2005(revised2010)StudentNewsDaily.com 1 Conservative+vs.+Liberal+Beliefs+ Copyright*2005*(revised*2010)*StudentNewsDaily.com* We#all#want#the#same#things#in#life.##We#want#freedom;#we#want#the#chance#for#prosperity;#we#want# as#few#people#suffering#as#possible;#we#want#healthy#children;#we#want#to#have#crime:free#streets.## The#argument#is#how#to#achieve#them # Liberalsbelieveingovernmentactiontoachieveequal opportunityandequalityforall.itisthedutyofthe governmenttoalleviatesocialillsandtoprotectcivil libertiesandindividualandhumanrights.believethe roleofthegovernmentshouldbetoguaranteethatno oneisinneed.liberalpoliciesgenerallyemphasizethe needforthegovernmenttosolveproblems. Conservativesbelieveinpersonalresponsibility, limitedgovernment,freemarkets,individualliberty, traditionalamericanvaluesandastrongnational defense.believetheroleofgovernmentshouldbeto providepeoplethefreedomnecessarytopursuetheir owngoals.conservativepoliciesgenerallyemphasize empowermentoftheindividualtosolveproblems.. NOTE:#The#terms# left #and# right #define#opposite#ends#of#the#political#spectrum.##in#the#united#states,#liberals#are# referred#to#as#the#left#or#left:wing#and#conservatives#are#referred#to#as#the#right#or#right:wing.##on#the#u.s.#political#map,# blue#represents#the#democratic#party#(which#generally#upholds#liberal#principles)#and#red#represents#the#republican# party#(which#generally#upholds#conservative#principles).# + + THE+ISSUES:++(In+alphabetical+order)+ Abortion Awomanhastherighttodecidewhathappenswithher body.afetusisnotahumanlife,soitdoesnothave separateindividualrights.thegovernmentshould providetaxpayerfundedabortionsforwomenwho cannotaffordthem.thedecisiontohaveanabortionis apersonalchoiceofawomanregardingherownbody andthegovernmentmustprotectthisright.women havetherighttoaffordable,safeandlegalabortions, includingpartialbirthabortion.. Humanlifebeginsatconception.Abortionisthemurder ofahumanbeing.anunbornbaby,asalivinghuman being,hasseparaterightsfromthoseofthemother. OpposetaxpayerOfundedabortion.Taxpayerdollars shouldnotbeusedforthegovernmenttoprovide abortions.supportlegislationtoprohibitpartialbirth abortions,calledthe"partialbirthabortion*ban" (*Partial#Birth#Abortion:##the#killing#of#an#unborn#baby#of#at#least# 20#weeks#by#pulling#it#out#of#the#birth#canal#with#forceps,#but# leaving#the#head#inside.##an#incision#is#made#in#the#back#of#the# baby's#neck#and#the#brain#tissue#is#suctioned#out.##the#head#is# then#removed#from#the#uterus.) StudentNewsDaily.com
Affirmative Action Duetoprevalentracisminthepast,minoritieswere deprivedofthesameeducationandemployment opportunitiesaswhites.thegovernmentmustworkto makeupforthat.americaisstillaracistsociety, thereforeafederalaffirmativeactionlawisnecessary. Duetounequalopportunity,minoritiesstilllagbehind whitesinallstatisticalmeasurementsofsuccess. Death Penalty Thedeathpenaltyshouldbeabolished.Itisinhumane andis cruelandunusual'punishment.imprisonmentis theappropriatepunishmentformurder.every executionriskskillinganinnocentperson. Economy Amarketsysteminwhichgovernmentregulatesthe economyisbest.governmentmustprotectcitizensfrom thegreedofbigbusiness.unliketheprivatesector,the governmentismotivatedbypublicinterest. Governmentregulationinallareasoftheeconomyis neededtoleveltheplayingfield. Education vouchers & charter schools Publicschoolsarethebestwaytoeducatestudents. Voucherstakemoneyawayfrompublicschools. Governmentshouldfocusadditionalfundsonexisting publicschools,raisingteachersalariesandreducing classsize. Embryonic Stem Cell Research Supporttheuseofembryonic#stem#cellsforresearch.Itis necessary(andethical)forthegovernmentto fundembryonicstemcellresearch,whichwillassist scientistsinfindingtreatmentsandcuresfordiseases. Anembryoisnotahuman.Thetinyblastocyst(embryos usedinembryonicstemcellresearch)hasnohuman features.experimentingonembryos/embryonicstem cellsisnotmurder.