Government policies and individual welfare

Русском языке.

I Прочитайте текст. Опираясь на информацию текста, найдите отве-

Text B

III.Замените подчеркнутое в предложении слово, используя один из

предложенных вариантов (A, B, C, D), который, на ваш взгляд,

наиболее точно передает значение всего предложения:

Local authorities also receive grants from the central government.

A. gifts

B. awards

C. scholarships

D. funds

ЗАДАНИЯ К ТЕКСТУ

ты на следующие вопросы:

1. How is poverty viewed in the United States and why?

____________________________________________________________

2 In what way do governments grant benefits to individuals?

____________________________________________________________

3. What do public assistance programs include? Who are they directed

toward?

____________________________________________________________

II. Письменно своими словами изложите основное содержание текста на

III. Задайте к тексту 6 – 7 вопросов разного типа.

(1) The most controversial problem any government faces is how to promote social and economic equality among its citizens for it requires government action to redistribute income from rich to poor. On the one hand, most people believe that government should help the needy. On the other hand, they do not want to sacrifice their own standard of living to provide government assistance to those they may distinguish as lazy and incompetent. This choice, for example, had been at the center of many of the major conflicts in the US public policy since World War II. Poverty in America has always been viewed as disgrace and, indeed, many Americans still hold this view.

(2) At one time, governments in many countries limited their activities to the minimum protection of people and property – to ensuring security and order. Now, however, almost every modern nation may be characterized as a welfare state, a concept that stresses government function as the provider and protector of individual well-being through economic and social programs. America today is far from being a welfare state in the same sense that Sweden, Germany or Great Britain. These nations provide more medical, educational, and unemployment benefits to their citizens.

(3) However, the US government today plays an active role in providing benefits to the poor, the elderly, and the disabled. The object of these domestic policies is to improve conditions that individuals are powerless to prevent. This is the social welfare function of the modern state. Government grants benefits to individuals through social insurance and public assistance. Social insurance does not require a demonstration of need; whereas public assistance relies on proof of need. Social insuranceis a government – backed guarantee against loss by individuals, regardless of need. The most common forms of social insurance guard against losses due to worker sickness, injury, and disability; due to old age, and unemployment. Most countries provide a system of insurance that compensates workers who lost income because they were injured in the workplace. Americans refer to this type of insurance as “workers compensation”. There are also family allowance programs, which provide regular cash payments to families with children, regardless of need. In some countries, these programs include grants for education and maternal and child health services. All industrialized countries of the world except America have such programs.

(4)The most widespread type of social security is an old-age benefit program. Old-age benefits programs today are programs of universal participation; they are administered directly by the national government. Benefits, in the form of monthly payments, begin when an employee reaches retirement age, which is different in different countries. In Russia it stands at sixty for men and fifty - five for women, whereas in the United States it is sixty-five, though people can retire at sixty – two, but with reduced benefits. Nowadays the age at which full benefits are paid in the USA is increased to sixty – seven.

(5) Public assistance is a government aid to individuals who can demonstrate a need for that aid. Public assistance is directed toward those who lack the ability or the resources to provide for themselves or their families. Public assistance programs include: 1) old- age assistance for the needy elderly not covered by the old-age pension benefits; 2) aid to the needy blind, 3) aid to the needy families with dependent children, and 4) aid to the totally and permanently disabled. These programs have now become entitlements. In America they are administered by the states, but the bulk of the funding comes from the national government’s general tax revenue.

(6) Social welfare includes government programs that are developed to provide the necessary minimum living standards for all citizens. Income for the elderly, health care, subsidized housing, and nutrition are among the concerns addressed by the government social welfare programs.Programs to aid the elderly and the poor have been transformed into entitlements which are rights that accrue to eligible person. These government programs have reduced poverty among some groups, especially among the elderly.

(7)The recent history of US government support for social welfare policies shows that half the national spending goes to individuals. The national government clearly remains a provider of social welfare despite changes in administrations.

Примечание:

welfare state страна с хорошо развитой системой мер

в социальной области

well-being ( n) благосостояние, благополучие (материальное)

benefits (pl.n) пособия, льготы

disabled (n) инвалид

social insurance coциальное страхование

public assistance государственная помощь

family allowance денежное пособие, выплачиваемое на детей

и иждивенцев

social security cоциальное обеспечение (за счет

государственных налогов)

old-age benefit пособие по старости

dependent (adj.)находящийся на иждивении

entitlement (n) неотъемлемое право, предоставление права

general tax revenue государственные доходы от сбора налогов.

nutrition (n) питание

accrue (v) предоставлять, доставаться

eligible (adj) избранный

UNIT SIX

Text A

Дата добавления: 2014-12-27