Answer

Power and Authority

In the middle ages, Rome became an epicenter of faith because it was the seat of the Pope. Notably, a new era of papal supremacy was ushered in despite the Pope being subordinate to the emperor. The Pope was the source of both power and authority. Whereas power is the ability to exercise an individual’s will over others, authority refers to the power that people have already agreed to follow (accepted power). The Catholic Church’s endurance displays the concepts of power and authority despite criticism by Erastus and Martin Luther, as well as the various ways in which the Church countered the Protestant movements.

The changes that Desiderius Erasmus and Martin Luther advocated for in the Catholic Church are a display of power and authority. For instance, Erasmus deployed humanist techniques to create a new edition of the New Testament and, ultimately, raised issues that influenced Catholic Counter-Reformation and Protestant Reformation. He displayed power when he questioned the abuses in the Catholic Church and even advocated for reform. Martin Luther, on the other hand, demonstrated power and authority when he led and influenced Protestant Reformation while at the same time questioning the concepts of penance and righteousness in the Catholic Church. Nevertheless, power and authority are demonstrated by Luther’s rebellion against the Catholic Church.

The ultimate power and authority of God are seen in Calvinist (Reformed) theology about those elected to receive mercy, the Council Reform, and The Council of Trent. Notably, according to Calvin, God chooses certain individuals to be saved unconditionally, which means that He has power over the rest of the world.  However, the Catholic Church’s power and authority are seen in The Council of Trend, which is the formal response that the Church sent to doctrinal challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation. The power and authority of the Church were seen in how The Council of Trend helped in the Church’s revitalization despite the Protestant extension. Nevertheless, the Society of Jesus and the Orthodox East can demonstrate power and authority.

The fact that members of the Society of Jesus had to accept orders out of anywhere in the world and ensure the salvation of souls is a demonstration of the Catholic Church’s power and authority. Notably, God’s soldiers who belong to the Society commit to endure severe conditions around the world as they seek to bring many souls to Christ. Moreover, the Society was vital in Counter-Reformation and the Second Vatican Council and, hence, a portrayal of the Catholic Church’s influence due to its authority. Even when the Eastern Orthodox Church split from the Catholic Church due to East-West schism, papal primary continued to endure to the present date.

In sum, the Catholic Church’s power and authority are demonstrated through the various obstacles that it had to endure from different angles. For instance, the Church maintained its power and authority despite harsh criticism from the likes of Desiderius Erasmus and Martin Luther. Also, the Catholic Church’s response to issues raised by the Protestant Reformation demonstrates the papal supremacy and its influence because of authority he has over the followers. Also, the submission of the members of Society of Jesus to spread the gospel around the world without questioning their mission further displays the concepts of power and authority.

38.QUESTION

 positive and negative aspects of the United States Social Security program    

Write ANALYTICAL essays
Single spaced; 5-6 pages
The essays should be ANALYTICAL, THEORETICAL, and EMPIRICAL, but should not perceptional or advocatory. The essays should not be collections of summaries or quotations either. Analytical papers entail a study on the CAUSES and EFFECTS of the analyzed subject.

The essay needs to cite at least 7 American SCHOLARLY works (textbooks, media outlets, etc. are NOT scholarly works) per topic. Usage of JSTOR is recommended. It will save your time. Again, text books of Gruber and Carbaugh should not be included.

1. Analyze the positive and negative aspects of the United States Social Security program. Explain positive and negative aspects of several reform plans.

ANSWER

Positive and Negative Aspects of the United States Social Security Program

While several American citizens have an opinion on the subject of public assistance generally, they might or may not be thoroughly knowledgeable about the negative and positive aspects of the country’s Social Security. To formulate a position on the subject of Social Security, an individual must study the history, objectives, and future of this long-discussed security net program. Therefore, this paper examines lessons learned from field literature, which enlightens the variable pros and cons of Social Security within the United States. Various positive features observed include a decrease in poverty and dependency, provision of revenue for elderly and disabled people, and an increase in the living standards of the people within the United States (Bata, Nwaokoro & Seay, 2020; Gruber & Wise, 1998). On the other hand, the Social Security program’s negative features include inadequate funding mechanisms because of increased life expectations of claimants, moral hazard dependence on the support program, and restrictions in place for worker freedom. Additionally, this article expounds on the positive and negative features of various reform plans which have been proposed, including increasing the age of retirement, increase of funding tax base, and reducing the indexed growth benefits.

