Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Everyone knows that politics is now so divided in our country that not only do the two sides
disagree on the solutions to the countrys problems, they dont even agree on what the problems
are. Its two versions of the world in collision.
HEALTHCARE
On the issue of
EDUCATION
(public/school choice, college/student loans)
On the issue of
TAXES
IMMIGRATION
On the issue of
LABOR
OUR NEXT STEP (IN THIS ACTIVITY)
Everyone will be assigned to a group that will be responsible for studying
one of the particular issues which we just reviewed and then for sharing
those findings about your assigned issue with the class next week
After being assigned to a group, you will go to the media center next door
tomorrow and work with your group to research your issue
Your objective is to do research online, finding arguments in favor of or
against the positions taken by each party (Democrat or Republican), and
discussing them with your group.
Together you fill out a worksheet
that will serve as the basis for your
groups presentation to the class.
Your worksheet will list several good
websites that present a balanced view
of these issues. It is strongly suggested
that you use these sites for your group
research, as they are very helpful.
EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION THAT
YOU WILL FIND ONLINE (at the recommended sites)
PRO Alternative Energy CON Alternative Energy
PRO: "Despoiling nature to get at the tiny trickle of oil CON: "It is estimated that there is enough oil and
we have left won't make any significant difference in natural gas offshore and in non-wilderness and non-
what we pay at the pump - not now and not ever. And it park lands in the United States - but currently ruled off-
won't make our country any less dependent on foreign limits for production by the federal government - to
fuel. Our thirst for oil is bad for national security, bad fuel 50 million cars and heat nearly 100 million homes
for our economy and bad for the environment for the next 25 years...
Over 1,300 questions on controversial The Bush administration's own Energy Department If Congress were to expand the areas available for
says that lifting the ban on offshore drilling would have active exploration, we could make more domestic
issues with over 12,000 pro, con, and a marginal impact on oil supplies and an 'insignificant'
impact on prices. Drilling in the Arctic National
energy available to Americans in the future, while
sending a strong positive supply signal to markets
not clearly pro or con statements. Wildlife Refuge would be similarly futile, shaving - at
the very most - 4 cents off a gallon of gas by 2026...
today, potentially putting downward pressure on prices.
It would also strengthen U.S. energy security by further
diversifying Americans energy portfolio, and therefore
America needs to say no to pumping up Big Oil's mitigating the impact of a disruption in any one
profits and yes to forging a new clean energy producing region of the world."
here at this site, ProCon.org. PRO: "Citizens and community members everywhere
are seeking smart solutions to our two biggest problems
CON: "Hard times stir our appetites for easy answers,
but those are too often deceptive and dangerous. The
- the economic downturn and the ecological collapse. Green Recovery plan is a prime example--its
In the case of this particular The nation is finally realizing that the solutions to these
proponents would have us believe that pouring
taxpayer money into renewable energy like solar and
twin crises are linked. That is because nearly wind would create an estimated 5 million new jobs, end
question, at least a dozen pro everything that is good for the environment - and
practically everything that is good in the fight against
our reliance on imported oil and give us clean air.
global warming - is a job. As welcome as those results would be, they're based on
arguments and a dozen con Solar panels don't install themselves. Wind turbines
the illusion that renewable fuels are an energy panacea
and that the market is ignoring an easy answer that wise
politicians can clearly see. But the facts just don't
arguments are listed, giving don't manufacture themselves. Homes and buildings
don't retrofit or weatherize themselves. In our industrial
society, trees don't even PLANT themselves, anymore.
support this. Yes, renewable fuels will constitute a part
of our energy mix in the future, but they represent only
you an instant reference for Real people must do all of that work... a tiny fraction of our energy needs and won't lead us
out of the economic and environmental wilderness...
A well thought out shift to a clean energy economy
the kind of information you offers more work, more wealth and better health to
disadvantaged communities than does any plausible,
Taking into account the EIA's [US Energy Information
Agency] projected increases in electricity demand, the
renewable sector would need to grow 19% per year for
business-as-usual scenario...
would need to write more In a time of economic peril, let us never forget that
22 years consecutively to meet U.S. demand by the
year 2030. Clearly, these targets are overly ambitious
everything that is required to make America's economy and impractical...
effective opinion responses. cleaner, greener and more resilient is a career pathway
for someone. Or a business contract. Or an The government cannot create wealth or jobs; all it can
entrepreneurial opportunity. We can power America do is take from Peter to pay Paul, opening up a job in
through this recession by repowering America with 'green industry A' by eliminating one in 'fossil fuel
clean energy. We can create millions of jobs that will
Another useful site is BalancedPolitics.org.
This site will also provide you with a thorough listing of
arguments on both sides of many of these issues.
It can also provide you with links to other useful sites
where you can study the issue further.
In a Nutshell
Yes No
1. Most violent crimes are committed with 1. Criminals will always find a way to
guns; thus, restricting gun ownership obtain their guns, leaving law-abiding
will likely reduce the number of such citizens without any weapons to use in
crimes. defense.
2. Lunatics, bullied school kids, 2. Crimes are often prevented by the
disgruntled workers, and others can deterrent effect of the possibility of
inflict mass casualties with guns that victim gun possession.
otherwise wouldn't be possible. 3. The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution
3. A crime victim who has a gun may be in protects the individual's right to gun
more danger than an unarmed person ownership.
since the criminal may kill in perceived 4. Woman and weaker individuals may
self-defense. have no means of self-defense from rape
4. Suicides and crimes of passion are or other crimes, especially in the inner
higher with gun availability, as it's much city.
easier to act immediately on your 5. Guns in the possession of citizens are an
impulses when a gun is available. added protection against government
5. The 2nd Amendment of the Constitution tyranny.
was targeted towards militia, e.g. the 6. Police are often too overwhelmed to
National Guard, rather than individuals. protect all citizens from violent crime.
6. Crimes that may have been less harmful 7. Banning guns will create another
can be made more dangerous by adding potentially large source of organized
a gun. criminal revenue, as a black market for
7. Legalized gun ownership means guns guns will surely develop.
have a greater chance of falling into the 8. Banning guns will take away yet
hands of kids, potentially resulting in another piece of our liberty, which is
some deadly accidents. one more step to socialism and
8. Terrorism, school shootings, and other totalitarianism.
modern circumstances make guns more 9. Reasonable gun control & education
dangerous nowadays. steps can be put in place, so an outright
ban is unnecessary.
In the OPINIONS section of the website Debate.org,
you will find links to discussions of various questions
about the issues. In these discussion forums, visitors to
the site post comments, providing another source of
arguments for and against many of these issues.