1. Current Societal Issues PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT JOHNSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL MR. COX

2. The Issues – Worker’s Rights Democrats/Liberals Generally Believe  Favor labor unions and workers rights  Includes right to organize free from harassment and the right to challenge employers for disability and discrimination cases.  Support worker movements to increase the minimum wage and worker benefits Republicans/Conservatives Generally Believe  Favor the rights of businesses to maximize profits  Favors workers and management working together to do what is in the best of all involved; no outside influences (against Labor Unions)  Believes Labor Unions restrict production of businesses; sees it as a regulation of business

3. The Issues – Gun Control Democrats/Liberals Generally Believe  Strong advocates for gun control  Supported both the Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban Republicans/Conservatives Generally Believe  Favors allowing the sale of firearms to proceed more easily, and with fewer safety precautions  Opposes any new gun-control laws  Fought the regulation and banning of assault weapons

4. The Issues – Gay Rights Democrats/Liberals Generally Believe  Should be protected from workplace discrimination and hate crimes  Should be given equal work benefits like more traditional families  Largely oppose President Bush’s proposal to ban gay marriage through a Constitutional Amendment Republicans/Conservatives Generally Believe  Against giving gays equal rights in the eyes of the law  “We do not believe sexual preference should be given special legal protection or standing in law”  Oppose idea of gay marriage; seek to define marriage as union between man and woman  Supports amendment to the Constitution defining marriage

5. The Issues – Healthcare Democrats/Liberals Generally Believe  Push for more Heath Care funding (Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program)  In favor of program to ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care. (100% government funded) Republicans/Conservatives Generally Believe  Believes health care should work within the free market system where competition will lower the costs of healthcare (no federal govt. involvement)

6. The Issues – Foreign Policy Democrats/Liberals Generally Believe  Generally much more supportive of international agencies than are Republicans – support NATO and the UN  More skeptical of the Bush Administration’s rush to war than were the Republicans  Very skeptical of the handling of the reconstruction of Iraq Republicans/Conservatives Generally Believe  Have brushed aside international organizations in favor of unilateral policy of preemption  Bush Doctrine supports preemptive invasion when necessary to protect the security of the U.S.  Argue that the use of American military force is essential for keeping the world safe for Democracy

7. The Issues - Environment Democrats/Liberals Generally Believe  Support stronger environmental laws and protection of nature  Push for cleaner air and water  Support funding for preservation (Everglades in FL; Redwoods in CA, etc…) Republicans/Conservatives Generally Believe  Favor the exploration of all resources in the U.S. for energy production and have generally opposed looking for more environment-friendly power alternatives  Pushed for oil drilling in ANWR, the building of more nuclear power plants, a shift towards the use of coal, and have submitted proposals that would weaken the Clean Air Act

8. The Issues - Education Democrats/Liberals Generally Believe  More funding for struggling schools is necessary  Highly critical of No Child Left Behind, which has been under funded  Tax money should not be used on religious schools Republicans/Conservatives Generally Believe  Support both the “No Child Left Behind” program and the school vouchers  Favor school vouchers because they think that by giving students more educational options, including religious schooling, a competitive market will be created  Argue public schools will be forced to improve in order to retain students

9. The Issues – Social Security Democrats/Liberals Generally Believe  Fundamental right of Americans  Best way to protect is to maintain federal government control  Largely oppose privatizing Republicans/Conservatives Generally Believe  Favor privatization of social security  Citizens will be able to opt to place portions of money that would have gone into Social Security into other types of accounts.  Accounts will give the opportunity to play the stock market in an attempt to increase returns. (takes away Federal responsibility

10. The Issues - Welfare Democrats/Liberals Generally Believe  Support increased child care for welfare recipients so they are more able to work steady jobs  Support funding for job training so recipients will be more competitive in the job market Republicans/Conservatives Generally Believe  Favors increasing the mandatory work week for those receiving government assistance  Support cuts in child care and training funding while pushing $200 million for marriage education  Pushing for more funding for religious organizations and charities, which then will be responsible to caring for our nation’s poor

11. The Issues - Abortion Democrats/Liberals Generally Believe  Pro Choice  Favors contraceptive education to prevent necessity of abortion  Have tried several times to pass statutes that would allow prosecution of acts that harm fetuses Republicans/Conservatives Generally Believe  Pro-life; Anti-Choice  Prefers funding go towards marriage education and abstinence only campaigns  Have tried several times to pass statutes that would allow prosecution of acts that harm fetuses

12. Assignment 1. Using the issues addressed in class as a baseline, write a summary of your personal beliefs regarding these issues. 2. Research three issues not mentioned in class. You will write a second response summarizing your beliefs regarding these three new issues as well. 3. Finally, select three issues from the 12 total and write a third response indicating the reasons for why you hold these beliefs. Was it your upbringing? Your parents? Geography? Media? An experience?

13. Potential Issues to Research  Immigration  Women’s Rights  Transgender Rights  Domestic Violence  Marijuana Legalization  Iran  North Korea  Nuclear Arms  Global Warming  Oil  Renewable Energy  Taxation