Schematic for studying moral issues and politics -

How is the question framed? 

That is, how to frame for the politics -- find the right words to have political effect in direction of one's position --e.g., affirmative action  presented as "affirmative action" by pro-AA groups and as "reverse discrimination" by anti-AA group

    Which values are involved?

  personal values-- what is right or wrong, good and bad by personal values -- e.g., responsibility to help others—what is just or fair no matter what the official legal position is [can or cannot condone abortion no matter what the law says]—those who have should share with those who don’t in terms of equalizing life’s chances—gay rights is in accordance with or not in accordance with one’s understanding of one’s religious doctrines/authorities—killing is against personal morality whether murder or capital punishment or killing is justified for self-defense and/or vengeance           

  social values – values such as peace and order in the community – strengthen moral fiber of community – create a sense of community justice – social harmony –social unity—nationalism—patriotism—solidarity [all members of society have a responsibility for the welfare of all other members of society]

  political values-- These are ideas that often rest on personal moral values but also may be tied to one’s understanding of what works best in accomplishing various personal and social ends such as the idea that one cannot legislate morality through politics , the idea that  government should stay out of private business affairs, government should look to the greatest good for the greatest number, government should seek to do what is economically expedient, government is the legitimate power which is needed to curb the power of corporations, government is a legitimate means for bringing together the resources of the community to provide for the welfare of all members in the community, etc. 

 constitutional values and legislative values that are in accord with the constitutions–freedom of speech, religion, assembly – equal protection under the law – privacy – right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness – no life, liberty or property taken without due process of law –right to freedom in choosing an occupation [e.g., German const.] – protection of the family [e.g., German const.], no discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, physical disabilities, etc.

Which value conflicts are involved? -- e.g., affirmative action and conflict   between the value of equal opportunity and the value of diversity or between individual  fairness in admissions to a university and societal good of  assisting minorities. A person may hold all of these values and be in conflict within self as well as being in conflict with others who stress one value more than the other. It idea is to identify which values are in conflict in the issue you are studying.

What role has the judiciary played? 

What is public opinion on the issue?  

Some questions we won't deal with in detail but are relevant to the full picture of politics and value issues involve asking:

• what role the president plays, 

• the impact of Congress,

• the relationships to political parties, 

• the role of interest groups 

• and the more subtle, but important, impact from the various government bureaucracies.

 We will mention some of these in talking about the present status of issues such as abortion and taxes [especially in the presidential campaigns] and with regard to some of the present political initiatives such as the one in Florida concerning same-sex marriage.