World History 24 b Recent Political Issues in

World History 24 b Recent Political Issues in the Western World

Recent Political Issues in West �Economic policy Taxes Welfare programs �Foreign policy �Military policy �Immigration policy How many legal immigrants to allow What to do with illegal residents �Social policy Abortion Gay marriage

Economics Liberal Conservative • Move toward income equality • Eliminate poverty • Provide social programs for it citizens • Raise taxes on the wealthy in order to help even out the huge income gaps • Support labor unions which lobby for worker benefits • Borrow money to keep government programs going • Cut taxes and reduce government programs • Make it possible for big businesses to flourish so they can provide jobs and tax money • Reduce the power of labor unions • Let the poor help themselves • Try to reduce the deficit and national debt

Foreign policy Liberal Conservative • Try to work through United • Quicker to act unilaterally, that Nations and be “friendly” is, on its own, in global toward other countries situations • Rely more on diplomacy and • Rely on the threat of military economics than on the military power • Less likely to be conciliatory toward nations with whom they have disagreements

Military policy Liberal Conservative • Decrease spending on military • Increase spending on military • More dovish—more reluctant to • Keep the military large and use military force strong • More hawkish—tend to use the military more quickly

Immigration policy Liberal • Softer policy toward immigration • Less strict in border patrols • Support a path toward citizenship for illegals • Are open to providing some services for immigrants Conservative • Tougher stance toward immigration • Support fences and tight controls at borders • Seek to expel illegal immigrants

Social policy Liberal • Support a woman’s “right” to have an abortion • Support making gay marriage legal Conservative • Want to make abortion illegal • Oppose gay marriage