Policy Analysis Paper

docx

School

South Texas College *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

2301

Subject

Political Science

Date

Feb 20, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by PresidentEnergy13018

TLAIB POLICIES 1 Rashida Tlaib Policy Analysis Word Count: 1535

TLAIB POLICIES 2 RASHIDA TLAIB American politician Rashida Tlaib is currently a congresswoman, she was elected as the Representative for Michigan's 12th congressional district earlier this year. She is affiliated with the Democratic political party and is also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Being the eldest daughter of working-class Palestinian immigrants, Tlaib had the responsibility of helping to care for her thirteen siblings while balancing school. She was later introduced into politics because of her father, this inspired her to pursue a career in politics, which led to her being the first Muslim-Palestinian woman to be elected into the Michigan House of Representatives in 2008, which was prior to her election into Congress. Tlaib served in this position from the year 2009 to 2014. She overlooked the 9th and 13th Michigan Districts. Tlaib has been a proud advocate for social justice and progressive ideals. She has loudly shown her support for fair foreign policies in the Middle East, especially Palestine. Furthermore, Tlaib has also proposed various policy positions but the most significant are justice for all and ending poverty. Policy Positions In American politics, poverty is usually an issue that is the main target for many Democratic politicians, and Tlaib does not shy away from her stance on this problem at all. Tlaib introduced the Building Our Opportunities to Survive and Thrive (BOOST) Act (2021), formerly named the LIFT+ Act (2019), which was referred to as the “closest plan in Congress to universal basic income” (Stein, 2019), that allows low-income Americans to receive governmental aid of up to $6,000 annually, starting at $3,000 for those who do not make any type of income, more specifically it “would provide a Middle-Class Tax Credit of up to $6,000 per family per year. A single taxpayer is eligible for up to $3,000 annually, while married couples/families/joint filers are eligible for a maximum of $6,000 annually,” (Tlaib, 2021) in contrast to Kamala Harris’ plan which excludes those who make a $0 income, which Tlaib said “doesn’t make any sense” (Stein, 2019) since they are the people who need it the most. Tlaib has also made efforts to introduce the “End Child Poverty Act (ECPA)” which aims to alleviate child poverty in the United States. However, Trimmer (2023) found that the ECPA “would reduce poverty by 26.2% and deep poverty by 32%. The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) would see its lowest rates on record. Black and Hispanic poverty would also decrease by 30.3% and 32.6%,” highlighting that the act would reduce poverty overall, not only directed towards children. The main approach of this bill is by: For every month beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall pay to each qualified child who has in effect an application approved under subsection (d) a child assistance payment in an amount equal to the child assistance amount for the month. (End Child Poverty Act, 2023) In other words, saying that the qualified child will receive a monthly payment in order to make sure that their necessities are met. Tlaib has also voted to oppose the $858B defense budget, by claiming that instead that money could be used to better meet the needs of struggling and working-class families/individuals. Tlaib (2022) states: I voted against the $858 billion so-called defense budget, the largest ever in the history of our country, while the needs of working families are neglected here at home. This package was $45 billion more than President Biden even requested. It’s outrageous that every year, we spend more on our military, weapons, and war than the next nine countries

TLAIB POLICIES 3 combined, including China, India, Russia, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, Japan, and South Korea. Essentially criticizing the government for spending more money on military weapons and infrastructure, when said money can be used to aid and support low-income communities and will even cost less than the initial $858B. Rashida Tlaib believes that there should be justice for all on all bases of identity, regardless of gender, sex, race, ethnicity, religion, etc. She has fought for human rights worldwide and the recognition of freedom for the oppressed. Tlaib (2023) claims that “at the most basic level, we must protect civil rights and voting rights and ensure a quality education for all. It is also imperative that we work to help create a better pathway toward citizenship for our immigrant communities.” Stating that all civilians deserve basic human rights. Tlaib’s approach to this policy would be by first expanding protections which means to “broadens the civil rights of protected classes by providing tools to combat intentional and unintentional discrimination against people based on (actual or perceived) race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, or national origin,” (Justice For All Act, 2023). The next step toward the solution would be to strengthen civil rights in order to be able to protect citizens from “discrimination in all aspects of life, including housing, schooling, public accommodations, employment, government facilities, privatized government functions, federally funded programs, and any commercial establishment,” (Justice For All Act, 2023). Which condemns any type of harassment or hate crimes based on identity. Tlaib has mentioned repeatedly that justice should not only be limited to the United States but should extended worldwide by suggesting fairer foreign policies. She has demonstrated this by vocally advocating for Palestinian human rights in relation to the apartheid settler colonial state, known as Israel. Because of this ongoing conflict, Tlaib introduced a bill to Congress called “Recognizing the ongoing Nakba and Palestine refugees rights.” (2023) This bill ultimately calls for the United States to “commemorate the Nakba through official recognition and remembrance,” and to “condemn all manifestations of Israel’s ongoing Nakba against the Palestinian people.” Basically, asking the United States to denounce the genocide that is being committed against Palestinians and take into consideration the human rights violations that are present, through international law. Tlaib has also co-sponsored the “Directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress.” (2022) bill, which states that: Congress has not declared war with respect to, or provided a specific statutory authorization for, the conflict between military forces led by Saudi Arabia, including forces from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Senegal, and Sudan (in this section referred to as the “Saudi-led coalition”), against the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, in the Republic of Yemen. This demands that the U.S. remove military forces that are not needed in Yemen in order to prevent any further killings of innocent civilians since there has been a failure to create peace between countries, leading to a lack of resources such as (basic necessities, water, food, etc.) and displacement of Yemeni people. Classical Theorist: Karl Marx Although Marx would agree with Tlaib on ending poverty, it would not seem fully ideal as there are still things lacking. Tlaib does want to end poverty, yet she is still functioning under a capitalist society that inherently holds her back from achieving the true abolition of poverty. According to Marx (1849), “A new social order is possible, in which the class differences of

