The Student Loan Debt Total - 1736 Words

The student loan debt total was about nine hundred and two million dollars to one trillion dollars in the United States in 2012; the federal student loan debt made up about eight hundred and sixty-four billion dollars of the total debt (Driscoll and Clapp). Many people in the United States that cannot afford college tuition and additional fees take student loans and/or federal grants. Student loans are different from federal grants in that the loans have to be paid back with interest, while federal grants do not have to be paid back. A federal grant is also known as financial aid. Students with lower income are less likely to attend college because of student loan debts. The government does provide some help, however, there are limits†¦show more content†¦People, who are able to attend and graduate college, have a greater probability of getting jobs with high salaries. College should be more accessible to more people because graduating college has proven beneficial to the economy, seeing that it helps raise the student’s standard of living by giving them a higher chance of getting jobs that pay better salaries, which in turn provides more tax revenue. College gives most college graduates an improvement in their standard of living by giving them a higher chance of getting a well-paid job. Standard of living is the â€Å"level of consumption that an individual, group, or nation has achieved† (â€Å"Standard of Living†). It also refers to the environment, wealth, comfort, income, material goods and necessities available to a specific socioeconomic class in a specific geographic area, the number of dependents in a family, and educational opportunities. Factors, such as unemployment and low wages, can bring down the standard of living, while higher wages and an increase of jobs could raise the standard of living. High school is inadequate in preparing students for working in life (Kingsley and Vance). Nowadays, in society, a college degree is needed for the development of a career instead of just a high school diploma. In earlier generations, a high school diploma would be all that a person would need to prepare for a career in life, and college was

Teachers Plants Seed of Knowledge and Love of Education in...

Robert Louis Stevenson once said â€Å"Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.† I believe that every teacher has the opportunity to plant seeds of knowledge and love of education into our students, and ultimately that is our purpose in this wonderful profession. My belief of my role as an educator encompasses several parts. In the 21st century, education can no longer be strictly about academics. Education today must now look at emotional, social, academic and physical forms of education. An educator’s role is to be facilitators in learning, not just an individual who pours out knowledge and hopes the students can remember some of the information. An educator must use every available opportunity to†¦show more content†¦It begins with instruction in the classroom. Students expect to learn here, as well as being entertained. Learning should be fun; more is absorbed when one is interested. In the classroom, the students are reading, writing and studying just like in any other classroom, but in science most of the learning takes place with students working together to solve problems and develop solutions. Whether we are working on hands on group activities or developing solutions to a chemical equation, the students are lear ning the material by working together. When the students are doing something with their own two hands and discussing results with their partners more can be accomplished. With the second component, we have laboratory experiments. Performing lab experiments in a science course is vital to the students’ learning process. Many concepts in science, particularly chemistry, are hard for students to visualize. They have very little prior knowledge to build upon and real life experience to draw from. By performing laboratory experiments students are able to learn through first-hand knowledge and performance of tasks that will support and help them to further understand the material discussed in the classroom. The final component I believe should be included in science education is the technology experience. Students are exposed to technology on a daily basis. Technology has become an integral partShow MoreRelatedEssay on Educational Psychology1202 Words   |  5 Pages Essay Topic (Unit 10 – Question #3) How would you as a teacher encourage intrinsic motivation in students? Intrinsic Motivation nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Intrinsic motivation can be defined as â€Å"motivation associated with activities that are their own reward† (Perry 2003). It is motivation that stems from your inner feelings and views which feed your desires to accomplish and perform. Oppositely, extrinsic motivation is â€Å"motivation created by external factors such as rewards and punishments†Read MoreThe Field Of Education Of Over 19 Years1031 Words   |  5 Pages My cooperating teacher has been working in the field of education of over 19 years. She has been in her current position as a Pre-Kindergarten teacher at the Lighthouse Learning Center for 12 years. Observing a teacher who has so many years of experience in the classroom is very beneficial. She