These Field Assignments and Special Projects come from the Point Menu of The Great Flying Chaos Learning Circus...an interactively rich and informationally diverse Syllabus.   The weight assigned to each Menu Item assumes a 200 pt. budget; i.e., students are 'given' 200 points with which they may 'buy' an assignment.  Of the 200 pts, 100 must be spent on tests.  Students can earn a grade without taking final examinations in this Syllabus...hence students are greatly motivated to 'spend' points.

POLITICAL DEBATES 

A. GIVE THE DATE OF THE DEBATE: GIVE THE NAMES OF CANDIDATES.
B. ANSWER ANY 5 QUESTIONS BELOW: 5 POINTS EACH.  DEFEND YOUR ANSWER
C. THE PAPER IS DUE THE NEXT CLASS MEETING AFTER THE DEBATE
D. LIST THE QUESTION TO WHICH YOU ADDRESS YOURSELF AND EXPLAIN YOUR 
   ANSWER FROM SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO COMMENTS IN THE DEBATE.
E. ALL PAPERS MUST BE TYPED AND CAREFULLY EDITED. 2 PAGES PER ITEM.

1.   WHICH CANDIDATE PROMISES TO REDUCE:  
     A.  GENDER INEQUALITY    (HOW?)
     B.  RACIAL INEQUALITY  (HOW?)
     C.  CLASS INEQUALITY  (HOW?)

2.   HOW DOES EACH CANDIDATE SUGGEST THAT CRIME BE CONTROLLED:
     A.  RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE  (BETTER TRAINED POLICE, PRISONS)
     B.  DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE (COMMUNITY SERVICE, REPAYMENT)
     C.  SOCIAL JUSTICE (JOBS, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, SCHOOLS)

3.   DOES ANY CANDIDATE WANT TO EMPOWER WOMEN BY:
     A.  ECONOMIC POWER  (WAGES, CHILD CARE, HEALTH CARE)
     B.  MORAL POWER  (FAMILY VALUES, RESPECT FOR RELIGION)
     C.  SOCIAL POWER (PROTECTIVE LAWS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY)

3.   WHICH CANDIDATE IS MOST CONCERNED WITH AMERICAN INTERESTS IN THE 
	NEW WORLD ORDER:
     A.   ECONOMIC CONCERNS (OPEN MARKETS, CHEAP LABOR, ACCESS TO 
	RAW MATERIALS)
     B.   MORAL CONCERNS (DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AID FOR POOR 
	COUNTRIES ETC)

4.   HOW DOES EACH CANDIDATE SHOW CONCERN FOR:
     A.   WORKERS AND THE UNDERCLASS
     B.   PROFESSIONALS AND THE MIDDLE CLASS
     C.   OWNERS AND THE UPPER CLASS

5.   UNIVERSAL RELIGIONS TEND TO EXPAND THE 'WE' CONCEPT TO INCLUDE 
	EVERYONE WHILE SECTARIAN RELIGIONS TEND TO DEFINE THEMSELVES 
	AS FAVORED OF GOD.  PATRIOTISM, SEXISM, AND RACISM TEND TO 
	RESTRICT THE 'WE' CONCEPT.  WHICH CANDIDATE TAKES WHICH VIEW 
	OF RELIGION.

6.   POLITICAL CANDIDATES WHO ARE 'TOUGH' ON CRIME TEND TO 
	'GET TOUGH' on STREET CRIME AND IGNORE THE KINDS OF CRIME 
	THEIR SUPPORTERS TEND TO COMMIT; WHICH KIND OF CRIME ARE 
	THEIR SUPPORTERS LIKELY TO COMMIT: 

     AND WHICH CANDIDATE DISCUSSES WHICH FORMS OF CRIME BELOW:
	A. STREET CRIME    
	B. WHITE COLLAR CRIME
	C. CORPORATE CRIME 
	D. ORGANIZED CRIME
        E. POLITICAL CRIME

7.   THE FISCAL CRISES INCLUDES AN ALL TIME HIGH FEDERAL DEBT, LOSS 
	OF JOBS TO FOREIGN CORPORATIONS, FLIGHT OF CAPITAL FROM THE 
	USE AND LOSS OF TAX BASE WITH WHICH TO PAY FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE 
	PROGRAMS.  

	HOW DOES EACH CANDIDATE SUGGEST SOLVING OUR FISCAL CRISES:
	A.  TAXES ON THE RICH   
	B.  TAXES ON POOR & MIDDLE CLASS
	C.  CUT BACK ON SOCIAL PROGRAMS   
	D.  MORE PROFITS FROM OVERSEAS

8.   DESPITE THE INCREASE IN SIZE OF THE UNDERCLASS, MANY FEDERAL 
	PROGRAMS WERE CUT BACK OR ELIMINATED IN THE 1980s.  

	WHAT DOES EACH CANDIDATE PROPOSE TO DO ABOUT:
	A.  MEDICAID/MEDICARE   
	B.  FOOD STAMPS
	C.  SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME  
	D.  AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN (AFDC)

9.   THE ANITA HILL/CLARENCE THOMAS INCIDENT RECEIVED GREAT ATTENTION 
	IN THE MEDIA AND IS THOUGHT TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO WOMEN,
	FEMINISTS AND OPPONENTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.  

	HOW DOES EACH CANDIDATE RESPOND TO SUCH CONCERNS AND TO THE 
	VOTES OF SUCH PEOPLE?

10.  DRAMATURGICAL ANALYSIS.  MANY IN POLITICAL SCIENCE SAY THAT 
	NOWADAYS CANDIDATES STAGE THEIR CAMPAIGNS TO APPEAL TO THE 
	AUDIENCE LISTENING TO THEM.  AS THEY CHANGE AUDIENCES, THEY 
	CHANGE POSITION ON THE ISSUES.  

	WHAT EVIDENCE EXISTS TO SUPPORT OR REJECT SUCH A VIEW OF 
	POLITICS.  FOLLOW ONE CANDIDATE AND NOTE HOW S/HE CHANGES
	VIEWS OR IGNORES TOPICS DEPENDING UPON WHO IS LISTENING.

11.  CULTURAL CAPITAL.  SOME POLITICAL SCIENTISTS SAY THAT CANDIDATES 
	OFFER CULTURAL CAPITAL (E.G.; PATRIOTISM, ABORTION, 
	HOMOSEXUALITY, CRIME) TO THE VOTERS WHEN THEY CANNOT 
	DELIVER MATERIAL CAPITAL (JOBS, LOWER TAXES, BETTER SCHOOLS, 
	HEALTH CARE OR BETTER HOUSING).  WHAT EVIDENCE FROM THE 
	DEBATE TENDS TO SUPPORT OR REFUTE THIS VIEW OF POLITICS.