Healthcare
Amongst the World’s developed countries, the American healthcare is unique. The major characteristics are: the lack of a uniform health system, no universal coverage, a large number of uninsured Americans (46 million), and the legislation mandating healthcare coverage was only enacted 10 years ago. The healthcare system faces many challenges among them skyrocketing health insurance premiums, reliance on private insurance, and poor public perception among others. The infant mortality rate is a key indicator of the society’s overall health. In 2019, the infant mortality rate was 5.74 deaths per 1000 live births ("U.S. Infant Mortality Rate 1950-2020", 2020) . As of 2017, the average life expectancy in the United States was 78.69 years. In terms of healthcare access and quality in 2018, the US ranked 29 th globally with the biggest barrier to access being prohibitively high costs. In comparison with other 17 high-income western countries, a 2017 study by the National Institutes of Health ranked the US healthcare system as the most expensive and the worst performing characterized by poor efficiency, low access, and inequality. As of 2019, the US still spends more on healthcare per person than all the OECD countries (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development).
Environmental Laws
Energy Policy Act of 2005
The Energy Policy Act was enacted with the goal of enhancing energy efficiency, increasing production of reliable energy, sage exploration of oil and gas, managing motor vehicle emissions, addressing the production of electricity, hydrogen and ethanol, and addressing climate change among other specific goals. Under the EPA, organizations that invest in new technologies that curb the emission of greenhouse gases benefit from loan guarantees.
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Energy Independence and Security Act, 2007
The primary purpose of the Act is to ensure the United States enhanced energy independence and security. Additionally, the Act seeks to protect consumers from the fluctuating oil and gas prices, promote research on mechanisms to cut down on greenhouses, and increase the production of clean energy among other provisions.
Health Forests Initiative
Initiated in August 2002 by the Bush administration with the aim of ensuring more timely decisions, greater efficiency, and improved results in risk reduction arising from catastrophic wildfires. The department of agriculture and the Interior adopted two exclusions from environmental impact statement in June 2003.
Foreign Policy Before and After 9/11
In the years following the 9/11 attack, America has become more aggressive in the war on terrorism. However, in the heightened tensions, the definition of “war on terror” has become vague. ”Americans can no longer define the battlefield or the enemy with clarity. We can’t even define what counts as a “weapon”: a civilian plane? A truck? A line of malicious computer code?” ("15 years after 9/11, this is how the US has changed", 2020) .The war on terror has become boundless and America has increasing viewed any threat that comes its way through the lens of war. Targeted killings outside of the US have increased considerably; surveillance and indefinite detention are now highly prevalent. Such acts would have been considered illegal before 9/11. While it is acceptable that during wartime, many acts which normally are prohibited are allowed it in times of war, the suspension of ordinary rules does not seem temporally anymore. American troops in the Middle East are now a symbol of America’s foreign policy. Prior to 9/11, America’s foreign policy was anchored on support for democracy and the protection of human rights globally.
Democracy and International Relations
As the world’s oldest democracy, the United States is founded on principles among them life, liberty, and happiness. This then implies that America is bound to respect other democracies around the world without any interference. Strong support for human rights has always been at the center of the country’s foreign policy. While Americas supports human freedoms around the world, it is bound to do so without imposing its own values on the people. Determining what tools are most effective to promote democracy and protect human rights has a direct impact on the scope of the American government.
References
15 years after 9/11, this is how the US has changed. (2020). Retrieved 26 February 2020, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/09/15-years-after-9-11-how-has-the-us-changed/
U.S. Infant Mortality Rate 1950-2020. (2020). Retrieved 25 February 2020, from https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/USA/united-states/infant-mortality-rate
