Domestic Policy Policy that affects Americans in America Bell Ringer: What basic things should all Americans have?
Welfare State Every modern nation can be characterized as a welfare state Welfare state: a nation in which the government assumes responsibility for the welfare of its citizens by providing a wide array of public services and redistributing income to reduce social inequality
History of Welfare State Great Depression 1930s New Deal, FDR 1930s The Great Society, LBJ 1960s Today?
Poverty and Welfare Many people who need financial assistance can be farmers, college students and even corporations poverty level is where basic needs are meet (2005, $19,806) 18% of those under 18 are below poverty, 37 million Americans and 13% of total population in poverty Feminization of poverty How do we solve this issue, raise taxes?
Education 7% of the US budget is spend on education should education be equal for everyone? why? Belief that Social and Economic Equality can come from Education Equality Brown v. Board of Education Nations Report Card Equality vs Freedom
No Child Left Behind, 2001 President Bush’s plan to reform education Standards that ALL students must meet AYP or Annual Yearly Progress through testing Standards for qualified teachers Identify failing schools Bridging education gap for minorities, disadvantaged, and disabled Program is said to be underfunded
Current State of Education Policy States control State funding of Schools States are in financial turmoil which affects the schools budgets President Obama has given aid to education through the Stimulus Plan. Race to the Top and Innovation Fund Reauthorization of NCLB National Standards?
Tomorrows Debate... Social Security Welfare Minimum Wage
Social Security economic assistance to persons faced with unemployment, disability, or old age which is financed by tax payers started in 1935 by FDR to aid americans Most agree that government should take care of those who need it However dependence has become an issue
Social Security for elderly Who pays? You Joe worker pay for Joe retiree 2005 system paid $530 billion to 48 million people from revenue from 159 million people, ration 3.3 to 1 rate of 2-1 will be reached by ! required at rate of 6.2% of income should we privatize? should we allow people to opt out?
Ending Welfare President Clinton wanted to stop having those on welfare “float, but learn to swim” Gave jurisdiction to states to handle needs of states needy can people make transition from welfare to working class? are we abandoning our needy?
Healthcare for all? United States is the only major industrialized nation with out a universal healthcare system Over 45 million Americans, 16% of Americans do not have health insurance. Many Americans just don't have access to medical care We spend over $1.9 trillion on healthcare ($1,900,000,000,000)
United States Healthcare United States spends more then any other industrialized nation on healthcare Goals of government for healthcare reform... make healthcare affordable to everyone control ballooning costs balance equality of healthcare with freedom to see best possible doctors
Basics of Medicare and Medicaid Medicare is primarily for elderly Medicaid for the qualifying poor State Children’s health insurance program for needy families Originated from Johnson’s Great Society
Medicare Health insurance program for those 65 and over (85% of program) also covers those who are deemed disabled (14%) over 41 million people covered at a cost of $271 billion
Parts of Medicare Part A = pays for care in hospitals Part B = doctors services for out patient care (some part paid by patient) Part D = prescription drug coverage
Medicaid Part of Great society single largest program in nation at $273 billion and 53 million people enrolled states and national govt share responsibility Children (21.7 million) Adults (11.1 million) Disabled (7.7 million)