Budget and Tax Policy Issues

Some of the contraversies with it are the necessary tax level, whether deficits should be tolerated, and whether the tax burden should be primarily on the wealthy. Because our government responsibility is divided between the federal government, the states, and local government; taxes are collected by all of these branches. The income tax is the principal tax collected by the federal government. As measured by the Gross Domestic Product, the federal tax level ranged between 17% and 20% during recent decades until it precipitously dropped under the 17% level because of the Bush Administration tax cuts. The Federal Budget is presently $2.5 trillion which represents about 20 percent of the gross domestic product. Contrary to common perceptions, the cost of the federal government when compared to the GDP has steadily decreased from a peace time high of 23.5 percent in 1983. Defense expenditures have gone down while Social Security, Medicare and interest expenses have gone up. One reason for the increase in Social Security portion of the budget is that there are far more retirees entitled to Social Security benefits now then there were in the 60s. A budget deficit occurs when taxes do not generate enough income to cover the costs of government programs. Unlike many states, the federal government is under no mandate to balance the budget on a yearly basis. To a certain extent, government revenues are dependent on the state of the economy. If the economy is robust and there is low unemployment, more people will have taxable income and revenues will increase. the income tax is a progressive tax which means that individuals with larger incomes bear a larger tax burden. The degree to which the tax is progressive has fluctuated significantly in the past two decades and more of the tax burden has shifted to the middle class. From the mid-1960s until 1982 the tax rate ranged from about 15% for the lowest brackets to about 70% for the highest. Under President George W. Bush's tax proposal the maximum tax bracket would be reduced to 33%. The ultimate tax package agreed to by Congress has reduced the maximum rate to 35%. There is a wide difference between the two parties. Republicans favor lower taxes and low marginal rates for the wealthy. Republicans overwhelmingly supported the tax package passed by Congress in 2001, whereas it was opposed by most Democrats.  Democrats supported the 1993 legislation which raised the maximum tax rate.


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Issues with Death Penalty

In June 2008, the Supreme Court held that it was cruel and unusual punishment to use the death penalty against individuals convicted of raping a minor. In April 2008, the Supreme Court has held that lethal-injection procedures in Kentucky do not violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. The number of Americans supporting the death penalty has begun to decrease, although over 60% still support it. China has become a more visible international power, its excessive use of the death penalty has come under increasing international scrutiny. Capital punishment was widely applied in ancient times throughout the world. The modern movement for the abolition of capital punishment began in the 18th century with the writings of Montesquieu and Voltaire. Today, over half the countries in the world have abolished the death penalty either by law or through practice. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1972 struck down state death penalty laws, a ruling that also brought federal executions to a halt. In 1976, the court reinstated the death penalty after the adoption of new procedures. The number of executions has gradually increased as appeals have become exhausted. In 1999, the number reached 100 but it has dropped since. Among the 50 states, the death penalty is abolished in 13 states and 5 more states have not carried out any recent executions. In most states the method of execution is by lethal injection although in several states the prisoner may choose an alternative method. Nebraska stills mandates electrocution but a court decision has held that the method is unconstitutional. On March 1, 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court abolished the death penalty for minors. Prior to this ruling, minors were subject to the death penalty in a majority of states where the death penalty is practiced.



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Issues on Religion

Historically, religion has always been associated with government and politics. Much of the history of the Western world involves the influence of Catholicism and, subsequently, the Protestantschisms. The first settlers to the U.S. arrived primarily because of religious motivations. In reality, religion has been less influential during the past half century. Modern governments, especially in the developed world, have been profoundly influenced by Democratic principles which emphasize the importance of the common man and a sharing of the world's resources. Recently, though, the United States has been profoundly affected by two important religious-based political phenomena. As the military leader of the Western world, the U.S. has been targeted by Muslim extremists who are bitterly opposed to many Western values – perhaps the most important being the open displays of sexual imagery which dominate Western films, television programming and advertising. George W. Bush has been very receptive to what he describes as "faith based" initiatives and at least some of his political success can be attributed to his religious beliefs. Christian vote was significantly in support of Bush while those professing no religion voted overwhelmingly for Kerry. Generally, the more advanced the economy, the less importance the public gives to religion. The concept of separation of church and state does not mean that churches should not have influence in public affairs. Rather, it is associated with the idea that governments should not favor one particular religion over other belief systems. In the modern world, the concept of religious freedom has broad international support. Beginning with the 1948 adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and continuing with the nearly global ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the nations of the world have affirmed the principle that governments have a fundamental responsibility to protect freedom of religion. The absence of institutional integration between church and state does not mean that religions are unconcerned about state matters. In most countries, marriage is recognized as both a religious and civil concept. In many, including the U.S., civil marriage registration is incorporated into the religious ceremony. Religious considerations affect many issues which confront modern governments such as the death penalty, stem cell research, same sex marriage, divorce policy, and abortion. Religion in the modern world is dominated by Christianity and Islam, both of which share an ancestry with Middle East Judaism. It is indeed fascinating that these religions, which began in such a small and remote area, could have so quickly and universally spread throughout most of the world. The U.S. remains overwhelmingly Christian although the percentage of the population indicating this preference has dropped from over 90% to 75% over the last 20 years.