shared with me this week her teaching philosophy that has evolved from her many years in the classroom. This philosophy requires a focus on people, strategies, and tools. We spoke about the important peopleRead MoreHow Is the Child’s Exploration and Orientation in His Physical Environment Complimented by the Montessori Materials and Presentation2440 Words   |  10 Pagesorientation in his physical environment complimented by the Montessori materials and presentation? Dr. Maria Montessori’s goal of education is to develop a global vision within the children. Montessori calls the path to this perspective â€Å"Cosmic Education†, which develops in children a sense of gratitude for the universe and their lives within it. The concept of cosmic education presents a comprehensive whole picture of the world- a world in which the child sees himself as being a part. Montessori hadRead MoreMy Belief As A Teacher Essay3215 Words   |  13 PagesNarrative Essay Introduction The narrative essay aims to define a metaphor that is specific to me and explores my belief as a teacher. I will relate this metaphor to my personal history and the experiences that have contributed towards the person who I am and the beliefs that I hold about myself as a teacher. I will further touch on the practical and personal experiences that have helped shape who I am. The research that underpins children’s learning and development. Finally it goes to explore theRead MorePhilosophy of Christian Education Essay2583 Words   |  11 Pageshas viewed teaching as an integral part of its life and ministry. It has been noted that there is a distinct difference between a Christian philosophy of education and a philosophy of Christian education. The former being only one of many applicable and credible forms of education and the latter being the only viable form of education. We, as a collective person, were made in the image of God. With this premise given, God alone would hold the keys to educating the entire person, and all otherRead MoreSpontaneous Observer of Nature2622 Words   |  11 Pagesconcentration, even though they rarely show signs of it in everyday settings. Although they are often careless and sloppy, they respond positively to an atmosphere of calm and order. Montessori noticed that the logical extension of the young child s love for a consistent and often repeated routine is an environment in which everything has a place. Her children took tremendous delight in carefully carrying their work to and from the shelves, taking great pains not to bump into anything or spill theRead MoreSea Syllabus9016 Words   |  37 PagesMINISTRY OF EDUCATION REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO PRIMARY SCHOOL SYLLABUS AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM [*October 2001] TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Goals of The Agricultural Science Curriculum for Primary Schools Summary of The Curriculum Infant Year One Profile Term II †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Infant Year One †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Infant Year Two†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Standard One Profile Term II †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Standa rd One †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Read MorePrinciples of Teaching 1: the Relationship of the Taxonomy of Objectives with the Guiding Principles in the Selection and Organizing of Contents8317 Words   |  34 PagesPOLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES Gen. Santos Ave., Upper Bicutan, Taguig City TAGUIG CAMPUS PRINCIPLES OF TEACHING 1 SEED 3043 2ND Semester SY2010-2011 The Relationship of the Taxonomy of Objectives with the Guiding Principles in the Selection and Organizing of Contents Prepared by: GARCIA, JENNIFER A., BSED II-1 Submitted to: DR. JUANITA B. CARLOS March 19, 2011 INTRODUCTION The Relationship of the Taxonomy of Objectives with the Guiding Principles in the Selection and OrganizingRead MoreAn Assessment Report On The Child s Development2945 Words   |  12 Pagestechniques used by educators in the early childhood classrooms. These could include; anecdotal records, check-lists, participation charts, diagrams, recorded language, documentation through photographs, rating scales and the teachers can arrange a meeting with individual students parents and guardians to gather useful information about the child. It is important for the educator to keep in mind that the child must be seen as the whole of the child whiling looking at all areas of development domainsRead MoreImportance of Education Knowledge in Islam10950 Words   |  44 Pages[pic] Importance of Education Knowledge in Islam The Importance of Education To seek knowledge is a sacred duty; it is obligatory on every Muslim, male and female. The first word revealed of the Qur’an was Iqra READ! Seek knowledge! Educate yourselves! Be educated. Religious and Secular (not religious) Knowledge There are two kinds of knowledge which are very important for a human being. Secular knowledge (non-religious knowledge) is for day to day problem-solving

The American Business Society Free Essays

