McCain or Obama: Whose Policies Would Do Least Harm?
A faculty panel on the election –
Stephens Hall, Room 310; Tuesday, October 21, 4:00 ? 5:15 p.m.
Faculty panelists will speak on the topics below for fifteen minutes each.
Thirty minutes will be allowed for questions from the audience.
Prof. Paul McCartney (Political Science) – The Presidency, Parties, and Foreign Policy
America’s standing in the world is at a critical point. On the one hand, our relative power is so great that we are a factor in almost every major economic, political, and military issue on the world stage. On the other hand, other countries have become more ambivalent than they have been in recent memory about how they feel about our position. The conduct of the next administration will go a long way towards determining the future relationship of the United States to the world, possibly irreversibly. Simply put, it matters greatly who will win the next election.
Prof. Charles Schmitz (Geography) – War on Terror and US Middle East Policy
Politicians cater to our views at the same time that they try to shape our understanding of the world. Comparing the rhetoric to reality is an excellent window into the worldview of each of the candidates, and ourselves. In the case of Middle East policy, there are stark differences in the way that the candidates? understand the Middle East and the role of the US in it. Often the issues on which they are silent reveal as much as ones they do address. Measuring each candidate?s rhetoric with the realities of the contemporary Middle East presents us with not only two quite different visions of the world, but also a glimpse of what the future might hold for the US and the region.
Prof. James Dorn (Economics) – Economic Policy and Economic Freedom
The 2008 presidential election comes at a crossroads in U.S. economic history: a point at which the government bailout of the financial sector will increase U.S. debt and expand the size and scope of government. What choices will the candidates make to pay for the bailout? Which programs will be cut? Whose taxes will increase? Is the financial crisis the fault of greedy capitalists or misguided policies? Which candidate is more likely to advance economic freedom and hold individuals responsible for their choices? Politicians like to promise free lunches using other people?s money. Why should it matter whether one votes for McCain or Obama?
Sponsored by The Political Economy Project {http://pages.towson.edu/baetjer/PolEconProj/home.html}
For more information contact {hbaetjer@towson.edu}, 410-704-2585
