Literature

Raising The Federal Minimum Wage - 969 Words

On June 16, 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announced a plan to help raise the United States out of the Great Depression. At the heart of this plan was the idea that wages must be set and fair. â€Å"No business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country.†(Roosevelt) This plan became the Fair Labor Standards Act, which set the Federal Minimum wage. Minimum wage has increased, slowly, over the years, but has not kept up with its intended purpose. Raising the federal minimum wage to a fair living wage level will improve the lives of the working poor, without adverse economic consequences. Congress enacted the minimum wage to provide Americans with a wage that could support themselves and their families. In the Statement on Signing the National Industrial Recovery Act, FDR told Americans, â€Å"and by living wages I mean more than a bare subsistence level-I mean the wages of decent living.† (Roosevelt) Experts agree a living wage is a wage that allows a worker to provide for themselves and their family, pay for food, shelter, clothing, and transportation without the assistance of government aid. (Clary, 1065; Dreier, 86; Levin-Waldman, 27) Most Americans agree with the minimum wage hike. According to The New Labor Forum, â€Å"73 percent of the public—including 90 percent of Democrats, 71 percent of independents, and 53 percent of Republicans—favors raising the federal minimum wage† (Dreier, 3) This isShow MoreRelatedRaising The Federal Minimum Wage889 Words   |  4 Pages In my report, I will go into detail and show how raising the federal minimum wage would positively effect the economy. In doing so, I will be discussing how an increase in the federal minimum wage would make a vast improvement on the way many low income families live, and also how raising the federal minimum wage would boost the economy as it desperately needs. In raising the federal minimum wage, one might argue that it would cause a spike in the unemployment rate. The reasoning is that it wouldRead MoreRaising The Federal Minimum Wage799 Words   |  4 Pages In the US, President Barack Obama urges Congress to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour from $7.25. Although some Republicans oppose to this action, overwhelming majority of Americans see that is a good idea (The Guardian, 2014). Regarding to the issue of minimum wage, there have been lots of debates for a long time. Some economists such as Milton Friedman deeply believe that minimum wage kills jobs, but some like Alan Krueger and David Card think, to some extend, it actually increasedRead MoreRaising The Federal Minimum Wage1277 Words   |  6 PagesThe idea of raising the federal minimum wage that has developed nation wide attention, including protesting and arguments, has caused many discussions on why it could potentially help the economy grow and how it could r esult in the crash of the economy. Many people feel like raising the federal minimum wage is a must, while others think it will destroy the economy. There are many benefits that come with raising the federal minimum wage, but those benefits also come with many disadvantages. TheRead MoreRaising The Federal Minimum Wage1225 Words   |  5 Pages Study shows that wage increases do lower poverty, by 2.4% if wage at $8.00, consistent with other studies. (Washington Post/ Arin Dube) 1. Raising the federal minimum wage doesn’t cause substantial unemployment as most economists agree, including over 600 economists who wrote a letter to Congress urging a wage increase, and the Economic Policy Institute. A. Identify shortcomings of the opposition (fallacies they make, or weaknesses in the evidence they use) 1. Arin Dube’s study would be great,Read MoreThe Benefits of Raising the Federal Minimum Wage1334 Words   |  6 PagesPicture this: You are a single parent of two, you work 40 hours a week plus occasional overtime at a minimum wage paying job, you struggle to put food on the table to feed your family, and then you receive a call from the bank saying that your home is being foreclosed. This is the situation faced by thousands of Americans every year due to low income and wealth inequality. The federal minimum wage (FMW) as of April 2014 is $7.25, which is not enough to keep a family of two above the poverty line.Read MoreEconomic Outcomes Of Raising The Federal Minimum Wage1489 Words   |  6 Pagespercent of all wage and salary workers. Among those paid by the hour, 1.3 million earned exactly the prevailing federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. About 1.7 million had wages below the federal minimum. Together, these 3.0 million workers with wages at or below the federal min imum made up 3.9 percent of all hourly paid workers†(Ratio of Minimum Wage). The Federal minimum wage drives debate among people today, and with many wanting the federal government to raise the minimum wage to fifteen dollarsRead MoreMinimum Wage And Fight Income Equality On Numerous Occasions1470 Words   |  6 PagesPresident Obama has expressed his desire to raise the minimum wage and fight income equality on numerous occasions. On January 20, 2015, president Obama made the following statement in his State of the Union Address: Of