Health race and gender environment crime poverty economy
1. Discuss the organization of healthcare in the United States. Make sure your answer
includes the following concepts: fee for service medicine, the 20/80 problem, adverse selection,
risk pooling, government spending on healthcare, and medical insurance. How do these issues
affect the Obama healthcare reforms? Respond to the Obama reforms (either support or
criticize).
2. Discuss undocumented immigration focusing on those from Mexico. What is the major
factor that brings these immigrants to the U.S.? What is their impact on the country (
government services, taxes, labor markets, poverty, crime, etc.) Use one of the theories of
prejudice and apply it to the situation of undocumented immigrants. How does the situation of
undocumented immigrants relate to the wider Latino community?
3. Discuss global warming. What is it and causes it. What is the role of the newly
industrializing countries (China and India) ? What is the role of the advanced industrialized
countries? What impact does population growth play in this problem?
4. Discuss the relationship between punishment and crime. Make sure you address both
incapacitation and deterrence. How does the U.S. compare to other countries in regards to
punishment? Apply this discussion of punishment to the crime of murder.
5. What are the myths and realities of welfare. Discuss changes in the welfare system (AFDC
vs TANF). Contrast the Social Security system with the welfare system.