Globalization, complexity, diversity, and God’s Call to Love in Ethical Leadership

  The Prompt The 2020 Presidential Election was quite a nail-biter! Donald Trump and Joseph Biden faced off in an unforgettable campaign. Nonetheless, behind all of the bluster of speeches, events (virtual or in-person), photo-ops, and debates, the candidates stood for the principles of their respective political parties. During each presidential election, the Democratic and Republican Parties create what are known as “party platforms.” Think of party platforms as their respective positions on important political issues, policies, and goals for the country. In other words, it is their vision. The parties use the platforms as a method of bringing their visions into focus so that voters have a sense of what the parties stand for. The Democratic Party drafted a new platform for 2020, however, the Republican Party was too afraid of Donald Trump to write a new one. For the first time in American history, the party literally said, “we believe whatever he believes.” Yikes. Thus, the 2016 Platform will have to be your guide. These party platforms rarely get any coverage because voters are so focused on the candidates. It is your turn to analyze the arguments made by the Republican and Democratic Parties. You are going beyond the ideology (“the what”) by focusing on visions (“the why”). Your Task • Choose ONE policy issue from the list below - If a policy issue is addressed in one of the party platforms but not the other, then you must investigate the candidate’s other speeches for evidence of a position on the issue. - Identify and describe each political party’s political ideology and position on the issue (the “what”) In other words, what does the document state as their position? - Explain how their vision of human nature, knowledge and reason, and social processes impact their understanding of the assigned issue (the “why”) - Further examine each political party’s position on the issue by looking at ONE application that best applies: Equality, Power, Justice. USE THESE WEBSITES2020 Democratic Party https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2020-democratic-party-platform 2016 Republican Party Platform https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2016-republican-party-platform Policy Issues you can Use COVID-19 Gun laws/rights Health insurance Defense spending/war Social welfare/social security/housing/etc. Security/terrorism Classical liberalism Drugs/crime Taxes Constitutions/law Corporations Women’s rights Abortions Pay equity Climate change Foreign aid Infrastructure Worker’s wages Immigration/undocumented immigration Systemic racism Race/ethnicity/inequality LGTBQIA+ Public education/charter schools Affirmative action Economic stimulus Families Religious liberty/discrimination Voting rights Criminal justice/prison/police reform