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Final Essay (30 points) Of all the issues we have studied in this class, which one do you think is the most important? That?s the question for this essay. In answering it, you need to consider several issues (there is an element of compare and contrast here.) You need to discuss at least three issues ? one from each unit of the semester. (Our first unit included economic issues such as the distribution of wealth (and the Occupy movement), the recession, economic transformation, globalization,and education. The second unit included current unrest in the Mid-East, Afghan War,terrorism, immigration, and health care. Our final unit included climate change, energy issues, garbage-landfills-recycling, and urban issues including mass transit.) Discussing more than three would be good, but do at least three in good detail. You want to give me a good summary of each issue and its relevant background. (Your task is really to show me what you learned this semester ? show me that you learned a lot and deserve a really good grade.) You should state your criteria for what makes an issue important to you, and make a good case for why you choose the issue you did ? there is an element of opinion in the paper, and there is no ?Correct? answer as to which issue is more important. You decide. Most of your points will come from how well you summarize the issues. Email me if you have any questions. WHAT WE HAVE COVERED IN CLASS IS: UNIT ONE; Distribution of Wealth, Poverty, and Occupy Wall Street I. Occupy Wall Street movement ?We are the 99%? ? what are they talking about? What is their complaint/critique? II. Distribution of wealth and income in the U.S. A. What is income? Wealth? Which is ultimately more important? Interest and capital gains B. How are they distributed in modern U.S.? (See Fig. 2-1 and 2-2 in text) Top 1% owns appr. 30% of all wealth III. ?Tax the Rich? A. Types of taxes Income tax Capital gains tax B. Types of taxes 1. Progressive tax – ex. Income tax How it works Effect on inequality 2. Regressive tax ? ex. Sales tax How it works Effect on inequality C. What are these ?Bush Era Tax Cuts? Congress keeps fussing about? IV. What is poverty? Absolute poverty vs. relative poverty The poverty line Who says? Why? How set? Originally ? food budgets, rent Adjustments over time (or not) The ?real? poverty line ? 25% higher than official Why not change official? How many poor? V. Resources/programs for poor 1. Welfare ? what is welfare? TANF Who qualifies? How works? 2. Unemployment Who qualifies? 3. Social Security (welfare? Really? Really!) Who qualifies Poverty rates among elderly 4. Disability 5. Subsidies of various sorts Housing Medical care: Medicaid/Medicare/CHIP 6. Minimum Wage Original purpose Changes over time Really minimum wage? 7. Taxes: EIC credit Types of taxes: progressive vs. regressive Difference between them? UNIT TWO;Afghanistan, Militarism, and ?
I. Afghanistan
A. Afghanistan ? why do we care?
B. Afghanistan history
The Great Game ? Russia and Britain in 19th century
Soviet occupation 1980s
US support of insurgents (including Taliban)
Soviet retreat ? US walks away
Civil War ? Taliban takes over (mostly)
C. US invasion ? initial success
Loss of momentum
Effect of Iraq War
Taliban resurgent
D. US backs (another) corrupt autocratic dictator (Kharzai)
E. Our options
Keep fighting
Intensify
Come home
UNIT THREE;Urban Issues
I. General Framework ? movement of people into urban areas
Global population shift
II. Issues for American Cities
Population shifts ? rural to urban to suburban
Urban areas as economic engines ? most jobs in urban areas
Ex. Pittsburgh
A. Financial crisis
1. Urban expenses ? poor concentrate in urban core
Infrastructure costs
2. Urban income ?
Property tax primary income source for most cities
Limited by: poor neighborhoods ? property values low
Non-taxable property:
Government owned property
Non-profit institutions
B. Urban Sprawl
What is it? Quick history of move to suburbs
1. Impact of automobile
2. Downside of suburbs
Environmental impacts
Land use
Traffic
Weakening of urban core
Economic impacts
3. Why? Government policies to encourage sprawl
C. Transportation issues
Traffic ? congestion ? Rush? Hour
1. Alternatives ? build more highways
2. Mass transit
What is required for successful mass transit?
Most be affordable, dependable, desirable ? people have to want to use it
Funding ? secure government subsidies
(what, subsidies? Government spending? Why can?t mass transit make it on its own like automobiles do? What? The government subsidies my car? No way!)
Urban design ? need for density and mixed use development
III. Cities in Poor parts of the world
Biggest and fastest growing cities in world
IV. Cities and the Environment
Beneficial effects of cities
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