Transcript Political Party Ice Breaker

Political Party Ice Breaker
Where do you stand?
 Examine each of the categories around the room.


On the Political Party Icebreaker Worksheet - write down if
you agree more with view A or B.
Then assign a number value to your position indicating your
level of agreement with each category.
3 – Mostly Agree
 2 – Moderately Agree
 1 – Somewhat Agree

The Economy and Taxes
A
B
 In favor a progressive tax system
 In favor of a smaller government
 Generally for free market
in which the wealthy pay a larger
share than the poor
 Against international free trade
agreements because they claim
that such trade agreements hurt
American workers and in
particular unions
 Believe in a balanced budget and
are willing to raise taxes if needed
 Make laws to protect American
businesses from international
competition
agreements with other countries,
like NAFTA- North American
Free Trade Agreement.
 Vehemently against raising taxes
even if it means a budget deficit
 Believe in global trade and don’t
tend to protect US businesses
from international competition
National Defense and Security
A
B
 Tend to cut the military
 Believe in a strong
budget
 Generally want to avoid
American military
intervention unless
supported by the
United Nations
 Tend to believe in
diplomacy and are slow
to go to war
military and are willing
to pay for it with
government money
 Believe in confronting
American enemies with
or without UN support
 Believe in using military
intervention when
American interests or
security is threatened
Entitlements- Welfare, Medicaid, Social
Security, Health Care
A
 Generally think that the
government should
provide a broad safety
net (health care,
education, welfare, food
stamps, social security)
for the poor and others.
 Government policies
help the common good
and are compassionate
B
 Generally think the
government should
limit or reduce the
safety net for the poor.
 believe that private
businesses and nonprofit charities can
provide the same
services.
Crime and Punishment
A
B
 Focus on rehabilitation
 Prison sentences as a
programs [long prison
sentences for convicted
criminals]
 Against the death
penalty
 Focus on rights of the
accused
deterrent to crime
 Support the death
penalty
 Strict penalties for
convicted criminals
Environmental Protection
A
 Strict Gov’t regulations
on businesses to
protect the
environment
 Global warming is a
real threat
B
 Fewer Gov’t restrictions
on businesses in the
hopes that wealthier
companies will be able
to be more
environmental
 Global warming is not a
real threat
Abortion and Stem Cell Research
A
B
 Pro-choice [a woman
 Pro-life [do not believe
should always have the
right to choose to have
an abortion]
 Favor stem-cell
research
that women have a
right to have an
abortion] – considered
to be murder
 Against stem-cell
research
Energy Policy
A
B
 Focus on researching
 Focus on securing
alternative energy
sources for the future
existing energy sources
for the present and
future
Same Sex Marriage & Civil Rights Laws
 A
 B
 Tend to support the right
 Tend to oppose the right
for same-sex couples to
marry
for same-sex couples to
marry
Education
 A
 B
 Oppose using tax money
 Favor using tax money
for school choice
(vouchers and charters)
for school choice
(vouchers and charters)
Immigration
A
B
 Favor looser immigration
 Favor stricter
laws
 Some favor “Amnesty”
for illegals already in the
country
immigration laws
 Some favor punishment
or deportation for illegals
already in the country