Point/Counterpoint: Issues in Contemporary American Society
8 total works
Argues the pros and cons of the victimless cirme of marijuana use.
The media plays an important role in contemporary society - and in contemporary debate. Today, the traditional accusations of a liberal bias in media are accompanied by worries of a rise in right-wing media outlets and the stifling effects of corporate media ownership. This book examines theses changes and more. Ages 16+
Examines the government's increasing attempts to control the airwaves to maintain a standard of decency.
Highlights the arguments for and against the use of the draft.
In recent years, increasing oil prices, combined with ongoing unrest in the Middle East, surging demand from energy-thirsty nations, and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, have conspired to encourage Americans to rethink how they use energy resources. ""Energy Policy"" explores the many issues related to the supply of energy in the United States: the availability of oil and American dependence on foreign oil, drilling in the Arctic Refuge, pollution concerns, alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power, and the safety of nuclear power.
When the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize went to former Vice President Al Gore and an international scientific body that warned of serious consequences if Earth's temperatures continue to rise, the award underscored the international concern about the Earth's changing climate. Most scientists agree that global warming is a serious threat, and that human beings contribute to it by burning carbon-containing fuels such as oil and coal; and the international community has moved to limit carbon emissions. However, some scientists dispute the link between greenhouse gases and global warming. Many prominent Americans, including members of Congress, object to putting limits on carbon emissions, arguing that the evidence of warming is still uncertain and cutting emissions would cripple the economy while doing little to curb global warming. ""Environmental Regulations and Global Warming"" discusses the debate about whether and how our government should act to protect the Earth's climate.
What sort of rights are entailed in the ownership of private property? The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that ""private property [shall not] be taken for public use, without just compensation""; this has been read to imply that the government may take private property if it provides ""just compensation."" This provision has been used by the government to compel citizens to sell their property in order to clear space to build public roads, parks, or even commercial spaces. But these public benefits come at a cost and, now, those who have lost land or the physical or economic use of their land are fighting back. This debate is explored in Private Property Rights, an objective guide that will enhance readers' understanding of this pivotal issue.
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and probably will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney... The famous Miranda warnings became part of the common lexicon after the Supreme Court decision in Miranda v. Arizona in 1966. Yet it remains controversial to this day. This book examines both sides of Miranda-related questions: Is the Miranda decision a violation of separation of powers or the concept of federalism? Does making mandatory the reading of the rules free guilty criminals? Do the warnings affect the validity of confessions? With excerpts from court cases, legislative statutes, and opinions by political commentators and legal scholars alike, ""Miranda Rights"" will spark discussion as it highlights resources that will help students form educated opinions.