1. Describe the major social issues in the United States that we discussed in class.
Same-sex marriage: marriage between a couple of the same sex/gender
Pro-All are equal before the law, without discrimination, Equal protection from the law, Men and women of legal age can marry and are able to found a family.
Anti- Not real marriage, Denies the children a father or mother, All major religious groups
The first state to legalize gay marriage was Massachusetts on May 17, 2004
Legalized-Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, District of Columbia, New York, Washington, Maine, Maryland, California, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Minnesota
Iowa-3rd state to approve
Gun control: make more laws to regulate or control sales of guns
Pro: murder, school shooting, and shootings in general, large capacity guns are faster to reload - easier for mass shootings, murders involving guns are gang related, too many people are dying
Anti: 2nd amendment -- right to bear arms, hunting and protection, murders use by hand guns but assault rifles banned, govt. is trying to ban the wrong weapon (assault rifles instead of hand guns)
Gun Laws: it has to be registered with the BATFE, The Brady Law - background checks, Violent Crime Control Act - increased fees and required photos and fingerprints
Abortion: the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy
Pro- woman’s choice, baby will be disabled, mother’s mental or physical health is in danger, rape or incest victim, STDs, financial problems,
Anti- is wrong, takes innocent life, unsafe, baby can feel pain, emotional scars, alternatives-adoption or foster care
Connecticut was first state to ban abortion in 1821, by 1860-20 states made it illegal
Roe vs Wade- 1973- legalized abortion by the 14th amendment, and in 1976 Hyde amendment took all funding for abortion.
Legalizing Marijuana
Positive effects-relaxation, boosts mood, increased enjoyment/appreciation for things
Negative effects-Forgetfulness, hard time concentrating, loss of balance/dizziness, nausea
13 U.S. states have laws regulating medical marijuana: AK, CA, CO, HI, ME, MI, MT, NV, NM, OR, RI, VT, WA
It is nearly impossible to overdose on marijuana/52% of marijuana use is in the U.S.Must be 21 to legally have marijuana, Colorado/Washington for recreational use (not in parks or on sidewalks), Can have one ounce or less, grow up to six plants for personal use, Can't be visible - needs to be hidden
Immigration: the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country
Dream Act-children brought into the US by their parents
Immigration Pros-jobs, language and housing availability
1882 Immigration Act, 1921's Immigration Emergency Quota Act and the Dream Act.
2. What are the main economic and political systems that are practiced in the world and how do they differ?
Economic:
Socialism: Government controls the economy
Capitalism: People control the economy
Government:
Democracy: a system of government where the people are involved
Direct: people are in complete control. Majority rule-Switzerland
Representative: when people elect representatives-United States
Monarchy: a monarch leads
Constitutional: King or Queen is limited by a constitution-Great Britain
Absolute: King or Queen has full power, ultimate control-Saudi Arabia
Communism: a system where everyone is equal
Practice: government controls everything. Control rights; no freedoms-North Korea
Theory: Carl Marx-equality. Vast majority of people aren't very well off.
Dictatorship: One person controls the government-Iraq
Anarchy: No government-Somalia
3. What are the major differences between democrats and republicans in the United States?
Democrats: liberal, change in society, regulations on economic activity, help people through gov., increase taxes, gov. involvement, pro-affirmative action, increase minimum wage, increase taxes for wealthy
Republicans: conservative, laissez-fare, trickle-down theory, rugged individualism, no reliance on government, anti-affirmative action, oppose minimum wage
4. What is income inequality, why is it an issue and what can be done to help improve it?
The gap between rich and poor people’s incomes
Number 1 social issue. The top 1% has 40%, the bottom 80% has only 7%. An average worker has to work a month to make what they make in an hour.
1) Start more businesses, 2) Rich pay more taxes, 3) up minimum wage, 4) Break down the Social Barriers, 5) Improve Public Schools
5. Discuss 9-11 and the impact it had on the US.
What happened- four airplanes crashed in New York (Twin Towers), Pennsylvania (field), and Washington DC (Pentagon) through Al Qaeda
Impact: brought our country together; killed 3000 people; started Afghanistan war; lost 6000 in Afghanistan; stock market went down 600 points; security increased; The Patriot Act-allowed more power for gov.; Homeland Security was set up
Causes: religion, "bully,"/ 2 bombings of the American embassies in Africa
Afghanistan War: after 9-11, Osama was head of Al Qaeda, US demanded that they hand over Osama, so the US made an alliance with other countries and invaded. The Taliban had power over Afghanistan, hurting innocents, decrease terrorist power.
