Economics: The American Government
Most of the problems of the United states are related to the economy. One of the
major issues facing the country today is social security.
The United States was one of the last major industrialized nations to establish
a social security system. In 1911, Wisconsin passed the first state workers
compensation law to be held constitutional. At that time, most Americans
believed the government should not have to care for the aged, disabled or needy.
But such attitudes changed during the Great Depression in the 1930's.
In 1935, Congress passed the Social Security Act. This law became the basis of
the U.S. social insurance system. It provided cash benefits to only retired
workers in commerce or industry. In 1939, Congress amended the act to benefit
and dependent children of retired workers and widows and children of deceased
workers . In 1950, the act began to cover many farm and domestic workers, non
professional self employed workers, and many state and municipal employees.
Coverage became nearly universal in 1956, when lawyers and other professional
workers came under the system.
Social security is a government program that helps workers and retired workers
and their families achieve a degree of economic security. Social security also
called social insurance (Robertson p. 33), provides cash payments to help
replace income lost as a result of retirement, unemployment, disability, or
death. The program also helps pay the cost of medical care for people age 65 or
older and for some disabled workers. About one-sixth of the people in the United
States receive social security benefits.
People become eligible to receive benefits by working in a certain period ...