Question 1
Welfare reform in the 1990s and the eventual passing of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 was spawned by new conservative thinking, the New Democrats and mainstream academic thought. What are some examples of these beliefs and how did they influence welfare reform? What aspects of these beliefs led to punitive and morally based reforms? What do you feel were positive aspects of reform? What aspects did not work well?
Question 2
After Social Security reforms in 1983, the program had been put on the path of surpluses for the decades by the efforts of President Clinton to use surpluses to shore up the trust fund. President Bush changed this. What actions did he take? What was his motivation? What stopped his plans? What are the current attitudes today by the political parties and the public? How do you think these powers will influence the long term viability of the Social Security system?
Humor and Violation of Social Norms
Vienna: Social Structure and Social Interaction
When a Tornado Strikes: Social Organization Following a Natural Disaster
Ogburn's Processes of Social Change
Venera Program Collage
The National School Lunch Program