Social Security
Instructions: Compose a brief essay of at least 400 words but no more than 600 words (not including your references list) on the following topic, referring to and critiquing relevant ideas from at least three of the Week 10 readings as you develop your thoughts:
It’s vital to remember that concerns about the size of government cannot be separated from economic beliefs since all actions by the government must be paid for—primarily—through taxation. According to the website of the Social Security Administration, “[presently,] the Social Security program is the largest single item in the annual federal government budget. As a percentage of total federal expenditures, in 2002 Social Security benefits were approximately 22.6% of federal expenditures. As a percentage of federal outlays, Social Security benefits have ranged from a low of 0.22% (during World War II) to a high of 23.2% in 2001” (http://www.ssa.gov/history/percent.html).
Assume for the purpose of this assignment that we do not currently have a Social Security Act, but that the creation of such legislation is being seriously considered by the federal government for the first time and that the government has accurately predicted that cost of such a program. Create an argument for or against the passage of such a law based on your conception of the ideas on the optimum size of government and on government interventions in the economy (Social Security is an intervention in the economy).
In addition to employing ideas from the assigned readings, you may bring in ideas gathered from research (as long as you cite and reference them), but these should not dominate in your essay.
Write in Arial font, size 14 (chosen from the drop-down menus on the create thread box in the Discussion Board forum), unless otherwise directed by your instructor.
Reference specific ideas from at least three of the assigned readings that illustrate these values. Always name the author whose ideas you are discussing (use the author’s full name the first time you refer to him/her; after that, identify authors by their last names).
Provide in-text citations for all ideas, opinions, and facts derived from the course readings, whether you simply refer to them, paraphrase them (put them entirely into your own words), or quote them. Place the in-text citation at the end of your sentence but before the period that ends your sentence. The in-text citation should give the author’s last name (unless you’ve used it already in your sentence), the year of publication (if known), and the appropriate page number(s) from the reading (if page numbers are used in the online text of the essay). Do not use the title of the reading unless it does not have an author).
Provide a References list at the end of your essay that includes bibliographic references for every reading cited in your essay. note: Your references list does not count toward your minimum word count.
Follow APA formatting guidelines for your list. The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) offers excellent detailed explanations of APA Format requirements. This is the URL for the Purdue OWL:
Solution.
Social Security
Introduction
Social security is an effective program that any government must implement as it provides a foundation of income on which workers can use it to build a plan for their retirement. Also, it offers a valuable social insurance shield and provides protection to workers who become disabled and families that lose their breadwinners (Witte). I argue that the Social Security Act must be passed be tabled and approved by the President due to the reasons mentioned above. Also, Social Security Act is a government intervention that largely contributes to the economy of the nation.
Body
First, the Social Security Act is formulated to create an inter-generational transfer of wealth and to safeguard the next generation from economic turmoil. Researchers suggest that the government must consider passing this act in that the desire for wealth majorly arises from the desire for security. Therefore, men save and invest money in that hope of having something to rely on when they become unwell and old (Russell 82). They also focus on cutting off any indicator that exposes their children to sink in the social scale. Economic security as a measure implemented by a government will increase happiness the of the refined communities than any other change that one can think of. Therefore, individuals will have to work to the extent that they secure the generation from economic turmoil. As a believer in a social government, go for Social Security Act as it safeguards the society from future economic turmoil.
Secondly, the problem that is prevalent in the current society suggests a proper administration of wealth, so that the rich and the poor can have a harmonious association (Carnegie 654). Also, the Social Security Act is a form of promoting a socially stable society (Kawachi and Berkman 180). In the definition of progressivism, the American society must promote the era of progressivism. Political and economic reforms such as the Social Security Act are the key elements in promoting progressivism (Halpin and Williams). Economic reforms are major structured to counterpoise the excessive power of business and to eradicate inequality such as inheritance taxes and graduated income, disability and old age provisions, and drug and food safety regulations. Social Security Act, as mentioned earlier focusses on provisions of benefits to the elderly and disable in the community by pooling funds to help the needy in the society. Therefore, for government must consider passing Social Security Act to provide support to the disabled and old aged Americans. Also, the Social Security Act is a form of safeguarding a family after death a breadwinner (Meyer 450). From a philosophical perspective, progressivism promotes good governance and helps the citizen feel contents through the government interventions such as Social Security Act.
Conclusion
Conclusively, implementation of the Social Security Act is a form of creating a modern state that launches a massive bureaucracy and empowered with a broad governing authority (Pestritto). Therefore, with the basics of the Social Security Act, it is advisable for governments to implement it to maintain economic and social stability. It is indeed a fact that the Social Security Act is a form of progressivism and also a government economic intervention. Therefore, the American government must not hesitate in passing this Act. Implementing the act also draws more interests for citizens to vote for the same government during the next general elections, as a president, I would consider passing the law after a critical cost-benefits analysis.
Works Cited
Carnegie, A. “Wealth.” The North American Review 148.391 (1889): 653-664.
Halpin, John and Connor P. Williams. Progressivism in America: Past, Present, and Future. Ed. D Woolner and J. Thompson. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.
Meyer, M. H. “Making Claims as Workers or Wives: The Distribution of Social Security Benefits.” American Sociological RevieAw (1996): 449-465.
Pestritto, R. J. The Birth of The Administrative State: Where it came from and what it means for limited government. Heritage Foundation, 2007.
Russell, B. “The Case for Socialism.” Russell, B. In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays. New York: Psychology Press., 2004. 81-106.
Witte, E. E. The Development of the Social Security Act. University of Wisconsin Press, 1963.
