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Divisive Topics 1-10
Throughout the United States and the world, certain topics can quickly become extremely divisive. This is particularly true for topics which become infused into politics, requiring people to take one side or another when voting. While these are by no means the only divisive topics in the United States' culture, the 10 subjects identified for this report include: assisted suicide, capital punishment, climate change, concealed weapons, genetic engineering, immigration, minimum wage, stem cells, polygamy, and vaccines.
Below, you will see a deep dive of our findings. This includes a one to three word name/title to describe the topic, and one statements from either side of the topic. For each subject, we have relied on just one source which addresses both sides of the subject. For each subject, the section title provides the requested one to three word name to describe the subject.
A) I believe human beings have the right to choose the manner and place of their death. Often, the suffering that a terminally ill person is experiencing cannot be treated with medication, and denying them the right to die would only prolong that suffering and pain.
B) I believe that human life is sacred. Physician-assisted suicide could be easily abused or misused, resulting in the untimely death of individuals who either may have recovered, or may not have understood the choices they were being offered.
A) I believe that the existence of the death penalty does not deter future crimes. Further, in order to live in a civilized society, we must refuse the concept of "an eye for an eye." Punishing a criminal by doing to them the exact crime for which they are being punished will not solve anything, and is immoral.
B) I believe the death penalty helps allow grieving families of victims to heal from the trauma they've endured at the hands of a criminal. The death penalty serves as a form of justice for the most heinous crimes committed in our society.
A) I believe that climate change is a dire problem which our society is facing, and which needs to be addressed in order to ensure the continued health and safety of future generations.
B) I believe that climate change is not a real problem, and has been over-hyped by scientists who stand to gain personally from the belief that it does exist. Data supporting the idea of climate change is largely falsified and exaggerated.
A) I believe that allowing law-abiding citizens to exercise their second amendment right via concealed carry helps to decrease the instance of crime. Additionally, the presence of a citizen with a gun can help to prevent further damage at the hands of a criminal.
B) I believe that concealed carry laws do nothing to help prevent crime and in fact, increase the instances of gun crimes committed in the United States.
A) I believe that genetic engineering has the potential to help cure debilitating and deadly genetic conditions which currently plague our society. With further use and research, genetic engineering can be extremely beneficial to future generations.
B) I believe that genetic engineering is too new and un-researched a topic to be trusted. Instead of utilizing this medical technology to help combat diseases, I believe it will be used by well-to-do families to "design" their baby's appearance in a way that is unethical.
A) I believe that the United States was built by immigrants, and we owe our success as a nation to those brave enough to come here. I believe that it is our duty as a nation, particularly one which has always applauded the "melting pot," to welcome and support anybody who wishes to come here. Additionally, I believe that immigrants are primarily law-abiding and contributing members of society, without whom America would not enjoy the successes it has.
B) I believe that immigration needs to be tracked and controlled in order to avoid terrorists and other criminals coming into our country. I believe that if you want to be an American citizen, you should do so the right way, as nobody is above the law.
A) I believe that the minimum wage should reflect the minimum amount of money necessary to live happily and healthily in the United States. I believe that as it stands, the current minimum wage does not allow for this, even for those individuals who are working 40 or more hours per week. Further, I believe that an increase in the minimum wage would stimulate the economy, because those individuals impacted by a higher salary would be more likely to spend money, thereby putting it back into the economy in a way they weren't able to before.
B) I believe that the minimum wage is not intended to represent the amount of money necessary to live and support a family. Those jobs which pay minimum wage are unskilled, and often held by teenagers who do not require a higher paycheck to live. Further, I believe that increasing the minimum wage would only harm small businesses that cannot afford to pay higher salaries and, as a result, would be forced to lay off staff members.
A) I believe that stem cell research possesses the potential to identify cures for existing human conditions and diseases we are unable to treat. Particularly in the "areas of regenerative medicine and therapeutic cloning...[I believe that] stem cells provide huge potential for finding treatments and cures to a vast array of diseases including different cancers, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer's, MS, Huntington's, Parkinson's and more."
B) I believe that life begins at conception and, as a result, the use of stem cells for medical research is unethical. I believe that research in this area means the destruction of one human life to save another.
A) I believe that many relationships are unable to maintain monogamy. Often, husbands or wives stray from their partners and in some cases, build families with other men or women. Because our society allows only for one marriage at a time, these additional partners/families do not enjoy the same protections under the law as a first marriage does. I believe that legalizing polygamy would not hurt anyone, but would extend certain protections to families which already exist and always have.
B) I believe that marriage is intended to take place between two individuals, and is a special bond which must remain monogamous. Because polygamous relationships are almost exclusively one man with many wives, I believe these marriages contribute to societal gender inequality.
A) I believe that vaccines are both safe, and help to prevent diseases which have previously plagued our society, killing millions of people. I believe vaccinations have helped save lives and that it's your duty as a parent to ensure your child is properly vaccinated for their own safety, as well as that of other children they encounter.
B) I believe vaccinations possess the ability to cause great harm. Many of the substances used in vaccinations are extremely harmful; and I believe this potential detriment outweighs the potential benefits lauded by doctors. Further, I believe it is not the right of the government or anyone else to make demands regarding my child's healthcare.
SUMMARY
To summarize, 10 controversial subjects in the United States are assisted suicide, capital punishment, climate change, concealed weapons, genetic engineering, immigration, minimum wage, stem cells, polygamy, and vaccines.