Government and Society Flashcards
Background of ‘what role should Gov. play in society?’
- in many other ways, this is ‘the Debate’, or the single most important debate pervading all smaller debates about gov. policies
= ex; health care reform debate (big vs. small gov.) - And many other debates are founded in this larger debate such as:
=Gov. regulation of Marriage
=full body scans @ airports
=public education
=bans on txting while driving
=etc
essential question;
does a larger, more active gov offer more benefits to society than a smaller, more limited gov?
positives of big government
- ensures safety
- protects society’s well being
- employs many people
- can focus more on society and less on profit
- provides social ‘safety nets’
negatives of big government
-wasteful spending =high taxes -disrupts the free market -can limit freedoms or choices -gov. can't stop expanding -can make people rely on gov too much
Best case scenario (big)
gov provides essential services, limits poverty, ad creates a fair and equal society
worst case scenario (big)
gov gains complete control, limits freedoms and controls entire economy and society.. North Korea
positives of small government
-allows for maximum freedom and liberty
-promotes individual responsibility
-doesn’t interfere w/ free market
-little spending/ waste
=minimal taxes
Negatives of small governemtn
- no ‘safety net’ for people
- no limits on peoples bad decisions/ vices
- society at the mercy of the free market
- little or no regulation on business
best case scenario for small government
people can maximize their freedoms w/ little/ no government interference
worst case scenario for small government
society becomes incredibly unequal, unstable and results in ANARCHY
what is the main difference between large and small gov
big; public, #1 producer for us
small; privatized, only people who can pay get services
Reagan’s Opinion on Gov.
- wants to reverse the growth of government, which has grown beyond the consent of the governed
- do away with gov.
- ## gov needs to stand by us not over us
Obama’s Opinion on Gov.
- we all need to invest in the government, in order to get something out of it.
- no one can underinvest
- we are the government
where would they agree?
- agree that gov. needs to provide basic need
- everyone should be doing their part
where would they differ?
- reagan thought that we should try to not raise the deficit, Obama thought that if it was necessary it needed to be spent
the point that Zakaria made at the end
the danger of everyone worrying about their own angle, then who is the one that is looking out for the group?
where did judicial review originate
maurbary vs madison
state courts
-varies by state
-unified judicial system of PA
=terms of 6-10 years
-most court cases in the country are heard in these courts
federal courts
-supreme court =appointed for life -constitutional courts =appointed for life -special courts =created by congress to deal with a special area (ex: US Tax Court) =terms 8-15 years