Budget and Tax Policy Issues

Our government responsibility is divided between the federal government, the states, and local government; taxes are collected by all of these branches. Income tax is the principal tax collected by the federal government. Federal tax level ranged between 17% and 20% during recent decades until it precipitously dropped under the 17% level because of the Bush Administration tax cuts. Defense expenditures have gone down while Social Security, Medicare and interest expenses have gone up. When the state and local government sector of the economy is added, the total government portion of the GDP is between 25% and 30%. This rate of government spending and revenue is approximately equivalent to Japan and far less than Canada and other European countries. a budget deficit occurs when taxes do not generate enough income to cover the costs of government programs. When there is high unemployment, tax revenues will decrease but government spending will not correspondingly decrease unless Congress cuts spending programs. Congress accepted much of President Bush's proposal for tax relief and passed a major tax reduction package in 2001. Now there is no longer a budget surplus and the budget deficit is growing faster than projected. The income tax is a progressive tax which means that individuals with larger incomes bear a larger tax burden. The estate tax has been a permanent part of the federal taxation system since 1916. The current estate tax consists of the traditional estate tax, plus two additional components designed to close loopholes. There is a wide difference between the two parties. Republicans favor lower taxes and low marginal rates for the wealthy. Republicans overwhelmingly supported the tax package passed by Congress in 2001. Democrats supported the 1993 legislation which raised the maximum tax rate.

issues on abortion

Abortion a big issues for American citizens. The partisan political divide on the abortion issue mirrors the sharp divide in public opinion on the subject. In 2005 the abortion controversy became reinvigorated within two vacancies on the supreme court. Prior to the controversial 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, all fifty states banned abortion, with some exceptions which varied by state: to save the life of the mother, in cases of rape or incest, or if the fetus was deformed. This legislative ban reflected the prevailing public attitude towards abortion. The Roe decision declared most existing state abortion laws unconstitutional based on a "right of privacy" which the court determined to be implied by the bill of rights. This decision ruled out any legislative interference in the first trimester of pregnancy and put limits on what restrictions could be passed on abortions in later stages of pregnancy. Today, the controversy over abortion remains a focus of political debate. A slight majority of voters favor legalizing most abortions. Abortion is generally permitted in most developed countries and prohibited in most underdeveloped countries. America has the most unborn deaths due to abortions.

Issues of political reform

Americans and polticians are concerned that our democracy is not properply working. The most important dictator is that americans are so apathetic and they do not vote. Voteer turnout went to a all time low in 1966. A quarter of americans believe that the government has no effect on their lives. Another 10% says they do not know if goverment has a positive or negative effect. The cost of political campaigns has dramatically increased since the past three decades. In the 1966 election, over $400 million was spent for advertising. Most observers increasingly high cost of political counterproduction. Only canidates who able to raise large amounts of money can run for office. The major role in elections played by expensive television advertising is believed to distort and cheapen the political discourse. The first major campaign enacted in 1974 in the wake of the Watergate scandal. This legislation established strict disclosure requirements for donations. Some of this legislation was struck down by a Supreme Court decision in 1976. There were many proposal for political reform. Proposals were public finacing for campaigns, providing free or reduced cost media access, ban "leadership" pacs. Democrats have gfenerly supported campaign finance reform. Republicans tend to benifit more than Democrats from the financing system and are less interested in reform.

Issue On Drug Policy

The federal government authority to regulate illicit drug supercedes state legislation which  legalizes the use of Marijuana for medicinal  purposes was held by the U.S supreme court in June, 2005. Our present drug laws were first enacted at the beginning of the century. At that time use of narcotics wasn't a major social issue. The first criminal laws were enacted which were addressed opium products and cocain. There was no criminal legislation for the use of marijuana until 1937. The use of alchol was a major social issue in the U.S in the early 20th century. Heroin was also big because of its high price and uncertain purity, it was associated with crime and frequent overdoses. The war on drugs was launched by President Reagan in 1982. Under the direction of the President a national office was created to coordinate efforts to address the illegal drug problem. The trend applies greater fiscal resources toward stricter drug enforcement aimed at stopping importation and sale of drugs. The commonly used recreational drugs (heroin, amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana) are for the most part banned worldwide and have been throughout the past century. Historically, the widespread recreational use of drugs such as marijuana has been limited to only a few countries, including the United States. But Europe, Asia and Africa have been quickly catching up.  Marijuana use has stabilized in the U.S. and Europe but is on the increase in the third world. There are many proposals for changing the Drug Policy. Some proposals are legalization of all drugs, the arguments for this proposal is that if these drugs were legalized and regulated there would be a problem of drug abuse and adressed as a medical problem. The 2008 Democratic platform makes only passing reference to the drug problem by urging expanded use of drug courts and rehabilitation programs. The 2008 Republican Party Platform continues to advocate an aggressive anti-drug campaign which includes improved treatment programs and other innovative approaches.



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