Assignment 2: Discussion—Exploring Social Problems and Policies

Welcome to the discussion for module 1. This week, we will discuss social problems and policies. These problems include poverty, crime, unemployment, violence, dependence on the welfare state, restriction of religious, human, and civil rights, and other issues. This discussion calls for you to identify the social factors that contribute to the problem. This is a difficult task for several reasons. First, these factors may not be immediately obvious. There are numerous elements of ideology, policy, culture, economics, religion, and education, among other things, that lead to the social problems we will discuss. This task is also difficult because of the contemporary trend toward “politically correct” speech. Political correctness is a restraint against the exploration of the causes of social injustice, because it does not allow for free examination of the issue. If a contributing factor or a possible solution does against the grain of current political correctness, it is immediately dismissed. Even worse, those who consider such options may be accused of hatred or bigotry for simply examining some aspect of an issue. The third aspect of your discussion is to examine a social welfare policy that aims to address the particular problem. As you do this, consider whether the problem you have chosen can be legislated into a solution. There is not a political solution for every social problem, and the state is not required to address every social issue that arises. Indeed, some political solutions create new problems or even exacerbate the problem they intend to solve. Explore the political solution not in light of its intent, but of its effectiveness. For example, has the “war on poverty” decreased poverty? Finally, you will discuss this social problem in the context of another country. Explore the political, economic, and social ramifications of such a comparison. I have posted the discussion overview below. I look forward to seeing your responses to our discussion question! Dr. Steve Mathews Assignment 2: Discussion—Exploring Social Problems and Policies In this module you will start thinking about what social injustice is and how public policies at the local, state, and national level may contribute to social problems. Research social welfare policies using your textbook, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet. Select a social problem, for example, poverty, crime, or unemployment. Identify and describe the social factors that contribute to the problem. Identify and examine a federal or state social welfare policy that aims to address this social problem. Employ the textbook’s National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics as a frame of reference and complete the following: Explain whether this social policy addresses the social problem adequately and ethically. Give reasons and examples in support. Research the selected social problem as it exists in one other country. Respond to the following: Compare the implications of this social problem in your community to that of the other country. Discuss how this problem is handled in the other country. For example, pollution of local water sources may be a problem in your community, but how is it addressed in Norway? Give examples and reasons in support of your response. Write your initial response in 300–400 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. By Saturday of this module, post your response to the appropriate Discussion Area. Through Wednesday of this module, review and comment on at least two peers’ responses. Cover the following items in your posts: Provide a statement of clarification. Provide a point of view with rationale. Challenge a point of discussion, or draw a relationship between one or more points of the discussion.

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