course, nothing helps families make ends meet like higher wages†¦and to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: if you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, go try it. If not, vote to giveRead MoreMinimum Wage Laws For The United States Essay1742 Words   |  7 PagesThe minimum wage is the mandated price floor paid on hourly or daily basis for the employees regulated by the government or the union. In â€Å"Federal Minimum Wage†, New Zealand and Australia enacted the first minimum wage law during the late 19th century to prevent employers’ exploitation of workers. In 1912, Massachusetts passed the first minimum wage legislation in the US that was enforced for women and children, and fifteen more states followed in the next eleven years. However, the Supreme CourtRead MoreU.s. Federal Minimum Wage Essay951 Words   |  4 PagesCongress passed the federal minimum wage law in 1938 as part of their Fair Labor Standards Act. Federal minimum wages were intended to ensure fair wages were paid to an alarming amount of women and youths employed and paid substandard wages. This also seems to be the case today, where countless Americans who work full time, cannot make ends meet by making minimum wage. Evidence shows that raising the minimum wage would drive consumer spending, thus producing faster macroeconomic growth. W age stagnation isRead MoreU.s. Federal Minimum Wage Essay1162 Words   |  5 PagesThe current U.S. Federal Minimum Wage is $7.25 per hour. In just two years from 2013, the demanded from advocates for raising minimum wage rose from $9 to $15. However, raising the minimum wage is more complex than simply raising the number of federal standard of pay for employees. Relative control groups and other market activities play a part in the outcome of the minimum wage. For example, one instance of market activity was observers said that raising the minimum wage did not hurt individuals;

Alices Adventures in Wonderland Study Questions

Alice in Wonderland (Alices Adventures in Wonderland) is a famous and beloved childrens classic by Lewis Carroll. You may find these questions useful for book club discussions, Â  to help you with your studies, or to help with any discussion of the book. Questions for Study and Discussion What is significant about the title?What are the conflicts in Alice in Wonderland? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional)?How does Lewis Carroll reveal character in Alice in Wonderland?What are some themes in the story? How do they relate to the plot and characters?What are some symbols in Alice in Wonderland? How do they relate to the plot and characters?Is Alice consistent in her actions? Is she a fully developed character? How? Why?Does Alice change and/or develop as a human being?How does Alice relate to other characters in the book?Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters persons you would want to meet?Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why?What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?How does the past figure into the novel?How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?How does Carroll use poetry in this novel? Why?Would you recommend thi s novel to a friend?

Same War, Different Tatics Essay examples - 1237 Words

Same War, Different Tactics Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were both important activists in the fight for civil rights. They had the same desire for equal rights; however, they adopted very different views on how to achieve those rights. As Goldman says in Malcolm X: Witness for the Prosecution, â€Å"Malcolm and King were not so much Manichaean opposites as halves in a yin-yang duality deep in the black soul† (pg. 226). King is known as a peaceful man who used a nonviolent approach. He used what he called â€Å"weapons of love† to fight for freedom. King was fighting to show people that they could accept blacks and look at them as equals. It was vital for him to find peace among all races and overcome the hatred felt for one another. Malcolm†¦show more content†¦He believed that â€Å"normal and healthy discontent can be channeled into the creative outlet of nonviolent direct action† (â€Å"Letter† 30). It is understandable that blacks were enraged with the way they were mistreated for years. King felt this rage should be channeled into proactive ways to change the way blacks were viewed. He goes on to say â€Å"If your repressed emotions are not released in non-violent ways, they will seek expression through violence† (â€Å"Letter† 30). King encouraged black people to feel, to be upset, and then fight for the freedom that blacks deserved. Malcolm used an aggressive and much more militant approach in his fight for civil rights. In Goldman’s â€Å"Witness for the Prosecution† he states â€Å"Malcolm saw his life as combat and his words as his weapons†¦he had no other strategy (pg. 222). He wanted to do more than join sit-ins ins and marches. He thought that it would take drastic measures to change the thought process and opinions of both white and black society. In Malcolm’s speech â€Å"The Ballot or the Bullet† he emphasizes that â€Å"As long as you gotta sit down philosophy, you’ll have a sit down thought pattern†¦A coward can sit. Anything can sit. Well you and I have