Ideological Stances On Equality, the Free Market, and Human Services There are four major political ideologies that dominate society: Libertarianism, Conservativism, Liberalism, and Progressivism. These ideologies substantially influence the human services field, both in its implementation and progression, as well as, in its reduction. In viewing these vastly differing ideologies, one must look at the underlying beliefs of each in order to understand how they influence, alter, and develop the human services field, while also attempting to decide which is superior. In order to understand each ideology, their stances on both equality and the free market shall be discussed. This will allow one to properly demonstrate and understand how their …show more content…
Today, most Liberals see poverty and the unjust distribution of private property as the main limitations on the freedom of the common man (Harrison, et al., 2003c, p. 205). Thus, Liberals believe that “… there is an important role for the welfare state to ensure a degree of equality and fairness” (Harrison, et al., 2003c, p. 205). One should note, however, the phrasing “some degree” because Liberals do believe in some variation of wealth due to the unequal distribution of talent and ability of individuals (Harrison, et al., 2003c). Though Liberals believe in the necessity of a moderate welfare state, they are still supporters of the free market. They see it as an essential part of a free society, especially in terms of internationalism and removing walls that would prevent an international free market, as well as of the right of an individual to engage freely in economic activity (Harrison, et al., 2003c). Nevertheless, Liberals believe in a moderate sum of taxation to fund social welfare programs which may limit the degree of market freedom. Liberals avoid the residual, voluntary, and family-dependent style of human services used chiefly by Conservatives to aid the ‘deserving poor’, instead relying heavily on the state to provide benefits for many; the ‘collective’ (Lightman, 2003). These …show more content…
If society moves to a more Liberal/Progressive stance, the state-funded human services field tends to grow larger, but if society moves more towards a Conservative/Libertarian stance, the human services field will tend to shrink or even cease to exist. However, it is evident that there is not one universally dominant ideology in society: not all ideas are created equal, not everyone will agree. In a world that is often less than ideal, it becomes difficult to make definitive statements as to which ideology exudes the ‘right’ answer. Nonetheless, when we have people with vastly different beliefs come together in a democracy, we develop a compromise that, though not perfect, forms a superlative fusion between Libertarian, Conservative, Liberal, and Progressive ideas: a compromise that has a historical tendency to shift more to the left and, thus, increased levels of government funded human services as time has gone on. Therefore, an amalgamation of all four ideologies may very well be the most beneficial for
Egalitarianism is a social and political philosophy that supports correcting inequalities in a society and promoting economic and social justice (Philosophy:Q&T, p.437). Like many other egalitarians, Karl Marx believe in the government’s intervention to redistribute wealth through taxing and reduce extreme differences between rich and poor (Philosophy:Q&T, p.337). Egalitarians believe that this promotes social and political equality and roughly gives people equal access to to basic social benefits like money, political influence, etc.. It is very that the liberals’ taxing policies coincide with egalitarianism, egalitarian belief and egalitarian philosophers. By cutting the tax rate for the middle income tax bracket, creating a tax free child care benefit and increase the tax rate for the wealthy the liberals are reducing the extreme difference between the rich and the others.
Hanley wrote this article in order to persuade his readers that welfare is a very crucial part of some people’s lives, and Donald Trump should not cut its funding. In order to achieve this, Hanley makes use of statistics and facts throughout the article explaining how beneficial social welfare truly is. He conducted research and credited most of his findings to historian Michael B. Katz of the University of Pennsylvania. In the article, he states that there was a 60% decline of people living in poverty between 1960 and 1980 due to social welfare. He also states that between these
All throughout history there have been many conflicting political philosophies. There are two, however, which have gained the most recognition. These are the common good philosophy and the natural rights philosophy. Both philosophies have their own views. The natural rights philosophy, for instance, is the belief that government should only have the power that is given to them by the people.
Many political and economic ideologies have different outlooks on the role the government should have in our society. More government regulations and oversight do not necessarily provide better quality services and products. Likewise, people who advocate for political freedoms, individualism, and free markets are libertarians. In essence, libertarianism is a set of ideological beliefs that preserve individual freedoms, promotes less government, and economic liberalization (Boaz, 1999). “The Libertarian Summer Camp” podcast by planet money presented an array of opinions suggesting that there should be less government involvement in our lives and daily decisions.
