How Can We Solve Our Social Problems? / Edition 2

by James A. Crone

Overview

Updated to address recent issues such as the national debate on health care reform, this Second Edition of How Can We solve Our Social Problems? gives students a sense of hope by demonstrating specific, realistic steps we can take to solve some of the most pervasive social problems in the United States today. Author James A. Crone maintains a sense of sociological objectivity throughout and helps students realize that we can take steps to solve such key social problems as poverty, racial and ethnic inequality, unequal education, and environmental issues. The book's first two chapters define "social problem," provide a theoretical background, discuss the daunting barriers we face in attempting to solve social problems, and demonstrate how sociology can help.

Features

Addresses social problems proactively, leaving students with a sense of hope rather than hopelessness

Illustrates how solving even one social problem can help ameliorate other social problems

Gives students the continuity of a text from an award-winning professor who is in the trenches with them, trying to figure out how to improve the social world

Presents the author's own theory of conflict and social change to help readers more readily see each social problem and potential solutions

Encourages students to think sociologically by tying each social problem back to a theoretical perspective

Intended Audience

How Can We Solve Our Social Problems? Second Edition, is an excellent supplemental text for courses such as Social Problems, Social Change, Social Policy, Urban Sociology, Public Policy, and Social Welfare in departments of sociology, social work, political science, international studies, and economics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781412978101
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	05/13/2010
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

James Crone has been a member of the sociology faculty at Hanover College faculty for over 30 years. In the course of his career, he has taught courses on social problems, social stratification, and social theory. Research in all these areas has contributed to his Pine Forge Press book, How Can We Solve Our Social Problems? During his time at Hanover, Professor Crone has served as Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, president of the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and president of the Hanover Town Council.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

About the Author xi

Acknowledgments xiii

1 Preparing to Solve Our Social Problems 1

What Is a Social Problem? 1

History of Studying Social Problems 2

Teaching About Social Problems in Today's World 4

How Can Sociologists Address Social Problems and Yet Remain Objective? 5

What Social Problem Should We Solve First? 7

How Might Sociological Theory Help Us to Solve Social Problems? 8

A Theory of Conflict and Social Change: A Way to Better Understand and Therefore Solve Our Social Problems 10

Causal Model: A Picture of Our Theory 15

My Own Theoretical Orientation 17

Other Sociological Theories That Can Help Us Understand and Solve Social Problems 17

Concluding Thoughts on Theory and Social Problems 23

Addressing Social Problems Within Capitalism 23

The Next Chapter 23

Questions for Discussion 24

2 Barriers, Possibilities, and How Sociology Can Help 25

Barriers to Solving Our Social Problems 25

Possibilities for Solving Our Social Problems 36

How Can Sociology Help to Solve Social Problems? 42

Questions for Discussion 46

3 How Can We Solve the Problem of Increasing Inequality? 49

Definition and Statistics 49

Causes of Growing Inequality 51

Consequences of Growing Inequality 55

Options We Have With Inequality 56

What Should We Do? 60

Questions for Discussion 61

4 How Can We Solve the Problem of Poverty? 63

Assumptions We Can Make About Solving Poverty 63

What Can We Do? 66

Concluding On an Optimistic Note 80

Questions for Discussion 81

5 How Can We Solve the Problem of Racial/Ethnic Inequality? 83

Now, and Where to Next? 86

What Might Racial/Ethnic Equality Mean? 88

What More Can We Do? 88

Questions for Discussion 98

6 How Can We Solve the Problem of Gender Inequality? 101

What Can We Do? 103

Concluding Thoughts 114

Questions for Discussion 114

7 How Can We Solve the Problem of Unequal Education? 117

What Can We Do? 117

Problems That Prevent Us From Having Excellent Public Schools 120

Tax Money for Schools 121

Positive Consequences 122

What Will Not Work If We Want Excellent Public Education: The Voucher System 123

Questions for Discussion 126

8 How Can We Solve the Problem of Crime? 127

What Can We Do? 129

A Dilemma: Capitalism and Crime 137

Questions for Discussion 139

9 How Can We Solve the Problem of Drugs? 141

Keep the Current Policy 142

Legalize Drugs for Adults 146

Take a Step-by-Step Approach by Legalizing One Drug at a Time 150

Where to Go From Here? 152

Questions for Discussion 152

10 How Can We Solve the Problem of Health Care? 155

Consequences of Our Problem 156

Why Don't We Have a National Health Care System Like All Other Industrial Nations? 158

Criteria for a New Health Care System 162

Elements of a New Health Care System to Satisfy These Criteria 163

Advantages of a National Health Care System 169

Disadvantages and Costs of a National Health Care System 172

What Other Countries Include in Their National Health Care Systems 173

The Future: What Could Happen? 178

Summer and Fall 2009 and Winter 2010: Finally, Serious Debate 180

March 21, 2010: Health Care Reform Passes Congress 182

Questions for Discussion 184

11 How Can We Solve the Problems of Families? 185

Decreasing Inequality to Help Families 185

Decreasing Poverty to Help Families 186

Creating Enough Jobs and Enough Decent-Paying Jobs 186

Creating Racial/Ethnic Equality to Help Families 187

Creating Gender Equality to Help Families 189

Including Gay and Lesbian Couples to Help Families 189

Decreasing Crime to Help Families 191

Changing the Way We Deal With Drugs to Help Families 192

Creating a National Health Care System to Help Families 193

Creating Good-Quality Education for All Students to Help Families 194

Educating Students to Help Families 194

Educating Parents to Help Families 195

Summary of What We Can Do to Help Families 196

Questions for Discussion 196

12 How Can We Solve the World's Population Problem? 199

Causes of the World's Population Problem 200

What Can We Do? 204

Where Are We? 208

Questions for Discussion 209

13 How Can We Solve the World's Environmental Problem? 211

Consequences 213

What Can We Do? 215

Conclusion 226

Questions for Discussion 228

14 Solving Our Social Problems: Predictions and Conclusions 229

A Number of Similar Social Conditions 229

Defining a Social Condition as a Social Problem 229

Legitimation 230

Values and Vested Interests 230

Loss of Control Over the Social Problem 231

Attention and Resources 232

Someone Will Be Dissatisfied 232

Compromise 233

Becoming Accustomed to Social Change 233

Capitalism and Social Problems 234

Environment, Population, and Standard of Living 235

Building a Sustainable Society 236

Conclusion 237

Questions for Discussion 243

Notes and References 245

Index 281

Editorial Reviews

It is easy to read and gets to the point quickly without including unnecessary details. I also like that it provides realistic solutions, things that can be done either by individual or group effort…Rarely do I find a book that so clearly and concisely presents the material is such an accessible engaging manner. I just hope it never goes out of print!”

Chris Adamski-Mietus

I adopted this book because of its readability and its emphasis on solving problems. Social problems can, quite frankly, be depressing to cover day in and day out. It's great to be able to end each unit or topic of discussion on a high note by discussing solutions.”

Laci Fiala