This text examines specific cases where states and cities are ahead of the federal government in providing solutions to social problems.
States and cities are sometimes ahead of the federal government in providing solutions to social problems. The federal bureaucracy often prefers no change to change. Congress is sometimes paralyzed by party and ideological differences resulting in stagnation. In this vacuum, some states provide innovative programs to solve social problems that may be applicable at the federal level.
This book examines specific examples of state and local initiatives to solve these representative social problems: undemocratic practices, poverty, inadequate wages for the working poor, unequal educational opportunity by class and race, the inadequate and inefficient health care system, the environmental crisis, and the decaying or inadequate infrastructure.
Table of Contents:
IN THIS SECTION:
1.) BRIEF
2.) COMPREHENSIVE
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Preface
Chapter 1 Introduction: States and Cities Solving Social Problems
Chapter 2 Democracy and Campaign Reform
Chapter 3 The Environment: Initiatives to Reduce Global Warming
Chapter 4 Building America’s Infrastructure
Chapter 5 Improving Education
Chapter 6 Poverty, Homelessness and Affordable Housing
Chapter 7 Improving Wages for the Poor and the Near Poor
Chapter 8 Health Care for all
COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS:
*Each chapter ends with a Summary and References
Preface
Chapter 1 Introduction: States and Cities Solving Social Problems
Some Words of Caution
Chapter 2 Democracy and Campaign Reform
Democracy and American Elections
Financing Political Campaigns
Campaign Finance Reform
State Governments and Campaign Finance Reform
Maine Clean Elections
Vermont Clean Elections
Arizona Clean Elections
Massachusetts Clean Elections
Connecticut Clean Elections
North Carolina, New Mexico, and New Jersey Public Financing
Other States and Public Financing
Municipal Governments and Campaign Finance Reform
New York City and Campaign Finance
Los Angeles and Campaign Finance
Portland, Oregon, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, Campaign Finance
States and Municipalities Move toward Political Equality with Campaign Finance Reform
Chapter 3 The Environment: Initiatives to Reduce Global Warming
The Problem
The U.S. Response to Global Warming
International Treaties
Rescinding Existing Environmental Statutes
Lax Enforcement
Minimizing the Threat of Global Warming
State and Local Initiatives to Lessen Global Warming
California Leading the Way
Progressive State and Local Initiatives to Halt Global Warming
Postscript: The Federal Government Blocks the States’ Efforts to Mandate Emissions
Chapter 4 Building U.S. Infrastructure
Infrastructure: The Foundation on Which Modern Societies Are Built
Federal Government and Infrastructure
American Society of Civil Engineers and Infrastructure
The Status of Current U.S. Infrastructure
Reasons for the Infrastructure Crisis
Solutions to Infrastructure Problems through State and Local Governments
States and Infrastructure
Cities and Infrastructure
Chapter 5 Improving Education
The American Public Education System: Beloved but Plagued by Controversy
The Changing Role of the Federal Government in Education
Post-World War II: Growing Federalization of Education
Federal Intervention in Education in the Twenty-First Century
States and Local Communities Lead Education Reform from Prekindergarten through Secondary School
Prekindergarten Education Initiatives
Elementary and Secondary School Educational Initiatives
Charter Schools
School Vouchers
Magnet Schools
Homeschooling
Higher Education and Government Initiatives
Federal Involvement in Higher Education
State Governments and College and University Initiatives
Chapter 6 Poverty, Homelessness, and Affordable Housing Poverty, Homelessness, and Affordable Housing: Meaning and Consequences
Federal Poverty Threshold and Guidelines
Living in Poverty
Rate of Poverty
Consequences of Living in Poverty
Homelessness: Its Meaning and Consequences
Causes of Homelessness
Affordable Housing: Its Meaning and Consequences
Federal Antipoverty Programs
Beginnings of Federal Antipoverty Efforts
Social Security--A Retirement and Antipoverty Program
Food Stamp Program
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Effectiveness of Federal Antipoverty Programs
Minimum Wage as an Antipoverty Program
Role of the Federal Government in Alleviating Homelessness
Federal Government and Affordable Housing
State and Local Governments: Beyond Federal Government Assistance to the Poor
State and Local Government Antipoverty Initiatives
Examples of DHS Programs
Department of Housing and Community Services
The Oregon Commission on Children and Families
State Earned Income Tax Credits (EITCs) Programs
State and Local Government: Homelessness and Affordable Housing Initiatives
City Programs for the Homeless and Affordable Housing Initiatives
Chapter 7 Improving Wages for the Working Poor and the Near Poo
The Working Poor and the Near Poor
The Working Poor
The Near Poor
Government Programs to Ease the Burden on the Working Poor and the Near Poor
Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
State and Municipal Earned Income Tax Credit Programs
Federal Minimum Wage
Minimum Wages Set by the States
More Than the Minimum--A Living Wage
Chapter 8 Health Care for All
The Crisis in Health Care
Rising Health Care Costs
The Uninsured
Unequal Access to Health Care
A Health Care System That Relies on Profit
State and Local Health Care Initiatives
Statewide Universal Health Care Coverage
Massachusetts
Vermont
Maine
California
Other State Initiatives for Expanded Coverage
