1. Social Welfare / Healthcare / Environment and Energy Unit 15

2. What Is “Social Policy” and Why Is It So Controversial? How large a role should the federal government play? “deserving” vs “undeserving” poor When does “help” become “enabling”? “Equality of Opportunity” as opposed to “Equality of Outcome” (laissez faire vs the “welfare state”) What is a “family”? Exactly who is receiving benefits?

4. Defining “social welfare” Social welfare policies provide benefits to individuals, through: – Entitlement programs: benefits to certain qualified individuals are entitled to by law, regardless of need Social Security / Medicare – Means-tested programs: government programs only available to individuals that meet financial eligibility requirements (poor) TANF, SNAP, CHIPs, Medicaid, SSI

6. Who is Poor in America? – Poverty Line: considers what a family must spend for an “austere” standard of living – 46.7 million Americans—about 15 percent—were poor in 2014 – Many people move in and out of poverty in a year’s time; what can change that stat and influences trending charts? – “Feminization of poverty”: high rates of poverty among unmarried women 30% vs 6% - what is the “superhighway to poverty”??

7. Earned Income Tax Credits

11. What Part Does Government Play? – Government Expenditures Transfer payments: benefits given by the government directly to individuals – Some transfer benefits are actual money, such as Social Security— entitlements – Other transfer benefits are “in kind” benefits where recipients get a benefit without getting actual money, such as food stamps—means-tested (SNAP)

14. Welfare “as We Knew it” – Social Security Act of 1935—first major step by the federal government to help protect people against absolute poverty Set up Social Security Program and AFDC, a national assistance program for poor children – President Johnson declared a “War on Poverty” and created many new social welfare programs. Greater access and funding to AFDC Head Start Medicare and Medicaid Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 HUD

15. Welfare Reform – Conservative turn starting in the late 60’s sees public opinion turn against welfare programs (“colored?”) – Reagan cut welfare benefits, lowered poverty line, removed people from benefit rolls. – Conservatives argued that welfare programs discouraged the poor from solving their problems and violate the American political values like “individualism” – Attitudes toward welfare became “race coded,” the belief that most people on welfare were African Americans. Ending “Welfare as We Know it”: Welfare Reforms of 1996 – Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act Each state to receive a fixed amount of money to run its own welfare programs People on welfare would have to find work within two years. Lifetime limit of five years placed on welfare. AFDC changed to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – Welfare rolls declined, even though income of TANF recipients is still low

18. Using the Analyze Political Cartoons sheet as a guide, lets dissect the following pictorial perspectives

31. Immigration and Social Policy Myths about Immigration – Most are (NOT!) illegal immigrants. – Most are (NOT!) from Mexico, but largest slice are (25% - and that’s a soft #...) – Most are (NOT!) consuming federal benefits while (NOT!) avoiding taxes. Immigration Today – 13% of Americans are first-generation immigrants; roughly 42 million – Many are admitted because of high skills and education. – Ethnic origin of the highest-educated new migrants?

32. – Immigration has had little support throughout American history – Illegal immigration is a new issue, as the distinction did not exist for most of American history. – Illegal immigration has been a major—though difficult—issue in presidential politics. – Immigration Act of 1965 opened up the process… at whose request?

33. Simpson-Mazzoli Act (1986) – Path to citizenship (“amnesty”) for existing illegal immigrants. 3 million immigrants become citizens. – Employers forbidden from hiring illegal immigrants but they cannot challenge documentation. – Despite several proposals, no major policy changes since – why? – Some states hit harder than others in costs of immigration policy (social services) – Proposition 187 (CA) cut off public services to illegal immigrants; mostly found unconstitutional.

34. Living on borrowed time? Social Security going forward The New Deal, the Elderly, and the Growth of Social Security – Social Security has grown rapidly since 1935, adding Medicare in 1965. – Employers and employees contribute to the Social Security Trust Fund—the “bank account” into which Social Security contributions are “deposited” and used to pay out eligible recipients. The Trust Fund will soon be in the red as the ratio of workers to beneficiaries is narrowing… well before y’all retire!!

35. – The problem: number of Social Security contributors (workers) is growing slowly, while number of recipients (retired) is growing rapidly – At some time—currently 2035??— payouts will exceed income – Solutions of cutting benefits or raising taxes are hard choices – why? Living on borrowed time? Social Security going forward

36. How George W. Bush Tried and Failed to Reform Social Security – Bush proposed diverting 2 percent of social security contributions to private retirement funds—private savings accounts – Problem: Social Security Trust Fund would run out of money very quickly as people put their money into private savings account—or, government would have to borrow trillions of dollars – And what if The Market crashes? What happens to privatized Trust Fund funds? (i.e.’08??) – Social Security reform failed. Living on borrowed time? Social Security going forward

37. Understanding Social Welfare Policy Social Welfare Policy Elsewhere – Many industrialized nations are more generous than the U.S., but the tax rates are higher in those countries than in the U.S. – Other countries (especially Europe) have worked to reform their welfare programs, as their programs are in trouble, too. Social Welfare Policy and the Scope of Government – The growth of government has been driven by the growth of social welfare policies, which grow generation by generation. Democracy and Social Welfare – The U.S. has the smallest social welfare system. – There is considerable unequal political participation by those that use the programs. Elderly are well-organized and influential; poor are not

38. Healthcare The Health of Americans – Americans generally lag behind other countries in some key health statistics. Lower life expectancy and higher infant mortality rate The Cost of Health Care – Americans spend more than any other country— $2.3 trillion and one-seventh of GDP* – Reasons for high costs: High-tech medicine Insurance pays for health care. Malpractice lawsuits leads to defensive medicine, which drives up costs.

