Tag Archives: Government

Do Now #65: The Bottom Line (A Minimum Wage)

February 22, 2013, 9:11 pm • Posted by Maxine Einhorn
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Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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Do Now

Should there be a minimum wage? Is it time to raise the federal minimum wage? How might this be a good or bad thing? For whom?

Introduction

Is it time to raise the federal minimum wage? President Obama endorsed the idea in his State of the Union address. He called for increasing the federal minimum wage in stages from $7.25 to $9 by the end of 2015, and then linking further increases to the rising cost of living. Right now for most workers it is set at $7.25, where it has been since 2009. This adds up to $15,080 per year which is just about equal to the poverty level for a family of two.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, 19 states and the District of Columbia have a minimum wage above the federal level.

The Lowdown presents the key arguments in favor and against raising the minimum wage.

The arguments in favor:
Since the economy has grown, wealth should be shared…. Full-time workers deserve to earn a living wage and be able to afford basic necessities like food, gas, and health care. It would boost the economy by increasing purchasing power, creating the need for more production and consequently more jobs. This would reduce dependence on social services. It is only fair since corporate profits have grown making the gap between rich and poor wider.

The arguments against:
It would hurt those it intends to help…. Raising the minimum wage would hurt already struggling small businesses by increasing their overall costs. Many American businesses might cut workers’ hours and outsource jobs to countries where labor is significantly cheaper. This would increase the unemployment rate, especially among younger workers.

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Do Now #53: Cap-and-Trade for Carbon?

December 11, 2012, 12:10 pm • Posted by Andrea Swensrud
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Credit: Craig Miller


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Do Now

California recently implemented a cap-and-trade program in order to cut carbon emissions. Would a carbon tax be better or worse? What do you think about cap-and-trade? How can companies be best regulated to reduce greenhouse gas pollution?

Introduction

Since the Industrial Revolution, there has been a substantial increase in carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. and countries around the world. The increase is due to human activities, namely the burning of fossil fuels for energy and transportation, industry processes and land-use changes. The additional carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) in the atmosphere trap heat and cause the Earth's surface temperatures to rise, also known as the greenhouse effect. To combat climate change, scientists have said that we need to cut our greenhouse gas emissions.

Last month, California launched its cap-and-trade program. In this program, the government sets a limit on the total amount of allowable carbon emissions from businesses, refineries, manufacturers and power plants. This limit will decline 2-3% each year. Major emitters of greenhouse gases must get permits, known as allowances, for each ton of carbon they emit. Initially, businesses receive most of the allowances from the state for free. Over time, the state also auctions allowances to the highest bidders. As the overall cap on emissions is lowered each year, businesses must continue to obtain allowances equal to their emissions. They can buy unused emission allowances from other companies, or they can sell emission allowances that they may have leftover. So, a company that isn't ready to cut its carbon emissions enough to meet its allowance can buy emissions from other companies that can reduce their emissions.

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Filed under: 6 -12 Science, Do Now, Science
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Do Now #51: Syria's Internet Shutdown

November 30, 2012, 5:45 pm • Posted by Matthew Green
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Rebel fighters battle Syrian government forces: FreedomHouse2 via Wikimedia Commons

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Do Now

If Internet service was suddenly shut down in the United States, in what ways would it most impact your life?

Introduction

On Thursday, November 29, Internet and cell phone service throughout almost all of Syria was shut down. The service disruption continued through Friday, forcing an airport closure. The Syrian government has been widely suspected of disabling service, although President Bashar al-Assad, claimed that it was "terrorists" cut the cable. The shutdown marks another chapter in Syria's bloody, ongoing civil war, which began in March 2011, in the midst of the Arab Spring. Rebels attempting to overthrow the county's authoritarian government, have routinely used social media on the Web to communicate with each other and send images of the war to the rest of the world in an effort to highlight the military's attacks on civilians.

Only four internet cables connect Syria to the outside world, according to Matthew Prince, CEO of CloudFlare, a web security company. Three of them run underseas, and the fourth is an overland line through Turkey, making it very unlikely that anyone other than the Syria government had caused the blackout. "In order for a whole country outage, all four of these cables would have had to been cut simultaneously," Prince wrote in his investigation of the incident. "That is unlikely to have happened."

