8/22/14 - Biggest Issues in the U.S.

     Today the United States faces many problems that we need to overcome, such as unemployment rates, government debt, and health care issues. Unemployment rates has always been a problem that we face, because there simply aren't enough jobs to fit all the people who live in the country and the many others that will migrate here. The government debt will continue to rise as the country continues to spend more money. Affordable health care is a big issue in our country compared to others. There are multiple other issues in our country today, but I believe these are some of the most important.
     In July 2014 job growth slowed and the unemployment rates unexpectedly increased to 6.2 percent as more people entered the labor market. There are many people in society who want to work but have given up searching and those working part-time because they cannot find full-time employment. Also, the ranks of the long-term unemployed continued to grow and the length of time Americans are spending unemployed rose after reaching its lowest point in more than five years in June. There are many approaches the U.S. could take to reduce their unemployment rates. Faster economic growth could be viewed as a means of generating more jobs for the unemployed.
     Another big issue that we face is the U.S. government debt. America looks like a rich nation, but our overall debt tells a different story. At the end of 2014, the total government debt in the United States, including federal, state, and local, is expected to be $21 trillion. During the past decade and a half, the U.S. national debt has grown at four times the rate of its national economy. There is no easy solution to getting out of debt, but a few possible changes with things such as efficiency, financial stability, and real spending cuts could improve the economy.
     For many Americans, the cost of health care has been an obstacle to receiving needed treatment and valuable preventive services. There are many people who can't afford health insurance so they will often avoid going to the doctor when they are ill. Compared to other countries, the United States falls behind on quality, efficiency, and health outcomes. As a solution, the Affordable Care Act has been set into motion, providing health insurance to some of the 50 million people who lacked it. Studies show that due to how bad our health care is, it will take more than better access and equity to resolve them.
     There are many major problems in America that don't have easy solutions and will be around forever. With the right leadership and persistence, there are different steps that can be taken to make the country a better place for everyone. It won't be a simple process and will take several years, but I believe that it can be done. A country's economic issues reflect the distribution of intellectual and material resources in its society. No country is perfect and each faces their own set of problems.