Food Stamp Usage Across the United States on the Rise (Discussion Questions)

1.  Spend 10 minutes playing this budget simulation "game". Write a paragraph reflection of your experience.
http://www.playspent.org/


Causes of Poverty

Spend a few minutes looking over the results of this npr online poll on public attitudes about poverty:

http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/poll/poverty/


2.  When was this online poll conducted? (Hint: look at the copyright at the bottom of the page.)


3.  Why do you think it is important to know when the poll was conducted?


4.  Do you think public attitudes about poverty have changed since this poll was conducted? Why or why not?


5.  According to the results of this poll, what do most Americans perceive as the causes of poverty?


6.  According to the results of the poll, how do black and white Americans differ in their perceptions of poverty. Four examples are given. Please list two of them (include percentages).

Later, you may participate in this online poll:

http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/poll/poverty/poll.html

Food Stamp Usage Across the United States on the Rise (Discussion Questions)

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/28/us/20091128-foodstamps.html

7.  Find Crawford, Iowa, Richland, and Sauk counties in Wisconsin. What percentage of children are receiving food assistance in these counties? 

8.  Of these four counties, which county has the highest percentage of children on food assistance?

9. Still looking in Wisconsin, find the county with the highest percentage of children receiving food assistance. What county is it?

10.  What county and state has the highest percentage of people receiving food assistance?

11.  What county and state has the highest percentage of children receiving food assistance?


Read the full story here (not required):
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/us/29foodstamps.html

Make your voice heard here (not required):
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/30/business/economy/2009-economy-words.html

Spend some time comparing medical bills by country:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=110997469

12.  Briefly describe what kind of health care system the United States has (system type).

13.  Briefly describe what kind of health care system Great Britain has (system type).

14.  Briefly describe what kind of health care system Japan has (system type).

List two notable features and two challenges for the health care systems in:

15.  United States

16.  Great Britain

17.  Germany

18.  Japan

19.  Which system do you find most appealing? 

20. Why?


Learn more about health care systems around the world (not required):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8201711.stm