Discussions Weeks 9-10

Week 10 Discussion

OPTION 1: How Social Security and Medicare Actually Work (and why they are so bad for people)

Please respond to the following:

· Based on the scenario and the knowledge gained from this section, address the following:

·

· Identify at least two changes that may occur for Social Security and Medicare benefits in the next 20 years. Then, describe key policies that the U.S. government could implement in order to ensure positive changes for Social Security and Medicare benefits based on your prediction.

· How was Social Security intended to work versus how it currently works?

· What are some alternatives to Social Security?

· IMPORTANT: Be sure and read Prof. Salley's explanation of how Social Security is designed to function, a historical background to Social Security, and the differences between what Social Security is and is not.

OPTION 2: What topic or issue would YOU like to talk or learn more about?

Rather than your professor giving you a topic, what topic or issue would YOU like to discuss or learn more about? This can be any current event, something you heard or read in the news, or anything in general. The cool part here is that you get to pick.

Respond to Peer Below:

Good morning Professor Salley and Class,

                This week I would like to discuss my own topic of why penalties for crimes are different in every state. I believe when it comes to the judicial system there should be a basic ordinance for all crimes. There should also be laws in place that prevent sentences from being to high for a petty crime. There are so many people locked up for things that they should have just been fined for but instead they are hauled off to prison. This makes small time offenders become bigger offenders after exiting prisons because they already have a record, so it keeps them from certain rights such as the right to bare arms when they become a felon. Some states have a way to earn that right back and it should be like that in every state.

-Alyssa D.