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LafayetteLady -> RE: Solutions to Problems... (5/30/2010 7:01:57 PM)
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ORIGINAL: tazzygirl
First, since someone already opened up the welfare issue. My solution is limiting the number of children to those an applicant enrolls with... no more. Next, requiring an education for every adult on the welfare dime, no exceptions.
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I agree with limiting the number of children that an applicant can enroll with. I'm not so sure of the education part... is that to enhance marketability or qualifications in the work force?
So neither of you obviously know much about welfare. Those limits already exist in most states. Women who get pregnant on welfare do NOT get an increase in benefits.
Welfare recipients are also required to participate in programs to prepare them for a job as well as "working" within non-profit (typically government) offices to help them learn about being in a work environment.
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Exactly. Not only that, but achieving such promotes a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that can only benefit the adults and the children alike.
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Personally, I'd require able-bodied welfare recipients to earn their welfare with service of some type.
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I have no issue with this at all. Most people on welfare can obtain an almost free college education. Giving back to the community would be a great way to repay some of that.
Actually people on welfare and people on unemployment have the same opportunity for college education and it isn't "free." The are entitled to a limited grant in limited programs for "demand" occupations. Those grants are applied to the tuition, and do not include books, which as any college student will tell you, are a big expense.
The true myth is that the majority of people who are receiving welfare want to live on the government dole. The amount of money someone receives on welfare is not a lot of money. A single mother with one child will get less than 400 dollars a month, 60% of which is put towards housing costs. There is a waiting list for child care assistance in most cases. If someone on welfare finds a minimum wage job, they no longer qualify for any assistance, including food stamps. They will still receive child care assistance, but their cash benefits, food stamps and most importantly, medical benefits will be stopped.
The amount that someone receives in cash assistance has not changed in more than 20 years. That's right, unchanged. No increase based on inflation or cost of living in this country. Someone in Wyoming will get the same amount as someone in NY. Obviously, that amount will go much further in Wyoming than in NY.
So while your uninformed suggestion of solution simply states things that already exists, it really does nothing more than promote current ignorance. This is not to say that there are those who abuse the system. They abuse it by receiving Section 8 housing long after they would be entitled to receive it. They abuse it by having someone live with them and assist in the household income. I went to college with a young woman who received welfare assistance. Her son also had a portable DVD player (this was quite a few years ago when those gadgets were new and much more expensive). She had plenty of gold jewlery, as well as nice clothes and obvious frequent visits to the salon for her hair and nails. Do I think something should be done about that? Of course.
So what WOULD be the solution to that? Starting with raising the minimum wage. It is still less than $8.00 per hour. Very few places where one person can support a family on that. Change the qualifications so that people can work and afford a roof over their heads. Certainly, an education and a job gives everyone a sense of satisfaction, but when you know accepting a part time job (because it is all you can get) will give you 800 dollars a month and your expenses are 1200, and you won't get any help if you take that job, it makes it very difficult to try to move forward.
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