Social Policy 

Social Policy: The Current Status

Social Policy is in Financial Trouble                                                                                                Why?                   

 

http://crapo.senate.gov/services/SocialSecurity.cfm http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/04/30/162565/three-ways-save-medicare/ 

Current Status Continued                        Majoritarian vs. Client Politics

                                

http://www.politifake.org/lincoln-lincoln-welfare-politics-2215.html http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/m/Medicaid.asp 

Supporting Legislation #1

The State of California vs. US

Ruling: "...the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in San Francisco, ruled that private parties could sue under the supremacy clause of the Constitution...By reducing payments... California violated the federal Medicaid law...”

Liptak, Adam. "For Justices’ First Day Back, a Knotty Case Involving Medicaid Cutbacks."New York Times. October 3, 2011. Accessed: January 15, 2012.  

Supporting Legislation #2

Flemming v. Nestor (1960) 

Supreme Court Ruling: • Nestor's argument that Social Security benefits

were a promised contract that Congress could not amend was rejected 

• Court established the principle that entitlement to Social Security benefits is not a contractual right

                                                                                     http://www.peoplerecords.com/court-records/"Supreme Court Case: Flemming vs. Nestor," Social Security Administration, date published: June 20, 1960, date accessed: January 17, 2012, http://www.ssa.gov/history/nestor.html. 

What is the most important issue facing Congress and the presidency?Reforming Welfare Programs: Medicare and Social Security• Costly • Inefficient • Politicians don't want to lower benefits or raise

taxes

Why is this issue important?• Lasting affects 

James Q. Wilson and John J. Dilulio, Jr., American Government (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004).

http://www.paranormalknowledge.com/articles/life-without-money.html

http://www.attygeismar.com/

What should be done? 

SOCIAL SECURITY

-Raise Social Security Age • People are spending too much of their lives in

retirement.

-Increase Social Security Taxes•  Provide more benefits for the retired.

-Privatize Social Security• Invest the taxes paid to the government in the stock

market.

ames Q. Wilson and John J. Dilulio, Jr., American Government (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company,

2004).   

What will happen if this is not dealt with?• As the population ages and people live longer, there will not

be enough money from taxes to cover the costs of every retired person.

• The amount of money will have to be "spread thinner" among the individuals.

James Q. Wilson and John J. Dilulio, Jr., American Government (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004).  

http://oranges-world.com/data_images/social-security-check.jpg

What should be done?MEDICARE

-Get rid of Medicare (No private medical institutions)• This has worked in other

countries, and has lowered the price of health care.

-Allow the elderly to choose their own healthcare provider with the money they receive from the government.• More affordable• Medicare can be confusing

to the elderly

James Q. Wilson and John J. Dilulio, Jr., American Government (Boston: Houghton Mifflin

Company, 2004). http://www.medicalbillingcompany.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/medicare-fraud-pushes-doctors-to-adopt-new-health-information-technology.gif

What will happen if this is not dealt with?• Government will continue to be overcharged by

private institutions.• Ever-changeable costs will rise without warning.• Medical services available will be abused.• The older the patients/recipients get, the more

money they are drawing from the government collected taxes.

James Q. Wilson and John J. Dilulio, Jr., American Government (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004). 

http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/jparker/uploadimages/100121-725461.jpg

http://www.oftwominds.com/photos07/medicare-costs.gif 

Bibliography

Liptak, Adam. "For Justices’ First Day Back, a Knotty Case Involving Medicaid Cutbacks." New York Times. October 3, 2011. Accessed: January 15, 2012.  

Pear, Robert. "Political Struggle in Congress Delayed, Not Resolved." New York Times. December 26, 2011. Accessed January 16, 2012.  

"Supreme Court Case: Flemming vs. Nestor." Social Security Administration. Date published: June 20, 1960. Date accessed: January 17, 2012. http://www.ssa.gov/history/nestor.html. 

Wilson, James Q., and John J. Dilulio, Jr.  American Government.     Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.