Domestic Policy

For Tuesday, Davidson, ch. 15.

Guidance on papers.

Path Dependence: past events or decisions constrain later events or decisions. Many current programs and policies are descendants of past programs and policies

Agricultural price supports

• Background (Ag Dept founded 1862)
• 1933 Agricultural Adjustment Act
• Agribusiness replaces the Joads
• How it operates today

Prescription Drug Costs

• Social Security Act (1935) births Medicare and Medicaid
• Did NOT include prescription drugs, which became more important in later decades

Other examples:  tax policy, education policy

Templates

• Legislative langauge
• Protest

Interaction of policy and politics.  Politics makes policy, which makes politics.

• Ag Outreach and Farm Bureau
• Lobbies

Another example:  student loans

Loss Aversion.  Controversial programs and decisions become the status quo.

• Affordable Care Act and the McCain thumbs down

The Impact of War

• World War II and Disability Rights
• Cold War and Civil Rights