Political Science 1100, Introduction to American Politics, April 27, 2015


Current events


 

Government and Individual Security


B. Social Welfare in The U.S.

 

The Social Security Act of 1935
addressed economic insecurity
beyond our control
 

It included:

q Old Age Insurance – for those too old to work
q Unemployment Insurance – for those who could not find a job
q Aid to Dependent Children – for those too young to work
q Old Age Assistance - for those too old to work
q Aid to the Blind – for those too disabled to work

 

Two "Welfare States" in America

 
1). Non-contributory programs for the Poor

- (a) "In-Cash" Benefits:
        TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

- (b) "In-Kind" Benefits:
         Food Stamps, Medicaid, Housing Assistance,
         Job Training, Services

- (c) The Earned Income Tax Credit

2). Contributory Benefits For The Middle Class:

 - (a) "In-Cash" Benefits"
            - Social Security Retirement, Medicare,
                Unemployment Insurance

      
       - (b) Tax Expenditures
                (Example: the home mortgage interest deduction)

 

The Submerged State: Americans do not realize how much they need and depend on government.
 

 

        Health Care & The Affordable Care Act

           

 


Dealing with Other Countries

Tough Choices, Deep Roots, Lasting Consequences

 


1. Tough Choices any Nation's Leaders must make 
 

A. Isolation Or Internationalism ?

 

B. Use Force Or Diplomacy To Settle Disputes ?

 

C. Act Alone or in Alliance?

 

D. What Are Other Nations Really Up To ?

 

E. What Costs Are Tolerable ?

 

F. How do foreign policy choices affect domestic politics?

 


2. Deep Roots: 
     The Choice of the Past Affect Choice in the Present and Future 
  
 

    1898: The Spanish-American War

            - The US took the Philippines, making it a power in Asia and a rival of Japan

 

    1941 War with Japan, Germany and Italy

 

        The U.S. a superpower after World War II

 

 

    1945-1989: Cold war with the Soviet Union, the world's other superpower

           

           The War in Vietnam

 

    1989 - to the present: The Post-Cold War World

 

            9/11, Afghanistan, and Iraq

 

 

3. Globalization

Goods and Services

 

 

Capital

 

 

Information

 

 

People: The Immigration Issue