Week 14: Immigration

A couple weeks ago the streets surrounding Georgia State campus rang with the sounds of  militant protest. The march stopped abruptly on Courtland Street where the police turned car around and blocked the street. According to GSU's Signal 7 students were arrested - even worst that they were illegally residing in the United States. The protest, "Undocumented & Unafraid," challenged the House Bill 87 which sought for a restrictive, Arizona-like immigration reform.


Who do you think is poor(US & Globally) ? *Why are people poor(US & Globally)?
What is being done about poverty?      * What should be done?

Immigrants and refuges leave their county some by will and some by force, but all with the common goal for a better life. Unfortunately better lives do not reach all.  Many, if not most-all, immigrants and refuges in the US  and abroad suffer from poverty. Especially due to racism and prejudice that is subjected them by the indigenous population. Undocumented workers are forced to accept low "under-the table" wages. As we discussed earlier in the semester, low wages branch into every aspect of life from food to health benefits, transportation and more. 

Here in Georgia the consequences for being a undocumented alien are more severe according to HB 87 that passed the Senate a few days ago. Legislation for immigration is at the hands of the federal government which is why states like Arizona and Georgia will/ might find their bills overturned as unconstitutional. Conversely, President Obama has a more inclusive concept on how to combat immigration including addresses Mexico to mitigate the problems that cause Mexicans to flee to the US.  President Obama also signed the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization(CHIP) Act, which now has a provision that will include legal immigrant children. 

An all-inclusive overalhaul of immigration is needed. One that considers the needs of all included. For years America has been able to accommodate immigration, however prejudice and unjust the policies have been.   So far no policy has been able to resolve the problem of accepting immigration in a better way than our ancestors. Americans have created this stigma about illegal immigrants: that they are taking  jobs from citizens, that they drive down wages, and take welfare benefit. These myths are constantly circulated, and there must be truth to combat these lies. 

Week 12: Housing & Community Development

Who do you think is poor(US & Globally) ? *Why are people poor(US & Globally)?
What is being done about poverty?      * What should be done?

Housing should only consume 1/3 of a person's income.But people can spend up to 90% of their income on housing. Sadly people can literally go broke paying their rent or mortgage.  The government attempted to resolve this housing problem by creating public housing. the legislation passed provided grants for cities that could create affordable housing. Atlanta was actually the first city to create affordable housing projects. Conversely, Atlanta was the first city to completely raze all its housing projects. With funding from the Hope VI grant, many cities were able to revolutionized affordable housing. The grant allowed cities to destroy their current project housing and construct mixed-income housing. For instance Atlanta built Capitol Gateway, Auburn Glen, and Centennial Place, mixed income houses that offer section 8 recipients the opportunity to live among a diverse culture of residents. 

The former structure for families to be eligible for assistance was that they must have an income less that 60% of Atlanta’s MSA median income. When a family that is eligible for assistance accrues an income of 140% above the allowable income for eligibility they will be required to either move or pay market value.  I believe that structure can lead to a disincentive for families to maximize their income, and the restrictions of unemployment and conduct codes may not adequately minimize any disincentives to progress financially. The initial design of these mixed income houses was to create an environment where families are distanced from concentrated poverty and surrounded by varied socio-economic statuses, this would allow for estimated financial, social, and economic progression.



Some apartments accept rent on a sliding scale, that allows residents to pay rent based on their income. I feel that allowing people to pay rent propotionate to their earnings, allows them the independence to pay their rent with their own earnings but have the ability to live within their means.



 

Week 11: Social Security

Social Security began under Roosevelt's New Deal, and was like an assurance to
Basically it was a scam to make people feel safer. The average life expectancy for men was 58 years old and 62 for women. Social Security was only  intended to support a small number of citizens, but as we saw a rise in technological and medical advances people began to live longer and healthier lives. The disparity between the the  number of workers to the number of beneficiaries grew. This ,thereby, made Social Security further and further unsustainable.

Table 1: Life Expectancy for Social Security
Year Cohort Turned 65	Percentage of Population Surviving from Age 21 to Age 65		Average Remaining Life Expectancy for Those Surviving to Age 65
	Male	Female	Male	Female
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990	53.9 56.2 60.1 63.7 67.8 72.3	60.6 65.5 71.3 76.9 80.9 83.6	12.7 13.1 13.2 13.8 14.6 15.3	14.7 16.2 17.4 18.6 19.1 19.6

Table 2: Americans Age 65  or Older 1880-1990
Year	Number of Americans Age 65 or Older
1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000	1.7 million 2.4 million 3.0 million 3.9 million 4.9 million 6.7 million 9.0 million 12.7 million 17.2 million 20.9 million 26.1 million 31.9 million 34.9 million

Who do you think is poor(US & Globally)? & Why are people poor(US & Globally)?
 
 Senior citizens and people who live on fixed incomes are in a precarious predicament that leaves them dependent on the stipends a checks they expect to receive. Senior citizens receiving Social Security checks, etc. have to create a budget that allows them to live comfortably without sacrificing food or their health. The problem is that often the checks and other subsidies are not sufficient to live. Unexpected situation arise hospital bills or housing problems or anything that can disrupt the budget.

What is being done about poverty?
Recently President Obama announced the Recovery Act which was a one time distribution of $250 for retirees and people with disabilities. Programs such as Social Security are in effect to subsidize and facilitate seniors and disabled citizens who are unable to work and maintain a living. Pension are also available to some workers who have contributed to receive monies after they retire. Pensions are wrought with problems including, and mainly because, companies will leave the accounts unfunded, accountants responsible for maintaining the accounts steal or mismanage funds, and other disastrous situations. 
What should be done?
Social Security benefits are extremely mismanaged. There have been consistent cost of living adjustments (COLAs) for beneficiaries when there has not been an increase to contributions. Take away the income cap that allows a person earning $97,500 to contribute the same amount as a person making $500,000 a year. People with enormous earnings a year most likely have a 401k as well as other forms of investment that can rely on to survive are retirement. As stated in this weeks lesson,  COLAs were reduced by .5% or 1% a year then over half of the problems with social security could be resolved.

 

Session 10: HealthCare

America has one of the worst healthcare systems among developed countries, yet there is little done to counteract the issue. 28.6% of young adults (aged 18- 24 years ) and 26.5% (aged 24-35). With there being a healthcare options for the children and elderly, there is little coverage for the other ages. Healthcare insurance is not cheap, we realized that during the research for the budget analysis program. Countries like Canada, France, and especially Sweden have amazing health benefits. Comprehensive plans that ensure the well-being of the entire population. Although plans like those in countries require higher taxes and greater contributions from the population. 
Who do you think is poor(US & Globally)?


Why are people poor(US & Globally)?


What is being done about poverty?


What should be done?