Taking sides : clashing views on controversial political issues / edited, selected, and with introductions by George McKenna and Stanley Feingold .

Includes index.

PART 1. Democracy and the American Political ProcessISSUE 1. Has the American Political System Succeeded?YES: Irving Kristol, from "On the Character of the American Political Order," in Robert L. Utley, Jr., ed., The Promise of American Politics: Principlesand Practice After Two Hundred YearsNO: Daniel Lazare, from The Frozen Republic: How the Constitution Is Paralyzing DemocracyWriter Irving Kristol argues that America possesses a rich combination of ingredients that give it strength, resilience, and character.Freelance writer Daniel Lazare contends that America has become paralyzed in a constitutional straitjacket and that it needs radical reform.ISSUE 2. Do Political Campaigns Inform Voters?YES: Samuel L. Popkin, from The Reasoning Voter: Communication and Persuasion in Presidential CampaignsNO: Gil Troy, from See How They Ran: The Changing Role of the Presidential CandidateProfessor of political science Samuel L. Popkin argues that presidential election campaigns inform and unify the American people. Politicalscientist Gil Troy maintains that modern campaigns alienate voters because the candidates tend to ignore the important issues.ISSUE 3. Do Political Action Committees Undermine Democracy?YES: Fred Wertheimer, from "Campaign Finance Reform: The Unfinished Agenda," The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social ScienceNO: Herbert E. Alexander, from "The Case for PACs," A Public Affairs Council MonographFred Wertheimer, president of Common Cause, a citizen's lobbying organization, argues that PACs allow special interests to get the ear ofelected officials at the expense of the national interest. Political analyst Herbert E. Alexander insists that PACs help enhance the political powerof the individual.ISSUE 4. Is the Level of Political Discussion in the Media Deteriorating?YES: Carl Bernstein, from "The Idiot Culture," The New RepublicNO: Jon Katz, from "Rock, Rap and Movies Bring You the News," Rolling StoneJournalist Carl Bernstein condemns the contribution of the media to what he considers a stupid, coarse, and antipolitical culture.Media critic Jon Katz asserts that popular culture deals with social issues more effectively than traditional media do.PART 2. The Institutions of GovernmentISSUE 5. Should There Be Term Limits for Members of Congress?YES: George F. Will, from Restoration: Congress, Term Limits and the Recovery of Deliberative DemocracyNO: Victor Kamber, from Giving Up on Democracy: Why Term Limits Are Bad for AmericaColumnist George F. Will argues that term limits will bring fresh perspectives into Congress and restore the spirit of citizen politics.Political consultant Victor Kamber contends that term limits for congressional members violate the spirit of democracy and will force Americans toaccept inexperienced legislators.ISSUE 6. Do We Need a Strong Presidency?YES: Terry Eastland, from Energy in the Executive: The Case for the Strong PresidencyNO: Michael Lind, from "The Out-of-Control Presidency," The New RepublicPolitical writer Terry Eastland argues that only a strong president can fulfill the intentions of the framers of the Constitution and therequirements of modern government. Political writer Michael Lind maintains that the power of the president has gone beyond both the intentions of theframers and the principles of representative government.ISSUE 7. Does the Government Regulate Too Much?YES: Robert B. Charles, from "From Democracy to Regulocracy?" The World & INO: Susan Tolchin and Martin Tolchin, from Dismantling AmericaAttorney Robert B. Charles argues that government regulation cripples the productivity of American industry. Professor of public administrationSusan Tolchin and journalist Martin Tolchin contend that without vigorous regulation, businesses will endanger lives for the sake of profits.ISSUE 8. Should the Federal Courts Be Bound by the "Original Intent" of the Framers?YES: Robert H. Bork, from "The Case Against Political Judging," National ReviewNO: Leonard W. Levy, from Original Intent and the Framers' ConstitutionFormer judge Robert H. Bork argues that the "original intent" of the framers of the Constitution can and should be upheld by the federal courtsof today. Professor of history Leonard W. Levy believes that the "original intent" of the framers cannot be applied in dealing with contemporaryconstitutional issues.PART 3. Social Change and Public PolicyISSUE 9. Will Mandatory Sentencing Reduce Crime?YES: James Wootton, from "Truth in Sentencing: Why States Should Make Violent Criminals Do Their Time," State BackgrounderNO: Lois G. Forer, from A Rage to Punish: The Unintended Consequences of Mandatory SentencingJames Wootton, president of Safe Streets Alliance in Washington, D.C., argues that mandatory sentencing sends a signal to would-be felons thatthey will pay heavily if they commit a crime. Judge Lois G. Forer contends that mandatory sentencing not only fails to deter crime, but it disruptsfamilies, increases welfare costs, and hurts the poor and minorities.ISSUE 10. Is Capital Punishment Justified?YES: Robert W. Lee, from "Deserving to Die," The New AmericanNO: Matthew L. Stephens, from "Instrument of Justice or Tool of Vengeance?" Christian Social ActionEssayist Robert W. Lee argues that capital punishment is the only fair response to certain heinous crimes. Matthew L. Stephens, a prisonchaplain, contends that the death penalty is motivated by revenge and is racist in its result.ISSUE 11. Do We Need Tougher Gun Control Laws?YES: Carl T. Bogus, from "The Strong Case for Gun Control," The American ProspectNO: Daniel D. Polsby, from "The False Promise of Gun Control," The Atlantic MonthlyWriter Carl Bogus argues that gun control laws will reduce the number of gun-related crimes. Professor of law Daniel D. Polsby contends thatgun control laws may actually increase the incidence of robbery and other gun-related crimes.ISSUE 12. Is Affirmative Action Reverse Discrimination?YES: Shelby Steele, from The Content of Our Character: A New Vision of Race in AmericaNO: Clarence Page, from Showing My ColorAssociate professor of English Shelby