41. Healthcare Uneven Coverage, Uneven Care – Health Insurance 46 million Americans have no health insurance (‘09) Most common reason for losing health insurance is losing or changing a job Health insurance is closely tied to race and income— higher income means more likely to have insurance – Managed Care Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): organization contracted by individuals or insurance companies to provide health care for a yearly fee. Designed to reduce costs through oversight and limiting patient choices. Limits choice of health care providers

42. Previous Prez’s Efforts at Reform – Two Presidents, Two Health Care Plans Clinton – Guarantee health care coverage for all – Paid for by employers who pay a premium into a public fund and tax increases on cigarettes – Interest groups lobbied hard against this bureaucratic and complicated plan which died in Congress. – Does get CHIP passed for “tweener” kids Bush – Health savings accounts – Drug benefits for elderly through Medicare

43. Healthcare The Role of Government in Health Care – Government in the United States plays smaller role than governments in other countries – Medicare: provides hospitalization insurance for elderly and optional coverage for other medical expenses – Medicaid: public assistance program to provide health care for the poor, which is funded by both national and state governments – National Health Insurance: a compulsory insurance program for all American that would have the government finance citizens’ medical care—not passed… until

44. Affordable Care Act 2010 Actually 2 acts – The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act Mandates healthcare coverage for all, and provides government organized health insurance cooperatives with private healthcare providers Expands Medicaid and CHIPs coverage 12 million previously uninsured now have coverage Minimum coverages; extends coverage to kids till 26, no denial for pre-existing conditions CBO in 2011 said it would lower premium rates for all – so, has healthcare become more “Affordable”… for some it has, not so much for others Mandate survived a 2012 challenge in the Supreme Court

52. Healthcare Controversies Abortion Contraceptive coverage and the ACA Stem cell research Gene therapy Medicinal marijuana Euthanasia The vaccine debate Health / sex education in public schools

53. The three things health care and environmental policy have in common Both involve life and death decisions Expensive, sometimes controversial sophisticated technologies involved Prices have soared for both over recent decades*

54. Environmental Policies in America – Environmental Protection Agency: A federal agency created in 1970 and charged with administering all the government’s environmental legislation Administers policies dealing with toxic wastes The largest independent regulatory agency – Clean Air Clean Air Act of 1970: charged the Department of Transportation with responsibility to reduce automobile emissions 1990 amendments allowed emissions trading – Clean Water Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 – Intended to clean up the nation’s rivers and lakes requiring the use of pollution control technology – Has helped reclaim numerous rivers and lakes since its passage – But misses “runoff” pollution from city streets and other areas

55. Environmental Policies in America – Wilderness Preservation The U.S. is a world leader. The national parks and national forests may be restricted to keep them for future generations. George W. Bush proposed letting states decide on roads in wilderness areas – to allow for? – Endangered Species Endangered Species Act: federal government must protect actively endangered species— regardless of economic impact

56. Environmental Policies in America – Toxic Wastes Superfund: created by Congress in 1980 to clean up hazardous waste sites; money comes from taxing chemical products Has virtually eliminated haphazard dumping of toxic waste, but less successful in cleaning up existing waste Nuclear waste presents a serious challenge—Yucca Flats in Nevada as home for nuclear waste NIMBY – how does it impact waste management / storage / transportation?

57. Groups, Energy, and the Environment Environmental clean up is political since it puts “public” goods against other private concerns. Explosion of groups formed to protect the environment in 1960s and 1970s. Others oppose strict environmental laws, claiming it may hurt economy. Policies will be controversial and expensive.

58. Energy Policy US has 5% of the world’s population – uses how much of its energy sources? Energy Sources and Energy Politics – 84% of the nation’s energy comes from coal, oil, and natural gas. – Coal is the most domestically abundant fuel—but also the dirtiest. – Oil accounts for 35% of our energy, but creates a dependence on foreign (especially Middle East) sources. – The most controversial energy source is nuclear. – Federal funding for further development of renewable energies engenders debate – why?

60. “It is not easy to plant trees when we will not live to see their flowering.” -Robert Kennedy

61. The Global Warming Gridlock – Earth is warming to between two and six degrees by 2100 due to carbon dioxide. – Total costs could be in the 10’s of trillions regarding environmental impacts. – United States is leading producer of carbon dioxide, but did not ratify the Kyoto Treaty Kyoto requires reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2010. – States like California have been reducing emissions on their own.

63. Paris 2015 195 countries (including US**) have agreed to – a long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels – to aim to limit the increase to 1.5°C, since this would significantly reduce risks and the impacts of climate change – on the need for global emissions to peak as soon as possible, recognizing that this will take longer for developing countries – to undertake rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with the best available science. – Liberal critics say it fall far short of meaningful goals – Conservative critics say it is an economic job killer

64. Technology is important to health and environmental policies. – Advances have improved health care but also increased its cost. – Advances have improved quality of life, but reliance on coal and oil as sources of energy have contributed to environmental degradation. Government will continue to grow to address these policy issues.