Opinion

In my opinion I believe the government is doing a good job in helping us. They provide aid in lots of different ways if you need it. They provide aid to small business owners, farmers, schools, and the poor. They also help protect the environment and consumers from buying harmful foods and drugs. So overall after reading this chapter I believe the american government is doing a good job!

Education

• The government plays and important role in education and provide help to local schools in several forms. In the recent year more than 1 billion dollars in direct aid was contributed as well as more than 10 billion additional funds distributed throughout the states. Throughout the years the government has had lots of programs that aid higher eduction. For example congress passed the Morrill Act in 1862 which granted the states about 11.3 million acres of public land for endownment of colleges.

Public Assistance Programs

• The government provides lots of assistance to the public. They provide aid to families where the main wage earner has been disabled,left, or died. But many people argue that these programs promote fatherless families by encouraging men to leave their families so that they can get special benifits. The government also provides food stamps to increase the food-buying power of the low income families. There is also a medicaid program that helps pay hospital, doctor, and other medical expenses for low income families. The government provides lots of aid to its people and if you need help you know its out there.

Health and Public Assistance

• The United States has two kinds of social programs, they are social insurance and public assistance programs. The social programs where designed to help the elderly,ill, unemployed citezens. Public assistance programs distribute public money to the poor people. But in order for this to happen the government must use general tax revenues to pay for them.


• Whether you are the employer,employee, or are self-employed you must pay a social security taxes. The money from this tax goes towards you retirement.

Agriculture and the Environment

· The government provides lots of aid to farmers. The department of agriculture provides important services to farmers. They help farmers market their produce, stabilize farm prices, conserve land and develop rural areas, and promote research in agricultural science. The farmers’ home administration was established to provide loans for farmers to buy land, livestock, seeds, equipment, and fertilizer, to build homes, to dig wells and to obtain disaster relief.They also advices farmers on the demand for crops, current prices, transportation methods, and when and where to sell their products.

· The government does not only protect the farmers but they protect the land, air, and water. To help lower air pollution the government has the clean air act. This act, which has been modified throughout the years, requires automobile-emission testing. To help lower water pollution the government established Water Quality Improvement Act which prohibits the discharge of harmful pollutants in to the waterways. The department of agriculture has been a part of the restoration of millions of acres of forest used for outdoor recreation, timber, wildlife, and more.

Government and Labor

· Throughout the 1800’s labor unions were formed to try and negotiate better wages, working hours, and working conditions. The employers often refused and the unions were forced to go on strike. There were up to 37000 strikes throughout the 1800s, until the government took control and established the department of labor. Today the department of labor sets minimum wages, maximum working hours, and prohibit child labor to keep the people happy.

Government and Business

· The federal government provides four types of subsidies to businesses. They are tax incentives that allow them to deduct certain expenses from the tax returns, government loans that provide funds for businesses at low interest rates, free services like census reports and weather information and lastly direct cash payments to businesses whose products or services are considered vital to the general public.

· The SBA or Small Business Administration offers credit subsidies and gives free advice and information to small businesses. Regional offices of the SBA offer classes on sound management practices for the small business owners. Businesses can also look for advice from the SBA on how to fix their problems. The SBA also has programs to help women and minorities in business. So as you can see the government provides lots of help to businesses.