Beyond Feelings

CHAPTER 5 How Good Are Your Opinions?
views. Then assess the strengths and weaknesses of each. If you conclude
that one view is entirely correct and the others are mistaken, explain how you
reached that conclusion. If, as is more likely, you find that one view is more
insightful than the others but that they all make some valid points, construct a
view of your own that combines the insights from all views and explain why that
view is the most reasonable of all. Present your response in a composition or an
oral report, as your instructor specifies.
Has government in the United States grown too big for the good of its
citizens? Many people argue that it has. Their most publicized concerns are
the government’s involvement in the “bailouts” of financial institutions, the
virtual takeover of General Motors, and the enactment of health care legislation.
They also point to federal, state, and city income taxes; gasoline and
cigarette taxes; and an increasing number of regulations—for example, on
the salt and fat content of foods, smoking, and seat belts. Those who disagree
that government is too big point to its contributions to protecting the
environment, maintaining product safety, and overcoming poverty and
discrimination.
Begin your analysis by conducting a Google search using the terms “limited
government” and “free enterprise economy.”
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