CIT Experiential Learning Reflection Paper
If you have attended an approved lecture or weekend country course, to get EL credit, you must write a 1-page
reflection paper and upload it to Blackboard for review. Please complete the following:
Student Information
Name __Bittner______________________________Brian_________________________________A____________________
Last
First
MI
Andrew ID: ___bbittner_________
Experiential Learning Course Number: 39- 220
(eg 210, 220 or 310)
Title of Lecture or Country Course:_Unstable Majorities________________________________________________
Name of Lecturer: ___Morris Florina___________________________
Date of Lecture: __12/04/14____________
Complete this form in its entirety, including an approximately 3-4 paragraph reflection, using Times New Roman 10 pt font,
single spaced, filling the page, but no further. Write a 1 paragraph summary and then 2-3 paragraph reflection on what you
learned and how it impacted you. Once complete, upload the form to the TurnItIn Assignment labeled "Experiential Learning
Reflection Report" that is located in the Blackboard course (in the Experiential Learning Reflection Report folder). If you do
not include both components, you will not get credit for that submission.
This lecture was about a pertinent and interesting topic, even for an engineering major. Over the past decade there had
been a great deal of political instability. Control of the house keeps flip flopping, with Republicans making the most recent
advances in the recent election. Why is this? In a country filled with motivated voters and party which represent a core set of
ideals, why do we such changes made and with such frequency. Morris suggests that a factor in such an event is an
amalgamation of the smaller groups which are left largely unaffected after the election. This concept of overreach is what leads
to the supposed swing votes forcing a subsequent election in favor of the opposing party.
For example, lets say in Pennsylvania’s new governer establish’s a renewable fuel program popular with the area’s
democratic party. But, in implementation of the policy, funding for coal mining operations decreases. Now the coal unions
(which typically vote blue) are more likely to vote red in the next election to get their jobs back or wages back. The coal union
workers are an example of these small swing groups which cause unstable voting sequences in our political system.
When running, candidates are likely to promise everything in hopes of getting elected and hopefully figuring out how
to keep everyone. In reality budgeting is difficult and not every group will get the funding and attention they need. For
example, Obama is heavily criticized for the implementation of his universal health care program. He also is thought to have
given less than desirable attention to the inner city crime rate in his home town of Chicago.
The governer’s election in Pennsylvania this past month I think is a great example of this unstable phenomena. 4 years
ago, Corbett, a native of my hometown and member at my parish, was elected on the basis that he would bring fiscal
responsibility back to our budgeting process and help explore the economic potential of our areas natural resources (shale
gasoline.) Why did Corbett win the election? People who had voted for Rendell previously were probably frustrated with the
recession and deficits, and were looking for someone to create jobs in times of desperation. In that election the blue collar
workers had voiced their concerns.
Corbett spent his fixing the budget on the premises he ran on. He cut public school funding and brought in gas
companies with no drilling tax (compared to 8% in neighboring states.) At the end of his term he had boosted the economy by
exploring opportunities in shale. His core group still found him favorable. Now, as Morris has suggested, the reason he lost the
election were the smaller groups which resonated with the groups that were slighted. Any in the education system experienced
a pinch in their funding, and smaller communities have become concerned about their spring water supply due to the risks of
fracking. Wolf won the election because he appealed to these smaller groups, promising education reform (more funding) and a
tax on the fracking companies to make that money available.
At the end of the day, our political system is unstable, but in my opinion this instability isn’t a purely negative thing.
Candidates had better keep their policies in line to appeal to the right groups, meaning that the voices of smaller groups are still
heard. I think that a different party controlling the house is a good thing. It keeps the country from heading too far in one
direction. Our country ends up being the happy medium of two well developed but imperfect governmental philosophies.
I enjoyed the lecture and it was a nice break from the engineering conversation I have everyday. Science is great but
its nice to remember I have other passions as well, one which is being a responsible voter and citizen in our government.