl=en