American business is in dire straits and the blame is being heaped on its leadership or, more aptly, the lack thereof. There are probably no fewer business leaders today than there were 50 years ago. There is not a shortage of good people, but maybe a lack of the right kind of people. We will write a custom essay sample on The American Business Society or any similar topic only for you Order Now People with the skills necessary to drive companies forward in a thoroughly different and rapidly changing world. I feel a leader should have several essential attributes:  · Trust. Leaders must be trustworthy, and they must trust their people, also.  · Vision. The nuts and bolts of running a business. Leaders must know where they want the company to be in the future. Also, get the whole company to share that vision. Leaders have to set the direction and get the company headed that way.  · Commitment. There will always be disloyalty among employees, but leaders need to seen as caring and nurturing.  · Integrity. A leader can†t lack integrity and still have people follow. Leaders must have values. They must have dedication to do what is right. The values of an organization are manifested on what a leader does.  · Creative Ability. Leaders must be positive. Always looking for possibilities, not perfection. This means that they must be open to different ways of doing things.  · Communication. A good leader is in constant communication with his or her people. He or she makes the rounds and knows what†s going on. Telling his people everything he can about what he knows and doesn†t know.  · Risk Taking. It is essential to be open to possibilities, and to question assumptions. Always allow people to be innovative without the fear of failure. AIDS is one of the most pervasive and difficult workplace issues. The community, not only for their life-style, rejects people with AIDS but also because the disease is incurable. AIDS is an acronym for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a disease caused by a virus that attacks the body†s ability to fight off infection. It now comes to be called HIV, human immunodeficiency virus. If a person is tested positive with the antibodies they are designated HIV+. It is presumable they have been exposed or have acquired the AIDS virus. The increase presence of AIDS in the workplace has crystallized a number of concerns for both employers and employees. However, Title I of the American with Disabilities Act covers those infected. The Act prohibits discriminating against individual with AIDS. States have different employment laws that apply to those infected. An employer can terminate someone from a job only if they cannot perform the essential tasks required for with that job. The employer is required to make a reasonable accommodation to the individual†s needs and requirements. Accommodation cannot be made if it will cause hardship to the business. Affirmative action was created 30 years age as a remedy for the under use of minority and female human resources in the workplace and classroom. The term refers to active measures and passive nondiscrimination, as means of increasing the recruitment of minorities and ensuring equal opportunity. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the most comprehensive statute on civil rights ever enacted in the United States, banning discrimination in employment, voting, public accommodation, public education and all federal assisted programs. Executive Order 11246 requires that employers with federal contracts worth more than $50,000 and 50 or more employees have written affirmative action plans. Affirmative action was once a bright synonym for equality of opportunity. In recent years, it has been entered the political lexicon, as a sinister euphemism for reverse discrimination, a bitterly divisive issue. In recent years, affirmative action has appeared in politics. Most politicians† support either eliminating or revising it, including President Clinton, who supports a reform version of affirmative action. Changes have already begun in some states and will spread across the nation. Some critics view affirmative action as a departure from the principles of meritocracy and individual striving. Also they feel as a policy it primarily hurts white men. With all the demographic changes occurring in our nation, it may be time to change affirmative action. The achievements of it have been great, but the premises that underlie it have changed and may require revising. The focus on affirmative action may provide with an opportunity to shift to affirming diversity. Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) a victim of age discrimination in entitled to be † made whole†, being placed in the position that he or she would have been in but for the discrimination. The act protects workers between the ages 40 and 70 from arbitrary age discrimination in employment. The ADEA encompasses issues of hiring, firing, pay, promotion and fringe benefits. In recent years, more and more employees have been filing grievances under ADEA. Faced with expensive pensions and health costs, companies are trying to find ways to minimize their burden. The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) is an act that prohibits discrimination based on age in connection with all employee benefits programs. Older workers get the same benefits as the younger workers. Companies can ask outgoing workers to sign a waiver, not to sue for age discrimination. A company faces an indefinite future of court-mandated payments and damages if they are found guilty of