The Reluctant Welfare State Out-groups - Coursework Example

 The Reluctant Welfare State “out groups” (HS 201) As stated by Jansson (2005), there exist many out groups, which have continually characterized the general way of living in the United States. The ones discussed include: dependent vulnerable populations, migrating vulnerable populations and the mainstream group which acts a comparative tool. My discussions are going to be based on the migrating vulnerable populations as this has been a trend in the U.S and many more countries from years back till present. As stated by Jansson (2005), migrating vulnerable populations include people who have or who came to the United States on legal criteria and those who do not have documented legal migrant status. Unlike European immigrants, people of color did not have access to most white headed social service agencies, not sparing even many settlement estates which spearheaded social justice goals. Responding to these, services formed by clubs of the women, mutual aid, churches, self-help groups and generous societies, came up with an idea of racial or ethnic boost, which combined rudiments of cultural satisfaction and social absorption that differed with conceptions of mainstream about social justice which stressed the overall union (Deckard, 1979). These struggles were totally constrained by a lack of assets and opposition from both white social welfare leaders and members of their own population. With their distrust of the white people, African Americans viewed almost all of life’s events as sensible through their race lens. The same justifications also existed among Mexican and Asian immigrants in the West and Southwest. Jewish and Catholic immigrants witnessed the same in the main Eastern and Midwestern cities. Mexicans formed mutual self-help organizations to preserve their cultural stabilization under cruel economic and social environment. Other immigrants from China, Japan, Korea and Filipino concentrated on economic gains and educational progression and achieved significant success on the West coast (Rivera and Erlich, 1998). Jewish and Catholic immigrants from Europe formed well prepared systems of social services, which incorporated many features later accepted by mainstream organizations. According to Jansson (2005), there were policies implemented to be used as a tool to correct the misconceptions that went on. These were: opportunity enhancing policy, land policy, positive policy, punitive policy, domestic policy, social policy and welfare policy. My discussions are going to base on the opportunity enhancing policy, a policy that would have been responsible for finding equal chances of finding jobs for both the vulnerable population and the mainstream population. In the early and middle 19th century, America gave most of the white people opportunities by opening and building hospitals, schools and hospitals for them. However, in the 20th century, America still took these policies and institutions for granted while they were adapted in most parts of Europe as a reform tool. In the first half of the 19th century, in Europe, education and other relevant things was only extended to people with considerable possession of property. In the United States, no system of education existed in the year 1800, but 1860; the nation owned a chain of primary, as well as secondary schools through the state. With these schools in operation, there was massive enrolment of both girls and boys in the schools; this represented a considerable growth of policy in America. Prior to these reforms, four systems of education that existed were: private tutors, day schools ran by various sectors, boarding schools and charity schools which provided education to the population. People like Thomas Jefferson, who had proposed the essence of free education, had been scorned by people who feared high taxes and instead, insisted that education should be provided by families or religious groups. Many viewed public education as a way of assimilating immigrants into American culture. With those dedicated to bringing reforms, they stopped nowhere until education in public schools became free. This policy had a lot of impacts as it saw my outgrowth population being educated for free. Many who enrolled gained a lot of knowledge in various fields to become a productive population. According to Jansson (2005), there were two main problems that lead to the formation of the land policy. One, there was social injustice through violation of vulnerable population and lastly, there was the clash between liberals and conservatives over social justice. Social injustice is violated in many manners, when members of vulnerable populations are given pensions, salaries, health care services, education, housing, food and other basics that are far below those given to the mainstream population. These come about when the vulnerable populations, lack assets to access even some necessary basic rights such as education and health. They also suffer in times of uncertainties over life situations during sickness, recession and unemployment. On the other hand, when they have assets for their basic rights, they still face social injustices through the large discrepancy that exist between them and the mainstream. Children from color families receive their education in schools which are segregated as compared to their counter parts from the mainstream. There exists also violation of civil rights which still is in America up to date. This was prevailed more frequently by these populations being denied a chance to participate in voting, obtaining fair treatment from police, promotions and using public accommodation. As stated by Jansson (2005), many members from the mainstream believe that the clash between liberals and conservatives over social justice is created by the vulnerable population who do not work hard and thus create their own relatively low prizing. These people believe that this laziness by the vulnerable population is created by social policies that create incentives. They argue out that if; for example, a low income person from a vulnerable population gets food from a food program the person will not work any hard to earn some more resources, so that the benefits from the program do not