Hank Chau

Gareth Manning
AP US Government
April 6, 2016
Chapter 16
1. Welfare and Education Policy:
a. Poverty in America:
b. The poor:
i. The government defines the poverty line as the annual cost of a thrifty
food budget for an urban family of four, multiplied by three to include
the cost of housing, clothes, and other necessities
ii. Uneducated population rarely votes
iii. Most Americans greatly underestimate the level of poverty in the US
2. Social welfare refers to government programs that help individuals meet basic needs,
etc.
a. The politics and policies of social welfare:
i. Negative government: Governments govern best by staying out of
civilian matters, so individual interests can be pursued
ii. Positive government: Governments govern best by actively involving
itself in many areas concerning the country and its citizens
b. Social insurance policies:
i. The cost of the two major programs, social security and Medicare,
exceeds one trillion dollars a year
ii. Such programs are labeled social insurance because eligibility is
restricted to individuals who paid special payroll taxes during their
working years
3. Social security:
a. Society Security Act of 1935
b. Funded through taxes and payrolls
c. Fewer workers relative to retirees, which is becoming an increasingly
important problem
4. Unemployment insurance:
a. The government delivers money if you are unemployed
b. Potentially leads to a lack of incentive to work
5. Medicare:
a. President Harry Truman
b. Medicare is based on insurance principle, and has gained much public support
to social security
c. Does not cover all hospitals, nursing home, and physician fees
6. Public Assistance programs:
a. Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI provides governmental support to
the blind and the poor
b. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF):
i. Supports the poor and reduce long-term dependency on governmental
support
ii. Created the vicious cycle of poverty
c. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Provides decreases taxes or money to
families who are unemployed

d. Affordable Care Act of 2008 (ACA):

i. Also called Obamacare.
ii. The government will provide healthcare to those families who are not
able to afford a healthcare plan under the current insurance industry.
iii. Controversy: People have no choice of whether to be insured or which
insurance to choose anymore, they are subjected to pay into the
governments program.
iv. Creates a even higher debt level for the United States.
7. Education as Equality of Opportunity:
a. Public Education: Leveling through schools: Wealthy interests feared that an
educated public would challenge their power
b. Improving Americas schools: No Child Left Behind policy
c. Equality of opportunity: The idea that people should have a reasonable chance
to succeed, through equal opportunity to education
d. Highly unrealistic, given the circumstances of poor families
e. Long-term solution is required, and U.S government involvement is yet to be
decided.