520 likes | 631 Views
Social Security. 4/26/2012. Learning Objectives. Accurately describe the social, economic, and political dimension of major problems and dilemmas facing contemporary American society
E N D
Social Security 4/26/2012
Learning Objectives • Accurately describe the social, economic, and political dimension of major problems and dilemmas facing contemporary American society • Use knowledge and analyses of social problems to evaluate public policy, and to suggest policy alternatives, with special reference to questions of social justice, the common good, and public and individual responsibility.
Opportunities to discuss course content • No office hours today • Monday 10-2
Readings Required • Energy and Environmental Policy (Chapter 10) Dye • Optional • Population, Global Inequality, and the Environmental Crisis (Chapter 15) Kendall
About Paper 3 • What it Contains • Revised Paper 2 • an argument for your own position (evidence, moral reasoning, feasibility) • Counter-argumentation for your conclusion • and Conclusion; • 12-15 TOTAL pages of text - 15 Works Cited • Rubric
What it Contains: Your Solution • Pick/develop a solution to the controversial social problem • This Could be • The Controversial Solution from Paper 2 • A different solution proposed by policy makers • Your own solution
What it Contains: Justification • For your solution • Provide new reasons supporting your solution or those from paper 2 • Provide evidence to support your solution
What it Contains: Counter-argumentation • identify the weakest aspects of your solution and defend it against your opponents • who is likely to oppose your choice and why • What would critics say is wrong with your solutions • provide counterargumentation for your solution and defend it against those would oppose your stance.
What it Contains: Your Moral Reasoning • Support of your position from a personal Moral Reasoning perspective • Identify your Obligations, Values, and Consequences in reaching your solution. • Use the moral reasoning perspective to justify your solution
What it Contains: Feasibility • Will it Work? • Politically (does it have the support of necessary decision makers) • Economically (can we afford the costs) • What might need to be done to increase the chances of success?
What it Contains: A conclusion • Finally, you get to write a conclusion • Answer the normative question • Finish with two or three strong paragraphs that summarize the Social Problem, the Controversial Policy Solution, and your decision. Be persuasive.
About Paper 3 • You must submit two copies • in class on the day and time they are due • submitted to turnitin.com via Blackboard by 11:59 PM on the Day they are due. • I grade the hard copy, and if this is late, you receive a grade of zero for that assignment
Copy # 1 • In Class • May 3rd
Copy 2: Turnitin via Blackboard • This paper must also be submitted to turnitin.com by 11:59 PM on May 3rd • Failure to do this will result in a 5 point deduction on the Paper 3 grade. • Don’t leave points on the board
Demographics and Social Security How Population Growth and Change influences Policy
What is it? • The Largest Single Federal Program • A program that everyone loves • A Program that Everyone Gets
Why do we love it? • Almost everyone gets it • It has very basic goals that are easy to reach • The average worker gets $1230 a month
How Do We pay for it? • Payroll Taxes • I Pay 4.2% of my salary For 2012 • St. Edward’s pays 6.2% • Only the first $110,100 of wages are taxed • There is an upper limit on taxes… for Now (the most you can pay is $4,485.60 ) • The most you can get in benefits is $2513
SOCIAL SECURITY IS IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE- ALL BECAUSE OF DEMOGRAPHICS
Bankrupt vs. Broke • Bankrupt- not being able to meet your obligations • Broke- not having any money Either way, we need policy change
The Policy of inaction 1995 Prediction 2005 Prediction
The 2012 Numbers Without changes, by 2033 the Social Security Trust Fund will be exhausted* and there will be enough money to pay only about 75 cents for each dollar of scheduled benefits.
How to Solve the Problem • There are many solutions • All involve risk and create winners and losers • Your primary targets are voting constituents
Other Solutions • Raise the age • Raise Taxes • Cut Benefits • Means Test • Run Public Service announcements
Radical Solutions • Partial Privatization • Full Privatization • Amnesty for all Immigrants • Abolish Abortion
Social Security Has it been a success, and what should we do?
Why the increase • Population • Affluence • Technology
Energy We Use- Perpetual • Will not run out • Solar, Wind, Tidal
Energy We Use- Renewable • Can be reproduced and Recreated • We Use Less Renewable energy than in the 18th century
Energy We use- Nonrenewable • Cannot be Replaced • Finite • Oil, Natural Gas, Coal
Our Old Energy Policy • We had plenty of domestic sources • Energy was readily available from other places • We were not concerned with the environmental impact.
Our New Energy Policy • How do we meet our Energy Needs? • How can we do this without destroying our economy? • How do we do this without destroying the Earth?
Meeting these Goals involves 3 things • Conserving existing resources and using the more efficiently • Finding New Stocks of existing Energy Sources • Using More renewable and perpetual sources