Chap19

11
Chapter 19Chapter 19
Social WelfareSocial Welfare

22Copyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 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?

RICHARD B. LEVINE/Newscom

55
Two Kinds of Social WelfareTwo Kinds of Social Welfare
ProgramsPrograms
 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
Copyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 Cengage

77
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 roleCopyright © 2013 CengageCopyright © 2013 Cengage

The attorneys general of several states have filed suit challenging the
constitutionality of President Obama’s health care law. Here
supporters of the law denounce the Washington state attorney general
for joining the suit.
AP Images

99
Social Welfare in the U. S.Social Welfare in the U. S.
 Who Benefits?Who Benefits?
• Separating the “deserving” from theSeparating the “deserving” from the
“undeserving” poor“undeserving” poor
• Redistribution to produce fair sharesRedistribution to produce fair shares
• Giving services not moneyGiving services not money

1010
 Slow to Embrace the Welfare StateSlow to Embrace the Welfare State
• Social Welfare Examples:Social Welfare Examples:
 U.S. Social Security in 1935U.S. Social Security in 1935
 22 European countries, Australia and Japan22 European countries, Australia and Japan
acted earlier than 1935acted earlier than 1935
 England contrasted with the U.S.England contrasted with the U.S.

1111
 Federalism’s RoleFederalism’s Role
• U. S. Supreme Court’s reinterpretationU. S. Supreme Court’s reinterpretation
in the 1930’sin the 1930’s
• Individual states’ experiments withIndividual states’ experiments with
welfare programswelfare programs

1212
Social Welfare in the U.S.Social Welfare in the U.S.
 State Programs’ Double-Edged EffectState Programs’ Double-Edged Effect
• Opponents of a federal social welfareOpponents of a federal social welfare
system would say: “The states aresystem would say: “The states are
already providing assistance.”already providing assistance.”
• Supporters would say: “The states needSupporters would say: “The states need
national legislation to help them out.”national legislation to help them out.”

1313
Social Welfare in the U.S.Social Welfare in the U.S.
 Nongovernmental Organizations’Nongovernmental Organizations’
RoleRole
• Grants and ContractsGrants and Contracts
 Profit and NonprofitsProfit and Nonprofits
 Examples: Big Brothers, Big Sisters ofExamples: Big Brothers, Big Sisters of
AmericaAmerica
• Charitable ChoiceCharitable Choice

1515
Majoritarian Welfare ProgramsMajoritarian Welfare Programs
 Social SecuritySocial Security
• The Great Depression’s EffectThe Great Depression’s Effect
• Two PartsTwo Parts
 InsuranceInsurance
 AssistanceAssistance

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.
Topham/The Image WorksTopham/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

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Majoritarian Welfare ProgramsMajoritarian Welfare Programs
 MedicareMedicare
• ControversyControversy
 Not included in the original Social SecurityNot included in the original Social Security
billbill
 Actions of the House Ways and MeansActions of the House Ways and Means
CommitteeCommittee
 The 1964 Presidential ElectionThe 1964 Presidential Election
 Becomes law with Medicaid attachedBecomes law with Medicaid attached

President Lyndon Johnson signs the Medicare Act in 1965.President Lyndon Johnson signs the Medicare Act in 1965.
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library/MCT/Newscom

President Barack Obama signs the Affordable Health
Care for America Act in 2010.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Source: Laurence Kotlilkoff and Christian Hagist, National Bureau of Economic
Research, Working paper no. 11833, 2005, reporting OECD data and rounded
averages for the period 1970–2002, as
cited in National Center for Policy Analysis, Health Care Spending Trends, 2004,
table 1.

When members of Congress went home in August
2009, they encountered a long line of voters angry
over the health care debate.
AP Images

Source: Adapted from ABC News/Washington Post Poll, March 10–13, 2011; Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard
School of Public Health Poll, January 4–14, 2011; and School of Public Policy, University of Maryland and Center
on Policy Attitudes, “How Americans Would Deal with the Budget Deficit,” February 3, 2011, p. 49.

An Electronic Benefits Transfer card is like a
debit card that allows a person to use food
stamps and spend TANF money.
MILLER EMILY/SIPA/Newscom

2525
Client Welfare ProgramsClient Welfare Programs
 Aid to Families with DependentAid to Families with Dependent
ChildrenChildren
• Existing State ProgramsExisting State Programs
• Federal Government Regulations GoverningFederal Government Regulations Governing
the Programsthe Programs
• Public Opinion ChangesPublic Opinion Changes
• Temporary Assistance for Needy FamiliesTemporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF)(TANF)

2626
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

2828
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?

2929
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.

3030
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.

3131
Your decision:Your decision:
Support?Support?
Oppose?Oppose?

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