A Place Called Hope

Today:  Gabi, Harrison, Sophie, Aaron

Wednesday...

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IN OUR REMAINING CLASSES?

Keep reviewing Johnson, ch.10 (lightened reading load is on purpose)

Student hour today: 1:20-2:30.

Addendum to last week:  Reagan and the ozone hole; Bush and acid rain.

The wages of lip-reading:

New Democrats:

Deficits and the Economy

Deficit Reduction Act of 1993 (Johnson 330-331)

• Increased tax rates on upper-income individuals
• Increased corporate taxes
• Passed by one vote in each chamber, with no GOP support.

The booming 1990s.

Real GDP grows steadily:

Find more statistics at Statista

Unemployment drops steadily:

And we have a surplus!

Underlying conditions:

• The Cold War ends on Christmas Day 1991, when the USSR officially dissolves.
• The Internet (but what happens to the Dot.com revolution?)
• NAFTA and Globalization
• Most support in both chambers came from Republicans.
• Gore defends it in CNN debate with Ross Perot.

Early setback on health care

Secretive process, complex proposal. Opponents used this chart:

Harry and Louise:

Did not make it to the floor of either chamber

Crime

Find more statistics at Statista

The 1994 Crime Bill (Johnson 331)

• Federal Assault Weapons Ban: Prohibited the manufacture, transfer, and possession of certain semi-automatic assault weapons.
• Increased federal death penalty: Expanded the number of crimes eligible for the federal death penalty.
• New federal crimes: Created new federal offenses, including those related to hate crimes, sexual assault, and gang activity.
• Funding for police: Provided funding for 100,000 new police officers across the country.
• Gun restrictions: Expanded the list of people banned from owning firearms, such as those with domestic violence convictions.
• Sex offender registries: Required states to establish registries for sexual offenders by September 1997.
• Increased penalties: Implemented "three-strikes" provisions for repeat offenders and increased penalties for many crimes.

BUT MOST OF THE ANTICRIME ACTION WAS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

• Giuliani time

DID INCREASED INCARCERATION LEAD TO LOWER CRIME RATES?

For next time, the political upheaval of 1994.