An Issue for Various Government Officials Throughout the Years - Essay Example

All forms of government welfare should be abolished. The debate about welfare has created a controversy throughout the years that still hasnot found a proper resolution. All past and recent governments in the U.S., politicians of both parties and technicians in the field have pondered over the issue and come out with various programs likely to fight poverty and improve people’s living conditions. “Social Security, Medicare, Food Stamps, and Medicaid became symbols to their advocates and foes of public commitment to protecting the incomes and health of the population” (Stern, 2003). However, even though some programs have been more efficient than others, none has succeeded in eradicating poverty and propelling the beneficiaries to middle class. This lack of success urges some people to raise the following question: should all forms of government welfare be abolished? I believe that eliminating all forms of government welfare will worsen the situation; however, a more effective program that provides the recipients with better career opportunities will guarantee them financial freedom. Abolishing all forms of government welfare will put millions of Americans in very difficult conditions. Many people depend on one or more forms of welfare programs to survive and secure the basic needs of their families. This writer informs: “By 1994, welfare caseloads had reached a historic high of 5.1 million families, representing about 15 percent of American families with children” (Besharov, 2003). These high statistics reveal the dire situation of dependence in which many families live. Various programs have been set up throughout the years in an attempt to help needy families and their children. These programs include: Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), TANF, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, medical care, food stamps, day care, legal aid, work training and others. The multiplicity of these forms of welfare indicates the diversity of the needs and the seriousness of the matter. The following statement provides more information about these programs: “Although the basic welfare grants were lower than the minimum wage, when the value of food stamps, public housing subsidies and Medicaid were added on, the package of welfare benefits often exceeded the minimum wage” (Gilbert, 2009). Thus, eliminating these vital programs for these families and their children will expose them to hunger, disease and homelessness. Even though helping these families is necessary for their survival, government officials have to find a more efficient program likely to guarantee them financial independence. Indeed, welfare is very costly to tax payers and has failed to secure a middle class status to the recipients. This expensive and continuous dependence should not be encouraged. This writer exposes some attempts at resolving the issue: “Many welfare agencies also offer work-preparation programs that provide short-term education, training, or work experience. However, participation in such programs is limited” (Besharov, 2003). Programs like these have to be improved in order to offer the beneficiaries a real opportunity of education to acquire skills and get a well-paying job. This chance to pursue an education combined with a proficient training will give them the required qualification to obtain a job likely to offer them financial freedom. The focus on the quality of the education and training is very important and will determine the outcome. This assertion foregrounds the weaknesses of some programs: “After two years of education and job-training, most unwed mothers will still not be able to support themselves. Subjecting them to a work requirement will mean that a large proportion will end up in semi-permanent "community-service jobs" (Besharov & Fowler, 1993). Future programs will have to take into consideration these limitations and identify the best assets that will guarantee the realizations of the objectives. Moreover, to ensure the successful achievements of the targets, rigorous measures have to be taken to make sure that the recipients respect the rules. They have to be held accountable for their actions and understand that the welfare benefits are just meant to help them prepare their career and cannot be continued. The beneficiaries have not only to work as recommended by TANF, but they will also have to pass their classes to remain in the program. This article indicates: “TANF was supposed to have finally settled the issue, by imposing seemingly tough "participation standards" on recipients. By 2002, 50 percent of all welfare families that included an adult were required to be in work activities for at least 30 hours a week (20 hours per week for a single parent with a child under age six)” (Besharov, 2003). These requirements are necessary in order to get the recipients to follow the rules and meet the expectations. They have to make a considerable contribution in their journey from poverty to middle-class, from dependence to financial freedom. Therefore, the implementation of the rules becomes vital for the success of the program. Here is an example of one of the programs: “It was not until the TANF legislation in 1996, however, that a significant agenda of personal responsibility was firmly incorporated into welfare policy, with serious consequences for those who failed to meet the standards” (Gilbert, 2009). This personal responsibility turns out to be fundamental because recipients have to be motivated and understand that they cannot depend eternally on welfare and that they have to work their way out of poverty. On the other hand, the high cost of welfare to tax payers and the continuous dependence make other people believe that all forms of government welfare should be abolished. The proponents of this theory label the beneficiaries as lazy people who just lay back and let government programs take care of them. This negative perception of welfare recipients is widely shared because many people think they take advantage of the situation. They believe that eliminating these programs will urge the beneficiaries to take their destiny in their own hands and face their responsibilities. This article points out: “The end of the cash entitlement for dependent families removes the assurance of a reliable public aid safety net” (Gilbert, 2009). Putting an end to these benefits will stop this dependence and give these people a good reason to strive to find a job for their own survival. However, keeping these programs open will encourage more dependence that does serve neither the government nor the recipients. This writer presents data that exposes how serious this dependence has become: “About half of unwed teen mothers go on welfare within one year of the birth of their first child. More than three quarters end up on welfare within five years” (Besharov and Fowler,1993). These scary statistics are not encouraging and do not envision a future improvement of the situation. Welfare has been an issue for various government officials throughout the years. The cost of the programs, the continuous dependence and the failure to meet the expectations to help the beneficiaries attain a middle class status feed the debate. These failures urge many people to propose the elimination of all forms of government welfare. However, I think that the government should implement a more proficient program offering the recipients a good education and a proper training that would guarantee them an excellent professional career that could provide them with financial freedom. References Besharov, D. J. (2003). The past and future of welfare reform. Public Interest, 150, 4-21. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com. Besharov, D. J. & Fowler, A. A. (1993). The end of welfare as we know it? Public Interest, 111, 95. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com. Gilbert, N. (2009). US welfare reform: Rewriting the social contract. Journal of Social Policy, 38, 383-399. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com. Stern, M. J. (2003). The divided welfare state: The battle over public and private social benefits in the United States. Business History Review, 77 (3), 495. Retrieved from http://www.proquest.com. Read More