Ch. 16

Political Science 2151 with Jasonwaguespack at University of New Orleans

About this deck

By: Arineka Smith
Textbook:

The American Democracy, Alternate Edition
Created: 2011-05-11
Size: 18 flashcards
Views: 11

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Who do we classify as the poor and what are their characteristics?

–Single-parent, female headed households twice as likely as two-income families to be poor. –Geographically concentrated. –More prevalent in rural areas than urban areas. –Twice as many African-Americans and Hispanics live below poverty line compared with whites. –Suburbs largely removed from poverty.

The Poor

Some Americans live below the poverty line. The poverty line is basically the marker for what the govt. considers an acceptable standard of living. (full definition p.427) Citizens that live below this line are considered poor.

Circumstances that can lead to poverty.

–Poverty can be affected by job skills (or lack thereof), familial circumstances, and also the tides of the economy.

Social Insurance Programs

Social Security Act of 1935. Social Security would be a social insurance program – a program that recipients would pay into via payroll taxes and receive back at a later date. Social Security was designed to keep senior citizens from being destitute in their retirement years.

Social Security

Recipients collect from the payroll taxes they have paid over time. However, payments to seniors are made from the taxes of current workers. This threatens the program long term, as there will not be enough workers to pay for benefits.

Medicare

Enacted in 1965 after the 1964 elections swept in a larger class of Democrats into Congress. Provides health care to senior citizens. Funded by payroll taxes. In 2003, prescription drug coverage was added to Medicare.

Solutions to the Social Insurance Crisis

–Raise payroll taxes –Means testing (reduce benefits for the wealthy) –Raise Social Security retirement age –Allow younger recipients to invest a portion of SS into personal accounts.

Public Assistance Programs (means-tested)

A “means tested” program is a public assistance program – programs funded by general tax revenues. The assumption for public assistance is that recipients are unable to provide these benefits for themselves. It is based on need.

Examples of Public Assistance Programs

–Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Helps blind, disabled elderly.

–Food Stamps This is an “In-kind” benefit – a cash equivalent that can be redeemed for food.

–Subsidized housing

–Medicaid Health care for the poor.

Examples of Public Assistance Programs cont.

–Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) –This is a federal block grant given to the states, who distribute it to recipients under strict guidelines. –Cash assistance is given on a limited basis.

Examples of Public Assistance Programs cont.

–TANF replaced ADFC (Aid to Families With Dependent Children)

–ADFC offered cash assistance for families below the poverty level, but it was open-ended and seen as an enabler of irresponsibility and dependence.

ADFC

Some charge that the very programs designed to help actually foster dependency and stifle productivity. In the 1980s, Republicans railed against AFDC as promoting irresponsibility and dependency. In 1996, the Republican-led Congress reformed AFDC, but most Democrats voted against it.

Partisan Dimension of Programs

Democrats are strongly in favor of social welfare programs. They believe government should be used to provide help when social and economic forces cut against citizens.

Republicans accept a limited govt. role in social welfare. They generally oppose expansions of programs or creation of new ones.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Partisan divide erupted again in 2010 when the Democratic-controlled Congress passed The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). This was the subject of intense controversy, including accusations of “death panels” in the bill, and whether it would federally fund abortions. No Republican voted for it in Congress.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Insurance companies cannot deny coverage on basis of a pre-existing condition. Additional reforms of Medicare. Provided for state-run health insurance exchanges – marketplaces to pick insurers. Encourages citizens to buy insurance, often called the “individual mandate.” This part of the bill is particularly controversial.

PPACA Controversy

PPACA is currently litigated in the federal court system and has been upheld and struck down by various judges. No final decision has been rendered.

-Should the government require Americans to buy health insurance? Does America’s norm of individualism make universal health coverage, as it exists in European nations, an impossibility for the U.S.?

Public Education(Leveling through Schools)

–America’s heavy investment in public education –Relatively standardized curriculum

Public school issues

–Disorder in some schools –Standardized test scores The federal role in education: political differences

Adequate vs. Equal Education

education that meets the minimum education guidelines.

education that is the same across the board.

About this deck

By: Arineka Smith
Textbook:

The American Democracy, Alternate Edition
Created: 2011-05-11
Size: 18 flashcards
Views: 11

About StudyBlue

“Simply amazing. The flash cards are smooth, there are many different types of studying tools, and there is a great search engine. I praise you on the awesomeness.”
Dennis