Social Security - Essay Example

? Social Security Comparative Analysis Paper: Mid Term I. Introduction: a) Summarize policy reform debate briefly. Social security can be described as an insurance program that accommodates the old, survivors and persons with disabilities. It is funded by a dedicated payroll tax from the citizens. Debates articulate this subject due to challenges with funding the program. In 2011, the pension plan over grew the stipulated budget by $1.6 trillion and a possible way out was to increase long term savings. Secondly, the current money transfer system is not rational where the elderly earn more money and they have pension income plans while the younger counter parts don’t earn enough and they lack pension plans. Thirdly, whether to shift the demographics variable is subject to debate as today’s active workers pay for today’s retiring employees. Fourth area is the current strategy in place used when deploying retirement payment plans such as 401(k) and thrift plans. Fifth, transition costs (amounts already owed to current retirees), that is the cash needs that will inevitably come from ending part of the program. Lastly, the risks related to government promises are quite underestimated. That is, after retirement spending desires are not always well planned out as compared to other pension plans such as the Social Security plan (“The Social Security Debate”). 2. Statement of your position. The Great Social Security Debate can be variable solved in easy steps. One is to change the living costs and second is to rise the current retirement age to a number higher than what was stated in the previous curriculum. 3. My approach to this paper. The approach of this paper is to come describe the analysis related to the various types of social contracts in the US and how the citizens are related to it. It also seeks to showcase Liberalism, analysis of pluralism and elitism and how these variables can be of solutions to the state and how they can be of help to the citizens. II. Comparative and Analysis: a) Social Contract (representative governance) This describes a model that typically shows cases and questions the origin of the society and the capability of the authority in place of a State over an individual (“The Social Contract”). “Man was born free and he is everywhere in chains”. Jean Jacques Rousseau, was the greatest theorists in the areas of social contract and natural rights. According to the belief of Rousseau, freedom was the best method to be used so as to self maintain an individual. He tried to understand the freedom a person has and why they would subject themselves to the rule of a government rather than their own (“The Social Contract”). When related to social security, Social contract can form a basis where individuals of a state have a legal right to have access to their pension plans and are subjected to have an equal share of their stipulated benefits. The State despite being the governing body should have the capability to give those dependent on the plan their due right. As related to what Jean Jacques Rousseau states, “Man was born free and he is everywhere in chains” ( “The Social Contract”). b) Classical Liberalism (natural rights) This can be described as a political belief where the aim is securing the freedom of the individual by limiting the power of the state.  Classic Liberalism in an economic factor can be related to respecting private property and free markets. Classical Liberalism should not be confused with democracy or American liberalism since an individual can be a liberal and not a democrat and socialism is slightly related to socialism (“Glossary of historical terms: Classical Liberalism”, 2003) Jefferson's Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness” (“US history: The declaration of Independence”, 1995). Social security can be described in the aspects of Classical Liberalism where, Liberalism is the belief in Liberty. People did back then and they still do now believe that rights come from the government. Even with pension plans and other retirement plans in the social security bracket, it still is imprinted in people that that right to get entitled to the Social security benefits still comes from the State. With regard to the social security of the individuals of a state, people should have the liberty to push forward what deems right to them, they can also be able to advocate for transition schemes and systems that work best for the individuals of the state. This is what is referred to as Classic Liberalism. British philosopher John Locke, Jefferson argued that people have rights as part of their nature. He added that people can form governments and dissolve them. He insisted that the reason why governments do exist is because the government functions as a key to protect the rights o its people. People who call themselves classical liberals today tend to have the basic view of rights and role of government that Jefferson and his contemporaries had (“What is classical liberalism”, 2005). c) Faction (Pluralism) Pluralism is often considered as a theoretical model of how power is distributed in the societies in the US such as unions, trading and professional coalitions, civil rights activists, businesses and so on. It can also be described as a variable that acknowledges the diversity of interests and considers it imperative that members of society accommodate their differences by engaging in good-faith negotiation. With regard to Social security and pluralism, pluralistic interest groups that belong to a State are open to lobby into the political arena and fight against the majority for the convenience of standards that can help the minority groups of the State. d) Ambition (Elitism) Elitism is the belief or attitude that some individuals from a particular group are elite or are of higher intellect, skills and experience than others. In addition to that, elitism can be described as a situation where power is concentrated to a few people. With regard to social security, if there exists a number of individuals from the State that are elite, then they are in a better position to advocate for Liberal procedures on their rights as to what they should claim from the State. e) Federalist Position Refers to a position that was favored, it had an issue of the thirteen states where the favored position had the states limiting power. The Bill of Rights was not necessary and again the position’s Congress’ power was limited to allowing cooperation from states. The federalist position has issues with the size of the nation where a large republic was proven to be the best protection for personalized freedom. Lastly its supporters were large farmers, merchants and artisans. With regard to social security, the federal position is adding away