Choose ONE of the two topics below as the subject of an essay that summarizes the key points in the debate as well as clearly states your own views on the topic. YOUR ESSAY SHOULD INCLUDE IN TEXT CITATIONS WHEN YOU REFER TO INFORMATION FROM THE READINGS. You must demonstrate that you read and understand the assigned readings in Taking Sides. In other words, in order to earn a high grade on this assignment, you need to summarize both sides of the argument as presented by the authors in Taking Sides, then you need to present your own views on the subject.
1-A: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
In 1920 the United States ratified the Eighteenth Amendment. This amendment made the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors illegal. In 1933, the Eighteenth Amendment was repealed by the Twenty First Amendment. (Please read O’Connor and Sabato’s annotations of these amendments on pages 84 and 86.) Many today believe that making “recreational drugs,” such as marijuana, illegal is as ineffective as Prohibition was. They argue that the cost of enforcing such unenforceable laws is cost prohibitive. Instead, they argue, these drugs should be legalized and taxed. Others argue that “recreational drugs” are gateway drugs and if made legal, the drug abuse problem in the United States will grow much worse.
As you consider your own position on this topic, be sure that you are familiar with the arguments for and against the legalization of “recreational drugs” expressed in the McKenna and Feingold text Issue 18. In your essay, summarize the key points on both sides of the debate, express your own views on this topic, and provide reasons in support of your view. (Remember to use in text citations where necessary.)
1-B: Health Care
During last year’s election one of the hottest topics was the new Affordable Health Care Act that was signed into law in 2010. President Obama and others argue that the new law was necessary in order to provide health care coverage for all Americans while at the same time reducing health care costs. Governor Romney and others argue that Congress violated its powers as outlined in the Constitution. Instead, laws such as this should be left to the individual states. The purpose of this essay is not to argue for or against the Affordable Health Care Act, but rather, does Congress have the power to force people to buy health insurance.
As you consider your own position on this topic, be sure that you are familiar with the arguments for and against the concept that Congress has the right to require people to buy health insurance in the McKenna and Feingold text Issue 8. In your essay, summarize the key points on both sides of the debate, express your own views on this topic, and provide reasons in support of your view.
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