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Martinez, Alicia

Professor Hamman
Pols Online
October 11, 2015
Domestic & Foreign Policies Assignment
Domestic Policy: Social Insurance (Chapter 17)
In the Greenberg-Page text, the social insurance section briefly touched upon issues
concerning Social Security and Medicare. Social Security was created in 1935 for the eldrly due
to the Great Depression and shortly after the widowed and orphaned were granted the same
benefits. A little over 20 years, in 1956, disabled persons were then included in the program.
Social Security was a way for an individual to receive money after one retired or a loved one
who worked passed away. The idea was to provide an individual or family with some extra
money, but many individuals found themselves fully relying on this income to live. Later on
when Lyndon Johnson became president in 1964, Medicare was then created. Medicare gave the
elderly and the poor healthcare they once could not afford by covering the basics. There are
concerns about the impact these programs have when it comes to the American federal budget. It
was found that the Social Security trust fund would not move into the red until 2036 and will
continue to drive until 2085 if the same amount of payroll taxes are collected. In an article
published by Michael Hiltzik, it contributed to this idea by saying that annual trustees believe the
fund will be exhausted in the year 2033 and if so they would still be able to pay off 77% of its
benefits each year. As for Medicare, it was found that Medicare will not thrive as long as Social
Security due to the costs of healthcare rising, Americans getting older, and less people in the
workforce support or pay for payroll taxes. In the article Good news and warnings in the Social

Security and Medicare reports, Hilzik added by saying, The continuing drop in healthcare
expenses has made Medicare healthier -- the estimated date of its trust fund's depletion has been
moved out by four years, to 2030.
Overall, in both the Greenberg-Page text and in the article by Michael Hilzik Social
Security and Medicare are seen as necessary and prosperous programs that prevent poverty in
America. Some believed or had concerns that these programs would affect the federal budget and
even though that may not seem likely I disagree. The numbers that both the textbook and article
provide are number that concern only certain generations. By the time I retire, which would be
around 2060, both Social Security and Medicare benefits would not offer the same benefits are
they are now. If the elderly, widowed, and disabled are struggling with the benefits they receive
now I will be no different. This form of income is a helpful hand but not enough to survive,
especially if the company I work for does not provide a good pension. Finally, it is constantly
pointed out that if Americans decide to solve long-term trust fund problems for both of these
programs younger; individuals will either have to retire at an older age, have their benefits cut
back, and or the rich would be taxed at higher rates. As it looks right now none of these options
seem to benefit everyone without the other getting upset. The program may last until 2033 or a
bit longer, but what is the use of these programs if they dont benefit the people the way it
should?
Citations:
Greenberg, Edward S., and Page, Benjamin I., The Struggle for Democracy. New Jersey: Pearson
Education Inc., 2012.
Hiltzik, Michael, Good news and warnings in the Social Security and Medicare reports, The
LA Times, July 28 2014. Accessed on October 8, 2015.

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-good-news-andwarnings-20140728-column.html
Foreign Policy: The Global Environment (Chapter 18)
One of the many issues covered in the Problems of the Post-Cold War World section of
the Greenberg text is about global environment. It is said that conservative Republicans do
believe that climate change is real but that it is a trend in the natural cycle, while liberal
Democratics believe that issues are caused by humans and want the government to step up
(Greenberg-Page, 628). As a concern for the human race and our environment countries such as
America, China, India, and Brazil have to come to agreement when it comes to these issues. The
reason being is that these countries are the largest and fastest when it comes to economic
development. As of 2009, none of these countries have made an agreement when it comes to
limiting greenhouse gases due to China. Also in 2010, Obamas cap and trade bill that focused
on the worlds climate was completely thrown out.
As these countries fail to come to an agreement, it is obvious that our world today is not
what it used to be. Climate change, greenhouse gases, and the ozone layer are some of the many
issues we as a whole are facing and it is only going to get worse. One of the first signs that
climate change and greenhouses gases were affecting our world and species was when scientists
in the U.S. and Canada (and others), noticed the decrease of polar bears in Alaska and other parts
of the world. In a LA Times article, Michael Muskal discussed that 40% of polar bears have died
in 2010 and will possibility be extinct by 2050. With the information given in the GreenbergPage text and the LA Times article is should cause major concern. Animals are said to be the first
affected when it comes to environmental issues. Polar bears along with other animals are rapidly
dying and that is not a good sign. They are warning us of the major global issues that lay ahead

and huge countries that can make a positive change are ignoring these issues. The overall point
that I am trying to make is that we only have one Earth but we are treating it as if we have many.
When the world can no longer handle the environmental issues we as a nation caused, we are the
only ones who are going to pay for it. So Congress and other countries, big and small, need to
jump on a global environment protection bandwagon very soon in order to save us not just the
planet.
Citations:
Greenberg, Edward S., and Page, Benjamin I., The Struggle for Democracy. New Jersey: Pearson
Education Inc., 2012.
Muskal, Michael, 40% decline in polar bears in Alaska, western Canada heightens concern,
The LA Times, November 21 2014. Accessed on October 9, 2015.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-polar-bear-decline-20141117-story.html

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