Great Decisions

See the Calendar on the current semester for date and time of Great Decisions discussions.  
The Fall 23 sessions will be in person at MxCC in Chapman Hall Room 613.

Great Decisions is a discussion forum that follows a curriculum developed by the Foreign Policy Association (www.fpa.org). The program is supported by the Great Decisions program materials which presents basic information on each topic. Participants read the topical section for that week, then come to the sessions to discuss their various points of view with one another. Active participation is encouraged, but not required.
We will have 4 sessions using the Great Decisions materials and 2 open discussions on current events – with the topics chosen by the participants.

In an age where our political discourse has become more polarized, Great Decisions provides an excellent opportunity for open, fair, objective discussions - and helps the participants understand multiple perspectives on these topics. 
Topics and schedule for the Fall are as follows:
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• October 12: Politics in Latin America

Electoral results in Latin America over the past four years have led many observers of the regional/political scene to discern a left-wing surge in the hemisphere, reminiscent of the so-called “Pink Tide” that swept the area some 20 years ago. But how much do these politicians actually have in common? What implication does their ascendency have for the region? By Jorge Castañeda.

• October 19: Global Famine

 Fears of global food shortages have followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has disrupted grain shipments from the major grain producer. But what about countries and regions that were suffering before this impending shortage? How is famine defined, and how is it different from simple food shortages? What if any remedies are there? By Daniel Maxwell.

• October 26: Open Discussion

• November 2: Iran at a Crossroads

 By the fall of 2022, Iran was in a state of turmoil due to widespread protests against government-enforced wearing of the hijab, a failing economy, an ineffective new president, and the looming succession of the country’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.  Abroad, renewal of the Iran nuclear deal seemed doubtful and tensions remain high between Iran, Israel, and Arab states. Many Iranians have lost hope of a better future, and the country seems at a crossroads. How should the United States deal with it? By  Lawrence Potter.

• November 9: Climate Migration

As climate change accelerates and drought and rising sea levels become more common, millions of people in affected regions must uproot themselves and seek safety elsewhere.  Who are these affected individuals, and how might the United States aid them, and be affected by the migration? By Karen Jacobsen.

• November 16: Open Discussion

Sessions will run on Thursdays from 9:30 – 11:30 AM.  The sessions will be conducted in person in Chapman Hall room 613. Participation is limited to 20, so register for the fall semester!

Participants are expected to obtain the Great Decisions program materials from FPA.ORG and to read the topic sections prior to each session. The materials are purchased separately.  The books are available in print ($35) and various e-book formats (est. $25). Contact the moderator for details at budsielaff@sbcglobal.net and to reserve your space. If you participated in the spring, you already have the materials.
Participants are expected to obtain the Great Decisions program materials from FPA.ORG and to read the topic sections prior to each session. The materials are purchased separately.  The books are available in print($35) and various e-book formats (est. $25). Contact the moderator for details at budsielaff@sbcglobal.net and to reserve your space.
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Moderator: Bud Sielaff, a retired business executive with degrees in engineering,
marketing and finance. Bud is a member of MILE and has been a moderator of the
Great Decisions program since Fall 2018. He has a business strategy
background, has had extensive international travels, and closely follows world
events as an interested citizen.

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"Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification." ~~ Martin H. Fischer