been sitting long enough†¦it’s time to start doing some standing, and some fighting† (pg.5). He believed that to obtain the freedom that African Americans deserved, they would need to use an â€Å"any means necessary† approach. WhatShow MoreRelatedWhite Devil A True Story Of War, Savagery, And Vengeance1347 Words   |  6 PagesUnited States Army Rangers, and every Ranger must memorize his Standing Orders. The tactics he used are now what the modern public and historians consider â€Å"American style fighting† or Indian warfare. Stephen Brumwell’s book White Devil A True Story of War, Savagery, and Vengeance in Colonial America is not just a history like what has been written before, it is an in depth look into the story behind Robert Rogers, the St. Francis raid; his most infamous raid, and all those involved. The book is writtenRead MoreThe Ideals of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Mao, and Stalin Essay1674 Words   |  7 Pagessocialism that Engels uses to refer to Marx’s analysis of political history. Scientific socialism exams social and economic methods’ using the scientific method and it tries to mimic the hard sciences like chemistry and physics. Scientific socialism is different from utopian socialism because it takes into consideration the historical developments of men while utopian socialism does not. According to Engels when referring to utopian socialist, â€Å"To all these, socialism is the expression of absolute truthRead MoreBiography of Christopher Bruce2260 Words   |  10 Pageseven these have a strong undercurrent of emotion. Bruce uses a wide range of starting points, particularly poetry, literature, music, newspaper articles and world events. For example ...for those who die in cattle reflects his views and concerns of war, rooster is his idea of relationships , swansong is probably one of his most moving and emotional pieces and tackles the very serious issue of torture. His views on the general human condition are portrayed in waiting. Throughout his career, Christopher

Freedom Of Speech And Assembly - 1366 Words

We see the word â€Å"freedom† appear everywhere in America. Our national anthem proudly proclaims that we are â€Å"the land of the free†; however, when people assert that this country was founded as a nation of freedom for all, they seem to conveniently forget that the only people such â€Å"freedom† applied to at the time were property-owning white men. Many would think that we have evolved as a nation since then, but various incidents throughout American history prove otherwise. Merriam-Webster helpful defines freedom as â€Å"the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action.† Obviously, the majority of the population does not consult dictionaries often enough to realize that this definition does not correspond with what we consider â€Å"freedom† today. While the true meaning of freedom has remained the same over the years, people’s notion of what freedom actually entails has been altered massively. Perhaps some of t he most valuable rights that we have been given are those to freedom of speech and assembly. The ability to join together with other people and openly voice opinions is supposedly a freedom that the United States protects. In past years, however, instances of police officers using unnecessarily harsh tactics to quell peaceful protests appeared everywhere in the news. Ferguson, Missouri stands as a shocking example of such actions. The shooting of teenager Mike Brown sparked a quiet protest by Ferguson citizens, which quickly went awry when â€Å"police stoked thoseShow MoreRelated Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition Essay examples767 Words   |  4 PagesFreedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition There are three main reasons why we have or need our Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. First, the 1st Amendment gives us our independence. Second, it also gives us the right to express ourselves. Last but not least, it allows people to express themselves without constraint by the government. The 1st Amendment is a very essential freedom that everyone should be entitled to. OurRead MoreI Had A Dream Speech By Martin Luther King Jr.1684 Words   |  7 Pagesa dream speech† In the duration of five minutes, he made history and changed society’s view upon those with a darker skin tone. On that day he changed many opinions and views, in the matter of five minutes. He proved that we, the American people have the power to change a nation through our words. Not only can we change the world with our voice, but we can change the world through our actions. Protests and gatherings have impacted the United States civilization as we know it. Our freedom of speechRead MoreThe First Ten Bill Of Rights862 Words   |  4 Pagesmake no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress grievance†. This prohibits the government from establishing a religion. To America ns it is important to maintain their civil rights. Freedom of religion, anyone’s can freely express ones religion. This prohibits the government from establishing a religionRead MoreThe Constitution Of The United States Essay1618 Words   |  7 Pagesamendments ever added to the Constitution of the United States. It is designed to protect four