##embryonic#stem#cellshavethe potentialtocurechronicanddegenerativediseases whichcurrentmedicinehasbeenunabletoeffectively treat.##embryonic#stem#cellshavebeenshowntobe effectiveintreatingheartdamageinmice. Individualsshouldbeadmittedtoschoolsandhiredfor jobsbasedontheirability.itisunfairtouseraceasa factorintheselectionprocess.reverseodiscrimination isnotasolutionforracism.someindividualsinsociety areracist,butamericansocietyasawholeisnot. Preferentialtreatmentofcertainracesthrough affirmativeactioniswrong. Thedeathpenaltyisapunishmentthatfitsthecrimeof murder;itisneither cruel'nor unusual.'executinga murdereristheappropriatepunishmentfortakingan innocentlife. Thefreemarketsystem,competitivecapitalism,and privateenterprisecreatethegreatestopportunityand thehigheststandardoflivingforall.freemarkets producemoreeconomicgrowth,morejobsandhigher standardsoflivingthanthosesystemsburdenedby excessivegovernmentregulation. Schoolvoucherscreatecompetitionandtherefore encourageschoolstoimproveperformance.vouchers willgiveallparentstherighttochoosegoodschoolsfor theirchildren,notjustthosewhocanaffordprivate schools. Supporttheuseofadult#and#umbilical#cord#stem#cells# onlyforresearch.itismorallyandethicallywrongfor thegovernmenttofundembryonicstemcellresearch. Humanlifebeginsatconception.Theextractionofstem cellsfromanembryorequiresitsdestruction.inother words,itrequiresthatahumanlifebekilled.##adult#stem# cellshavealreadybeenusedtotreatspinalcordinjuries, Leukemia,andevenParkinson'sdisease.Adultstemcells arederivedfromumbilicalcords,placentas,amniotic fluid,varioustissuesandorgansystemslikeskinandthe liver,andevenfatobtainedfromliposuction.embryonic# stem#cellshavenotbeensuccessfullyusedtohelpcure disease. 2005(revised2010)StudentNewsDaily.com 2
Energy Oilisadepletingresource.Othersourcesofenergymust beexplored.thegovernmentmustproduceanational planforallenergyresourcesandsubsidize(partiallypay for)alternativeenergyresearchandproduction. Supportincreasedexplorationofalternativeenergy sourcessuchaswindandsolarpower.support governmentcontrolofgasandelectricindustries.. Euthanasia & Physician-assisted suicide Euthanasiashouldbelegalized.Apersonhasarightto diewithdignity,byhisownchoice.aterminallyill personshouldhavetherighttochoosetoendpainand suffering.itiswrongforthegovernmenttotakeaway themeansforaterminallyillpersontohastenhisdeath. Itiswrongtoforceapersontogothroughsomuchpain andsuffering.legalizingeuthanasiawouldnotleadto doctoroassistedsuicidesofnonocriticalpatients. Permittingeuthanasiawouldreducehealthcarecosts, whichwouldthenmakefundsavailableforthosewho couldtrulybenefitfrommedicalcare. Global Warming/Climate Change Globalwarmingiscausedbyanincreasedproductionof carbondioxidethroughtheburningoffossilfuels(coal, oilandnaturalgas).theu.s.isamajorcontributorto globalwarmingbecauseitproduces25%oftheworld s carbondioxide.proposedlawstoreducecarbon emissionsintheu.s.areurgentlyneededandshouldbe enactedimmediatelytosavetheplanet.manyreputable scientistssupportthistheory. Oil,gasandcoalareallgoodsourcesofenergyandare abundantintheu.s.oildrillingshouldbeincreased bothonlandandatsea.increaseddomesticproduction createslowerpricesandlessdependenceonother countriesforoil.supportincreasedproductionof nuclearenergy.windandsolarsourceswillnever provideplentiful,affordablesourcesofpower.support privateownershipofgasandelectricindustries. NeithereuthanasianorphysicianOassistedsuicideshould belegalized.itisimmoralandunethicaltodeliberately endthelifeofaterminallyillperson(euthanasia),or enableanotherpersontoendtheirownlife(assisted suicide).thegoalshouldbecompassionatecareand easingthesufferingofterminallyillpeople.legalizing euthanasiacouldleadtodoctoroassistedsuicidesofnono criticalpatients.ifeuthanasiawerelegalized,insurance companiescouldpressuredoctorstowithholdlifeo savingtreatmentfordyingpatients.manyreligions prohibitsuicideandeuthanasia.thesepracticesdevalue