1. Economics & Politics
Two Peas
in a Pod

2. Background
Economics and Politics are two different branches of Social Studies
The others, according to the State of Wisconsin, are History, Behavioral Sciences, and Geography

3. More Background
American voters consistently name the health of the economy as the most pressing issue
Take that, net neutrality
Easier to understand
Easier to visualize

4. Who are voters? Politicians are always running for re-election
They need to appeal to the voters
Appeal to the likeliest voters
In the U.S., that’s old people

5. Images of a Bad economy

6. Money = Power
There is an association between money and power in this country
The average Congressman has a lot more money than the average American

7. Economics of Campaigns
Cost of elections is rising
Makes campaigning a very expensive proposition
Difficult to have poor, “common man” candidates run
Mary Burke: $4.6 million contribution

8. Racial disparity
In the United States, African-Americans make up just about 12% of people
Yet, they make up over 40% of the prison population
Out-of-proportion rate of suspensions and expulsions from school

9. Economics of Mass incarceration
More prisoners = more prisons
More prisons = more prison guard
Prison guard jobs pay well and require little education, so they’re great for economic growth

10. Vietnam war
By treaty, North and South Vietnam should have been united in the early 1960s.
Communism & Containment
Result = Vietnam War

11. Immigration Democrats Republicans
Want comprehensive reform to give citizenship to people crossing the border
Do not like the idea of someone being “illegal”
However, Obama has deported more illegal aliens than any other President before him
Do not want to award citizenship to people who break the law
Tend to favor mass deportation
However, many corporations would prefer to have a large pool of illegal aliens around

12. Immigration Numbers
Estimates vary, but some believe that as many as 20 million illegal immigrants currently reside in the United States.

13. Terrorism

14. Response to terrorism The 9/11 attacks needed a response
Al-Qaeda took responsibility
The United States invaded Afghanistan in October 2001, where Al-Qaeda had taken refuge

15. And on to Iraq… In March 2003, the United States invaded Iraq
Iraq was suspected of harboring members of Al-Qaeda and Weapons of Mass Destruction
Casualties: 4,493 American dead

16. Cost of G.W.O.T. (and counting)

17. Exit Ticket On a notecard: Write your name in the top right corner
Write the name of a political issue (not one that we have discussed in class) in the top left corner
On the lines of the notecard, write how the political issue you have identified (in Step #2) relates to economics
Toss the notecard in the red basket on your way out the door