UNIT SIX: PUBLIC ISSUES FACING MICHIGAN CITIZENS

Evaluating Possible Resolutions of a Public Issue Facing Michigan

Citizens

LESSON FOUR

The BIG Ideas…

People have different viewpoints about how to solve, or settle, a public issue.

To understand an issue, citizens need to look at different viewpoints about the issue.

To understand an issue, citizens also need to think about how core democratic values are connected to the issue.

When citizens understand an issue, they can make better decisions about how to solve the issue.

In Lesson Three we discussed a problem of needing new sources of renewable energy.

This resulted in a public issue of whether or not to build wind farms in the Great Lakes.

Why do people disagree about how to solve public issues?

People have different points of view on issues.

People have different points of view regarding the issue of wind farms in the Great Lakes. Some people think they should be allowed in the Great Lakes and some people disagree.

point of view

the way a person looks at and thinks about an issue  Example: People had different points of view about whether or not to build a new police station.

Should wind farms be built in the Great Lakes?

Viewpoint Card Activity

Cut the cards out.

Read each card.

Place the cards into two piles. One pile for the people who you think would answer ‘yes’ to the question of wind farms in the Great Lakes and one pile of the people you think would answer ‘no.’

Person One

It is more expensive to build wind farms in the water than on land. Since it is cheaper to build them on land, I think we should build them there and not in the water.

Person Two

States like Ohio and New York are already planning to put wind farms in the Great Lakes. Michigan can’t afford to let other states get ahead of us in building wind farms that can create lots of energy and jobs.

Person Three

I’m worried that wind farms may cause problems for boats in the Great Lakes. Shipping is very important to our state. Also, a lot of people like to use their own boats in the Great Lakes.

Person Four

People are worried about seeing the wind farms in the Great Lakes. But when they are built out in the water at least six miles from shore, they can’t be easily seen. Wind farms won’t hurt the beauty of the shoreline.

Person Five

We need to build wind farms in the Great Lakes. We need to think about all the people in Michigan. We all need renewable sources of energy. Wind farms in the Great Lakes would help us solve our energy problems.

Person Six

Most of the towns along the shores where they are thinking of putting wind farms are tourist towns. Who would want to visit a town on the lake where all you saw in the water were wind turbines? It would cause a loss of tourism in these areas.

Person Seven

Building wind farms in the Great lakes would create hundreds of jobs. We have many people out of work in Michigan. This could help give people jobs.

Person Eight

Some people think wind farms would hurt tourism. I think they would help tourism. People could take tour boats out to see the wind farms in the Great Lakes. I think a lot of people would be interested in doing that.

Person Nine

People say that one wind turbine in the Great Lakes could power 1,400 homes. Think about how many homes a big wind farm could power. We need to build wind farms in the Great Lakes.

Person Ten

I own a house on Lake Michigan. I love to look out at the lake. My view will be spoiled if the lake is filled with wind turbines.

Person Eleven

We just don’t know enough about how wind farms might affect the Great Lakes. Maybe they will hurt the fish in the lakes. I think they could do a lot of damage. We should just put the wind farms on land.

Person Twelve

I want to fight to save the natural beauty of the Great Lakes. They are one of our most important natural resources. Putting giant wind turbines in the Great Lakes will take away from their beauty.

Should wind farms be built in the Great Lakes?

Yes No

Should wind farms be built in the Great Lakes? Sample Answers

Yes No

• Other states are going to build them so we should too.

• They won’t hurt the beauty of the shoreline because you won’t be able to see them that well when they are out in the lakes at least six miles.

• We need jobs. Building wind farms in the lakes would create lots of jobs.

• We need new sources of renewable energy.

• Wind farms in the lakes could help tourism. People would want to visit the wind farms by boat.

• Wind farms in the Great Lakes would make a lot of energy that could power many, many homes.

• It is more expensive to build wind farms in the water than on land.

 • They could cause problems for boats • Wind farms in the lakes could hurt

tourism. • People who live on the shores of the

Great Lakes don’t want the wind farms to spoil their view of the lakes.

 • Wind farms could hurt fish or do other

damage in the Lakes.

• Wind farms would hurt the natural beauty of the Great Lakes, which are one of our most important resources.

public issue

an issue that affects many, many people  Example: One issue in her city was whether or not to build a new police station.

core democratic values

things people believe in that bring people together as Americans  Example: Freedom and fairness are examples of core democratic values.

freedom

the right to make choices and have your own ideas  Example: Liberty, or freedom, means you have the right to make choices and have your own ideas.

justice

another word for fairness    Example: Justice means that people should be treated fairly.

the common good

people working together for the benefit of everybody Example: When governments provide services like fixing roads, they are looking out for the common good.

individual rights

things an individual personis entitled to have or to do  Example: You have the right to own property. You have the right to speak freely.

renewable forms of energy

energy that can be used over and over   Example: Sun and wind provide renewable forms of energy.

wind farm

a group of wind turbines in the same location   Example: Wind farms are being created in Michigan to provide electricity.

AssessmentShould wind farms be built in the Great Lakes?

Yes No

Write one reason for each side of this issue:

AssessmentShould wind farms be built in the Great Lakes?

SAMPLE ANSWERS

Yes No

Write one reason for each side of this issue:

Wind farms in water create more energy than wind farms on land.

Wind farms in the Great Lakes may cause damage to fish or shipping.