humanlife. Changeinglobaltemperatureisnaturaloverlong periodsoftime.sciencehasnotshownthathumanscan affectpermanentchangetotheearth stemperature. Proposedlawstoreducecarbonemissionswilldo nothingtohelptheenvironmentandwillcause significantpriceincreasesforall.manyreputable scientistssupportthistheory. Gun Control TheSecondAmendmentdoesnotgivecitizenstheright tokeepandbeararms,butonlyallowsforthestateto keepamilitia(nationalguard).individualsdonotneed gunsforprotection;itistheroleoflocalandfederal governmenttoprotectthepeoplethroughlaw enforcementagenciesandthemilitary.additionalgun controllawsarenecessarytostopgunviolenceandlimit theabilityofcriminalstoobtainguns.moregunsmean moreviolence. TheSecondAmendmentgivescitizenstherighttokeep andbeararms.individualshavetherighttodefend themselves.therearetoomanyguncontrollaws additionallawswillnotlowerguncrimerates.whatis neededisenforcementofcurrentlaws.guncontrollaws donotpreventcriminalsfromobtainingguns.more gunsinthehandsoflawoabidingcitizensmeanless crime. 2005(revised2010)StudentNewsDaily.com 3
2005(revised2010)StudentNewsDaily.com 4 Healthcare SupportfreeorlowOcostgovernmentcontrolledhealth care.therearemillionsofamericanswhocan tafford healthcareandaredeprivedofthisbasicright.every Americanhasarighttoaffordablehealthcare.The governmentshouldprovideequalhealthcarebenefits forall,regardlessoftheirabilitytopay. Supportcompetitive,freemarkethealthcaresystem.All Americanshaveaccesstohealthcare.Thedebateis aboutwhoshouldpayforit.freeandlowocost governmentorunprograms(socializedmedicine)result inhighercostsandeveryonereceivingthesamepooro qualityhealthcare.healthcareshouldremain privatized.theproblemofuninsuredindividualsshould beaddressedandsolvedwithinthefreemarket healthcaresystem thegovernmentshouldnotcontrol healthcare. Homeland Security Liberal Airportsecurity Passengerprofilingiswrong,period. Selectionofpassengersforextrasecurityscreening shouldberandom.usingothercriteria(suchas ethnicity)isdiscriminatoryandoffensivetoarabsand Muslims,whoaregenerallyinnocentandlawOabiding. Terroristsdon tfitaprofile. Arabs,#Muslims#and#South#Asians#are#no#more#likely# than#whites#to#be#terrorists. (AmericanCivilLiberties UnionACLU) Askedon60Minutesifa70OyearOoldwhitewomanfrom VeroBeachshouldreceivethesamelevelofscrutinyasa MuslimfromJerseyCity,PresidentObama s TransportationSecretaryNormanMinetasaid, Basically,Iwouldhopeso. Airportsecurity Choosingpassengersrandomlyfor extrasecuritysearchesisnoteffective.rather,profiling andintelligencedatashouldbeusedtosingleout passengersforextrascreening.thosewhodonotmeet thecriteriaforsuspicionshouldnotbesubjectedto intensescreening.theterroristscurrentlyposinga threattotheu.s.areprimarilyislamic/muslimmen betweentheagesof18and38.ourresourcesshouldbe focusedonthisgroup.profilingisgoodlogicalpolice work. If#people#are#offended#(by#profiling),#that s#unfortunate,# but#i#don t#think#we#can#afford#to#take#the#risk#that# terrorism#brings#to#us.##they ve#wasted#masses#of# resources#on#far#too#many#people#doing#things#that#really# don t#have#a#big#payoff#in#terms#of#security. NorthwesternUniversityAviationExpert,A.Gellman. Immigration Supportlegalimmigration.Supportblanketamnesty forthosewhoentertheu.s.illegally(undocumented immigrants).alsobelievethatundocumented immigrantshavearightto: OOalleducationalandhealthbenefitsthatcitizensreceive (financialaid,welfare,socialsecurityandmedicaid), regardlessoflegalstatus. OOthesamerightsasAmericancitizens.Itisunfairto arrestmillionsofundocumentedimmigrants. Supportlegalimmigrationonly.Opposeamnestyfor thosewhoentertheu.s.illegally(illegalimmigrants). ThosewhobreakthelawbyenteringtheU.S.illegallydo nothavethesamerightsasthosewhoobeythelawand enterlegally.thebordersshouldbesecuredbefore addressingtheproblemoftheillegalimmigrants currentlyinthecountry.thefederalgovernment shouldsecurethebordersandenforcecurrent immigrationlaw.