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Do Now #49: Obama Wins!!

November 9, 2012, 5:59 pm • Posted by Matthew Williams
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photo by @BarackObama

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Do Now

On election night, President Obama addressed the nation in his victory speech saying, "The best is yet to come." Do you agree with his statement? What issue do you suggest he should first tackle? How should he approach it?

Introduction

"Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America the best is yet to come." At the Obama campaign headquarters in Chicago, President Obama accepted his re-election as President of the United States, thanking a packed crowd of his supporters. He then laid out the impending issues that he will face in his second term.

"But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America's future. We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best schools and the best teachers. A country that lives up to its legacy as the global leader in technology and discovery and innovation, with all the good jobs and new businesses that follow.

We want our children to live in an America that isn't burdened by debt, that isn't weakened by inequality, that isn't threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet. We want to pass on a country that's safe and respected and admired around the world, a nation that is defended by the strongest military on earth and the best troops this -- this world has ever known. But also a country that moves with confidence beyond this time of war, to shape a peace that is built on the promise of freedom and dignity for every human being.... now, we will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get there. As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts. It's not always a straight line. It's not always a smooth path. By itself, the recognition that we have common hopes and dreams won't end all the gridlock or solve all our problems or substitute for the painstaking work of building consensus and making the difficult compromises needed to move this country forward. But that common bond is where we must begin."

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Do Now Round Up: The Death Penalty

November 3, 2012, 3:35 pm • Posted by Matthew Williams
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Last week's Do Now asked students if prisoners who are convicted of the most violent crimes should receive the death penalty. Here are their responses. The top video is the main resource that they viewed before tweeting. Scroll down below to read their thoughts from last week's Do Now activity.
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Do Now Round Up: Soda Tax

October 29, 2012, 3:32 pm • Posted by Matthew Williams
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In the Bay Area city of Richmond, there is a Soda Tax campaign in full swing. Supporters of the campaign have created art to represent their stance on Measure N, including the mural pictured above. Students have mixed reviews. Scroll down below to read their thoughts from last week's Do Now activity.

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Do Now Round Up: Affirmative Action

October 22, 2012, 8:40 am • Posted by Matthew Williams
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Last week's Do Now asked students to consider the arguments around Affirmative Action and respond to the question -- should universities be allowed to make race-based admissions decisions that give preference to minority applicants in an attempt to have a more diverse student body? Read their responses below.

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Do Now #44: Affirmative Action

October 12, 2012, 7:12 pm • Posted by Matthew Green
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photo by Mark Fischer/flickr

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Do Now

In an attempt to have a more diverse student body, should universities be allowed to make race-based admissions decisions that give preference to minority applicants? Tell us why or why not?

Introduction

Abigail Fisher, a white honor student, certainly didn’t think Affirmative Action was right, explaining that universities should not be allowed to make race-based admissions decisions that give preference to minority applicants. In 2008, she was rejected from the University of Texas. She sued the school, claiming that its race-conscious admissions policies unfairly and unconstitutionally favored black and Hispanic applicants over whites and Asians. Last week (Oct. 10, 2012), the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case, the latest in a half-a-century long string of challenges to affirmative action policies.

For more than half a century, Americans have battled over the constitutionality and ethics of affirmative action policies. To see a timeline of the landmark moments in the history of an issue, visit the latest KQED Lowdown post Affirmative Action On The Rocks: Another Chapter In A Long Contested History

The Court’s eventual ruling on the case will help determine the extent to which race can be used as a factor in admissions and employment decisions. If you were a judge on the Supreme Court, how would you rule and what would be your reasoning?

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Do Now #41: Grade the President

September 29, 2012, 4:58 pm • Posted by Matthew Williams
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photo by Austen Hufford/Flickr

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Do Now

The presidential election is right around the corner, so it's time to grade the president. President Obama has faced many challenges --- how has he done as he approaches the end of his term? Explain what he has done well or what he could have done better to support your opinion.

