Local Governments the United States

¶ … Local Governments

The United States Government provides several essential services to its citizens. In this way, the country's leaders fulfill their role as protectors of the people, as well as the promoters of the lives and health of the country's citizens. When considering the good that the government is able to do for its citizens, the two most important services probably include health and education.

Health is one of the most important services, as it concerns the basic rights to well-being of all citizens. The government provides these services in various forms. The most common health care facilities in this regard are free and reduced priced clinics. These are open to all citizens, and provide access to health care for all who need it. The clinics provide access to medical professionals, prescriptions, and other medical attention. While health care insurance is encouraged as the best way to get medical attention, the government provides access to all who are in need, regardless of insurance status (FatNewt, 2011).

To further encourage health care insurance, the government has implemented the Affordable Care Act (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). This Act makes a variety of options available to individuals, families, senior citizens, people with disabilities, young adults, and employers. The government also offers health insurance coverage for children under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). When specific health hazards like flu outbreaks occur, the government supplies flu vaccines and education to prevent further infections.

Another vital service the government provides is education. This is a vital service, as education opens the world of independence to all people. In today's workplace, education is fast becoming a universal prerequisite. The increasing use of technology necessitates not only literacy, but also computer literacy and critical thinking skills. Therefore, children with these skills will have the best chance of making their way in the adult work once they leave school or university.

Specifically, education is made accessible to all children by means of the public school system, which stretches across all states, cities and counties. Furthermore, the law requires all students to be enrolled in school once they reach a certain age, which could vary from state to state. The law does not allow any child to be prohibited from a school education (FatNewt, 2011).

Although tertiary education is not free of charge, the government does promote further education by providing student loans, scholarships, and grants. Every student in the United States has the right to apply for such assistance by using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).