Public IssuesPublic Issues

http://www.nifi.org/http://www.nifi.org/

http://www.policyalmanac.orghttp://www.policyalmanac.org//

Children & FamilyChildren & Family

• Youth & Violence – reducing the threatYouth & Violence – reducing the threat– become "immune" or numb to the horror of become "immune" or numb to the horror of

violence violence – gradually accept violence as a way to solve gradually accept violence as a way to solve

problems problems – imitate the violence they see on TVimitate the violence they see on TV– identify with certain characters, victims identify with certain characters, victims

and/or victimizers and/or victimizers • What should go on the Internet?What should go on the Internet?• Our Nation’s Kids: is something wrong?Our Nation’s Kids: is something wrong?• Who should be responsible for children?Who should be responsible for children?

– Government or ParentsGovernment or Parents

Civil RightsCivil Rights• Crime & Punishment of Inmates: is Crime & Punishment of Inmates: is

justice being served?justice being served?• How can we be fair? The future of How can we be fair? The future of

affirmative actionaffirmative action• Admissions Decisions: Should Admissions Decisions: Should

Immigration be restricted?Immigration be restricted?• Homosexual Marriage: should gay Homosexual Marriage: should gay

people have the right to marry?people have the right to marry?• Abortion: when is a fetus a baby?Abortion: when is a fetus a baby?

Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice• death penaltydeath penalty

– is it just?is it just?

• drugsdrugs– what should be legal?what should be legal?

• gun controlgun control– does having guns lead to does having guns lead to

more fatalities?more fatalities?

• juvenile justicejuvenile justice– when do you know right from when do you know right from

wrong?wrong?

• prisonsprisons– should they be should they be

correctional or punitive?correctional or punitive?

Economic IssuesEconomic Issues• A Nation in Debt: How can A Nation in Debt: How can

we pay the bills?we pay the bills?• The $15 Trillion Debt: The $15 Trillion Debt:

Breaking the habit of deficit Breaking the habit of deficit spendingspending

• The Social Security Struggle: The Social Security Struggle: fixing the retirement systemfixing the retirement system

• From Welfare to Work: who From Welfare to Work: who should we help?should we help?

• Science & Technology Science & Technology (NASA)(NASA)

EducationEducation

• Too Many Children left Behind: how can we Too Many Children left Behind: how can we close the achievement gap?close the achievement gap?

• Public Schools: are they making the grade?Public Schools: are they making the grade?

• Job TrainingJob Training– pros & conspros & cons

• Head StartHead Start– Free Child Day CareFree Child Day Care

• Higher EducationHigher Education– how much should the govt. grant and to whom?how much should the govt. grant and to whom?

Energy & EnvironmentEnergy & Environment• Finding a solution to Finding a solution to

the power predicamentthe power predicament– oil, nuclear, solar, windoil, nuclear, solar, wind

• Air QualityAir Quality• Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change• Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste• RecyclingRecycling• PesticidesPesticides• Water QualityWater Quality

– http://fitperez.com/2011-http://fitperez.com/2011-03-23-jennifer-connelly-03-23-jennifer-connelly-in-clean-water-psain-clean-water-psa

• WildlifeWildlife

Government & PoliticsGovernment & Politics• America’s Role in the World: what does national America’s Role in the World: what does national

security mean in the 21security mean in the 21stst C? C?• Lobbying – act of attempting to influence decisions Lobbying – act of attempting to influence decisions

made by officials in govt.made by officials in govt.• Federalism – big govt.Federalism – big govt.

– "A government big enough to give you everything you "A government big enough to give you everything you need, is a government big enough to take away need, is a government big enough to take away everything that you have....“ Jeffersoneverything that you have....“ Jefferson

• Bail Outs – govt. funding some companies Bail Outs – govt. funding some companies bankruptciesbankruptcies

• Regulation – admin. Regulation – admin. legislation that legislation that constrains rightsconstrains rights

Health & Well BeingHealth & Well Being

• Coping with the Cost of Health Care: Coping with the Cost of Health Care: how do we pay for what we need? how do we pay for what we need?

• Illegal Drugs: what should we do now?Illegal Drugs: what should we do now?• The Battle over AbortionThe Battle over Abortion• Assisted SuicideAssisted Suicide• HSAs (Health Savings Account)HSAs (Health Savings Account)• HMOs (Health Management Organizations)HMOs (Health Management Organizations)• PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations)PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations)• Medicaid – U.S. health program for low income Medicaid – U.S. health program for low income

families families • CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)• Medicare – U.S. provides health insurance for Medicare – U.S. provides health insurance for

people 65+ and/or disablepeople 65+ and/or disable• Prescription Drugs… EPIDEMIC!Prescription Drugs… EPIDEMIC!

International & Foreign International & Foreign PolicyPolicy• The New Challenge of American Immigration: what should The New Challenge of American Immigration: what should

we do?we do?• Terrorism: what should we do?Terrorism: what should we do?• Defense SpendingDefense Spending• DiplomacyDiplomacy• Human RightsHuman Rights

– http://www.hrw.org/http://www.hrw.org/

• IntelligenceIntelligence– CIACIA

• RefugeesRefugees– provide basic aidprovide basic aid

• United NationsUnited Nations– intl’ law, intl’ security, social progressintl’ law, intl’ security, social progress

Social WelfareSocial Welfare

• Child AbuseChild Abuse– CPSCPS

• Child CareChild Care– should govt. provide daycare?should govt. provide daycare?

• Disability IssuesDisability Issues– who gets help?who gets help?

• HomelessnessHomelessness– how do we get people off the street?how do we get people off the street?

• Poverty/WelfarePoverty/Welfare– how do we get people on their feet again?how do we get people on their feet again?

• Senior IssuesSenior Issues– what if they lost everything & had no family? what if they lost everything & had no family?