Politics and Policy Reform In The US - Research Paper Example

Politics and Policy ReformThe United State policies are driven by a political agenda period before the election and even after candidates are elected into office. Many reforms that have been successfully passed by the House of Representative and the Senate have had a political backing. Almost every issue in the American agenda has political affiliation from either the Democrats or the Republicans. Therefore, for national policy to get passed in the Congress, it has to have enough backing from both political divide.

The politics of the day define what is important at as that time and if they are convinced enough they shows at as they votes to pass the policy. During the Golden age, America was faced with the difficulties caused by increased industrialization and urbanization. The challenges prompted the government and political leader to advocate policies to control the emerging big businesses and the welfare of the general public. The federal income tax policy was passed during this time. Moreover, the outcry of the populist reform agenda ensured that senators were directly elected by the people to represent the states government in legislation and other national policies.

These policies were driven by progressive movement who late formed a political party in 1912 (Rutgers, 2014). However, the policies have the support from both the Republicans and the Democrats. President Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, as well as William Howard, argued that they were Progressives.Policy issues have been emanating from the public and unto the politics. The group of writer’s journalist referred to as the muckrakers were responsible for noticing the failing of the American society in the early 1900.

They build public awareness of the need for change to avert the emergence of a crisis. For example, The Shame of the Cities written by Staffens’ attached the corruption in the municipal councils. Moreover, History of the Standard Oil Company exposed the malpractices of John Rockefeller’s (Rutgers, 2014). These issues raised by public entities formed the basis of major political appointee to the office of the President (Rutgers, 2014). The history of health care reform date back to the late 1800 until the passage of the recent health Acts by the senate.

It has been over a century for the establishment of a government universal health care (Palmer, 1999). Earlier political leader had argued that they were on the road map to success, but they ended up failing during a vote in Congress. The successful lose for the health care reform in the past year is an intriguing lesson for American history (Palmer, 1999). Unlike other policy passed by the Congress in the past, the U.S health care in the early 1900 did not emanate from the politics or an anti-socialist programme.

It is a matter that was left to individual members to care for their own health. During Roosevelt era, health was an important agenda for his government (Palmer, 1999). However, the initiative to establish an insurance cover for the people was being discussed outside of his government. In the 1920s, the Committee on the Cost of Medical Care was established to look on to the need for a comprehensive medical cover in the country. The CCMC after a period of deliberation published reports, but the majority of the members regarded the recommendations as an incitement against the government and thus it failed to reach in the Congress for approval (Palmer, 1999).

In the tenure of 1933- 1945, the country was under pressure from the Great Depression. The Social Security Bill was introduced, but the pressing issue of unemployment, old age benefit took precedent of health insurance. This shows that the policy reforms are guided and controlled by politics of the day, but not any other factors.The election of President Barrack Obama to the office in 2008 helped in the passage of the Healthcare reform which was a campaign agenda. Nevertheless, the policy drew criticism from the opposition Republican Party, but they were defeated when a vote was called on the Senate.

The Democrat controlled the senate and the House of Representative and had chances of effecting major political policies affiliated to the democrat. The balance of the lower house was lost when some members went to the polls. Therefore, the Republican controls the Lower House while the Democrats control the senate. The division in the lower has caused the worse embarrassment in the U.S congress history with the shut of government for failure of compromise over the budget issue between Republican and Democrats.

Today, the Obama administration is using public opinion to push on the government bill in the Republican dominated house, because it has proved difficult to compromise on major issues on the economy as well as foreign policies.The immigration policies are yet to be passed and are doomed to fail if the Republican would not support the government on reforming the immigrations laws. However, through public opinion the government may push for its passage while members learn that they face judgement if they shut the immigration reforms (American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2014)ReferencesAmerican Immigration Lawyers Association. (2014). Immigration Politics.

Retrieved from < http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?bc=6755|18308>.Palmer, Karen. (1999). A Brief History: Universal Health Care Efforts in the US. Retrieved from .Rutgers. (2014). American Political History. Progressive Movement. Retrieved from < http://www.eagleton.rutgers.edu/research/americanhistory/ap_progressive.php>.