How Effective are Government Measures to Tackle Inequality

Question 1

Health

Answer 1

• The affordable care act brings down healthcare costs, by offering assistance to the low paid and by forcing companies to compete and bring down prices to get business. Private organisations often charge ridiculously high prices for cheap, simple procedures such as in New Jersey in 2016 when a women was charged about $6000 for an ice pack and a bandage.
• In addition, the American Recovery Plan introduced by President Biden will see more than 320,000 uninsured black and African American people become eligible for free health insurance.
• However, not all attempts to tackle health inequality have been recent. Medicare and Medicaid have been used in the US for 50 years and work with the elderly, the disabled and the vulnerable to help reduce the impact of expensive medical care.

Question 2

Crime and Justice

Answer 2

• The government have retaliated against police brutality against black people in America. This was demonstrated when, after the killing of George Floyd, the police officer responsible was charged with second degree murder and an investigation was launched into the Minneapolis police department.
• In addition, the executive branch has been pardoning and commuting black people who were jailed for drug charges. This was demonstrated by President Obama who commuted about 1,700 prisoners, most of which faced punishment related to crack cocaine.

Question 3

Education

Answer 3

• The US government have been making efforts to increase the educational opportunities of poor children giving them access to higher education. For example, as part of America’s investment and recovery plan, $30 billion was put towards scholarships for poorer families. 2021
• However, It is clear that the government could be doing more to prevent educational inequality as only 5% of their budget goes towards education compared to the 57% of their budget which they spend on defence.