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

TLAIB POLICIES 4 today will have disappeared…” This means that ending poverty would only come to fruition once the oppressive capitalist system is no longer present. Yet as the cost of living continues to rise, increased civilians are left behind in the process, “...the profit of the capitalist may also rise through improvements in the instruments of labour, new applications of the forces of nature, and so on.” (Marx, 1849). Where things such as inflation come into play making it only more difficult to be able to purchase basic necessities since “markets kept ever growing, the demand ever rising” (Marx and Engels, 1848). In terms of social justice, Marx creates the argument that once the capitalist system is abolished there will finally be justice and it will: ...be very useful morally – there will be the means of life, of the enjoyment of life, and of the development and activity of all bodily and mental faculties, through the systematic use and further development of the enormous productive powers of society, which exists with us even now, with equal obligation upon all… (Marx, 1849) In other words, Marx is essentially saying that true justice will be achieved in a classless society since there is an opportunity to strive for equality. In relation to foreign policy, Marx (1853) explains “there not a necessity for deeply reflecting upon an alteration of the system that breeds these crimes, instead of glorifying the hangman who executes a lot of criminals to make room only for the supply of new ones?” Can be applied, although Marx is talking about capital punishment his words can also be used to describe how authoritative forces instill fear into others by setting “examples.” The United States' use of aggression in Middle Eastern countries is a way that exemplifies this. The United States brings about more crime in these nations than they were before, but they partake in most of these crimes as well, by murdering civilians from those countries whether it is directly by their own soldiers or indirectly by funding weapons toward other countries to commit these heinous crimes.

TLAIB POLICIES 5 References Engels, Frederick, and Karl Marx. 1848. “Manifesto of the Communist Party.” Marx/Engels Selected Works, Vol. One, Progress Publishers, Moscow , 1969, pp. 98-137. Marx, Karl. 1849. “Wage Labour and Capital.” Neue Rheinische Zeitung . Marx, Karl. 1853. Capital Punishment . Retrieved November 13, 2023 ( https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1853/02/18.htm ). Stein, Jeff. 2019. “Rep. Rashida Tlaib Introduces Closest Plan in Congress to Universal Basic Income.” The Washington Post . Retrieved November 11, 2023 ( https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2019/06/06/rep-rashida-tlaib-introduces- closest-plan-congress-universal-basic-income/ ). Text - H.J.Res.87 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress. May 31, 2022 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-joint- resolution/87/text ). Text - H.Res.388 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Recognizing the ongoing Nakba and Palestine refugees rights. May 10, 2023 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house- resolution/388/text ). Text - H.R.6051 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): BOOST Act of 2021. November 18, 2021 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6051/text ). Text - H.R.697 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Justice for All Act of 2023. February 1, 2023 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/697/text ). Text - H.R.2540 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): End Child Poverty Act. April 6, 2023 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2540/text ). Tlaib, Rashida. n.d. “Justice for All.” Rashida Tlaib . Retrieved November 16, 2023 ( https://tlaib.house.gov/resources/justice ). Tlaib, Rashida. n.d. “Tlaib Votes to Oppose Record $858B Defense Budget.” Rashida Tlaib . Retrieved November 12, 2023b ( https://tlaib.house.gov/posts/tlaib-votes-to-oppose-record- 858b-defense-budget ). Trimmer, David. 2023. “The End Child Poverty Act Would Dramatically Reduce Poverty.” People’s Policy Project . Retrieved November 11, 2023 ( https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2023/08/10/the-end-child-poverty-act-would- dramatically-reduce-poverty/ ).

Policy Analysis Paper

Related Documents