Social Welfare

Chapter 19Chapter 19
Social WelfareSocial Welfare

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage
 WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?
1.1. How, if at all, have Americans’ views ofHow, if at all, have Americans’ views of
government’s responsibility to help thegovernment’s responsibility to help the
“deserving poor” changed over time?“deserving poor” changed over time?
2.2. Why are some government socialWhy are some government social
welfare programs politically protectedwelfare programs politically protected
while others are politically imperiled?while others are politically imperiled?
 TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?
1.1. What does the Constitution mean byWhat does the Constitution mean by
“promote the general Welfare”?“promote the general Welfare”?
2.2. Should religious groups be eligible toShould religious groups be eligible to
administer some federal welfareadminister some federal welfare
programs?programs?

Two Kinds of Welfare ProgramsTwo Kinds of Welfare Programs
 Majoritarian Politics/ProgramsMajoritarian Politics/Programs
• Examples – Social Security, MedicareExamples – Social Security, Medicare
• No means testNo means test
• Biggest issue – costBiggest issue – cost
 Client Politics/ProgramsClient Politics/Programs
• Examples – Medicaid, Food StampsExamples – Medicaid, Food Stamps
• Means testedMeans tested
• Biggest issue – legitimacyBiggest issue – legitimacy

Social Welfare in theSocial Welfare in the
United StatesUnited States
United States compared to otherUnited States compared to other
nations:nations:
 More restrictive view of who isMore restrictive view of who is
entitled to governmentalentitled to governmental
assistanceassistance
 Slower to embrace the welfareSlower to embrace the welfare
statestate
 States play a large roleStates play a large role
 NongovernmentalNongovernmental
organizations play a large roleorganizations play a large role
Handicapped parkingHandicapped parking
signs are a commonsigns are a common
reminder of thereminder of the
government’sgovernment’s
interest in socialinterest in social
welfare. p. 509welfare. p. 509
Alan Schlein Photography/Corbis

Figure 19.1 AFDC/TANF, FoodFigure 19.1 AFDC/TANF, Food
Stamps, and SSI RecipientsStamps, and SSI Recipients
1975-20061975-2006
Note: AFDC/TANF refers toNote: AFDC/TANF refers to
Aid to Families withAid to Families with
Dependent Children/Dependent Children/
Temporary Assistance forTemporary Assistance for
Needy Families; TANFNeedy Families; TANF
replaced AFDC after 1996.replaced AFDC after 1996.
SSI refers to SupplementalSSI refers to Supplemental
Security Income.Security Income.
Source: Adapted from U.S.Source: Adapted from U.S.
Department of Health andDepartment of Health and
Human Services,Human Services, Indicators ofIndicators of
Welfare Dependence: AnnualWelfare Dependence: Annual
Report to CongressReport to Congress, 2006., 2006.

Social Welfare in theSocial Welfare in the
United StatesUnited States
 Charitable ChoiceCharitable Choice
 Majoritarian Welfare Programs:Majoritarian Welfare Programs:
Social Security and MedicareSocial Security and Medicare
 Reforming Majoritarian WelfareReforming Majoritarian Welfare
ProgramsPrograms
 Client Welfare Programs: Aid toClient Welfare Programs: Aid to
Families with Dependent ChildrenFamilies with Dependent Children
 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

p. 511

In 1932, unemployedIn 1932, unemployed
workers line up at a soupworkers line up at a soup
kitchen during the Greatkitchen during the Great
Depression.Depression.
Source: Topham/The Image Works.Source: Topham/The Image Works.
In 1934, Huey Long, the popular governor ofIn 1934, Huey Long, the popular governor of
Louisiana, claimed that Roosevelt was notLouisiana, claimed that Roosevelt was not
doing enough to help the common man. Butdoing enough to help the common man. But
before he could become a serious threat tobefore he could become a serious threat to
Roosevelt in the 1936 election, Long wasRoosevelt in the 1936 election, Long was
assassinated in 1935.assassinated in 1935.
Source: Bettmann/CORBISSource: Bettmann/CORBIS

