Running head: POLICY TOPICS 1
Policy Issues
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POLICY TOPICS 2
Policy Issues
Different policies have been enacted to protect and improve the lives of minority
groups in US. Some of these policies originated in Civil Rights Movement and have been
amended to reflect the changing nature of US politics. Some of the most controversial
policies are related to ageing population, rights of LGBT community and people of color.
Ageing population
Policies for the ageing population are contentious issues in the USA. One of these
policies is the Private long-term care program where premiums are made regularly for
benefits that will be covered in the future (Gorman, 2017). This policy helps the elderly
population with such things like toileting, nursing home stays and bathing depending on how
much the beneficiary is paying. Employers like the federal government provide subsided
policies, but these insurance are mostly sold to individuals. Private long-term policies are
controversial. They are expensive and not affordable to the majority of the elderly population.
Besides, not every senior person can buy long term insurance. The coverage is restricted to
people with pre-existing health complications.
LGBT community
In 2015, the US secretary of defence, Ash Carter, announced that gay and lesbians
would be allowed to serve in the military, in what came to the Military and Equal
Opportunity policy. To some people, the policy was a milestone to ensuring service members
are not discriminated because of their sexual orientation (Stander & Thomsen, 2016). The
plan was an attempt to live according to the values defended by Americans, including equal
treatment of all people. However, there some who see the policy as a sign of moral decay.
POLICY TOPICS 3
People of colour
The adoption of affirmative action policies meant that equal opportunities were
available for people of minority groups, including women and people of colour. President
Kennedy, who ordered that government agents ensure job applicant be employed without
discrimination based on colour, race or creed, made the policy famous (Maddox & Perry,
2018). One of the arguments against formative action is that the policy leads to preferential
treatment. The policy is believed to create a culture of victimisation and implies that people
of colour, especially blacks, require special treatment for them to succeed.
POLICY TOPICS 4
References
Gorman, M. (2017). Development and the rights of older people. The ageing and
development report. Routledge.
Maddox, K. B., & Perry, J. M. (2018). Racial appearance bias: Improving evidence-based
policies to address racial disparities. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain
Sciences, 5(1), 57-65.
Stander, V. A., & Thomsen, C. J. (2016). Sexual harassment and assault in the US military: a
review of policy and research trends. Military Medicine.
