Watch the videos below and answer the questions that follow.
Eric Shinseki, a retired army general and former chief of staff of the U.S. Army, was named Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs by President Barack Obama. In this video, Secretary Shinseki gives a short report on the activities of his agency in the first year of the Obama presidency.
The President’s Cabinet Reporting to You: Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki
January 26, 2010
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| 1a. Based on the Secretary Shinseki’s address, what are some of the responsibilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs? What challenges has it faced?
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| 1b. Thinking of this video and other media coverage of the Department of Veterans Affairs, do you have a favorable impression of this agency? Why or why not?
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President Obama has said he wants to make it "cool" again to work for the federal government. Washington Post Online Sketch columnist Dana Milbank offers some useful tips for government workers eager to raise their profiles in the following humorous video.
Washington Sketch: Mr. Cool Is in the Building
The Washington Post Online
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| 2a. As a college student, would you consider a job in the federal government upon graduation? Why or why not?
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| 2b. Do you think that the Obama administration is making it "cool" again to work in the federal bureaucracy? Why or why not?
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| 2c. What do you think are some of the advantages of working for the federal government? The disadvantages?
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The Colbert Report, hosted by Stephen Colbert, is a parody of personality-driven political opinion shows such as those found on the cable news networks, wherein Colbert hosts the show in character as a right-wing pundit.
In the following video, Stephen Colbert interviews former FEMA director Michael Brown about his role in the bureaucratic failures surrounding Hurricane Katrina.
Michael Brown
The Colbert Report
Comedy Central
First aired March 28, 2006
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| 3a. In the above video, do you find Brown’s explanations for the failure of FEMA after Hurricane Katrina convincing? Why or why not?
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| 3b. Can large bureaucratic organizations like FEMA or the Department of Homeland Security ever run effectively? Explain your answer in terms of the discussion of bureaucracy in your textbook.
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