America S Problems

This volume explores several notable themes related to political processes in Latin America and offers insightful historical perspectives to understand national, regional, and global issues in the continent from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. The collected essays focus on Latin American politics such as: political cycles, left-wing political parties, nationalism, progressivism, crime and resistance, violence, authoritarianism, and relationships with the United States, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, and Paraguay. The perspectives of the chapters presented an attempt to seek lines of continuity by highlighting traditional interpretations of new scenarios and refusing to impose a traditional and uncritical linear historical narrative. The fundamental objective of the volume is to provide a rational and critical political-historical explanation of Latin America since the early 20th century with the purpose, among others, of deepening understanding of the present.

A sobering account of a disenfranchised American working class and important policy solutions to the nation's economic inequalities One of the country's leading scholars on economics and social policy, Isabel Sawhill addresses the enormous divisions in American society--economic, cultural, and political--and what might be done to bridge them. Widening inequality and the loss of jobs to trade and technology has left a significant portion of the American workforce disenfranchised and skeptical of governments and corporations alike. And yet both have a role to play in improving the country for all. Sawhill argues for a policy agenda based on mainstream values, such as family, education, and work. Although many have lost faith in government programs designed to help them, there are still trusted institutions on both the local and the federal level that can deliver better job opportunities and higher wages to those who have been left behind. At the same time, the private sector needs to reexamine how it trains and rewards employees. This book provides a clear-headed and middle-way path to a better-functioning society in which personal responsibility is honored and inclusive capitalism and more broadly shared growth are once more the norm.

“Important and riveting . . . The solution isn’t to redistribute wealth from the have-mores to the have-lesses. It’s to redistribute political power to everyone.” —Robert B. Reich America faces daunting problems—stagnant wages, high health care costs, neglected schools, deteriorating public services. How did we get here? Through decades of dysfunctional government. In Democracy in America? veteran political observers Benjamin I. Page and Martin Gilens marshal an unprecedented array of evidence to show that while other countries have responded to a rapidly changing economy by helping people who’ve been left behind, the United States has failed to do so. Instead, we have actually exacerbated inequality, enriching corporations and the wealthy while leaving ordinary citizens to fend for themselves. What’s the solution? More democracy. More opportunities for citizens to shape what their government does. To repair our democracy, Page and Gilens argue, we must change the way we choose candidates and conduct our elections, reform our governing institutions, and curb the power of money in politics. By doing so, we can reduce polarization and gridlock, address pressing challenges, and enact policies that truly reflect the interests of average Americans. Updated with new information, this book lays out a set of proposals that would boost citizen participation, curb the power of money, and democratize the House and Senate. “Brilliant, indispensable, and highly accessible.” —New York Journal of Books

This volume explores several notable themes related to political processes in Latin America and offers insightful historical perspectives to understand national, regional, and global issues in the continent from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. The collected essays focus on Latin American politics such as: political cycles, left-wing political parties, nationalism, progressivism, crime and resistance, violence, authoritarianism, and relationships with the United States, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, and Paraguay. The perspectives of the chapters presented an attempt to seek lines of continuity by highlighting traditional interpretations of new scenarios and refusing to impose a traditional and uncritical linear historical narrative. The fundamental objective of the volume is to provide a rational and critical political-historical explanation of Latin America since the early 20th century with the purpose, among others, of deepening understanding of the present.

This book is intended be a thought-provoking discussion of real issues in the healthcare debate as seen through the eyes of suffering consumers. "He who feels it, knows it" It is not intended as a substitute for any study generated by specialists in the fields of finance, economics, government, or healthcare related law. It simply documents and discusses challenges in health-related experiences in everyday life of ordinary people, not law makers. It is a "he, who feels it, knows it" life record of experiences of the under-privileged in America. This straightforward read incorporates the health systems of different countries with the purpose of provoking the reader to analyze and compare the healthcare system in the United States of America with that of other countries, some of which are industrialized nations, while others are developing nations; and to challenge the government representatives on the issues. Peter Schoppa of Germany (Chapter 10) states, "Health insurance and nursing insurance are ruled by the principle of legal liability to insure. Immaterial are age, sex, and personal status, state of health or citizenship of the insured." The U.S. is faced with a health crisis that impacts its past and current economical situation. U.S. Census Bureau August 2008 report that: there were 35.920 million uninsured U.S. citizens and 9.737 million uninsured foreign nationals residing within the United States, that is "nearly 46 million" uninsured people in the United States. What is often discussed in the media is rather exciting, loquacious, and thrilling. These discussions and conclusions relate to issues occurring on another planet - NOT this one down here! I believe that the treatment of the healthcare issues as presented in this book will help law makers and the media, make informed decisions about universal healthcare on this planet - Earth!

Considers goals, priorities, and functional problems of community institutions and programs to improve the urban environment. Includes "Demographic Change and Racial Ghettoes: The Crisis of American Cities," by Herbert Hill, NAACP natl labor sec (p. 99-153).