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Chapter 16

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Poverty in America:The Nature of the Problem

The poor: who and how many?The poverty line: annual cost of a thrifty food budget for an

urban family of four, multiplied by three$24,000 in 2014

Children; single-parent families headed by femalesMinority-group membersRural and inner-city dwellersMajor differences by state

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Poverty in America:The Nature of the Problem

Living in poverty: by choice or by chance?Charles Murray and Losing GroundMany Americans believe poverty is a choiceMost poor are in poverty as result of circumstance

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Politics and Policies of Social Welfare

Social insurance programsWidely supported by public

Heavily fundedBenefits to individuals of all income levelsSeen as an earned entitlement

Social securityUnemployment insuranceMedicare

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Politics and Policies of Social Welfare

Public assistance programsLess public support

Receive less fundingRestricted to people of low incomeSeen as a hand-out

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)Head StartEarned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

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Politics and Policies of Social Welfare

Public assistance programsIn-kind benefits: food stamps and housing vouchersMedicaidThe SCHIP programThe 2010 Health Care Reform Act

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Politics and Policies of Social Welfare

Culture and social welfareU.S. has the most inefficient welfare system in the Western

worldScores of separate programs that may overlapLarge bureaucracy needed to monitor eligibility

InequitySocial security and Medicare: many high-income earners

receive benefits

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Education as Equality of OpportunityAmerica’s heavy investment in public educationGoal is equality of opportunityFederal grants-in-aid

1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act is the cornerstone of the federal government’s public-school efforts

The 1965 Higher Education Act Pell GrantsFederal loans

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Education as Equality of OpportunityImproving America’s schools

American students not high performers relative to other advanced countries, though America spends very highly on education

Inequality of wealth in communities

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Education as Equality of OpportunityMandatory high-stakes testing

No Child Left BehindControversial increase in weight on testing

Race to the TopCompetition that rewards performance and innovation

Partisan conflict over education policyFederal spendingSchool choice

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The American Way of Promoting the General Welfare

Democracy and economic securityThe American way of welfareDifferences between the European and American

approach

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