American government

American Government: Economy and Health Question one: “ What should the United States government do, if anything, to improve the current economic situation? How would you measure success?”
A countries’ economy refers to the system by which commodities are produced and consumed in the nation. The progress of a nation is based on its ability to use the available resources to produce goods and services as well as create market for the goods in an efficient way. For proper use of resources, a country needs to apply proper economics which involve making smart choices to cope with scarcity. Though United States has had good economic performance, it has experienced a number of shake ups. Economic shakeups lead to poor economic performance of the economy and at the same time expose weaknesses in the economic policies stimulating adjustment efforts. United States is still recovering from the most recent economic recession which requires proper formulation and enactment of policies. The government targets a Gross Domestic Product increase of 2. 5 per cent in 2014. This paper therefore targets to discuss various reforms and strategies the government can undertake to improve the current economic situation.
The first strategic government intervention towards economic growth can be reform of the immigration sector. It is difficult for foreign entrepreneurs to stay in the country because the government has set very many conditions that restrict their entry. Bureaucracy in allowing entrepreneurs and skilled immigrants into the country is so complex to the extent that it is delaying economic recovery. Bureaucracy is costing the nation job opportunities hence reducing the country’s GDP and also harming the nation’s international leadership in entrepreneurship and innovation. The government should adjust its policies on granting green cards to promising entrepreneurs and skilled graduate students. Moreover, it needs to pass the Dream Act to allow law abiding people brought to the United States as children to become citizens.
The second government intervention can be cutting costs incurred in healthcare. In the recent years the government’s expenditure on health has risen with a very big margin. The country cannot afford to ignore this trend anymore. If this system persists, a large proportion of the countries income will be deviated to medical care which may not sustainable and will creates a burden on the future generations. The government should initiate a vigorous campaign for healthy lifestyle; develop new ways to manufacture drugs at a lower cost and a technology that can reduce expense on doctors and other medical personnel. This can be achieved through technological advancement and financing research in medical related issues.
The third intervention in the economy can be reduction of federal debt. Expenditure above federal budget has led to budget deficit that strain the economy. There is need to avoid deficit funding in the budget so as to strengthen the financial base of the economy. Canada, for example, had nearly a double digit budget deficit in the 1990s. It reduced the deficit to zero within a period of three years without raising taxes. In the United States, for instance, the security welfare program should be strategized to avoid future deficits. It is estimated that, by 2018, its retirement program will spend more funds annually in benefits than the total of funds it receives in taxes. When more funds are spend on benefits than those received from taxes, deficits are created. The deficits will in a few years’ time exceed $100 billion annually
Finally, the government should ensure that all its citizens have the tools necessary for maximum production. Education is an important tool in enhancing production. It is a pre-requisite for technological developments. More investment should be done in the education sector. There is evidence that a nation that increase the level of education of their workforce experience greater productivity and economic success.
Economic success can be measured by evaluating incomes. This can be done through measurement of GDP, GNP and per capita income. The government should also carry out a continuous assessment of the standards of living of its citizens. When the incomes of the average people are increasing, and the standards of living improve then the economy is growing. The productivity of the country’s population and the relevance of the technology being used should also be monitored closely.
Question 2: “ Is health care a human right? What should the US government do about health care in the US today?”
According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, healthcare is a basic human right. People should not live in a system whereby the rich can afford to live but the poor cannot. Despite healthcare being a fundamental right in most parts of the world, it is a privilege within the United States. Currently, the only group granted rights to healthcare are the prisoners.
The United States health system faces challenges. These challenges show the need to reform the health sector. First and foremost, the main objective of healthcare should be to promote the quality of healthcare. The government should strive to ensure that every person has access to adequate healthcare. It should ensure that activities carried out in healthcare contribute to overall value. For, example, a company that manages very profitable hospitals should also be able to offer high quality care at low cost.
Secondly, the government should promote process improvement. Process improvement in healthcare delivery is one of the most promising opportunities for improving the quality and cost of healthcare. For instance, many hospitals have had the same processes for the last thirty years. The government should examine their processes to figure out less expensive ways of improving them.
The government should also promote the decentralization of healthcare services. Care delivery should be more decentralized and spread into new models. An example of a new model is the MinuteClinic that operates 640 clinics inside CVS pharmacies. Patients can have their health monitored from home.
In conclusion, it’s clear that improvement of health care is one of the main strategic directions that the government can embrace in order to improve the economy. Improvement of this sector will release more funds for use for development purposes. Improvements can be achieved through altering the quality of health provided, process improvement, and decentralization. Reforming the health sector shall help save billions of money that are spend in the sector.