1. List a few major challenges you think would impact the future economic well being of the United States. Explain why these are crucial challenges and how they can be overcome. Your response must make references to short term fluctuations as well as long-term economic growth prospects.
As I see it, the U.S. national debt is one thing that will have a huge impact on the future economic well being of the United States. As of July 19, 2015, the U.S. national debt equals $18,158,174,556,882.73 (U.S. National Debt Clock), which is 101.53% of the gross domestic product (Trading Economics, 2015). From an individual’s perspective this exorbitant national debt will potentially lead to higher taxes, reduced benefits (for example Social Security), and higher interest rates. The national debt has continued to increase approximately $2.05 billion dollars per day since September 2012 (Trading Economics, 2015). If the U.S. government doesn’t find a way to curb the current expansionary fiscal policy, the United States could find itself in a situation similar to Greece over the past few weeks.
As a healthcare provider and someone who sees the firsthand effects of the current system on patients and healthcare organizations, I am very interest in healthcare reform and its impact on the Federal budget deficit. With healthcare expenditures in the U.S projected to reach 34% of the GDP by 2040, the case for healthcare reform is a no-brainer, and President Obama’s monetary policies sought to remedy this. However, the Affordable Care Act in its current form is not the answer. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates Obamacare enrollment of 9.6 million people in 2015, with current enrollment only 1 million lives shy of that goal (Market Watch). However, just because more people are insured doesn’t mean that access to care is really any better. A Gallup study