Introduction

Much has happened these past four years in our country. President Obama has faced many challenges while in office as he has faced issues with the economy, health care, education, foreign relations, national defense, individual rights, and many more.

A Democrat would argue...... our country faced economic collapse when Obama took office and he helped stimulate the economy onto the road to recovery. He helped the country to avoid this collapse, and although the economy has not recovered, we are in a good position for growth. Supporters celebrate his health plan, the end the war in Iraq, and the fact that he killed Osama Bin Laden. They would argue that his efforts have strengthened democracy around the world.

A Republican might say..... Obama has extended the role of government, has not taken the right path to help our economy, and committed the country to huge debt. They feel that we are not better off today than we were four years ago.

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7 Great Election 2012 Resources

September 17, 2012, 9:57 am • Posted by Almetria Vaba
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2012 Political Map Center

Here are 7 great resources to engage students in Election 2012, including mutimedia election content produced by the PBS Newshour team. Get right to the heart of complex issues with a rage of great interactive maps, video clips and lesssons found in PBS LearningMedia.

2012 Political Map Center

This interactive map from PBS NewsHour features an electoral college calculator which includes historical data going back to the 1964 election, live election results for presidential primaries, evangelical Protestant adherents by state, ethnic data by county from the 2010 census, 2012 primary winners, unemployment data from February 2012, and 2008 general election results for president.

Dollars & Votes: 2012 Election

"the.News" Correspondent Thai da Silva investigates the fundraising landscape during the 2012 Presidential election in light of the most recent Supreme Court actions. Using the supporting language arts lesson plan, students will study campaign fundraising, analyze the development and influence of Super PACs and explain how Super PACS use rhetorical devices and persuasive appeals to persuade American citizens to vote for the candidates that the Super PACs are supporting. In the social studies lesson plan, students will complete activities to help understand the significance and impact of the 2012 Supreme Court Decision Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

Analyzing the Candidates in the 2012 Presidential Election

This lesson from PBS NewsHour examines the political process, the candidates and their platforms, and the ultimate outcome of the 2012 election. Students will: 1. Work as a class to create a flow chart documenting the steps a candidate must take to be elected to the presidency. 2. Participate in a class discussion about the number of candidates, the reasons people seek to be president, and the election process. 3. Utilize research skills to create a profile of a specific candidate and his/her qualifications, point of view on various topics, and presidential campaign. 4. Present their candidate profile projects to classmates. 5. Monitor the progress of the presidential candidates and participate in classroom discussions about the success of the various campaigns.

Eight States That Will Shape 2012 Election

In this video from PBS NewsHour, Judy Woodruff talks with Stuart Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Report and NewsHour political editor Christina Bellantoni about the importance of "battleground states", or "swing states" and the significance of eight of those states in the 2012 election.

"Silent Generation" May Get Loud in 2012 Election

In retirement, the "silent generation" is becoming increasingly conservative and angry. It's also more engaged in politics than are other generations. NPR's series on generational politics, in collaboration with the Pew Research Center, examines the politics of those 66 to 83 years old.

Rich vs. Poor: How Wealth is Impacting the 2012 Elections

In this PBS NewsHour lesson plan, students will: 1. Participate in a survey about social class in the U.S. and work as a group to calculate class results. 2. View a video clip and review articles and data related to socioeconomics and politics. 3. Record, analyze and discuss socioeconomic data and small groups and draw conclusions about how this might affect the outcome of elections in their area. 4. Participate in class discussions related to social class and the effects is has on the election process. 5. Create and share a prioritized list of ideas related to addressing issues of social class.

Who's Spending More: Candidates or Super PACs?

As presidential candidates raise and spend increasingly larger amounts of money each election season, new financial reports show what role Super PACs are playing. PBS NewsHour's Gwen Ifill discusses how campaign finance is shaping up in the 2012 election year with John Dunbar of the Center for Public Integrity and Roll Call's Eliza Newlin Carney.

Filed under: PBS LearningMedia, PBS LM Social Studies/Lang. Arts
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