basic freedoms: the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to assembly and freedom of the press. When this amendment was drafted by the founding fathers, it was done in response to some of the events that had precipitated the American Revolution. Over time, the interpretation of these freedoms has changed as seen by various actions in government, but especially in rulings from the Supreme CourtRead MoreThe Importance of the First Amendment of the United States’ Bill of Rights for Democratic Government and its Citizens787 Words   |  4 Pagesconnected society right to speech should be accepted to do so. The first amendment is one of the most fundamental rights t hat individuals have. It is fundamental to the existence of democracy and the respect of human dignity. This amendment describes the principal rights of the citizens of the United States. If the citizens were unable to criticize the government, it would be impossible to regulate order. By looking freedom of speech there is also freedom of assembly and freedom of press that are crucialRead MoreThe Free Exercise Of Religion Essay1256 Words   |  6 Pages The free exercise of religion, the freedom of speech, and the freedom of assembly are each absolutely essential for the health of our Republic. That is why the Founding Fathers enshrined them all in the First Amendment. While some people up hold the first amendment and respect its meaning. Unfortunately, these freedoms are currently under assault by the government, state officials and communities. One example, of how a government in school district, many students are able to express themselves throughRead MoreHuman Rights In Australia884 Words   |  4 Pagesfocuses on approaching freedom in different ways. Communist countries such as China, would have a different way of approaching freedom in contrast to Australia. Being ruled by a parliamentary system, Australia achieves freedom through democracy whereas the freedom of China is influenced by The Communist Party of China. Due to these different approaches, this affects both countries freedom of speech, freedom of Education, and freedom of assembly and association. Freedom of speech in Australia is consideredRead MoreThe Freedom Of Speech : Hate Speech1187 Words   |  5 PagesAn Introduction to the Marketplace of Ideas Freedom of speech, along with the freedom of the press, have both become the two most important rights for each American citizen to defend. The First Amendment defends five of the following freedoms: the freedom of religion, the freedom of assembly, the freedom of the press, the freedom of petition, and the freedom of speech (First Amendment Center). All of these freedoms are equally important. However, even when people in a democratic society better acknowledgeRead MoreTextual Analysis of Rudy Giulianis Speech873 Words   |  3 Pagesof Rudy Giulianis Speech Giulianis Purpose and Argument The year 2001, September 11th happened to be a disastrous day for New York City  in America together with all countries worldwide. The calculated attack by terrorists stirred several reactions that were apparent in varied art forms. Other people mourned those who died using poems and songs while other individuals called for urgent action in form of speeches together with letters. One specific rejoinder was the speech from Rudy Giuliani toRead MoreWhy the 1st Amendment Is the Best1142 Words   |  5 Pagesguaranteed the freedom of speech. Other countries don’t have that.† At the time of the amendments’ creation, a vast majority of operating countries had not yet granted their people such freedoms. Granting every citizen of the United States this right seemed to have been an important landmark in this nation’s history. Along with others, this right is declared to the people in the first amendment of the constitution. The first amendment is the most importa nt because it grants people freedom of speech, prohibits

Surgeon as Priest Essay free essay sample

In the â€Å"Surgeon as Priest,† Richard Selzer dives into the religious and scientific aspects of being a surgeon. He explores and divides the certain aspects of â€Å"healing† into five parts, each section demonstrating the different perspectives on healing (spiritually scientifically) that eventually builds the metaphorical bridge between surgeon and priest. With the use of figurative language and other rhetorical devises, he connects each section of his essay to show his transformation from a scientific healer to a spiritual healer. In the first section the use of hyperbole reveals the holy responsibilities a surgeon can have on its people, as a priest might have on his congregates. Selzer compares himself to a â€Å"hierophant,† a person who brings religious congregants into the presence of that which is deemed holy; and in this case he is bringing along the reader to his sanctuary of science. He shows the spiritual responsibilities he has towards the healing of the human body to what a priest might have on his people: that special power to heal/ cure with powers sent from a divine source. Of course this is an exaggeration because he compares himself to a higher being who must do â€Å"magic† to ward of the mysteries he â€Å"trespass[ed]† on; but nevertheless, the hyperbole reveals the correlation