Introduction
The US has developed many social programs to address the problem of poverty, such as programs targeting medical and social services, educational opportunities, housing, and childcare. Yet, the nation still lags behind other industrialized counties in two ways: income equality and social problems (Jansson, 2019).
Discussion
The lag in income equality can be seen from statistical data: the income inequality ratio in the US is nine to one, which is worse than in Portugal, the UK, France, Canada, Germany, and some other countries (Jansson, 2019). This ratio means that people with low incomes in America are poorer than those in other mentioned countries. A possible reason for this gap in income equality lies in American history, namely, the Gilded Age. It was a period from 1865 to 1900, during which there was a considerable gap between the poorest and the richest, and no party in the government represented the working class to defend their interests (Jansson, 2019). Because of the extreme income inequality caused by the Gilded Age, the US still lags behind other nations despite its social advocacy efforts.
Another social welfare advocacy policy in which the US performs worse than other countries is incarceration. This is one of the many social and health problems faced by Americans. Statistics show that, due to the high-income inequality ratio, the US has a higher index of health and social issues compared to other industrialized nations (Jansson, 2019). In particular, since this data indicates the problem of poverty in the US, it also implies that the incarceration rates in America are higher than in other nations because poverty and crime are interrelated (Jansson, 2019). The gap in this social issue can be attributed to the fact that, until the 20th century, virtually no policies existed to support the working class. Hence, the poverty rate remained high, and so did incarceration rates.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would advocate several social investments to reduce the disparity between the US and other countries. First, I would advocate for reducing military spending and allocating a portion of these funds to healthcare, education, job creation, and the construction of affordable houses. This measure seems justified because military expenditures in the US are considered excessive (Jansson, 2019). I would also advocate for increasing the marginal tax rate for the wealthiest Americans to reduce income inequality.
Reference
Jansson, B. S. (2019). Social welfare policy and advocacy: Advancing social justice through eight policy sectors (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.