1. Mock Debate on Monday - Homework Directions
Friday- sign up for a side to take (Liberal, Conservative, the undecided waiting to be "converted")
This weekend:
a. All - Take notes on what the beliefs are on both sides of the liberal view & the conservative view
choose 6 topics
- wealth
- taxes
- economy
- role of government
- war
- immigration
- environment
- prayer in schools
- death penalty
- education
- gun control
- health care
- security
- you may choose others not on this list
Resources: (These are only a couple and remember created by one person / organization so they may be oversimplified or present a narrowed view of the perspective)
Liberal Vs. Conservative
Conservative Vs. Liberal
history liberals vs. conservative
b. Liberals & Conservatives: after your notes are done, develop arguments on 2 issues you want to use to persuade people to join your group. This means support the belief with an example, statistics, logical reasoning. (you need to participate for credit) (Turn in bulleted notes, bulleted or written arguments)
Example Liberal Argument: We should have more government. Look at the healthcare system, largely being run by our government and giving people more access to healthcare. According to the White House . As of January 1, more than 2 million people had selected a plan in the health insurance marketplace, and nearly 80 percent of those people will – thanks to the ACA – benefit from tax credits to help pay their premiums. This has huge implications for our suffering economy.
A second example: I want to propose we have the post office offer banking services. This would help the suffering economy as well and help people to manage their money and mail all in one place! If we have a government regulated banking system, this might help to prevent some of the bad decisions that lead to the tanking of our economy involving banks giving out bad loans.(see here for the real story on post office) (Current events backed example.
Example Conservative Debate: My opponent wants to argue more government is better, but my friends, where is the respect for individualism, working hard at our capitalist ventures to stimulate the economy based on our hard work as opposed to a government that controls and gives handouts.
Recently, the government is proposing having the postal service run money services to bring in more money and better serve the people. This is like having the Navy start running a fighter pilot school. Banks are privately owned and operated. Having a government run system is infringing on public's rights to free enterprise. Why would we have a failing institution take over something they are not event trained at doing? The government is not looking at the rights and interests of the people, only what is going to make a better bang for their buck. The current administration is forgetting that the United States already tried this idea back in 1910 and it failed within 5 years costing the country more money and panic. More government is not the answer. (Historical backed example)
The people waiting to be converted: On Monday, you will hear the arguments of the liberals and conservatives and write a thoughtful paragraph due Tuesday that includes:
- a discussion of whose arguments were most effective
- what position would you take? Why?
support with examples from the argument or your own observations
(Turn in bulleted notes & written reflection)
Monday: Liberals and Conservatives will present their arguments on each issue trying to sway the audience to join their side.
2. Hawkins Response: Write a 1-2 paragraph response to the John Hawkins. (Turn in annotation & written / typed response w/ MLA format only if you researched anything ) see prompt and response below (OK DUE TUESDAY!!!!!!!!!)
Evaluate: To what extent do you agree
or disagree with the author? Include 1-2 points of the author’s that you
support with your own example, and observations from current events, or reading
from history, etc.
Hawkins is successful in drawing attention to the dire
consequences of some of our political actions, but fails to get the buy in from
more groups who may oppose his ideas with his excessive generalizations and ad
hominem attacking style that rely too much on critiquing the current government
and not enough on supporting through specific examples and proposing useful
solutions. In Hawkin’s second point, he
does bring up an important point regarding the loss of morality among our
politicians, despite his biased presentation that focuses on only Democrats.
Hawkins fails to recognize that though there may be more indiscretions being
reported in office, the public is not sitting by “perpetually disappointed,”
but often calling for action and Democrats are not the only offenders.
Recently, people have publicly condemned New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie,
with “booing” at the recent Superbowl game and called for his resignation in
light of a recently emerging scandal that involves Christie’s knowledge of a
pre-planned traffic jam. Lack of morality among the famous and government
officials is not a new concept with the incoming Democratic government – it is
however being more widely reported and America is demanding higher morals
because of it. With the public’s scrutiny, one might argue Americans are
becoming stricter in what they will and will not accept.
Hawkins does make a valid point when he states “We have an
unsustainable level of debt that we are not addressing”. The columnist exaggerates
the real situation and ignores facts that ABC news recently reported that the
Treasury is planning to pay back 35 billion dollars contributing to lowering
the debt ceiling. However, his point should not be ignored. The lack of
attention over the debt has caused America’s credit rating to be lowered,
affect our political image, and business relationships with other countries.
Additionally, in comparison to populous countries, we rank second in our debt
rating being only behind Japan. (Mercatus) This is not an insignificant fact to
ignore. The debt has lacked a clear plan of action for multiple years.
"Mercatus Center." How
Does the US Debt Position Compare with Other Countries?N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2014.
3. Remember to have a book by Tuesday
