Welfare and Democratic Deficit Welfare

Welfare and Democratic Deficit Welfare State - a welfare state is a governmental concept in which the philosophy of the government is that it should play the key role in the protection of its citizens and promotion of economic and social well-being. It is a concept that is based on principles dating back to the Enlightenment, in which there should be an egalitarian conception of opportunity, wealth, and public responsibility for those unable to meet their basic needs.

In essence, a welfare state holds that it is the collective's responsibility to maintain the basic standards for everyone in society, and that society will be better off in the long-term if everyone has access to health care, social help, and an economic safety net. In the modern work, there are two main interpretations of the welfare state. The first holds that the state itself is responsible for the complete welfare of its citizens.

It is universally and comprehensively applied, and is the "right" of each citizen living in that state. A welfare state can also mean the creation of a safety net so that in times of need, citizens may count on that safety net; unemployment, retirement, sickness, or tragedy (Blau and Abramovitz, 2004). Comparing the United States, German, and Japan, we find that there are three very different models.

The United States has a limited welfare system; there is aid available to families with dependent children, social security and Medicare, and a few other forms of state supported assistance, some dating back to Franklin Roosevelt and the Great Depression. There is no universal health-care coverage, although most Emergency Rooms are required to care for individuals without insurance; and there is no universal free education after 12th grade. In Germany, the model is called the "Continental Model," and is used in Austria, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.

The model is based on the principle of security and a system of subsidies that are not related to employment. A high percentage of taxes are collected to provide universal healthcare and education, although as these costs rise, Germany is considering co-pays from its citizens. Social welfare in Japan is based on European models, and as far back as the 1920s concentrated on assisting the ill and disabled. It also provides free medical care with a complex system of public and private funding.

However, as Japan's population continues to age, issues of funding large portions of the population without adequate funding, just as in Europe and the United States, are evident. As for the "right" amount of social welfare system, it is difficult to judge.

One key question becomes how much is a population willing to be taxed in order to fund the social safety net? In general, it seems that the Japanese model is more sustainable in that it combines taxes, governmental funding, and business contribution to find a funding balance that provides comprehensive care to the population while not reaching the egregious tax burdens of many European countries. References: Text Blau, J. And M. Abramovitz. (2004). The Dynamics of Social Welfare Policy.

Oxford: Oxford Democratic Deficit and the European Union - Comparing the institutions and political systems of Europe to other modern democracies one finds that they do not always appear particularly democratic and they often do not share a clear locus of political power or control. This phrase has particular meaning when discussing the European Union, which is unique in terms of political organization.

It is not a federal state, but takes on some of the powers of such; it negotiates international treaties, has a single currency, establishes laws that go beyond country borders, and has an economic system that tends to act and react as a solid bloc as opposed to several individual countries. Some say that the EU is unique in that when compared to an ideal democratic nation-state it has a democratic deficit, but when compared to organizations like the.