WELFARE

Welfare: A Helping Hand or Handout

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

CHAPTER 2: IS THE WELFARE SYSTEM A TRAP9

CHAPTER 3: DID THE 1996 WELFARE REFORM ACCOMPLISH ITS GOAL15

CHAPTER 4: DOES THE WELFARE SYSTEM NEED TO BE REFORMED24

CHAPTER 5: CAN WELFARE FRAUD BE PREVENTED30

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION39

REFERENCES43

Welfare: A Helping Hand or Handout

Chapter 1: Introduction

Millions of Americans are signed up for welfare; the program designed to aid poor and needy families. Unfortunately, it has now become a way of life for many. Many argue that welfare is not destroying our culture and creating a dependent people who have learned to abuse certain privileges that come with living in America, but history has proven that this is not true. (Hoehn, 2005)

Former President Clinton signed the welfare reform bill, he said "Today, we are taking a historic chance to make welfare what it was meant to be: a second chance, not a way of life." Welfare was designed to give a boost to the poor-to help struggling families make it through the year while they got back on their feet. What it has become is a target for gluttonous people and others who have no values. Many people who are on welfare have become used to it, and instead of using the money and aid to stay alive while they look for a job, they are sitting at home waiting by the mailbox for the next check to come in. In the meantime, many people are having more kids, because-more kids more welfare money. These women relish the thought of getting free money in the mail-for doing absolutely nothing. (Acs 2001)

Welfare is destroying out culture. Many argue that welfare is necessary for many families, and that it must not be cut. Some argue that it is giving starving families the boost they need to make it one more year. This is only partially true. Yes, we need welfare, but we also need to limit the amount of time a family can stay on it. By letting families stay on welfare for extended periods of time, we are only creating a lazy, dependent culture. People figure that the welfare check will come in the mail, so where's the motivation for going out and getting a job? There isn't one. That is why President Clinton signed the welfare reform bill. He knows that the welfare laws need to be refined, and he has chosen himself as the apostle for this chore. (Acs 2001)

Many people are abusing welfare in more ways than one. The most common form of welfare abuse is just staying on it too long, and using it as an income, instead of a boost. There are worse cases, though, which clearly show the need for reform. Many people are using welfare as an income, and using the money for purposes other than survival. Many are using the money to buy drugs. Inevitably, these drugs lead to an even more destructive way of life. Many of these people become even more promiscuous, having babies for the money that will ...