Why Social Security Program Exists

After the Civil War, several Americans were either disabled, survivors or a widow to a dead combatant (Romig, 2018). Therefore, an increase in the number led to an understanding that the nation needed a retirement pension program. When initially proposed, Social Security was controversial because of the opposition’s feeling that it might diminish the labor force. On the other hand, the supporters debated that retiring and paying the old workers would create employment for young people, which was an essential concern in the time of the Great depression. In 1934, President Roosevelt formed the Committee on Economic Security (CES) and assigned them the responsibility to form an economic security bill (Bata, Nwaokoro & Seay, 2020). Directed by Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins who was the first female to hold a United States cabinet post, the Committee on Economic Security drafted the Social Security Act which was passed on 14^th Aug 1935 and designed to give citizens economic security through their lives (Bata, Nwaokoro & Seay, 2020). The bill consisted of an old-age retirement pension program, joblessness insurance subsidized by companies, health cover for persons in economic distress, financial support for widows with kids, and financial support for disabled persons (Bata, Nwaokoro & Seay, 2020; Romig, 2018).

Positive Aspects of the Social Security Program

In the United States, almost every family enjoys Social Security which touches their lives in one way or another. In a great understanding, the Social Security Program is the foundation of economic security for disabled people, retirees, and families of disabled retired or deceased employees (Romig, 2018). In approximation, about 170 million American citizens give Social Security taxes while 60 million receive monthly aids, with one family in four collecting salaries from the Social Security program (Bata, Nwaokoro & Seay, 2020). Majorly, it is known as a pay-as-you-go program, meaning that current employees pay Social Security taxes in the program, and cash flows back out as monthly salary to payees (Feldstein & Liebman, 2002). One of the main positive impacts of the Social Security program was financially or economically offering relief to the affected families during a loss of job or retirement. Retired individuals benefit from a monthly salary from the program hence sustaining and increasing their living standards (Gruber & Wise, 1998; Feldstein, 1976).

Additionally, the profits of social security programs stretch further than just retirement. In the United States, when individuals have not attained the retirement age, but have met the required age for work, and they are considered disabled under the Social Security Program medical guidelines, they can enjoy benefits approximately equal to what a full retirement benefit would be (Romig, 2018). Furthermore, when one is a surviving partner of an employee qualified for Social Security Program benefit through the retirement of disability, he might be entitled to aids based on the departed earnings records. Analytically, in June 2017, the approximate monthly Social Security benefit was $1,391 per month for retired employees, $1,3071 per month for widowers or widows over the age of 60, $1,172 per month for employees with disability, $2,278 per month for a disabled employee and a partner, and $2,664 per month for a widowed mother and two kids (Gruber & Wise, 1998; Bata, Nwaokoro & Seay, 2020). With these arguments, the Social Security Program works towards a decrease in poverty and dependency, provision of revenue for elderly and disabled people, and increasing the living standards of the people

Negative Aspects of the Social Security Program

Despite having positive impacts on the American citizens, Social Security Program also has various negative aspects, including inadequate funding mechanisms because of the increased life expectancy of claimants, especially when taxes are insufficient (Zhang & Zhang, 1995). In explanation, when life expectancy is increased, more people get into a retirement benefit program. Additionally, another negative aspect includes moral hazard dependence on the support program (Rust & Phelan, 1997). Based on the fact that there is insurance, people might take risks that lead to disability to receive benefits. This leads to a more significant population being on the Social Security Program. Finally, another negative aspect includes restrictions in place for worker freedom (Rust & Phelan, 1997). This is because individuals always have no option on what to do with the money when they have some percentage of their paycheck taken to the federal government to pay for social benefits.

Reform Plans

Positive Aspects of Reform Plans

As proposed, increasing the retirement age majorly protects social security for future generations (Thompson, 1983). On the other hand, increasing taxes such as payroll tax and tax base also solves the Social Security Program’s financial condition since more money is received for running the organization. Additionally, it provides more benefits to more people since they receive more benefits from the programs when the tax is increased. Finally, the reduction of the indexed growth benefits also leads to bi-partisan backing and a middle-ground approach (Thompson, 1983).

Negative Aspects of Reform Plans

Despite having various positives aspects, the proposed reforms also register various negatives, including lack of enjoying or seeing the Social Security Program, especially when the retirement age is increased (Thompson, 1983). This is because, with an increase in chronic diseases at the age of 60 years, others might die hence failing to see or enjoy the benefits. Additionally, an increase in taxes might be a burden to people from low-socioeconomic class and also erode workers’ freedom (Thompson, 1983). Finally, retirees might not keep up with the cost of living during the reduction of the indexed growth benefits (Thompson, 1983).

In conclusion, the Social Security Program was majorly passed to protect American citizens from poverty and provide retirement benefits. More advertently, Social Security Program was supported by payroll taxes. As explained above, this paper examines lessons learned from field literature, which enlightens the variable pros and cons of Social Security within the United States. In a brief explanation, its positive aspects include decreasing poverty and dependence, providing the elderly and disabled with salary, and increasing the standards of living. On the other hand, its negative aspects include inadequate funding mechanisms because of increased life expectations of claimants, moral hazard dependence on the support program, as well as restrictions in place for worker freedom. Additionally, this article expounds on the positive and negative features of various reform plans which have been proposed. These reforms consist of an increase in retirement age, an increase of the funding tax base, and the reduction of the indexed growth benefits.