Domestic & Foreign Policies Summaries

Kevin Bautista

Pols 001
James Starkey
4/20/2016

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Domestic Policy
In the book called "The Struggle for Democracy" by Greenberg, chapter 17.6 "Social
Insurance" describes how Social Insurance helps the American society. Social Security was
created in 1935 during the great depression. Medicare was created years later in 1965 after
Lyndon Johnson's election in 1964. These two are part of the federal budget and are very
important to protect them because of their overall impact on American society.
Social Security, entirely built up on the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)
where employees and employers are taxed weekly or monthly. The chapter explains how retired
Americans rely on social security as their source of income. The problem the chapter explains is
Social security trust fund currently points in the red between 2033-2041. In an article titled
"Republicans target Social Security disability" the author David Rodgers describes:
"Harvard economist Martin Feldstein promoted the idea of Congress gradually raising the
eligibility age for full Social Security benefits to as high as 70. That would increase
labor-force participation among people older than 65, expanding the economy, Feldstein
said. But raising the retirement age would add to the strain on the disability fund, which
has had to cover more workers longer since the retirement age was raised from 65 to 67."1
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1 David Rogers, "Republicans Target Social Security Disability," Politico, January 20,2016,
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/republicans-target-social-security-114382.

It is worth noting, however, a time will come when fewer people will be working because
the population is aging then when that time comes the fund will be paying out faster than
the payroll tax fund is coming in. The author explains, Democrats believe the system is in
good health which only requires tinkering to solve the problems while Republicans
believe the system has serious flaws and want to change the whole system to solve the
problem. The author describes that evidence showed health care cost was the leading
cause of poverty. President Lyndon Johnson created the Medicare insurance program in
1965. It guaranteed health care for those who are in danger of becoming sick and who
can't afford it. Medicare Part A pays a portion of the bill for hospital stays and short term
skilled nursing after hospitalization while Medicare B pays for doctors, medical equip, X
rays, tests. Medicare over long term is a problem, at the end people use it, depend on it,
and support it.
Foreign Policy
In Chapter 18.3 titled "Problems of the Post-Cold War World" explains the possibility of
a global thermonuclear war including a land war in Europe against the Soviet Union, and
Third World countries taken over by communist. A Foreign Policy disappeared the threats
but new ones have arisen. In the chapter Terrorism is the new threat ever since the attack
on the World Trade Center Sep. 11, 2001. The chapter explains the possession on nuclear
weapons like France, Great Britain, and China. With the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty stops these countries from spreading those weapons including the US and Russia.
China has a huge population for ground troops but is also
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modernizing military. While China and US are both rival and partners, the Middle East
and the Persian Gulf is full of conflict in a box. With the Indian Subcontinent, the US
must be concerned with the conflict with India and Pakistan, each armed with nuclear
weapons. Russia has a declining power and trying to use military force to maintain its
position. Vladimir Putin continues to threaten the US, the united stations, and the
European Union. The Chapter explains that the US and Russia have enforce to reduce
their nuclear weapons to prevent a nuclear proliferation. In an article titled "Obama's
Cold War Moment" explains that Russia is still a threat for security:
The conservative view is that Russian belligerence must always be met with
strength, and that the country will simply pocket concessions like dropping the
system, which Russia doesn't like because it could diminish its "deterrent" -- that
is, its ability to nuke countries to the West.2
It also explains that our Military response cannot stop attacks towards the US against
large scale cyber attacks on the nations economics, military, energy sources, or
communications infrastructure and we must prepare for another nuclear threat over the
US.

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2 Ben Smith, "Obama's Cold War Moment," Politico, September 17, 2009,
http://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2009/09/obamas-cold-war-moment-021462

Notes
1. David Rogers, "Republicans Target Social Security Disability," Politico, January 20, 2016,
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/republicans-target-social-security-114382.
2. Ben Smith, "Obama's Cold War Moment," Politico, September 17, 2009,
http://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2009/09/obamas-cold-war-moment-021462.

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Bibliography
Rogers David. "Republicans Target Social Security Disability." Politico. January 20,2016.
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/republicans-target-social-security-114382.
Smith Ben. "Obama's Cold War Moment." Politico. September 17, 2009.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2009/09/obamas-cold-war-moment-021462.