of the sanctity that is within a priest to the sacredness that thrives in Selzer. Moreover, it is this holiness that Selzer sees within his (scientific) profession that ennobles and enables him to tie religion and science together. Secondly, Selzer uses crude diction along with an anecdote to reveal the similarity between religious (holy) healing and surgical healing that challenges him to comprehend spiritual healing. His first use of crude diction is appreciated as he details the cancer of Joe Riker, describing it as a â€Å"mucky puddle whose meaty heaped edge rose above† and also â€Å"the chewed dura-mater [that] laid bare this short-order cooks brain. † The use of crude diction serves to classify Joe’s disease as deadly and maybe incurable; yet the striking part is that Joe bluntly refuses to take Seltzer’s â€Å"surgical† method, making Selzer gaze upon Joe remarking the â€Å"dignified† title this tumor gave him as if giving him â€Å"a grace that a life time of good health had not bestowed. † The tumor in other words challenges the scientific position of Selzer, (ethos) to confront the spirituality that dwells within Joe and within that of a Priest. The bewilderment that shocks Selzer is seen as something â€Å"furtive† and spiritual keeps Selzer looking for an answer; and that spiritual secret which Selzer would never know is recognized by Joe, and he takes this secret and crudely says â€Å"no† to the â€Å"operation† Selzer insisted on. Later, Joe’s curing comes not of a surgical operation but of a religious miracle. The similarity between the two is that they both arrive to the same conclusion, (alleviation), yet the one difference is that Selzer is only familiar with surgical healing, healing that is visible to the human eye, while spiritual healing is healing that cannot seen nor understood, a miracle of sorts; and it is the spiritual healing process he wants to comprehend in order to come closer not only to his profession but to the human body-the human mind-and more importantly the holiness within. In doing so, Selzer comes closer to the universal truth, the priest within the surgeon that can just like the holy water grant Joe’s miracle. Clearly in this section Riker’s spiritual healing method is the new found goal Selzer wishes to grasp, yet the one obstacle that impedes him is surgical healing. In the third section of his essay he uses a rhythmic, butchered-belittling, and repetitive almost prayer like diction to convey the falsity of the established religion of a surgeon, science. Selzer describes the neurosurgeons practices as a â€Å"nursery rhyme:† â€Å"Patty, buzz, suck, cut. † The nursery rhyme serves to compare the repetitive prayers of a Priest to the structurally similar practices of the surgeon. As Selzer establishes this parallel with the use of repetitive diction he reveals the similarity between a Priest and a Surgeon for they both practice repetitive rituals. Moreover, maybe, he also elicits that as more repetitive and mechanical the prayers or surgical practices become, the more emotionless the practices of being a Surgeon becomes. It is true that the more blindly you do something the more meaningless that becomes, and for a Priest their religion becomes meaningless and for a surgeon likewise. In this section we see a disconnection of the spirituality between the Surgeon as Priest, yet still, we see the influence religion plays on Selzer. His religion is science, being a surgeon; and the rationality that comes with being a scientist disconnects Selzer to religious faith. This struggle portrays the struggles of many people who try to find â€Å"the universal truth† yet stumble upon belief and disbelief. This section reveals the struggles Selzer has to find which faith, whether science or spiritual is morally the correct faith to practice and not so much which faith is more superior. In the fourth section of his essay he uses a mythological allusion to be open to spiritual healing. Selzer refers to â€Å"Asclepius, the god of medicine† who would heal the people of Greece through spiritual healing. Selzer’s motive for using this allusion is to remind his audience (mainly surgeons) that the time where there was no modernization, ancient people’s method for curing was spiritual healing. Indeed, Selzer is not promoting spiritual healing but very well is now being open to the idea of spiritual healing and adding an alternative to surgical healing. By proposing this alternative, people would have to pray to a god like Asclepius in their â€Å"sleep† and as they â€Å"dream† they would be cured. As in where people of the modern-age would make an appointment, see the doctor, wait tedious weeks for results, and depending on medical procedures they would not be cured later after. The reason why Selzer does not promote either method towards healing is because he wants his rational surgeon audience to think rationally about which method is more reasonable, this way the audience is not inferior or told what to do. In other words the spiritually born again speaker influences the audience to take part of his journey by offering the choice, whether to stick to science or move on to an enlightened path as he. Finally in the last section Selzer uses vivid imagery to reveal Selzer’s full belief of spiritual