violating age discrimination regulations. The American ideology is base on capitalism. A capitalistic system is a system in which the means of production are privately owned. The market operates to guide production and distribute income. The terms free or private enterprise are used interchangeably with capitalism. The theory of capitalism is founded on two fundamental assumptions. One, people are capable of understanding the natural order of the universe. Two, the role of government in economy can and should be limited. These two barriers led economist to believe that all artificial barriers affect our economic behavior. If government or monopolists who enjoyed unnatural powers in the marketplace did not interfere, the market would benefit everyone in society. All activities in a free enterprise must return a profit. However, free enterprise is never totally pure. Every nation has values and goals that place it on a continuum between free enterprise and a planned economy. Each determines where it lays on the continuum by the priority it gives to specific values and goals. It is never too early or too late to start planning for retirement. Definitely, early is better. Starting any time is better than not starting at all. A large number of people are not saving and investing, as they should. The more a person saves now, the more options they will have later. Maybe a person won†t be able to stop working completely, but they will not have to work as hard later. The dream of having a financially secure future is attainable, but there are a lot of sacrifices. To begin building a realistic financial plan that will allow you to retire with enough money, start with five basic dynamics: 1. Where do I stand now? That includes your personal savings and investments, your pension plans and your income prospects until retirement, as well as your debts and spending patterns. 2. How much money you†ll need to retire? Figure that you†ll need about eighty percent of your income to maintain your lifestyle after your regular paychecks stop. 3. Where will that money come from? Your regular paychecks. 4. How much time remains until retirement? Your strategy to achieve a worry-free retirement will depend on the target date you†ve set and how much progress you†ve made so far. A person can also shoot for an early retirement with the right planning. 5. How much risk you†re willing to take? When it comes to investing retirement money, risk is a balancing act. If you take too little, your investment will not grow. But if you take too much, there will be a crack in your investment that will be too difficult to repair. The more time you have until retirement; the more risk you maybe able to take. The less time you have, the more risk you may need to take. The message here is that is can be done. You can take control and plan for a financially secure future regardless of where you stand right now. A 401(k) is a tremendous two-fold tax shelter. Tax advantages number one: Money you contribute to the plan, up to a yearly maximum, is subtracted from your taxable income. Tax advantages number two: Funds inside you account grow tax-deferred until withdrawn. The IRS can†t tax the earnings each year and you can keep more in the plan for long term compounding. I recommend a person start to invest in at least a 401(k) plan. It is the hottest retirement savings deal. It eases a tax shelter power and wealth building potential. A 401(k) may be the single most important ingredient you can add to your retirement plan. With a 401(k), you can set aside a percentage of your salary, which your employer may match, in a retirement account you control. Money in the plan grows untaxed until you tap the account in retirement. If your investments do well, they win. If they don†t, the nest egg will be smaller. In either case, you bear the risk. People find it difficult to make decisions about ethical issues. Ethical principles and standards vary widely among individuals, organizations and cultures. Business ethics are based on individual and collective moral decision making at every lever in the corporation. Standards for moral behavior are sometimes informal, but more often they explicit and embodied in a written document. Managers must decide which issues are important to them and how to identify and manage them. Here are some questions I think are important to ask one-self. 1. Have I Defined the Problem Accurately? Make sure you have an understanding of the problem. 2. How Would I Define the Problem From the Other Side? You must look at the issue from the perspective of those questioning your ethics. 3. How Did This Situation Occur? Look into the history of the situation. Make sure there is a real problem and not symptoms. 4. How Does My Intention Compare with the Likely Results? Despite the goodness of your intentions, the results may be harmful. Think about the probable outcome. 