Assignment Three for Political Sociology, fall 2000

1.  Keep this file open in your browser, and also open it in Netscape Composer, or another editor capable of saving files in html format.  Type your name here:

2.  In your browser, go to the NY Times Campaign 2000 Page.   Click on "Al Gore"  then on "Policy Positions."  Find the policy issue to which you have been assigned from among this list:
 • Abortion • Affirmative Action • Budget Surplus    • Campaign Finance Reform  • Child Care  • Defense • Education• Environment • Farm Policy • Foreign Policy • Gun Control  • Health Care  • Immigration  • Labor • Monetary Policy  • Social Security  • Taxes  • Trade  • Welfare

3.  Write a sentence or two summarizing Al Gore's position on this policy issue:

4.   Now go back to the  NY Times Campaign 2000 Page and find George W. Bush's policy position on the same issue.  Write a sentence or two summarizing his position:

5.  Now go to the WEB site for Ralph Nader and find his position on the same issue  Write a sentence or two summarizing his position.

6.  Go to the NY Times site for Pat Buchanan and find his position on the same issue  Write a sentence or two summarizing his position.

7.  Now write a sentence or two giving your analysis of the sociological support for each candidate's position.  Does it represent the interests of a social class?  An elite group?  A racial or ethnic group?  A pressure group or set of pressure groups?  A generation?  Or, more likely, some combination of the above?  Write a separate analysis for each candidate:

    7a.  Gore:

    7b.  Bush:

     7c.  Nader:

      7d.  Buchanan:

8.  EXTRA CREDIT:  Find the position of a third party (other than Nader's Green Party or Buchanan's Reform Party) such as the Libertarians, Natural Law or Socialist Party or a Pressure Group on your issue and describe it here:
 

9.  Once you have completed your answers, save the file in html format and post it in the  WEBCT  Bulletin Board Discussion Group for the date on which we will discuss your issue.  Since so many people seem to find it difficult, you need not submit it to the Assignment Dropbox.  If you put it in the Dropbox, I can grade it and give you comments there.