p. 514

President Lyndon JohnsonPresident Lyndon Johnson
(left) signs the Medicare Act in(left) signs the Medicare Act in
1965 in the company of Vice1965 in the company of Vice
President Hubert HumphreyPresident Hubert Humphrey
(standing) and former(standing) and former
president Harry S. Trumanpresident Harry S. Truman
(right).(right). Source: Lyndon BainesSource: Lyndon Baines
Johnson Library/National ArchivesJohnson Library/National Archives
Mitt Romney, then theMitt Romney, then the
Republican governor ofRepublican governor of
Massachusetts, signs a billMassachusetts, signs a bill
requiring every state residentrequiring every state resident
to have health insurance.to have health insurance.
Source: Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesSource: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Source: Knowledge Networks, survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,514 adults age twenty-oneSource: Knowledge Networks, survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,514 adults age twenty-one
and older, conducted January 19–29, 2007, as reported inand older, conducted January 19–29, 2007, as reported in Retirement Security Survey ReportRetirement Security Survey Report
(Washington, D.C.: American Association of Retired(Washington, D.C.: American Association of Retired Persons, February 2007); and Public AgendaPersons, February 2007); and Public Agenda
Foundation, “Social Security: Bills and Proposals,” 2007, atFoundation, “Social Security: Bills and Proposals,” 2007, at http://www.publicagendahttp://www.publicagenda. org/issues/major. org/issues/major
proposals, citing a January 2005 survey by the Pew Research Center of the Pew Charitable Trusts.proposals, citing a January 2005 survey by the Pew Research Center of the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Source: LaurenceSource: Laurence
Kotlilkoff and ChristianKotlilkoff and Christian
Hagist, National Bureau ofHagist, National Bureau of
Economic Research,Economic Research,
Working paper no. 11833,Working paper no. 11833,
2005, reporting OECD2005, reporting OECD
data and roundeddata and rounded
averages for the periodaverages for the period
1970–2002, as1970–2002, as
cited in National Centercited in National Center
for Policy Analysis,for Policy Analysis, HealthHealth
Care Spending TrendsCare Spending Trends,,
2004, table 1.2004, table 1.

When members ofWhen members of
Congress went home inCongress went home in
August 2009, theyAugust 2009, they
encountered a long lineencountered a long line
of voters angry over theof voters angry over the
health care debate.health care debate.
Source: Bradley C Bower/APSource: Bradley C Bower/AP
PhotoPhoto
A girl looks on as her motherA girl looks on as her mother
displays food stamps.displays food stamps.
Source: A. Ramey/PhotoEditSource: A. Ramey/PhotoEdit

Majoritarian versus ClientMajoritarian versus Client
PoliticsPolitics
 Majoritarian PoliticsMajoritarian Politics
 Client PoliticsClient Politics
 Service StrategyService Strategy – A policy providing– A policy providing
education and job training to help lift peopleeducation and job training to help lift people
out of povertyout of poverty
 Income Strategy -Income Strategy - A policy giving moneyA policy giving money
to help lift people out of povertyto help lift people out of poverty

M E M O R A N D U MM E M O R A N D U M
To:To: Ursula Marx, Senate Committee chairUrsula Marx, Senate Committee chair
From:From: Cindy Fried, senior staff memberCindy Fried, senior staff member
Subject:Subject: Universal Health Care LegislationUniversal Health Care Legislation
You and the committee have two fairly distinct sets ofYou and the committee have two fairly distinct sets of
options on this universal health care package.options on this universal health care package.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for:Arguments for:
1. With more than 47 million Americans, or one in seven,1. With more than 47 million Americans, or one in seven,
lacking health care coverage, the government needs tolacking health care coverage, the government needs to
enact far-reaching reform to ensure that everyone receivesenact far-reaching reform to ensure that everyone receives
quality medical care.quality medical care.
2. The soaring cost of health care (which is expected to reach2. The soaring cost of health care (which is expected to reach
approximately one-fifth of the federal budget in the nextapproximately one-fifth of the federal budget in the next
decade) can be contained only by a public system that hasdecade) can be contained only by a public system that has
the power to set prices and control costs.the power to set prices and control costs.
3. Universal health care is a logical expansion of the Medicare3. Universal health care is a logical expansion of the Medicare
and Medicaid programs created in 1965; nearly half aand Medicaid programs created in 1965; nearly half a
century later, health care should be a fundamental rightcentury later, health care should be a fundamental right
guaranteed for everyone who lives in the United States.guaranteed for everyone who lives in the United States.

Arguments against:Arguments against:
1. Though many people lack health insurance, most of them1. Though many people lack health insurance, most of them
get health care in hospital emergency rooms and fromget health care in hospital emergency rooms and from
doctors who donate their services.doctors who donate their services.
2. Medical services in the United States are the best in the2. Medical services in the United States are the best in the
world, and government controls on costs will serve only toworld, and government controls on costs will serve only to
reduce the quality of care available.reduce the quality of care available.
3. In an era of budget deficits and trillions of dollars in3. In an era of budget deficits and trillions of dollars in
national debt, the United States cannot afford to expandnational debt, the United States cannot afford to expand
social welfare programs.social welfare programs.

Your decision:Your decision:
Support?Support?
Oppose?Oppose?

Social Welfare

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