Private Property Governmenthastherighttouseeminentdomain (seizureofprivatepropertybythegovernmentoowith compensationtotheowner)toaccomplishapublicend. Religion & Government Supporttheseparationofchurchandstate.TheBillof Rightsimpliesaseparationofchurchandstate. Religiousexpressionhasnoplaceingovernment.The twoshouldbecompletelyseparate.governmentshould notsupportreligiousexpressioninanyway.all referencetogodinpublicandgovernmentspaces shouldberemoved(eg.,thetencommandmentsshould notbedisplayedinfederalbuildings).religious expressionhasnoplaceingovernment. Same-sex Marriage Marriageistheunionofpeoplewholoveeachother.It shouldbelegalforgay,lesbian,bisexualandtransgender individuals,toensureequalrightsforall.supportsameo sexmarriage.opposedtothecreationofaconstitutional amendmentestablishingmarriageastheunionofone manandonewoman.allindividuals,regardlessoftheir sexualorientation,havetherighttomarry.prohibiting sameosexcitizensfrommarryingdeniesthemtheircivil rights.[opinionsvaryonwhetherthisissueisequalto civilrightsforafricanamericans.] Respectownershipandprivatepropertyrights.Eminent domain(seizureofprivatepropertybythegovernmentoo withcompensationtotheowner)inmostcasesis wrong.eminentdomainshouldnotbeusedforprivate development. Thephrase separation#of#church#and#state isnotinthe Constitution.TheFirstAmendmenttotheConstitution states Congress#shall#make#no#law#respecting#an# establishment#of#religion,#or#prohibiting#the#free#exercise# thereof Thispreventsthegovernmentfrom establishinganationalchurch/denomination.however, itdoesnotprohibitgodfrombeingacknowledgedin schoolsandgovernmentbuildings.symbolsofchristian heritageshouldnotberemovedfrompublicand governmentspaces(eg.,thetencommandmentsshould continuetobedisplayedinfederalbuildings). Governmentshouldnotinterferewithreligionand religiousfreedom. Conservative Marriageistheunionofonemanandonewoman. OpposesameOsexmarriage. SupportDefenseofMarriageAct(DOMA),passedin 1996,whichaffirmstherightofstatesnottorecognize sameosexmarriageslicensedinotherstates. RequiringcitizenstosanctionsameOsexrelationships violatesmoralandreligiousbeliefsofmillionsof Christians,Jews,Muslimsandothers,whobelieve marriageistheunionofonemanandonewoman. Social Security Liberal TheSocialSecuritysystemshouldbeprotectedatall costs.reductioninfuturebenefitsisnotareasonable option.[opinionsvaryontheextentofthecurrent system'sfinancialstability.] SocialSecurityprovidesasafetynetforthenation'spoor andneedy.changingthesystemwouldcausea reductioninbenefitsandmanypeoplewouldsufferasa result. TheSocialSecuritysystemisinseriousfinancial trouble.majorchangestothecurrentsystemare urgentlyneeded.initscurrentstate,thesocialsecurity systemisnotfinanciallysustainable.itwillcollapseif nothingisdonetoaddresstheproblems.manywill sufferasaresult.socialsecuritymustbemademore efficientthroughprivatizationand/orallowing individualstomanagetheirownsavings. 2005(revised2010)StudentNewsDaily.com 5
