Role of Government 📍

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Everything is an insurrection lately

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Lately it seems like any criticism of a politician’s policies or public speaking out against the government is classified as an insurrection in the mind of politicians. Rather then listening to concerns of the public, politicians are increasingly viewing the public as the enemy, something to be feared rather then listened to and respected.

Political rhetoric is often harsh and sometimes abusive. People are passionate about issues that effect their lives and well being. Government policies can have real consequences on people’s health, wealth, and freedom. When people are spending their hard-earned dollars and time to offer input to the government, it should listen and not dismiss the criticism as a firinge few.

Map: Degrasse State Forest

Minority Rights

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America is the one of the few countries that protects minority rights through our political system. Most democracies do not have a mechanism that protects the rights of minorities through the power of the filibuster, federalism, and the ability of different political parties to control different branches of government.

We also have a Constitution which protects additional rights, that can not be questioned by Congress or the President. Congress has two branches, the House and Senate, drawn from distinctively different constituencies. It also have a separate executive, the President, who is drawn from a national constituency. Unless all these diverse groups agree, no policy can be implemented.

Most countries allow their governments to engage in rash decisions, allow a simple majority to act in a tyrannical fashion. Fortunately, America is globally unique, and and we restrict the power of the majority by empowering minorities. This is one of the reasons why America’s democracy has outlived most other countries, and has proven to be a stable, long-lasting form of government.

WIthin 100 Miles from Canada

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The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects people from random and arbitrary stops and searches. Although the federal government claims the power to conduct certain kinds of warrantless stops within 100 miles of the U.S. border, important Fourth Amendment protections still apply. This helps you understand your rights within the 100-mile border zone.​

https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/border-zone

WIthin 100 Miles from Canada

Terrain Map: Lower Switzkill Valley
Thematic Map: Not a lot of Agriculture in the Adirondack Park