5. Whom Could My Decision or Action Injure? This issue is particularly difficult. Even a product for good use could fall into the wrong hands. These questions could help managers sort out their own perceptions of ethical problems. The asking of questions could create discussions about subjects left to one individual. If management do not implement clear policies to instill ethical behavior through the firm, managers are likely to come cynical. There has been a steady increase in the number of sexual harassment cases since the 1991 Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearing. A recent Supreme Court ruling that an employer can be held liable for sexual harassment, even if the employer is unaware of the incident. This should serve as a warning to business owners to develop or refine company policies. The ruling falls under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which also protects non-victims form working in a â€Å"sexual hostile† environment. In essence, an employee can sue a company if he or she witnesses others being harassed, reports and nothing is done. Follow these steps to protect your company:  · Develop and establish a policy. Your company policy should clearly define sexual harassment, list several examples and explain procedures for filing complaints and follow-ups.  · Investigate every complaint. Take immediate action when informed of an incident. Carefully research the allegations and respond with the appropriate actions. Seek outside counsel if necessary.  · Many managers aren†t sure how to handle a claim of sexual harassment. Provide training for management and staff so they clearly understand what harassment is, how to prevent it and how to handle it.  · Have a clear procedure for filing complaints. Employees should have a non-threatening process in place to report an incident, discuss any behavior they feel is unprofessional. Stress confidentially and that you, the employer, will not tolerate retaliation against any employee for coming forward. Give all the employees the names and phone numbers of human resources and other staff to contact. Provide sexual harassment training. There are countless words to describe stress. The fact remains that stress is an essential part of life. It is inescapable and in moderation, a good thing. I think stress makes people feel vital and interested. The crucial difference between stress that clobbers and stress that invigorates is usually no more than an individual†s reaction. There are myriad ways to deflect the damages such as meditation, drug therapy or changes in lifestyle. Stress often undermines physical, emotional and intellectual energies exactly when strength in these areas is most needed, periods of heightened pressure. The body mobilizes energy to deal with the crisis by releasing the hormone adrenaline, which causes a racing pulse, accelerated breathing, in a sense of feeling keyed up. The next stage is less obvious but more dangerous if allowed to go unmonitored. Sugar and fats are reserved for emergencies then released into the bloodstream, creating pressure and fatigue. This when people start to self medicate with coffee, cigarettes and alcohol. Generalized anxiety, poor concentration and memory loss become common, as with minor illnesses. Finally, as energy reserves are drained, bodily systems begin to malfunction. Sleeplessness, disruption in eating patterns and personality changes often occurs. This stage is exhaustion, which leads depression. Employee assistance programs (EAPs) are very useful in reducing stress. Companies can develop EAPs themselves or outsource them. Experts advise companies to help workers find a way out of their stressful situations through counseling, friendship and communication. Most people have used a brain altering substance at some time, be it alcohol, an anti-anxiety medication, or a stimulant. Such substance can be helpful in removing our inhibitions, enabling us to relax, or making us feel better about things. While most can take them or leave them, an increasing number of people are finding that using these substances is no longer a choice, but necessity. They need them to function normally and will suffer physical symptoms of withdrawal without them. In medical term, they are substance dependent or addicted. There are myriad treatments and approaches to substance abuse. As with most mental illness, a combination of medical treatment and psychological counseling is usually most effective. Medical treatments may alter the body†s reaction to a substance, reducing cravings, or change a substance†s effect. There is usually a mental disorder that coexists with substance abuse, depression or anxiety. For the disorder psychoactive medications are often prescribed. First a person must want or ask for help. They may want to talk to a clinician if they feel comfortable doing so. If you have access go to mental-health clinics to speak with someone who specializes in treatment. Whomever you talk with, the issue must addressed in depth. If not seek out another healthcare professional. How to cite The American Business Society, Essay examples

EVALUATING NORTH AMERICAN HEALTH SYSTEMS Essay Example For Students

