¶ … Johnson administration's "Great Society" initiatives? Defend your response.
As for intentions, the Johnson administration's "Great Society" initiatives should be given an A. When he took office, Johnson saw that the country's success following World War II was declining and there was a potential for the country to enter a period of serious decline, a situation which ultimately did come to pass in the 1970s and again in the present period. Programs such as Medicare and Medicaid which were created during this period have continued to benefit Americans fifty years after their initial creation. However, given that much of Johnson's attention was being given to the escalation of the Vietnam War and Johnson's encouragement of American involvement on that front, the actual effectiveness of the "Great Society" initiatives deserves a final grade of B- or C+. He was successful in getting the Civil Rights Act passed and tried to help Americans living in poverty. He also created legislation to help American receive education both in grade school, high school, and in higher...
Despite his attempts to help people in serious need, it is apparent from looking at the present American society that Johnson was not successful. There are still large numbers of Americans who are living in poverty. Education is given to all citizens, but not equally. Communities which are more affluent have better schools, better teachers, betters supplies, and the students who attend those schools have more success when they enter the adult workforce. Those who live in poverty are highly unlikely to enter higher education because there is an impetus to enter the workforce at a younger age. An additional consequence is that these youths tend to have children at a younger age and in greater numbers and their children will also be unlikely to transcend their upbringing. Poverty still begets poverty.
Topic 2: How much faith do you have that Social Security and Medicare will be there when it is your turn to receive these benefits? Explain.
I have very little faith that programs like Social Security and Medicare will still be there when I come…
