Welfare or Welpoor?

Welfare or Welpoor?

The welfare system of the United States is in serious need of a major reform. Women have more children so they can get a larger check from the government. Healthy adult’s are staying home when they could be working. My tax dollars are used to support these people who otherwise could help shoulder the tax burden. Reform of the welfare system is not a simple task and would involve change in three major areas: housing assistance, food stamps, and disability. Something must be done to solve this ever growing problem and I have a solution.

The first step in welfare reform is an end to all freebies; that is most of the money given to those in need will be earned. Welfare recipients could get jobs painting over graffiti, picking up trash, working in soup kitchens, or other jobs that would benefit society. When humans do not earn what the receive it degrades them. Many women on welfare have more children so they can receive more assistance. These people are scabs on our society hindering our country from reaching its full potential. The amount of assistance provided for illegitimate children needs to be less in order to hold people accountable for their actions. Imagine if half of the people on welfare were working and contributing to the funds of this country instead of draining them how it would greatly benefit to the whole world.

The food stamp system also needs reformed to prevent individuals from cheating the system. In 2000 the food stamp program cost American tax payers $1.25 billion a month, some of which could be saved(What is the Food Stamp Program?). Under my proposed reform, Food stamp recipients will receive a debit card that only allows the purchase of certain food items. The total amount of their current food stamps will be deposited directly onto their new card. The items they can purchase will consist of healthy and affordable products such as fruits, vegetables, and natural fruit juices. Currently recipient are able to purchase things like expensive cuts of meat and then use the change given back to them as cash to purchase cigarettes, beer, or even drugs. Under my program no cash will ever be given back to the person, purchases will only be deducted from the current card balance. Efforts also need to be made to prevent people from needing food stamps in the first place, for example safe sex and abstinence should be taught to young men and women early in life. According to the census bureau woman who have children at a young age or out of wedlock are more likely to need food stamps(Mothers Who Receive Food Stamps).

Not only has welfare created a tremendous burden for the tax payers of this country, but also has contributed to the deterioration of the family. Women receiving housing assistance for them and their children will not get married because they will loose their assistance. So, then their boyfriends will just move in the house that is for the woman her children. Since he now has a free place to live there is no need for him to work. This creates an instability in the family unit making for a inadequate environment for raising children. Now the welfare system, in it’s current state, has created two non-productive individuals raising future non-productive individuals. In order to prevent live-in boyfriends surprise inspections must be done on government assisted houses periodically to determine