2005(revised2010)StudentNewsDaily.com 6 Taxes Highertaxes(primarilyforthewealthy)andalarger governmentarenecessarytoaddressinequity/injustice insociety(governmentshouldhelpthepoorandneedy usingtaxdollarsfromtherich).supportalarge governmenttoprovidefortheneedsofthepeopleand createequality.taxesenablethegovernmenttocreate jobsandprovidewelfareprogramsforthoseinneed. Governmentprogramsareacaringwaytoprovidefor thepoorandneedyinsociety. Lowertaxesandasmallergovernmentwithlimited powerwillimprovethestandardoflivingforall. Supportlowertaxesandasmallergovernment.Lower taxescreatemoreincentiveforpeopletowork,save, invest,andengageinentrepreneurialendeavors.money isbestspentbythosewhoearnit,notthegovernment. Governmentprogramsencouragepeopletobecome dependentandlazy,ratherthanencouragingworkand independence. United Nations TheUNpromotespeaceandhumanrights.TheUnited Stateshasamoralandalegalobligationtosupportthe UnitedNations(UN).TheU.S.shouldnotactasa sovereignnation,butasonememberofaworld community.theu.s.shouldsubmititsnationalinterests tothegreatergoodoftheglobalcommunity(asdefined bytheun).theu.s.shoulddefertotheunin military/peacekeepingmatters.theunitednations ChartergivestheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncilthe powerandresponsibilitytotakecollectiveactionto maintaininternationalpeaceandsecurity.u.s.troops shouldsubmittouncommand. TheUNhasrepeatedlyfailedinitsessentialmissionto promoteworldpeaceandhumanrights.thewars, genocideandhumanrightsabusestakingplaceinmany HumanRightsCouncilmemberstates(andtheUN's failuretostopthem)provethispoint.historyshows thattheunitedstates,nottheun,istheglobalforcefor spreadingfreedom,prosperity,toleranceandpeace.the U.S.shouldneversubvertitsnationalintereststothose oftheun.theu.s.shouldneverplacetroopsunderun control.u.s.militaryshouldalwaysweartheu.s. militaryuniform,notthatofunpeacekeepers.[opinions varyonwhethertheu.s.shouldwithdrawfromtheun.] War on Terror/Terrorism Globalwarming,notterrorism,posesthegreatestthreat totheu.s.,accordingtodemocratsincongress. TerrorismisaresultofarrogantU.S.foreignpolicy. Gooddiplomacyisthebestwaytodealwithterrorism. Relyingonmilitaryforcetodefeatterrorismcreates hatredthatleadstomoreterrorism.capturedterrorists shouldbehandledbylawenforcementandtriedin civiliancourts. TerrorismposesoneofthegreatestthreatstotheU.S. TheworldtowardwhichthemilitantIslamistsstrive cannotpeacefullycooexistwiththewesternworld.in thelastdecade,militantislamistshaverepeatedly attackedamericansandamericaninterestshereand abroad.terroristsmustbestoppedanddestroyed.the useofintelligenceogatheringandmilitaryforcearethe bestwaystodefeatterrorismaroundtheworld. Capturedterroristsshouldbetreatedasenemy combatantsandtriedinmilitarycourts. Welfare Supportwelfare,includinglongOtermwelfare.Welfareis asafetynetwhichprovidesfortheneedsofthepoor. WelfareisnecessarytobringfairnesstoAmerican economiclife.itisadeviceforprotectingthepoor. OpposelongOtermwelfare.Opportunitiesshouldbe providedtomakeitpossibleforthoseinneedtobecome selforeliant.itisfarmorecompassionateandeffectiveto encouragepeopletobecomeselforeliant,ratherthan allowingthemtoremaindependentonthegovernment forprovisions.