Steele argues that affirmative action demoralizes both blacks and whites and that racial preferences donot empower blacks.Journalist Clarence Page argues that although affirmative action is not a perfect remedy, it has benefited minorities and, in some cases, increasedopportunities for whites as well.ISSUE 13. Should Hate Speech Be Punished?YES: Charles R. Lawrence III, from "Crossburning and the Sound of Silence: Antisubordination Theory and the First Amendment," Villanova Law ReviewNO: Jonathan Rauch, from "In Defense of Prejudice: Why Incendiary Speech Must Be Protected," Harper's MagazineLaw professor Charles R. Lawrence III asserts that speech should be impermissible when, going beyond insult, it inflicts injury on its victims.Author Jonathan Rauch maintains that there can be no genuine freedom of expression unless it includes the freedom to offend those who oppose theexpressed opinion.ISSUE 14. Has the Welfare State Failed America's Poor?YES: Newt Gingrich, from To Renew AmericaNO: Marc Breslow, from "Can We Still Win the War on Poverty?" Dollars and SenseSpeaker of the House Newt Gingrich argues that the welfare state has demoralized the poor, increased dependency, and contributed to thebreakdown of the family. He proposes an eight-point program for reform, which includes cutbacks in public money for what he calls "caretaking."Economist Marc Breslow contends that the problem with the U.S. welfare system is not that it spends too much but that it spends too little. Hemaintains that the humane solution is to allow low-income workers to keep more of their government benefits as their wage earnings rise.ISSUE 15. Is a Flat Tax a Fair Tax?YES: Dick Armey, from The Flat Tax: A Citizen's Guide to the Facts on What It Will Do for You, Your Country, and Your PocketbookNO: John Stamm and Suleyken Walker, from "Understanding the Flat Tax: Simplicity No, Reaganomics Revisited Yes," Dollars and SenseRepresentative Dick Armey (R-Texas) argues that a tax law that is flat (same rate for all) and simple will be fair and will succeed instimulating economic growth.Public analyst John Stamm and legislative aide Suleyken Walker argue that a flat tax would not be simple in practice and would unfairly benefit peoplewith higher incomes.ISSUE 16. Should Abortion Be Restricted?YES: Ann Coulter, from "Why Nobody Is Really Pro-Choice," Human Life ReviewNO: Mary Gordon, from "A Moral Choice," The Atlantic MonthlyAttorney Ann Coulter asserts that the deliberate killing of a human fetus is no more justifiable than the killing of a baby that is alreadyborn or any other person whose continued viability depends upon others.Writer Mary Gordon believes that having an abortion is a moral choice that women are capable of making and that involves such considerations aseconomic status, desire to have a child, and the woman's age and circumstances.ISSUE 17. Do We Need a Constitutional Amendment Permitting Prayer in Public Schools?YES: William J. Murray, from Let Us Pray: A Plea for Prayer in Our SchoolsNO: Stephen L. Carter, from "Let Us Pray," The New YorkerAuthor William J. Murray argues that the Supreme Court has failed to understand the appropriate constitutional role of religion in Americanlife, which should include school prayer that is neither coercive nor endorsed by government.Professor of law Stephen L. Carter asserts that public morality may be promoted by the teaching of shared values but not by school prayer. On thecontrary, he maintains, the prohibition of public school prayer protects the exercise of religious freedom.ISSUE 18. Should Gay Marriage Be Legalized?YES: Andrew Sullivan, from Virtually Normal: An Argument About HomosexualityNO: James Q. Wilson, from "Against Homosexual Marriage," CommentaryEssayist and editor Andrew Sullivan contends that legalizing gay marriage would be a profoundly humanizing step because such marriages, withtheir honesty, their flexibility, and their equality, could nourish the broader society as well.Social scientist James Q. Wilson asserts that to legalize homosexual marriage would be to enter an untested area that could profoundly damage thealready-fragile institutions of marriage and family.PART 4. America and the WorldISSUE 19. Must America Be the World Leader?YES: Richard M. Nixon, from Beyond PeaceNO: Jonathan Clarke, from "Leaders and Followers," Foreign PolicyFormer president Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) argues that America is the only responsible power with the experience and vision to leadthe world.Writer Jonathan Clarke maintains that other nations, no longer deferring to American policy, must accept greater responsibility for world order.ISSUE 20. Should American Foreign Policy Be Guided by National Self-Interest?YES: George F. Kennan, from At a Century's Ending: Reflections, 1982-1995NO: Robert Kagan, from "American Power--A Guide for the Perplexed," CommentaryFormer diplomat George F. Kennan argues that American intervention in other countries is defensible only when directed against practices thatare seriously injurious to U.S. interests, not just to our moral sensibilities.Editor and author Robert Kagan maintains that American "national interests" need to be interpreted broadly to take into account the country's positionas world leader.ISSUE 21. Should the United States Put More Restrictions on Immigration?YES: Daniel James, from "Close the Borders to All Newcomers," InsightNO: Stephen Moore, from "Give Us Your Best, Your Brightest," InsightDaniel James, an adviser to Carrying Capacity Network in Washington, D.C., wants a moratorium on immigration, which, he claims, is causingAmerica much social and economic harm. Economist Stephen Moore insists that immigrants have greatly enriched the American economy and culture.ISSUE 22. Is America Declining?YES: Edward N. Luttwak, from "Is America on the Way Down? Yes," CommentaryNO: Robert L. Bartley, from "Is America on the Way Down? No," CommentaryForeign policy strategist Edward N. Luttwak contends that the United States is declining in power because of the failure of its economicpolicies and social programs. Wall Street Journal editor Robert L. Bartley asserts that America will continue to play the role of world leader.

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