Economy and Jobs in the American Politics
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The US is among the countries with a rich history of economics and politics. It has undergone many revolutions to gain its current state as a leader in economics and politics. Despite having a rich history, it has undergone numerous transformations and amidst the conversion, they have incurred many challenges with economic growths and falls. Many changes were experienced especially after the September 11 terrorist attack. The terror attack had dire impacts on the American economy; however, they Americans became more united in the aftermath. The unity accrued after the terror attack brought in a new error of improved economy and transformed politics. Many factors are pegged to the rekindled economy, increased job opportunities and unity that brought sanity to the American politics. It is based on this background that this research paper seeks to examine the impacts of economy and jobs to the American politics. It will specifically try to solve the issue of employment and economy on politics after the 9/11 attack and citing states that have experienced such transformations. It will also address how the economy impacts immigration, health as well as the national budget.
There is a strong correlation between the American economy and its politics. This is because the performance of the economy greatly dictates key political battlegrounds. Many economic issues are perceived through the eyes of political beliefs. Political interventions directly impact an economy, thus the reason why many economists and scholars prefer economic policies that restrict government interventions in the economy. Supply side economics policies such as privatization, tax cuts, and deregulation are some of the policies that the government regulates the economy have been set to reduce government interference. Conversely, economists, to promote equality in the society and thus, are willing to encourage government intervention (Fishback 99). Politicians are advised to consider economic research put forth by economists in their political views. Americans learned many lessons from the 9/11 terror attack. Numerous natural resources were destroyed, lives destroyed and billions of properties destroyed. This left the country desolate, and it experienced an economic recession. At the moment the country could hardly support itself, and it had to seek for external aid from good-wishers. The attack unified Americans. They came together to rebuild their economy. The presidential aspirants in the next presidential elections after the terror attack had their ideologies mainly drawn on how to restore the economy and enhance unity and peace within the county. Americans voted in unison, and a stable government took office. The government came up with policies and strategies that aimed at bettering the economy. Working in collaboration with economists, they were able to formulate and implement policies that improved the well-being of its economy. During the attack majority of the citizens had lost their jobs and thus the government created jobs and implemented policies that supported the private sector. Taxes were reduced and subsidies provided on primary products among other policies that are economic friendly. The political environment was calm; there were no acts of discrimination, corruption, nepotism or any other unethical behavior. In togetherness, Americans were able to rebuild their economy with some assistance from other countries. When President Obama won the elections in 2014, he came up with an extensive plan of rebuilding the economy mainly focusing on the middle-income earners. This was attained through the help of economists. Tremendous improvements have been incurred since the formulation of those policies the economy is now more stable than ever. The majority of Americans are now employed or running their businesses.
Impacts of immigration, jobs and the American economy
The immigration reform proposal that was put forth by President Bush in 2004 reignited a heated debate that had died after the 9/11 terror attack. The current immigration system has virtually allowed more than ten million foreign to stay in the United States some are illegally in the country while others are legally in the country. The current challenge facing the government is distinguishing who is legally and who is illegally in the country and how to formulate a policy to determine this. There has been many discussions regarding the economic impacts of both illegal and legal immigrants. Further, debates regarding what extent do the immigrants take up jobs from Americans and if they do to what degree does this reduce wages and by how much. Economists and politicians both agree that immigration to a relatively large extent has reduced wages for Americans. The most concerned Americans that have been affected are the less educated and less skilled persons. A research study conducted by Madeline Zavodny and Pia M. Orrenius in 2013 reported that immigration did not primarily affect the service linked professional employees, but instead they have relatively positively affected the service industry (Walton & Hugh Rockoff 87). Similarly, for seasonal laborers an increase in the number of immigrants resulted in competition among the natives and the immigrants and this had a significant impact on the wage rates.
