The Poor: What is the Government's responsibility for the poor?

Answer 1

We live in a rich country and there is no reason why we shouldn't be able to assist those less fortunate in our society. Unfortunately government assistance rapidly becomes an entitlement. Entitlements are bad because to often they eclipse the natural desire to succeed in life and when generation after generation is born into the entitlement culture, self sufficiency is lost entirely for large cross sections of society. The food stamp program is a good example. The program is over-funded, which means there is more money than people actually requiring the assistance. Now a normal person would see that we just need less funding in that area in the following year, but what government sees is that we need more people to take food stamps so we can increase funding. The ideal society is one where people attempt to provide for themselves. Limited assistance should be provided on a temporary basis and then people need to be reintroduced into a self sufficient model. This would provide more available funding for people who truly are incapable of providing for themselves such as some disabled persons.

Answer 2

The government's responsibility is to give the poor the tools to get themselves out of their situations. A little financial help with a definite end date is a good idea, as is help with finding jobs and providing emergency shelter.

Other than that, it's each person's responsibiity to improve our own lives.

Answer 3

I think they could care less. They are spending all our money on a nonsence war. That money could have given a better life to all our homeless and poor. But instead Bush wanted to give it away so he could go down in the history books as a War Presdent who tried to bring peace to Iraq. How stupid?

Answer 4

Personal responsibility, In america if you value education and work hard, there is little you cannot do.

if you depend on the government to fix all your problems and give you handouts for everything, there is little you will do.

Answer 5

none , the government can't and shouldn't be responsible for people failing in life , there are programs that help those that can't help themselves which are widely taken advatage of like welfare

Answer 6

actually each person is responsibility. Remember what JFK said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

Answer 7

The same resonsibility it has to all of us, and nothing more than the rest of us.

Answer 8

To give a hand up, NOT a hand out.

Answer 9

NONE.