1) I find the conflict paradigm more insightful.

2) Strengths of conflict paradigm:
a) In my opinion, the conflict paradigm makes more sense of the reality. The ruling class will always be the powerful & the working class just keep them powerful. I agree with the text when it argues that the system is the primary source of social problems, not the individual deviant.
b) The evidence is all around us. It is very obvious to me that there is competition, conflict, etc. The powerful are always maintaining that power while a lot of us are who we are, or where we are in life because of society. As it states in the text, the US has the most unequal distribution of wealth and income in the industrialized world.
3) Weaknesses of order paradigm:
a) I think if society was more like the order paradigm, maybe we wouldn't have all of these problems we are having now. Before the attacks, people weren't as unified, in my opinion. I just don't follow all of theoretical arguments about the order paradigm. I just don't see how the problems are the faults of people, not the society. The way I see it, society shapes us.
b) The order paradigm blames the "victims" in such phenomena such as poverty, homelessness, crime, gender inequality, and discrimination. As it states in the book, the order paradigm approach asks, "who are the deviants? what are their social and psychological backgrounds?" etc. I think the reason the people have these social problems & are this way, is due to the faults of society. For example, if it weren't for globalization of the economy, we would have more workers in the workforce in manufacturing. Just think of how many more jobs would be available to the US if there wasn't so much greed in every cent they spend on labor, and just have other people manufacturing their goods for close to the price of nothing.

4) Other points regarding the debate between the order & conflict paradigms...
I just have to say one thing I find really insightful is the views of famous conflict theorist, Karl Marx. He theorized there being a "dynamic tension between two groups-those who own the means of production and those who work for the owners". However I think it's best to see both views & try understanding them.