EVALUATING NORTH AMERICAN HEALTH SYSTEMS Essay I received an 78% in a third year Public Finance Course for this paper. Criticisms were that I did not detail why private enterprise does not work. Also that a couple of paragraphs were too long. I am a third year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Economics. EVALUATING NORTH AMERICAN HEALTH SYSTEMSINTRODUCTIONCompensating the affairs of economic efficiency with the demands of sociopolitical rights is a constant source of tension in Canada and the United States alike. In no other element is this tension more apparent than in the group of complex markets we call the health care system. Canadians have been fortunate enough to receive a universal health care system for nearly forty years. This is a single-payer system funded by the governments, both provincial and federal, but at what costs? Is health care not unlike any other commodity, or is it the privilege of every citizen? Health care has elements of common economic behavior, however, there are also certain social values associated with it. It is this struggle of defining what health care is that causes such anxiety among economists. The Canadian health care system is slowly crippling the economy, and reforms must be devised to preserve the pride of Canada; our health care system itself . The pluralistic health care scheme of the United States, as well, has serious socioeconomic implications, and American policy makers are looking toward the model of the Canadian system for answers. Both the United States and Canada must reform health care policy, but to what extent? Obviously these questions cannot necessarily yield clear, concise answers, however they will provide insight into analyzing the current and proposed systems of health care. Certainly if Canada is to maintain a high standard of care it must adopt an economically efficient, revenue generating system. Moreover the United States must adopt the single-payer system of Canada while still retaining a strong revenue base. This paper will discuss the strengths and shortcomings of the Canadian health care system, and how health care is a sociopolitical enigma. Furthermore, how the single-payer system is the only realistic response to the growing inadequacies within the American socioeconomic status. CANADIAN HEALTH CARE STRUCTUREServing as a general background in its appraisal, it is necessary to outline the history and the ambient factors of the Canada health care that is so sought after by the United States. The Canadian health-insurance program, called Medicare, is administered by provincial governments and regulated and partly financed by the national government. Medicare pays basic medical and hospital bills for all Canadians, where the governments determine the criterion of basic care, to insure and maintain a standard level of service. As early as 1919, Canadas Liberal party promised national health insurance, but the first real step was taken in Saskatchewan, where in 1947 province wide hospital insurance was introduced. A national hospital-insurance act followed in 1958, and by 1960, 99% of Canadians were covered by government run hospital insurance.Saskatchewan was again the first in 1961 to introduce medical-care insurance which covered doctors services as well. Howev er, this was not an easy transformation. In 1962 when the medical insurance act was implemented, the doctors of Saskatchewan went on strike. As a part of the settlement the government agreed to a modified plan that addressed some of the doctors grievances. Despite the opposition from provinces, doctors and insurance companies, national Medicare legislation was in place by 1967, and today health care is a constitutional right. The arrangement reached by all provinces by 1972 was that the federal government paid half the cost of the provincial plans, provided the plans met five principles: accessibility, universality of coverage, portability from province to province, comprehensiveness of service, and government administration.Under the system the health care provider bills the provincial plan directly. The Canadian Health Act, effective in 1984, clarified the national standards and may penalize provinces that allow doctors to bill for more than the Medicare rate. The Canadian provinc es spend a third of their budgets on health and hospitals. High-tech medicine and an aging population have caused Canadas medical costs to rise significantly over the past decade.Increasingly, governments attempt to control costs by promoting personal fitness, cutting back the number of hospital beds and establishing caps on doctors earnings. The costs have become so overwhelming some provinces have considered revoking coverage of prescription drugs for seniors, optometry, physiotherapy, and chiropractic treatments. There are no doubt different views regarding spending for health care, however, few wish to revert to a free market system. In fact, most Canadians consider the health care program the pride of Canada and that they have an advantage over the United States system that costs Americans more. ?Canada spends $1000 less per capita on health care than the U.S., but delivers more care and greater choice for patients.?The Canadian health care system has gone through extensive tra nsitions and is a part of an evolutionary process. AMERICAN HEALTH CARE STRUCTUREOver the past several years, the provision of medical services has increasingly become the responsibility of the state in developed nations, except for in the United States. ?Unlike the rest of the worlds systems, the United States medical care system remains largely private and entrepreneurial.?The popularity of free market health care systems was fueled by its successes in technological and pharmaceutical inventions that followed the wartime experiences. This reinforced the American public to resist government interference in health matters. Nevertheless, public funds have been used, and there has been a certain degree, public administration in the health system. ?The