#Election2016: Experts available
The following topics have emerged during the race for president: prescription drug prices, free college, authoritarianism, the American dream and Millennials.
Contact: Emily Gersema at (213) 740-0252 or gersema@usc.edu
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Prescription Drug Prices
Prescription drug spending has spiked and now represents 16.7 percent of all health care spending, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report released this week.
Candidates have proposed price controls on prescription drugs.
“There is a link between the prices we pay today and the drugs we’ll see to treat our illnesses tomorrow.”
Dana Goldman is the director of the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, and a professor for the USC Price School of Public Policy and the USC School of Pharmacy.
* Watch more of the video here.
Contact: (213) 740-0548 or dpgoldma@usc.edu
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Free College
“Certain programs that provide tuition-free college — such as the Hope Scholarship in the state of Georgia – have been most beneficial to upper-income residents who would have sent their children to college with or without government subsidies.
“What is needed are programs that serve lower and middle socio-economic groups who are finding the price of college prohibitive and discouraging. And by middle-income students, we are not talking about people who make $200,000 or more per year and who have the wherewithal to save and pay for college.”
Jerome Lucido is a professor of research and associate dean for the USC Rossier School of Education, and he is executive director of the USC Center for Enrollment, Research, Policy and Practice.
Contact: (213) 740-7576, or jlucido@usc.edu
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Morality and Authoritarianism
“Paying attention to the moral language all the candidates employ can help us understand the different appeals on either side of the political divide.
“This election is shaping up to be a contest not just of differing policy proposals, but of deep conflicts about what morality is.
“The Democrats (especially Sanders) are primarily focused on fairness, justice, and equality, tapping into moral outrage about inequality. The Republicans, on the other hand, are much more focused on ingroup loyalty, outgroup threat, respect for traditions, and social order. Trump especially has been appealing to authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and a combination of loyalty and purity concerns that can lend themselves to xenophobia and white supremacy.”
Jesse Graham, an assistant professor of psychology at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, is an expert in morality, ethics and social justice.
Contact: jesse.graham@usc.edu or (213) 740-9535.
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Injustice and the American Dream
“The most fundamental problem with this presidential election is the deep loss of trust among our citizenry in our federal elected officials, and most particularly in our presidents and the candidates for that office.
“Trust and hope are essential for a well-functioning democratic society. Without those key ingredients, people feel betrayed, they begin questioning whether social and economic justice can be realized in our nation anymore. The gross mal distribution of wealth has been a significant topic during this campaign season that has intensified these feelings of betrayal and injustice.”
Terry L. Cooper holds the Maria B. Crutcher Professorship in Citizenship and Democratic Values and directs the Civic Engagement Initiative for the USC Price School of Public Policy. A professor of public administration, Cooper is an expert in government, public and social ethics, as well as in democratic values.
Contact: tlcooper@usc.edu or (213) 740-0371
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Liberal Millennials
“Even as Bernie Sanders’ campaign has captured the imagination of the Millennial Generation, the Republican candidates seem determined to continue their non-stop attacks on the generation’s heroes and its beliefs.
“The result may ultimately benefit Hillary Clinton by scaring the generation into record-breaking turnout in the general election.”
Morley Winograd is a senior fellow at USC Annenberg School’s Center on Communication Leadership and Policy. He is an expert on Millennials and their impact on American politics and its institutions. He has co-authored three books with Michael Hais: “Millennial Majority,” “Millennial Momentum” and “Millennial Makeover.”
Contact: mikeandmorley@gmail.com or (213) 448-8884