stop. These conservatives believe that social classes between the vulnerable and the main population, increases the work incentives of the poor person by making then realize that they need to work hard to make them earn equivalent resources. However, inequalities life conditions, rights and opportunities yield discouraging outcomes for the vulnerable populations. Liberals, on the other hand, argue out that members of the vulnerable populations have low income and other life situations not because they work but due to the poor jobs that they do which earn them low wages. These members from the vulnerable populations work extremely hard some with even more than one job, just to balance their low income only to be discouraged and give up with the extreme inequality that exists (Rivera and Erlich, 1998). According to Jansson (2005), opportunity enhancing policy broadly describes the opportunities that the state formed to see the balance between the vulnerable population and the mainstream population. There should be equal opportunities to education, health care services, law, food and nutrition, housing and transport. Jansson (2005), states that these opportunities, which are basic in life, should not be discriminated to any individual on the basis of color or ethnicity. Children from both the mainstream and the vulnerable populations should be given equal chances of accessing education at all levels. Making education free in public schools saw large numbers of the vulnerable populations enroll to schools for knowledge acquisitions. Patients from both groups should access medical facilities all the time and should be treated well without worrying the color of their skin or ethnicity (Rivera and Erlich, 1998). In the past, all the white collar jobs have been for mainstream population which side lines the members from the vulnerable population who rather opt for unskilled jobs that earn them low wages. This reduces their total income putting them on the lower side of the social stratification. With equal job allocation, the social status of the vulnerable population will drastically change and put them at a better place in the community. The populations should be allowed to have equal opportunities in participating in political matters. Jansson (2005) states how the members of the vulnerable populations in the past were denied rights to vote and participate in other political issues, such as campaigning and contesting for various position of leadership. With this opportunity enhancing policy, every person was given the rights if electing the leaders they wanted. Up to date, we see many African American leaders, both at high ranks and small ranks. Barrack Obama an African America is the current head of state of U.S. This policy does not only provide equal opportunities to both the populations, but brings motivation to the community who, compete favorably for the limited chances to achieve the best for the betterment of the state’s economy and rapid development. As stated by Jansson (2005), evaluating this policy of opportunity enhancement would be based on the rights and things that needed to be corrected for a changed United States. These issues are: cultural, social, legal and political. Cultural factors are those practices adapted by communities and which are considered of importance in their day to day activities. In America, the mainstream population originally consisting of the white people did want any interference of their cultures by immigrants from the vulnerable populations as this meant a change in their own way of living. Therefore, they resisted this by forming harsh environment for the vulnerable populations which left them with no choice but to adapt their norms. In evaluating this policy, emphasis has been put on this, not only to see how it was reformed but also how it helped to bring development and diversity. Social factors are the issues that help people living in a community interact with each other freely without infringing on the rights of any group. The mainstream populations were better of than the vulnerable populations in every aspect of social life. Jansson (2005) argues out that human rights were violated as the vulnerable populations suffered trying to adjust in the harsh environmental conditions. Rights to necessary basic things were not there, which left people from the vulnerable populations to suffer. Accessing basic things like education, health care, housing, legal rights, food and nutrition was a total night mare. With the evaluation, of this issue broadly, the policy of opportunity enhancement is being highlighted. This policy finally evolved and saw fairness in both accessing and distribution of basic things and social amenities which saw a balance between the vulnerable populations and the mainstream populations. Legal factors are the issues relating to the judiciary. In the past, there was increased violation of the legal rights for the vulnerable populations. Jansson (2005) argues out in detailed how the system was unfair to the populations by simply neglecting to assist them appropriately or by being reluctant in administering their duties. However, with reforms in this sector, both the mainstream and vulnerable populations had their cases and complaints responded to without much bias. Lastly, my evaluation of this policy is based on the political factors. Politics is the key to reforms in any country without which the necessary laws cannot be enacted. The world of politics as stated by Jansson (2005) restricted the members of the vulnerable populations from active participatory in any political matters such as voting and contesting for political positions. With the reforms and the establishment of opportunity enhancement policy, these populations were able to participate in every political issue by choosing the right leaders who could see more reforms enacted and adapted. References Deckard, B.S. (1979). The women’s movement: Political, socioeconomic and psychological issues, New York: Harper and Row. Jansson, B. (2005). The reluctant welfare state. (5th edition). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Rivera, F.G. and Erlich, J. (1998). Community organizing in a diverse society (3rd edn). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Read More