healing. Selzer vividly describes the diagnosis of Yeshi Dhonden as he was â€Å"suspended above [her] like some exotic golden bird with folded wings, holding the pulse of the woman,† then the â€Å"palpation† of the pulse, turned to a â€Å"state of ritual. † The vividness Yeshi takes to diagnose the woman reflects the liveliness Selzer sees but also shows the awakening in him; the wanting, desire, and urgency to be touched by something so â€Å"holy† and â€Å"divine† as Yeshi, to be held and â€Å"received† by something greater than him; Selzer wants to be received by the spirit within Yeshi, within a Priest. Moreover we can see the bridge and conflict that build throughout the whole essay in this section. Selzer’s first impression of Yeshi is of skepticism, that he will not be able to diagnose the patient. Yet as Yeshi’s faith and spirituality grew more and more with his practices in dealing with the patient (â€Å"bathing† â€Å"fasting† â€Å"pray[ing]†), he builds the bridge between disbelief of spiritual healing to a full belief therein. As Yeshi listens â€Å"to the sounds of the body to which the rest of us are deaf,† we see not only the acceptance of Dhonden’s power but the acceptance of spiritual healing. The use of vivid imagery serves to reveal the openness Selzer takes with spiritual healing, for the way he admirably describes the way Dhonden [listens] to the sounds of the body to which the rest of us are deaf† reveals to us the belief in Dhonden’s abilities, spiritual abilities. Throughout his essay we see the transformation that Selzer has in identifying himself with spiritual healing. In the first section he is very much connected with scientific healing process, yet as it is challenged by Joe Riker, who introduces a new form healing-spiritual healing by a miracle- we see Selzer’s inner conflict in understanding this different form, then we see what was his challenged religion of science be butchered and belittled as the syntax that followed it: â€Å"Patty, buzz, suck, cut,† then we see an inclination towards spiritual healing by the use of mythological allusion, and finally we see his full belief in the spirituality within. More importantly Selzer is able to complete his metaphorical bridge between science and religion and show his scientific praising audience that spiritual healing and faith are not only an alternative, but are of equal magnitude to scientific curing. If Selzer is able to be touched by â€Å"divinity† surely can the reader, the surgeon, and the scientist.

Concept of Universal Health Care

Question: Discuss about the Concept of Universal Health Care . Answer: Introduction: The essay deals with the concept of the universal health care also known as universal health or UHC. UHC is the outcome of WHOs response in 1948 that declared Health a fundamental human right. UHC means the health services will be provided equally to all the individuals and the communities without any financial hardships. These services include essential health services from illness prevention to health promotion, treatment, palliative care and rehabilitation (Sen, 2015). Countries will make progress towards different health related targets if they progress towards UHC. Since UHC helps public to access services that can address the cause of ill health and death, it protects them from financial consequences. The public do not need to pay from own pockets therefore; they are free from the risk of falling into poverty (Tan et al., 2014). For example, the Single-payer health care is a system where the government pays for all the health care costs. The essay discusses the concept of UHC i n Singapore and an overview of the healthcare policy over the last ten years. The Singapore governments ministry of health implements universal health care system. The government implements a system of compulsory savings, price control and savings to ensure healthcare affordability within the public system (Haseltine, 2013). Further, the essay discusses how the government health policies are working towards providing an effective health system. Singapore offers multiple layer of protection through its universal coverage. Singapores health care model involves compulsory health care savings, tax-based subsidies, risk pooling via insurance schemes and ultimate safety net for needy (Lin, 2015). It offers heavy government subsidies (80%) that are accessible by all the Singaporeans in acute hospital wards. Further, Singapore implements compulsory individual medical savings account scheme according to which the public is allowed to pay for their share of medical treatment. It thus, minimises financial burden. Singapore has also implemented Medishield, which is a medical insurance scheme. This low cost scheme allows the public to risk pool the financial risks associated with major illnesses. Medishield includes features such as co-payment and deductibles that promotes individuals responsibility for ones healthcare needs. Singaporeans can also subscribe for Eldershield which protects people from financial risk of struggling with sev ere disability. The other medical endowment fund named as Medifund is the governments safety net for public who cannot afford their medical bills despite heavy subsidies such as Medishield and Medisave (Tan et al., 