Thoughts and Questions for Those Posting on October 28

1. What are the costs and benefits of living in a city? Is city living worth all of the hassle?

2. The United States has one of the most mobile populations in the Western world. People move from city to city, state to state, and region to region easily when motivated by economic factors. Americans move when they have lost their jobs, gotten better jobs, or when industries shift. Is this positive or negative for the United States in the long run?

3. The late nineteenth century marked the United States government's first foray into the regulation of industries with the Interstate Commerce Act. Since then, the government has regulated labor laws, food and drugs, environmental conditions, and a bevy of other economic issues. Should the United States government take over healthcare in the United States? To what extent should the US government regulate healthcare? Should it set rules and guidelines for employers, healthcare providers, and insurance companies? Should it provide Americans a "public option" in which the US government becomes a health insurer for some Americans who lack quality insurance? Should it take over all helath insurance and cover care for all Americans using tax dollars? (This is a big debate in Congress right now, so look at some news and take a stance. :) Then you can watch CSPAN!!)

4. One of the biggest problems of the turn of the century was the huge divide between rich and poor. There was no such thing as a national welfare program and state programs were corrupt and inadequate. What, if anything, do the wealthy owe to the poor? What, if anything, should the government do to help equalize differences between the rich and poor? How effective have programs in the United States been in equalizing these differences?

5. One of the innovations of the turn of the century was the introduction of free public education, provided by tax dollars and available to all children. How has this innovation helped the United States? What are the successes and failures of public education? How could public education be improved?

Thoughts and Questions for those posting on 10/21

1. Should immigration into the United States be limited? Why or why not?

2. Why have Americans always been afraid of certain groups of immigrants? Are there legitimate economic, social, or political reasons to fear people from outside the United States?

3. How have the problems of the city led to political reform? Has this political reform been positive or negative in the long run?

4. Should the United States government regulate economic activity? What are the benefits of this regulation? What are the costs?

Thoughts and Questions for those posting on 10/14

1. What factors pushed people out of other countries and into American cities at the turn of the century? Were these problems solved by relocation to the cities?

2. What are the benefits of living in a city? What are the costs or dangers associated with living in a city? How have these changed over time? In your opinion, is it more beneficial to live in a city, s suburb, or a rural area?

3. What factors pushed people off of farms and into American cities at the turn of the century? Were these problems solved by relocation to the cities?

4. How did technology change the lives of average Americans at the turn of the century? Has technology done more to change your life or the lives of those who lived at the turn of the century?

5. How did working together in trusts, unions, or political parties change the American economy at the turn of the century? Which changes were positive and which were negative? Should American businesses be prohibited from forming a trust? Should workers be prohibited from forming a union?

Thoughts and Questions for those posting on 10/07

1. How did technology change the way of life for Americans at the turn of the century? In what ways did these technological advancements improve the quality of life in the U.S.? In what ways did these technological changes create problems?

2. What was the most important or impressive invention of the turn of the century? Why has this invention had the greatest impact over time?

3. Who was the most important or impressive inventor of the turn of the century? Why has this inventor had the greatest impact over time?

4. Over time, technology has often focused on improving transportation and communication. Why have so many scientists focused on these goals? How have improvements in these areas made life both easier and more complicated?

Enjoy! :)