Sample Research Paper On Social Policy And Social Justice

Social policy refers to various policy that are within the political and governmental setting. It also refers to the principles, activities, guidelines, and legislations which affect the conditions of living favorable to human welfare. Social policy is often adopted for solving societal problems to create equity and justice among the citizens (Dean, 2006, p. 263). Social policy also acts as measure of control to some of the social challenges for instance abortion and drug abuse control. Social policy seeks to promote and improve the social human welfare and to attain human needs for health, housing, education as well as economic security. Through addressing this aspect, social policy promotes social justice (Zadja, 2006, p. 35). This paper analyzes the social welfare policy. It focuses on the social security act. It critically analyzes it objective, effects, implications and any alternative that can be offered. It also looks at the problem that it sought to solve.

Social Problem Addressed

Social security act aimed at addressing the dependency ration in United States caused by the elderly, the disabled, and the dependent children. The elderly after they had retired from working them mostly dependent on the younger generation. The same was with the dependent children and the disabled they would depend on their family members and other well-wishers for survival. Among the theories that were applied when seeking for the solution to the problem is the Corporate-Liberal theory (McKenna, 2002, p. 531).

Objectives of the Policy

The objectives of Social Security Act included; Provision of relief for the elderly. The states would be granted money in which they used the prevailing programs to allocate the funds to the registered elderly. Secondly it aimed at providing old-age insurance. It also purposed to provide compensation to the unemployed. It sought to provide aid to the dependent children. Other objectives include; supporting the maternal health programs, as well as providing aid to the disabled and the blind. The policy’s objectives were open. Hence, it had no hidden objectives. The overt objectives showed the underlying value of sharing (McKenna, 2002, p. 568). The main principle that guided this policy was other citizens giving up part of their earning to fund and support other citizens. The lawmaker of the policy expected to reduce the dependency ratio by providing support for the elderly above the age of 65. Through this, the economic growth would be propelled.

Effects of the Policy

One of the greatest effects of social security policy was a provision of income to people when they had become too old to work. This people could no longer be a burden to the younger generations of their families, as well as the old, could retire with a given degree of dignity. By the year 1998, the medium payment was approximately $1000.00 per month which was not enough for anyone to live comfortably though enough to curb starvation. It further provided income to the citizens who would have suffered financially as a result of disability. The negative impacts of the policy include; cutting the income of the taxpayers to support the policy. The policy was also not equitable as other classes such as domestic and farm workers were excluded. Nevertheless, the expected result was achieved to a certain degree a show of progress and if more efforts would be added then the expected results would have been fully achieved. The dependency ratio in United States of America was greatly reduced with the adoption of the policy (McKenna, 2002, p. 591).

Implication of the Policy

Implications of the in regard to the movement of the material resources was; it saw the reduction in the income of the citizens of America. Also, it provided income for the elderly and the young unemployed people. The employees had to forego part of their income to enhance the support of the program. Also in terms of the services, the policy brought about the change since the elderly could now get medical health care through the provided insurance which was one of the provisions of the policy. Also, the dependent children were provided with education enshrined in the policy. The disabled can get income as well as medical health care (McKenna, 2002, p. 597).

Alternative Policies

Alternatives to the policies that are available include limiting the public programs so as to ensure that the public funds are used to assist those who are needy. The definition of need may be restrictive or generous depending on the state and could vary over time. People who are below the acceptable minimum income could also be adopted. Another program is the Universal Pension. This is where universal flat benefit collected from the public funds is paid to all individuals over a given age or to all persons over that age and have retired (Dean, 2006, p 365).
Conclusion

References

Dean, H. (2006). Social Policy. Cambridge
McKenna, M. (2002). Franklin Roosevelt and the great constitutional war: the court-packing
Crisis of 1937. New York: Fordham University Press
Zajda, J., Majhanovich, S. & Rust, V. (2006). Education and social justice. Dordrecht: Springer.