2014). Many people in Singapore also have private health insurances and are not covered by the governments programmes. The country also allows the people to choose the providers within the government and private hospitals. The patients can also access 24-hour Accident Emergency Departments in the government hospitals (Haseltine, 2013). In 2009, Singapore has established the Agency for Integrated Care to improve the community services and that in nursing homes. It integrates the long-term patient focused care (Chin et al., 2016). The country has established Regional Health systems to link the primary care and the rehabilitation centres with the hospitals. These initiatives of the government are supported by Temasek Cares. The country has launched National Electronic Record Programme in 2011 for supporting telemedicine and telehealth. Once fully developed the system of Electronic Health records it will enable patients to contribute to their personal health records (Fong Tambyah, 2013). In order to manage the rising health care cost, Singapore follows the ideology, Prevention is better than cure. Singapore has implemented preventive healthcare programmessuch as subsidised or free health screening programs. These activities promote healthy lifestyle and reduce substantial incurring of medical expenditure (Wouters et al., 2016). This ideology deals with issue of increasing aging population in Singapore. This principle aims to decrease the increasing vulnerability of the people to the health issues which will eventually decrease the health care costs. To keep the costs in check it regulates the supply and the prices of the health care services (Kumar Ning Zhang, 2008). Singapore government however, does not directly regulate the private medical care costs and are largely subjected to the market forces. These costs vary within the private sector depending on the services provided and the available medical speciality. The government spending on the health care increased from $5.8 billion in 2013-14 to $7.1 billion in 2014-2015 (Fong Tambyah, 2013). The effectiveness of the heath system is ensured by the government through benefits offered by the Medifund and Medisave. The first thing to be noted here is that Medisave only benefits the citizens of Singapore and its permanent residents who are prime contributors of the Central Provident Fund or CPF. Medisave not only allows subsidising the healthcare expenditure but also to pay premiums of Medishield, that is covering 80% of the medical costs at B2/C leveland other shield plans (Choon, 2010). Hence, the subscribers of Medishield can have the most of the outpatient and the inpatient care expenses (deductibles and co-insurance). It thus prevents intake of huge medical assistance and social stressor oh healthcare need. However, it creates a burden on the individual to look after both personal and relatives health care needs in addition to contributing towards CPF (Chen Phua, 2013). It adds to additional burden if the contributor is sole income earner of the family. Hence, it is req uired for Singapore to develop alternate strategy or provide financial subsidies for individuals not contributing towards CPF. This approach will assist Singapore in effectively managing the rising health care costs (Hang et al., 2016). Medifund benefits the needy citizens of Singapore only after meeting a list of requirements such as inability of the patient and the family to pay for the medical expenses inspite of the heavy government subsidies, Medisave and Medishield (Lim, 2010). However, the government though appears to show great concern for the poor and the needy the initiative is still not wholesome. Therefore, the government needs to relook for such patients who are meeting most of the criteria but are refusing to pay the medical bill. Such patients should be eliminated from the benefits of Medifund. On the other hand there may be a family with single income earner who refuses to pay the medical expenses of the dependent households despite being able to. It will increase the health issues of the rest of the households. In 1978, the member countries of WHO have accepted the approach of primary health care with the goal to achieve Health for all which is also known as Alma-Ata Declartion (Choon, 2010). Thus, a decade ago Singapore was not meeting the definition of UHC, which has a prime objective of Equity in access to health services as well as Alma-Ata Declartion. As per this objective every person in need should be able to access the health care services irrespective of who can pay them. These are the areas which are to be revisited by the Singapore government although it has comprehensive and complete health care system (Ng Li, 2011). In order to promote competition and transparency and prevent unwarranted rise in the health care costs, the Singapore ministry of health began to publish the hospital bills to highlight the variation of cost. It was aimed to push hospitals to do more with less, witches later led to some improvements such as the drop in the LASIK prices by more than $1,000 for each eye and is continuing till this day (Hang Thampuran, 2016). It is of great benefits to the consumers. Further, the health outcomes are also published on the websites to encourage