On the issue on whether immigrants cost the government more money than the what the immigrants are contributing in the form of taxes, research shows that cumulatively immigrants contribute more to the government in the form of taxes than what they receive in form benefits. The national academy of sciences reported that American federal government could receive an estimated $82,000 in a year from an immigrant and all his or her descendants in taxes as compared to what they will receive inform of federal, state or local benefits over their lifetimes. Previously there has been a myth that immigrants cost much money to the government, this has perhaps stemmed from the notion that immigrants spend more in services as compared to what they are paying in local taxes.
On a more positive note, immigration adds value to the future financial viability of the Medicare and social security systems. It is projected that with the absence of immigrants, the United States workforce is estimated to grow slowly and even slower as the baby boomers are reaching their golden years. Immigrants are important as they add to the supply of young employees who are taxed and the money used to finance the Medicare and the social security system.
On the aspect of the effect of immigration on the American politics, statistics depict that immigrants have negligible impacts on the American politics since they are the minority. Furthermore, they have less impact on government safety net programs when compared to native citizens who are the Americans. This is because the majority of the immigrants are accrued incomes that are below the poverty line as compared to the Americans living below the poverty threshold. Reports show that 16.3% of the persons living below the poverty line are immigrants, and only 11.0% of them are natives. These populations are the ones eligible for government programs such as temporary assistance for needy families, food stamps, Medicaid and supplemental security income. Moreover, immigrants have fewer possibilities of receiving these public visits; the native is granted the first opportunity.
It is, therefore, clear that immigrants significantly contribute to the overall well-being of the American economy. If without the current immigrants, the US economy could not have attained its present stable economy. Immigrants started trickling into American in 1990 since then they have contributed to job growth in different ways. First and foremost, they fill an increasing share of employment as they take up employment in the labor-scarce regions. In most cases, they take up, job opportunities that the natives have shunned away from. Immigrants only make up 11.3% of the American population and only 14% of the labour force is made of immigrants. However, over the recent years, the influx of foreigners has been on the increase, and the population of immigrants in the labor is substantially increasing. The number of opening for untrained or uneducated persons is estimated to rise by more than 33 million between 2016 and 2027. These positions can be occupied by the high number of immigrants trickling into the country. Immigration is also beneficial to politics in the sense that some of the immigrants are well versed in the field of politics, and their experience can be instrumental in the formulation of strategies that can be useful for the political governance of the country.
Despite the benefits accrued by immigration about politics, economy and jobs, there are also negative impacts accrued especially illegal immigration. Not all immigrants have good intentions while moving into America; some turn out to be terrorists and others after getting frustrated with life conditions to get engaged in unethical behaviors such as robbery with violence, sexual abuse, stealing among other ill-intentioned behaviors. Such behaviors thwart the quality of life in the country instilling fear among the natives and even having an adverse ripple effect on the economy, politics as well as the workforce. However, after the 9/11 terror attack Americans came up with strict measures on issues immigration to prevent unlawful entry into the country thus mitigating the problem of illegal immigrants
Economy and health
Typically, the success or failure of an economy is highly pegged on the quality of life lived by the citizens. A healthy population is a labour force and consequently a stable economy. Politics directly and directly impacts the health condition. Politicians have a responsibility of formulating policies that ensures that its population is safe and are accorded the best health services needed for maximum production and consequently improved the economy (Hondagneu-Sotelo 47). Numerous legislations have been out in place by the government to champion for a perfect health of its population. For instance, when President Obama gained power, he introduced the Obamacare, which specialized in health service provision. The federal and state governments also fund the Medicaid healthcare program which is aimed at offering free health services to children and old persons of above 65 years of age and can support them. Similarly, these programs also support pregnant women and the physically challenged thus ensuring the well-being of its population. By so doing, the population remains active, their productivity increases and they can improve the economy as well jobs are created.
Works Cited
Fishback, Price V. M. Government and the American Economy: A New History. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007. Internet resource. Hondagneu-Sotelo, Pierrette. Gender and U.s. Immigration: Contemporary Trends. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press, 2003. Print.
Walton, Gary M, and Hugh Rockoff. History of the American Economy. , 2014. Print
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