WS prompt discussion: Politicians should concentrate on...

[Guest dopetown]

Politicians should concentrate on making policy rather than attempt to affect people's beliefs.

Describe a specific situation in which politicians might attempt to affect people's beliefs rather than make policy. Discuss what you think determines when politicians should concentrate on making policy and when they should attempt to affect people's beliefs.

 

Terms to define:

 

"Making policy" -- setting rules or laws to regulate the public with their best interest in mind

 

"Affect people's beliefs" -- attempts to change their opinion on matters, but also with the people's best interest in mind.

 

Thesis examples:

 

1. Conscription

 

Antithesis example:

 

Anti-smoking commercials

 

Synthesis:

 

A country's immediate safety should be the primary determinant of whether to use policy to induce change for the better. A country needs people to defend it, whereas public smoking will only cost the country money in healthcare.

[Guest dopetown]

How would you guys spin this prompt?

[Guest Jochi1543]

I would definitely bring up the issue of dictatorship, where, to simplify, pretty much everything is directed by altering people's beliefs that the country's priority is safety - and in the end it ends up hurting 99% of the population and eventually brings about the death of the very regime.