at this point in time this is because it was widely accepted by the larger group of farmers and artisans. At this point in time the program has stated struggling with debts accruals and it looks like the plan is being taken for granted thus it has caused limitations to those who were classified in the federal position and favor should be given to them by the States (“The American Journey: A History of the United State”). f) Anti-Federalist Position Anti-Federalist Position was opposed to a Constitution based on a central government. Secondly, it strong supported the power and influence of the thirteen states where the favored position had the states limiting power. Thirdly, The Bill of Rights was important and articles of Confederation needed to be amended as compared to being abandoned in the Federalist position. In addition to that, only a small section of the republic could protect rights and lastly it had supporter from small farmers mostly in the rural areas. The Anti-Federalist Position can be linked to social security in terms of decentralization of the government. Social security plans are highly linked to a dedicated payroll tax from the citizens, that same payroll tax is a core area that is owned by the government. If in that case the government had another body that handled that aspect, then the Anti- Federalist would be right in their just pursue to oppose a centralized government handling the social security matters (“The American Journey: A History of the United State”). g) Constitutional Perspective Refers to a decision upon which individuals in a community must go through when writing down its constitution and whether to structure itself as a federation or not. With regard to social security, the current constitution in place is prone to be amended with regard to accommodating new and upcoming social security challenges that are facing the peoples of the state. h) Bill of Rights Perspective This perspective discusses the historical evidence for application of the Bill of Rights (BOR) to the states in the areas of the immunities clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. With regard to social security, the current constitution in place is prone to be amended with regard to accommodating new and upcoming social security challenges that are facing the peoples of the state. III. Solutions: the principle of compromise and consensus. a) Federalism perspective. Federalism is a political solution when it seeks to accomplish the integration of independent states, linking of local units of self rule to a centralized authority, reviewing of government powers, creating a balance of tiers in the government, ensuring that there is political efficiency and for protecting the independence of a group of states that cannot defend themselves strongly and lastly for ensuring there is democracy and rights of both individuals and groups. It can also be viewed as a sociological solution when its intent is to solve problems that `federal societies' have (Livingston 1952; 1956). Social security has been affected by federalism because this is a plan that should be an independent body on its own prone to be amended under the constitution. Currently the constitution does not seem to solve the current issues with regard to social security (“Obamacare and Federalism's Tug of War Within”, 2012). b) States perspective. State perspective as a solution is what the independent state seeks to find comfort in as a solution to their internal problems. c) Cooperative Federalism perspective. Cooperative federalism was determined in the 30s to 70s regime. This is a concept solution where a national state and local governments engage cooperatively so as to solve common problems rather than making policies independently but equally. The social security problem can best be solved by using this methodology of cooperative federalism. d) My Proposal and perspective. My proposal is that different solutions can be implemented so as to know the best way forward, with regard to the particular perspective that has been prescribed. The perspective of choice would be the cooperative federalism model where a national state and local governments engage cooperatively so as to solve common problems rather than making policies independently but equally. Social security is a matter that will take a combination of different perspectives to make a comeback in the plans that are workable for the State and its people. References: BBC. The social contract. (2008, January, 31). Web. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008w3xm Koeller, David.(2003). Glossary of historical terms: Classical Liberalism. Web. Retrieved from: http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/glossary/ClassicalLiberalism.html Goodman, J. (2005). NCPA. What is classical Liberalism. Web. Retrieved from: http://www.ncpa.org/pub/what-is-classical-liberalism US HISTORY. The declaration of Independence. (1995). Web. Retrieved from: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/ Cowan, R. (2011). Reuters: Social Security reform debate stirs in Congress. Web. Retrieved from: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/01/us-usa-budget-retirement-idUSTRE7207HI20110301 Wessel, D. Arguments Outline: The Social Security Debate. Web. Retrieved from: http://politics.ryanrenn.com/social_security.htm Ryan, Erin. (2012). Obamacare and Federalism's Tug of War Within. Web. Retrieved from: https://www.law.upenn.edu/blogs/regblog/2012/06/21-ryan-federalism.html Krauthammer, C. (2011). The National review: The Great Social Security Debate. Web. Retrieved from: http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/277376/great-social-security-debate-charles-krauthammer Goldfield, D., DeJohn Anderson, V., Argersinger, J., Argersinger, P.H., Abbott, C., Barney, W.L., and Weir, R.M. (2004). The American Journey: A History of the United States. (2nd ed.)New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. Lee, C. (2011). Tidewater Liberty. An Innovative Approach to Social Security Reform. Web. Retrieved from: http://tidewaterliberty.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/an-innovative-approach-to-social-security-reform/ Curtis, M. K. (2009). The Bill of Rights and the States: An Overview from One Perspective. Web. Retrieved from: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1334687 Osaghae, E.E. The federal solution in comparative perspective. Web. Retrieved from: http://www.unisa.ac.za/default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=11591 Livingston, W.S. (1952). Political Science Quarterly : A note on the nature of federalism, 67. Web. Retrieved from: http://www.psqonline.org/article.cfm?IDArticle=6211# Livingston, W.S. (1956). Federalism and constitutional change. Oxford: Claredon Press. Read More