Christina Luu

Professor Hamman J.D

Political Science 1

Domestic And Foreign Policy

Domestic Policy: Means-Tested Programs

The means tested program was created to was created to help those with a low income. This
program is also known as welfare has gotten much criticism from people because it is said to
cause dependancy. Under this program people who are qualified receive cash assistance in the
form of a welfare check. They are also offered food stamps, Medicaid, and children get health
insurance as well. Some other benefits of this program is that it provides social services and
training so people are able to find jobs from it. People believe that this legislation would lead to a
higher poverty rate as well as homelessness and hunger. I believe that this program has its own
strength and weakness. For example the welfare check could make people dependent on it. The
dependency comes from the fact that there is no work incentive when people are able to receive
welfare benefits without doing anything in return. (Haskin) According to research although
poverty rate has been on decline from 2004 until 2008 because of the welfare program, it has
steadily increased after that. I believe that the program does have its flaws but it is also very
helpful to some families. Especially with the food stamp program. The food stamps program
which is funded by the Department of Agriculture and food gives money to low income families
that can only be used on food. This has decreased the rate of malnutrition in children. My stance
on this program is that it is important and needed to help low income families. The reason for
this is because it has the ability to help people who dont know where to start to get their life on
track by providing social services and training. It also provides food so people can use the little
money they have on other important matters. Although this program is helpful, the dependency
issue can be addressed with slight changes in the program. One way to do this is maybe decrease
the amount of years a person can rely on welfare from 5 to 3, this can allow a person enough
time to learn how to provide for themselves.

Foreign Policy: Security Issues

After the Cold War ended some new issues arose in the United States, one of it being new
security issues. These issues include terrorism threats and weapons of mass destruction. The
issue of terrorism was brought to the forefront after the tragedy that occurred on September 11,
2001. On this day the World Trade Center and the pentagon was attacked. Since this incident
America has been taking action in preventing another act of terrorism from happening. The
foreign policy has also shifted since this incident and president Bush initiated the global war on
terror. This policy not only shifted politics in America, but it strained relationships between
America and the rest of the world including its allies. (Terrorism and the Future of U.S. Foreign
Policy in Southeast and Central Asia.) This new policy has mostly created tension between the
United States and people of the Muslim community around the world. As if now I do not believe
the United States has found a good policy to preventing terrorism. We will need to control
military, policing, and intelligence methods all depending on circumstances other than
generalizing it. Another problem with national security is with the creation of weapons of mass
destruction. In 2002 President Bush declared Iraq, Iran and North Korea as the axis of evil, due
to their ability to create weapons of mass destruction such as chemical, biological, or nuclear
weapons. In 2012 North Korea announced that they will stop construction of mass weapons in
return for food or its population. Iran on the other hand has been constantly refusing to slow its
nuclear development. The United States has a high priority to prevent nuclear proliferation.
President Obama's goal was to eliminate nuclear weapons completely and pushed Russia and
China towards a arms reduction agreement. In 2011 Russia signed an agreement, but no progress
was made with China. On this issue I agree with president Obamas plans to eliminate nuclear
weapons completely, this is because they are too powerful ad have the ability to wipe out huge
populations at a time. With this type of power and weapons too many people will die.
 Citations

Haskins, Ron. Means-Tested Programs, Work Incentives, and Block Grants. Brookings,
Brookings, 28 July 2016,
www.brookings.edu/testimonies/means-tested-programs-work-incentives-and-block-gra
nts/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2017.

Terrorism and the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast and Central Asia. Terrorism and
the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast and Central Asia | International Affairs
Review, www.iar-gwu.org/node/24. Accessed 8 Oct. 2017