inability of millions of citizens to obtain or to pay for even minimal levels of care forced the federal government to intervene.?It was not until the early 1960s the United States government passed the Medicare and Medicaid laws that es tablished the federal government as an integral part of the health system. The U.S. medical care system is primarily based on the private practice of medicine and job related health insurance programs. American health care is essentially entrepreneurial, with physicians earning their income through a variety of reimbursement mechanisms other than salary, such as the following: fee-for-service, capitation, and per-session. However, this structure is changing as more and more doctors are employed by health maintenance organizations (HMOs). These organizations offer comprehensive service and maintain a certain level of control of spending by regulating doctors billing. Costs have risen enormously forcing the government to raise more and more funds to accommodate the needs of the public. The following pie graphs illustrate the economic scope of the American health care system of 1990 and that of the dawn of the 21 century. .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328 , .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328 .postImageUrl , .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328 , .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328:hover , .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328:visited , .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328:active { border:0!important; } .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328:active , .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328 .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1df10fabe596f90b38e6fa763543d328:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Drug addiction EssayFIGURE 1. FIGURE 2. Laborious efforts have been made to contain and control costs, without limiting access and the availability of service for the poor, aged, and debilitated. Consequently, the mixture of private and public health care systems is characterized by maldistribution of resources and serious inadequacies of access. The current health care system of the U.S. is laden with deficiencies. To illustrate these shortcomings; 17% of the population, some 40 million people, are not covered at all, and another 40 million are only partially covered.Some HMOs make it a condition of a physicians salary that he or she not overstep the boundaries of insurance costs. This raises questions of whether the doctor may be tempted to limit needed services or fail to take adequate steps to establish a diagnosis, and may discharge a patient prematurely. In the early 1990s the United States was in a state of uncertainty. Despite highly trained staff and stock piles of high technology, the United States health care sy stem was a statistical failure. It ranked 16th in the world for infant mortality rates, and life expectancies fell short of that of most industrialized countries. President Clinton has made the most visible attempt to reform the health care program in the United States. Both he and his spouse, Hillary Rodham Clinton, have developed a strategy to prepare and propose a health reform program that the public would understand and accept, and that would neutralize opposition from pharmaceutical manufacturers and the health insurance industry.This illustrates the necessity not only for the evaluation, but the development of alternatives to attain greater economical and social efficiency. The current system is clearly inadequate, the problems are evident: a large percentage of the population cannot access sufficient medical care, and is not covered or protected against the climbing costs. A system whose costs are out of control, and a growing national deficit that the health care system hea vily contributes. Unmistakably, the United States health care system is grossly incompetent in providing the public with a standard level of care, and reforms must be taken to contain the swelling costs. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE?Economic efficiency and sociopolitical rights consistently clash in a capitalist democracy, and this tension is prevalent in the health care system. A basic economic concern is whether health care is like any other commodity. The health care industry can be analyzed with economic frames of reference: wealth, risk aversion, efficient transfers, and utility.However, there are certain symbolic elements of health care that cannot be easily measured. Cultures have fundamental beliefs that encompass the valuation of life and health. Bearing this in mind, it would only seem realistic that there is some sort of right to health care. Nowhere in the American Constitution is it stated that an individual has the right to some basic set of health care services, however, there are certain undefined responsibilities the government has. It can be argued that the Declaration of Independence supports the right for each and every citizen to h ave the basic care needed to sustain life so as to exercise ones liberty and to allow the pursuit of happiness. It has been argued that there is a common-law right to equal services, a right of equal access to basic services: such as drinking water. Furthermore this right extends to all citizens and is beyond the reac