Along with making education affordable the libertarian party also wants to make health care affordable. The libertarian party believes an individual should be able to choose what health care they want to use, making it free to purchase health care along state lines. If an individual doesn’t want health care that is their choice, along with treatments, medicine, and end of life
During the late 1980’s Ronald Reagan wanted to advocate self-independence and advancement. He believed too that he needed to sign into the law of welfare bill. Regan stated “reform that will lead to lasting emancipation from welfare dependency” (Davies, 1). Unfortunately, the welfare reform didn’t get its message through which was to promote self-responsibility and self-support. During the 1960 and 1970 the ideals of liberalism were not spoken about.
This piece of work is mainly about the social analysts position to the issue of racism and mass incarceration and also how the various principles of distributive justice can be applied to different positions in our issue of focus. It is quite evident that the main work of the social policy analysts is to identify current problems, evaluating them and coming up with solutions regarding to it. Once they discover the problem they try to check for the causes that may leading to that problem and also other problems that may be related to it. However, different social policy analysis’s have differing views regarding a certain problem and also
There has always been classes of the haves and the have-nots, people with extreme wealth and those that live in squalor without the means to provide for themselves or their family members. Early human service policies can be dated back to the mid-1300s under the reign of Henry VIII and the Roman Catholic Church. As laws and policies evolved over the years, so did the organizations who oversaw managing the support of the poor and how the poor were cared for. From the initial development of the Elizabethan Poor Laws to the Charity of Organization of Society (C.O.S.), the Settlement Movement and finally, to today’s social policy benefits there have been some exemplary gains. The history of human services policies has evolved from an indignant
1.What are some of the tensions inherent in balancing social control and social treatment functions of social policy today? Social welfare policies and programs humanistically liberate and enhance the well being of many individuals. At the same time, these aiding policies posit chaos and limitations on the lives of those who seek them due to underlying economic and political agendas. Hence, creating tensions including but not limited to antithetical views on how resources should be distributed (essentially, a power imbalance), contradictions regarding an individual’s right to a free and autonomous life, negative stigmas towards individuals who need assistance and discrimination.
America prides itself on being one of the most effective democratically governed counties. The idea of the American dream is that all people have equivalent political freedoms and a responsive government. However the effectiveness of social equality is being threatened by increasing inequality in the United States. Economic inequality in the US has expanded drastically. The wealth gap has had drastic changes over the past 35 years.
The various intellectual traditions have differing views regarding poverty and inequality, and how they explain these phenomena. Some of them believe that these things are negatives and should be changed, while others don’t agree and subscribe to the idea that they are nobodies faults but the victims themselves. Classical liberals place a heavy emphasis on equality of opportunity and individual liberty. Their beliefs stem from the idea that each individual has the right to compete in the market in order to make their living. This idea is not one of true equality, in the idea that each person has the exact same opportunity and ability to compete, but rather one of legality, that each person has a legal ability to acquire wealth.
Although corporations are caring for the poor with multi problems and managing to generate a profit the real question is the clients getting the care they need. In our reading this week on history of welfare it evident that helping the poor and people in poverty can’t be left to our democratic capitalist economy without government intervention(Karger & Stoesz, 2014). Although the Elizabethan poor laws firmly place responsibility of the poor in the hands of civil authorities and established financing outside the church it still was not enough therefore laws were put in place to limit who could receive funds and their were still a great deal of people who did not receive services (Trattner, 1999). While we are in a different time period
Ideologies Liberalism and conservatism are the two principal political ideologies in America, but many Americans favor the elements of the moderate ideology. A major controversial topic among ideologies is government sponsored health-care. Liberals believe the nation is only as strong as its weakest link, therefore Americans need to help each other become strong as a whole. They believe the Constitution gives the United States the framework to help all citizens as needed. Liberals want everyone to have the same opportunities and to be treated the same way, therefore they would want free or low costing government controlled health-care.
Libertarianism is a political philosophy that said that the state should interfere as little as possible with people. Utilitarians, differ from Libertarianism, because are primarily concerned with the advocating for human provision of a minimal level of well being and social support for legal resident and citizens. They maintained that society ought to be systematically arranged in whatever way that would best reached this end potentially defend the vase and achieve greater social equality for the needy. Utilitarians think that the right thing to do is whatever produces the greatest amount of happiness.
Have you ever seen the dirty, homeless people on the streets? Maybe if they had access to health care, they could clean up and look better. Nevertheless, if that homeless person could clean themselves up, they could interview for a job and start a new life. Major reasons for this is, it would save lives, in the long run it’s cost-effective, and providing free health care helps people gain access to insurance. Basic health care should be free to everyone because, it could save lives, in the long run it’s cost-effective, and providing free health care health people gain access to insurance.