1. Describe the major social issues in the United States
gay marriage – pro: Doesn’t affect you/Love is love Con: religion
legalization of marijuana - Pro: Recreation and Painkiller. Economic benefit Con: impairs abilities. Encourages other drugs. Dangerous
gun laws/rights - Pro: 2nd amendment. Need defense. Don’t blame us for the actions of a few. Con: Public shootings, criminals, and mentally ill people abusing weapons
immigration - Pro: Create businesses and economic flow. Contribute to diversity. Con: Many here illegally and partake in illegal activity
abortion - Pro: It’s the mother’s choice. Babies born out of rape and teenage pregnancy. Con: “It’s a child not a choice.” Believe that a human is a human from the time of conception.
2. What are the main economic and political systems that are practiced in the world and how do they differ?
capitalism – Free market. Economy open to all with no government.
socialism – Government owns most of/all of economy.
direct democracy – People make decisions directly
representative democracy – People elect officials to make decisions
absolute monarchy – Monarch(king, queen, emperor, empress, etc) Has ALL the power
constitutional monarchy – Monarch’s power is severely limited/nullified by constitution and is ruled by prime minister
practice of communism – Socialism where government controls the individual as well
theory of communism – a classless system in which all are equal
dictatorship – One person has ALL the power to themself
anarchy – No government/no formal government
3. What are the major differences between democrats and republicans in the United States? Democrats are liberal, and support more the citizen’s freedom side of things and have a tendency to be more open. Republicans are conservative and do not openly accept change.
4. What is income inequality, why is it an issue and what can be done to help improve it? It is the uneven spread of income amongst a populace, and inhibits the lower socioeconomic ranks from accessing education, food, clothing, shelter, etc. It can be helped by providing education everywhere, raising minimum wages, and balance the taxes more fairly.
5. Discuss 9-11 and the impact it had on the US.
9-11 was a series of terrorist attacks on the NYC Trade Center, Pentagon, and almost the White House/Capitol Building. We went to war with Afghanistan as a result, climaxing in the death of Osama Bin Laden at the hands of SEAL Team 6, U.S. Navy.
6. Discuss the Iraq War and the impact it had on the US.
The Iraq war was based on the belief that Iraq was producing Nuclear Arms, and the United States, instead of taking it to the UN, declared war and dealt with it themselves. Many Americans believe it was unnecessary and cost too much. The war ended 2 years ago.
7. Discuss the situation in Iran.
A deal was brokered with Iran (by the UN) for Iran to reduce their purification of uranium, and eliminate some of their technology and facilities, as to inhibit the alleged ability to produce ThermoNuclear Devices. In return, they get some sanctions lifted.
UN MILLENIUM GOALS
End poverty and hunger – People cannot get adequate access to food, water, shelter and clothing, which leads to disease, starvation, and death.
Universal education – In many nations, education is not prioritized and the populace can’t get adequate advancements to do well in society. In many nations, this is also true mainly for women only.
Gender equality – Women around the world are not treated as well as men (as a whole) and have lower income, less authority, and minimal education.
Child health – Refers to health of newborn 1 year after birth, and in 3rd world nations, infants are prone to disease, malnourishment and improper clothing/shelter, resulting in a high infant mortality rate.
Maternal health – Health of mother during pregnancy and shortly thereafter. In 3rd world nations, mothers are prone to disease, malnourishment, and starvation, killing not only mother, but child as well.
Combat HIV/AIDS – In Africa (most notably), HIV and AIDS are rampant, spread like wildfire. These conditions are incurable (in a traditional sense) and are, left untreated, fatal. Research is continually being conducted to cease these conditions.
Environmental sustainability – In order to live, an organism must have a place to live, and ours is slowly being destroyed (by ourselves), so we need to bar that degradation of our home, and so emission restrictions, deforesting restrictions, and hunting restrictions are being put into place on a mass scale to inhibit our encroachment on the environment.
Global partnership – The nations of the world, developed and otherwise, are not cooperating very well, so this goal is to open the trade and sharing of resources between nations and enable less developed countries to get a handle on the global market and develop further.
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