further improvement in hospitals which also assists people in making informed choice. There is available statistics that supports the success of the Singapore health system. According to the 2008 reports Singapore spent about $ 10.2 billion on healthcare and expended 2.7 billion on the health services. The drugs in Singapore are kept affordable through Group Purchasing Office that contains the costs of Pharmaceutical related expenditure (Pwee, 200 9). According to Lim (2016), the health care system in Singapore in 2015 was recognised to be the most successful in the world. It has achieved effective results in community health outcomes as well as in financing due to its well-organised health care delivery system. In order to ensure effective health system the government adjusts its policies regularly. Hang et al. (2016) described that the unique features of Singapore are difficult to be replicated in any other country. The medical facilities of Singapore are among the finest in the world. In 2012, the doctor to population ratio was 1:520, the nurses to population ratio were 1:150 and the ratio of dentist to population was 1:3230. Singapore has developed effective health care delivery system. There are 1400 private clinics offering primary care and more than 18 public clinics that provide subsidised care including outpatient, health screening, immunization, pharmacy services and dental care (Lim, 2016). Singapore health care system is strengthening its ties to private general practitioner networks. In 2012, Singapore has introduced the Community Health Assist Scheme which provides subsidies to people from different socioeconomic groups to reduce disparities. The subscribers of this scheme have visits to the participating private clinics that are subsidised for acute conditions, specific dental procedures, chronic illnesses and health screening. There are 460 dental clinics and 720medical clinics participating in this scheme (World Health Organization, 2013). In 2015, Singapore has revised CPF contribution rates to Medisave which encouraged the low- wage workers to save more for their retirement and medical needs (Chen Phua, 2013). Singapore has number of centres that are focusing on the outpatient specialist care such as cancer, skin diseases, cardiovascular diseases, oral care. The National Heart Centre offers full range of treatment to different cardiovascular complications. These centres also conduct research and training program. There are more than 30 clinics offering 24 hours emergency care. Further, public sector has begun renting private clinics to treat subsidised patient due to more number of beds available here. The National Mental Health Blueprint of 2007 guides the agencies involved in mental health care. It laid a groundwork for integrated community living. The voluntary welfare organisations provides a long term care and social support for the elderly population. It has consequently increased the effectiveness of care and has reduced the cost (Chia Chan, 2008). The key drivers promoting UHC in Singapore are organisation and planning, public consultation and regulations (Lin, 2015). The ministry of Health in Singapore undertakes responsibility of needs assessments, manpower planning, cost control, system governance and financing, services planning with the goal of ensuring quality care and responsiveness to citizens needs. The ministry of health has developed core regulatory functions, which are regular conducting of inspections and audits. It licenses health care institutions under the private hospitals and Medical Clinics Act. It safeguards public against false claims by marketing the licensed facilities. The Health Sciences Authority regulates the manufacture, supply, presentation and import of healthcare products and ensures that it meets the internationally benchmarked safety standards. The government of Singapore takes the public and stakeholders views through various sessions and survey. Based on the opinion, the government implemente d various preventive and treatment services such as colonoscopies, mammograms and palliative care. The government also uses performance measurement and scorecard system to improve the performance of health care providers (Lim, 2016). In conclusion, there is a significant improvement in Singapores health care system in the last ten years. It meets the principle of UHC and the Alma-Ata Declaration to a great extent. However, it still needs to address the socio-economic health issues. Singapore government should not manage the rising health care cost issue superficially by addressing its direct influence. Rather, it must prepare its citizens to accept the change and manage the rising health care costs. Hence, recommended approach for Singapore to manage the health care costs by implementing effective strategies is to implement differential healthcare financing schemes to assist people from various socioeconomic group. Further, the current strategies cannot tackle the health care cost due to inflation. Singapore, must review its salary compensation strategy and its employment assistance programs. It can initiate programs to help the unemployed group of people to seek employment in short span of time. 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