What are the real differences between the Democrats and the Republicans on major economic issues that influence the character and vitality of the American economy? This volume answers this question in a thorough, nonpartisan, and evenhanded fashion. Both the Democratic and Republican parties proclaim that they have the best interests of the nation and its people at heart. Both are also adamant that they have the best proposals and positions on economic policies, including taxation, spending priorities, wages, business regulation, and other influences on economic growth and household finances. This volume carefully examines the two parties' respective policies, providing a detailed yet readable and understandable look at how the parties agree, disagree, and find compromise on the broad range of problems and issues facing American society in the 21st century. Each entry includes an infographic that offers bulleted "at-a-glance" summaries of the two parties' positions on each issue today, an "Issue Overview" providing basic definitions and background for understanding the debate on each issue, and a main entry that explains prevailing party sentiments, the diversity of opinion within each party, and the shifts in party position on that issue over time. Selected entries also feature informative sidebars that supply additional content, such as primary documents that showcase the viewpoints of key political figures and institutions or biographical profiles of individuals who have helped shape their party's policies on the issue in question.

This book examines ten key issues-poverty, housing, taxation and the economy, child welfare, education, health, criminal justice, civil rights, and global issues-confronting social work professionals and places them in their larger context. The introduction to each issue identifies its genesis or the reasons that the issue became a dominant theme in the policymaking agendas of Congress. The second and third sections of each issue provide actual arguments written and spoken by elected officials, both in the U.S. Congress and the Presidency, representing liberal versus conservative viewpoints on the issues. By providing the actual text of the arguments and refraining from interpreting and biasing the political viewpoints of the legislators, the book enables students to critically evaluate each side of the debate and to become empowered to bring about change. The vantage point of Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy is that both liberal and conservative policymakers have good reasons for holding their respective beliefs. Students thus are provided with the opportunity to learn about the other side. This knowledge will improve students' confidence when approaching policymakers and enhance their ability to be effective advocates. Understanding both sides of issues central to social work professionals will facilitate the development of arguments and policy options that satisfy decision makers of either political orientation.

This book examines ten key issues-poverty, housing, taxation and the economy, child welfare, education, health, criminal justice, civil rights, and global issues-confronting social work professionals and places them in their larger context. The introduction to each issue identifies its genesis or the reasons that the issue became a dominant theme in the policymaking agendas of Congress. The second and third sections of each issue provide actual arguments written and spoken by elected officials, both in the U.S. Congress and the Presidency, representing liberal versus conservative viewpoints on the issues. By providing the actual text of the arguments and refraining from interpreting and biasing the political viewpoints of the legislators, the book enables students to critically evaluate each side of the debate and to become empowered to bring about change. The vantage point of Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy is that both liberal and conservative policymakers have good reasons for holding their respective beliefs. Students thus are provided with the opportunity to learn about the other side. This knowledge will improve students' confidence when approaching policymakers and enhance their ability to be effective advocates. Understanding both sides of issues central to social work professionals will facilitate the development of arguments and policy options that satisfy decision makers of either political orientation.