Prisons:
Prison Growth? U.S.? Wisconsin? What crimes do most prisoners commit? How many are repeat prisoners? How many are rehabilitated? Do we need more prisons? Are there any alternatives?
Gun Control:
Should citizens have access to weapons? Handguns? Rifles? Automatic Weapons Ban Repeal? Concealed weapons laws? Wisconsin? Waiting periods?
Cloning/Genetic Engineering:
What new work in being done? What are the potential problems? Should it be limited? Stem Cell Research?
Violence on Television, Movies, Video Games, Music:
Is there too much? Does it lead to violence in children and our society? Violence in the news? Reality television?
Underage Drinking and Drugs:
Do we have a problem in Wisconsin and River Valley? Deaths? Auto accidents? Survey of students? What does it do to the teenage brain?
Gender Roles:
Should women be allowed to do what a man does? Are women gaining equality? Women as CEOs, men as caregivers? Jobs? Does TV and movies present stereotypes of men and women? How are women portrayed in television?
Parents and Sports/Competition:
Do parents cause problems with their children in sports? Is our society too competitive? What are the benefits and problems with competition? Are parents obsessed with their children's sporting events? Interview a referee, coach?
Death Penalty:
How many states/countries have the death penalty? Does it prevent crime? Should Wisconsin have it? Statistics on death row inmates?
Gambling:
Should it be legalized? What about the lottery? Is gambling addictive? How much money does gambling contribute?
Animal Rights:
Should animal fur, horns, etc. be used for commercial products? Do they have rights? Should they be used in research testing? Feral cat hunting in Wisconsin?
Environment:
Do we need more laws to protect the air, land, and water? What condition is the environment in now? Should we continue to rely on oil for energy? What are some of the alternatives?
Terrorism:
How bad is the threat? Whom should we fear? How should we react? What is being done to protect us? Why do these groups "hate" America? Does this effect immigration?
School Violence:
What are some of the issues that lead to school violence? What causes school violence? What can be done to make schools safer? What programs can schools offer for kids to solve their problems?
Euthanasia (Doctor-assisted suicide):
Should it be legalized? What states allow this? Should we allow it in Wisconsin? End of life issues?
Drugs in Athletics:
Should the rules be harsher? Who should be tested? What should the penalties be? Should high school athletes be tested? Major League Baseball policies?
Racism, Prejudice/Affirmative Action:
Is there racial equality in the U.S.? What can be done to stop "hate crimes?" Does Affirmative Action work? Should it be continued? What else can be done? Does TV present stereotypes of races/ethnicities?
War and Rebuilding in Iraq/Military Draft:
Is the war justified? What is the worldview of the war? Should there be a military draft? What are the problems in Iraq?
Civil Liberties:
What is the definition? How does the Patriot Act effect our civil liberties? Are we losing our civil liberties? What about censorship? In movies, books and music?
AIDS:
How and when did it start? What is being done to stop the spread of it? What countries have the highest incidents of AIDS?
Genocide:
What is it? Why does it happen? Where has it happened? What is being done to stop it?
Religion in Schools:
Should religion be allowed in public schools? Should the government provide money to religious groups? Should students be allowed to have prayer groups in schools? What about the Pledge of Allegiance?
Teen Consumerism/Advertising:
Do teenagers consume too much? Are advertisers targeting teens? What products are being targeted? Cigarettes? Alcohol?
Immigration:
Do we have a problem with too many immigrants into the U.S.? Border control? What can be done to control immigration? Is it good or bad?
Animal Diseases:
What diseases are found in animals? Do they threaten humans? Should deer be eliminated because of CWD? DNR sharpshooters? Mad cow disease.
Poverty in the U.S.:
What are the causes of poverty? What can be done to help? Should the government provide more money for poverty-stricken people? How are poor people viewed in this country? Welfare system?
Same Gender Marriage:
Should same gender marriage be legal in WI? What about the ban against gay marriage and civil unions in WI? WI Constitutional Amendment? What is a civil union? What states recognize same gender marriage and civil unions? When will WI vote on same gender marriage? What about equal rights with insurance for a partnership?
Obesity:
Is obesity a problem with today’s society? What states are extremely overweight? Why are children becoming more overweight? What does a healthy diet look like? Soda? Juice? Water?
Smoking:
What is the going rate for a pack of cigarettes? How much has the price gone up? Taxes? Gov. Doyle’s money to help people to stop? Madison smoking ban in all restaurants/bars? What about a statewide ban? What states don’t allow public smoking? Is smoking an issue? Health concerns? Cause and effect?