6. Discuss the Iraq War and the impact it had on the US.
Causes of Iraq ('03-'11)-thought to fight the war on terror, a lot of oil there, help out the government and make it democracy, and that they had weapons of mass destruction-which wasn't true, he had them before and Hussein was putting misinformation out there. Operation Iraqi Freedom by US military.
1990- Persian Gulf War- Hussein invaded Kuwait and we sent troops to Saudi Arabia. We hoped it would protect Saudi Arabia and Hussein would back out of Kuwait. We invaded Kuwait in 1991 "Desert Storm," 34 nations' goal was to free Kuwait, which we succeeded-easy victory. We lost 392 people, they lost 20,000-35,000 people. Hussein was allowed to remain in power. Consequences for Iraq: economic sanctions, weapons inspector, and no fly zone, where they couldn't have any military power.
Bush-took down Saddam Hussein, established a democracy, build up schools, hospitals, transportation, the "Surge,"-sent about 30,000 troops to get things under control, torture of Abu Ghraib, people said they were "bad eggs" and they said that they "were just following orders
7. Discuss the situation in Iran.
Iran's Nuclear non-proliferation treaty
-slow down and stop nuclear action above 5%, dismantle machinery, no more sanctions on trade
-Israel isn't happy; used to be friends before Shah overthrow
-hostage crisis, support of Iraq, Ahmadinejad- Israel should be wiped off the Earth
-Saudi Arabia isn't happy-they are Sunni Muslim while Iran is Shiite/Shia; Iraq is Sunni-too easy on Iran
8. What are some of the major problems the world is facing, what are the causes of these problems and what is being done to help solve these problems?
Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty:
targets:targets - decrease proportion of people who have a daily income of $1 in half, achieve full and productive work for everyone, esp. for women and young people, decrease the proportion of people who suffer from hunger in half. area-Africa. 385 mil people who live under $1 a day. Number has decrease by 700 mil people, met it by 2010. Statistic, 1 out of 8 people are in starvation.
Achieve Universal Primary Education:
eliminate gender segregation for kids in school. targets-by 2015, every child should complete a primary education, 123 mil lack basic reading and writing skills, 57 million children have no education from 102 mill. primary education reached 90% in 2010, helps reduce poverty. Areas- South America, Middle East, Africa
Gender Equality and Empower Women:
sex equality, men and women should receive equal treatment. Achieved equality in primary schools, only 2 out of 3 countries equality for upper schools. 60 out of 100 jobs are controlled by men. Women face discrimination in school, work, and government. Undeveloped countries. Major problem in India and Middle East.
Reduce Child Mortality:
when children die under 5, children can't get medicine 1 in every 10 die in Africa, 1 in 16 die in Asia. Gone down 50%, 17,000 children are dying less each day. 6.5 mil children died last year from preventable children. 0-1 month olds mortality is increasing. Under 1 In US is 5.9%
Maternal Mortality:
improve the health of mothers while they are pregnant and after they've given birth. Targets- Reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio and Achieve universal access to reproductive health, Maternal mortality has declined 47% since '90,
Combat HIV/AIDS:
halt and reverse the spread of such diseases, HIV/AIDS: STDs, affects immune system, more people living with HIV, number of people dying with HIV has lower, 2.5 mil new infected people every year. Major problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Universal treatment of AIDS/HIV ////reverse malaria and other major diseases, malaria has decreased 17%,
Environmental Sustainability:
targets: develop a country's law and programs to reduce environmental loss-deforestation Major problem in South America and Africa, reduce biodiversity loss-1/3 of marine fish stocks have been over fished, 12% of all land for land animals are protected, only 1% of ocean animals, Halve the amount of people who can't get drinking water-2 bil people gained access since '90, 40% of people who don't have drinking water live in Sub-Saharan Africa, Improve the homeless "slum dwellers" population- give housing,
dropped 6% of population
Global Partnership for Development:
targets: help get developing countries money and technology. develop better trading and financial systems- make money for itself, Address needs of developing countries- landlocked countries can't trade, debt problems in developing countries, get developing countries vaccinations and essential drugs, make technology accessible for developing countries, 77% of people in developed countries have access to internet with only 31% to the internet, -start business, communicate and learn, help through trade, cheaper medicine, technology
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