Today's Social Issues: Democrats and Republicans (Across the Aisle)

Description

Covering everything from abortion to gun control to immigration, this book explains policies and positions of today's Democratic and Republican parties, giving readers a complete understanding of modern-day American politics and the 2016 presidential race. This book cuts through rhetorical platitudes and partisan distortions to provide a balanced and up-to-date resource for understanding policy debates on social issues in statehouses around the country as well as in Washington, DC. It provides broad coverage of the parties and the forces that affect each party's positions, examining every major social policy and taking into account historical differences between Democrats and Republicans in an evenhanded manner, with emphasis on the key ideologies that set the two parties apart during the 2008–2014 midterms. Author Timothy Kneeland presents an in-depth study of the diversity of political opinion on today's most pressing social issues, digging deeper than the typical black-or-white presentation of these debates in the media. Readers will gain a detailed understanding of how the parties agree, disagree, and find compromise on the broad range of problems and issues facing American society in the 21st century. Offers clear, relevant information on current politics in America that enables readers to better understand the key issues and grasp what is at stake in the 2016 presidential election Documents differences of opinion on social issues within the Republican and Democratic parties where present and shows how the positions of the parties have changed over time Describes the issues dividing Democrats and Republicans and how these disagreements shape political gridlock Discusses interest groups with the most influence for each political party Features book chapters that are cross-referenced to allow readers easy access to the information they seek Cover Title Copyright Contents Introduction Entry Features Abortion At a Glance Many Republicans . . . Many Democrats . . . Overview Republicans on Abortion Democrats on Abortion Further Reading Affirmative Action At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Affirmative Action Republicans on Affirmative Action Further Reading Animal Rights/Animal Welfare At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Animal Rights and Animal Welfare Republicans on Animal Rights Further Reading Birth Control At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Birth Control Republicans on Birth Control Further Reading Bullying At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Bullying Republicans on Bullying Further Reading Climate Change At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Climate Change Republicans on Climate Change Further Reading Death Penalty At a Glance Many Republicans . . . Many Democrats . . . Overview Republicans on the Death Penalty Democrats on the Death Penalty Further Reading Disability Rights At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Disability Rights Policy Republicans on Disability Rights Policy Further Reading Education At a Glance Many Republicans . . . Many Democrats . . . Overview Republicans on Education Policy Democrats on Education Policy Further Reading Entitlement Programs At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Entitlement Programs Republicans on Entitlement Programs Further Reading Environmental Protection At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Environmental Policy Republicans on Environmental Policy Further Reading Equal Pay for Women At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Pay Equity Republicans on Pay Equity Further Reading Family Policy At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Family Policy Republicans on Family Policy Further Reading Gay Marriage At a Glance Many Republicans . . . Many Democrats . . . Overview Republicans on Same-Sex Marriage Democrats on Same-Sex Marriage Further Reading Gun Control At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Gun Control Republicans on Gun Control Further Reading Health Care At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Health Care Republicans on Health Care Further Reading HIV/AIDS At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on HIV/AIDS Policy Republicans on HIV/AIDS Policy Further Reading Illegal Drugs At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Illegal Drugs Republicans on Drug Crime Policy Further Reading Immigration At a Glance Many Republicans . . . Many Democrats . . . Overview Republicans on Immigration Democrats on Immigration Further Reading LGBT Rights At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on LGBT Rights Republicans on LGBT Rights Further Reading Marijuana Legalization At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Marijuana Republicans on Marijuana Further Reading Mental Health Policy At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Mental Health Policy Republicans on Mental Health Policy Further Reading Minimum Wage At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on the Minimum Wage Republicans on the Minimum Wage Further Reading Net Neutrality At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Net Neutrality Republicans on Net Neutrality Further Reading Obesity and Public Health At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Obesity and Public Health Republicans on Obesity and Public Health Further Reading Policing At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Policing Republicans on Policing Further Reading Poverty and Income Inequality At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Poverty and Income Inequality Republicans on Poverty and Income Inequality Further Reading Prisons and Sentencing At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Prisons and Sentencing Republicans on Prisons and Sentencing Further Reading Privacy Rights At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Privacy Rights Republicans on Privacy Rights Further Reading Racial Profiling At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Racial Profiling Republicans on Racial Profiling Further Reading Religious Freedom At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Religious Freedom Republicans on Religious Freedom Further Reading Reparations At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Reparations Republicans on Reparations Further Reading Right to Die At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on the Right to Die Republicans on the Right to Die Further Reading Sex Education At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Sex Education Republicans on Sex Education Further Reading Unemployment Insurance At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Unemployment Insurance Republicans on Unemployment Insurance Further Reading Unions At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Unions Republicans on Unions Further Reading Voting Rights At a Glance Many Democrats . . . Many Republicans . . . Overview Democrats on Voting Rights Republicans on Voting Rights Further Reading Glossary Bibliography Index About the Author