For those who want to get rid of welfare: Do you think that children should starve?

Question

Don't get me wrong. I know that, unfortunately, there are a lot of people who take advantage of the system. And it really makes me angry, because there are actually some people out there who use welfare as a hand up and not a handout, and they're the ones who are done the most harm, since there are politicians who use the abusers as an excuse to get rid of or reduce benefits. What about the children, though? Yes, I know that there have been some welfare recipients who have popped out babies just so they can keep the benefits rolling in. However, regardless of the reason why they were born, these children are here. What should be done with them? How many people realize the fact that if welfare were completely abolished, there would be a lot of hungry kids? Would it be fair to make the kids suffer like that, especially if it's their parents' fault?

Answer 1

There is nothing wrong with welfare perse. I think most peole agree that every once in a while people need help. The problem comes in when the "hand up" becomes a "hand out." So long as it exists, the welfare system will be abused and gamed by the savvy and the needy will suffer from lower benefits creating a reliance on the system because they can't afford to get off the system. The problem is that the entire system is flawed. If the objective is to get people off welfare and into the work force, when are those recieving benefits "punished: when they try? Here's an example: Young girl, single mother has one child. Monthy benefit = $613. Rent = $420. Utilities = $40. She wants to go to college, earn a degree, find a job and get off the system - the whole point of welfare, right? Tution = $1,500. Books = $300. Daycare = $800. Transportation = $20 buss pass. Obviously the math tells you she can't afford it. So she applies for a student loan or grant to pay tution, books and daycare. What happens? Benefits are cut off because she "earned" more than 1/3 or her benefits. How does this motivate anyone to get off the system?

And for those of you who say, "Get a job and go to college when you can pay for it!" Okay, we'll go there. Monthly benefit = still $613. Daycare = still $800. The young mother can earn no more that $200 p/m (so as not to exceed the 1/3 rule) giving her $813 p/m in income. Daycare = $800 ... $13 left for rent? Again, where is the motivation to get off the system?

Yes, I agree. People shouldn't have children they can't afford to feed. But if you have EVER had unprotected sex or had a mishap with a condom - well my friend, yoo too could be among the thouseands expecting a child you didn't paln and can't afford. Yes abortion/adoption is always a choice and mant do go that rount. But never say "That's what I'd do if it were me." Because if you've never been pregnant, you have NO idea how you'd feel or what you would do ... Judge not ...

Take it from a former 17 year old mother, who was on welfare, put herself through college, took lame low paying jobs and finally work my butt off to a 6 figure job!

Answer 2

Our welfare system needs attention. We are lacking in many areas of domestic issues. Welfare and health insurance are the two most important and most in need of attention.

There are many radical changes that need to be made. I will mention a few I feel strongly about.

1) The government needs to budget more money to the welfare program in more employees. They need more people to work in that department and oversee the people collecting the welfare and the other programs. Repub. and Demo. cry that there is not ample money to hire the help these programs need. I say BULL PUCKY !!!! More money is being stolen and used by people that don't need it than it would cost for more employees.

2) We can all say, " don't have children if you cannot support them." That, obviously, is not working. I think a law should be in place that it is mandatory everyone living in the U.S. can have a certain number of children. (Which I think should be two) After that you must be sterilized. The govt. would not charge for this surgery.
Your next question would be regarding divorce. If you use up your two kid limit, it is gone. No more kids. That might make some people work harder to make their marriages last.

3) The government would be responsible for setting up day care centers in every city. People would pay a certain amount for day care of their children, depending on their income. Day care now costs people over half of what they earn, why look for work?

4) EVERYONE has to work in order to collect welfare. If a person has a very low paying job, then their welfare amount would compensate that low paying job to allow them to live a decent life.

5) There would be an incentive program for people to go to school and college. This department would also teach woman they can be a whole person and give to society by education and having self confidence.

WELFARE should not be a give away program. That doesn't teach anyone a thing about how to live a good life. I know some of you are going to think I am crazy. But you have to teach people if they don't know what is expected of them. I believe very firmly that no one really likes a free hand out, they don't know any better.

ASK WHERE the money is going to come from for my ideas? Education, training, self esteem and a feeling of being productive will take more people off welfare and they won't be back to collect again. Think about that for awhile. Let's do some good instead of sitting on our butts and complaining about HOW welfare is being abused. Throw health insurance in the mix and this could be one happy country.........................................

Answer 3

I don't see how we can do anything for many of the people currently on welfare. So many of them are second and third generation recipients, and know no other way of life. I do think we can stop the bleeding though. For new applicants have a set amount of money, based on the area they live in (some are more expensive than others) and that's it. If these choose to have children then it lessens how much money they will net. My guess is that you will see many more women obtain some type of birth control. You can't change the past, we MUST change the future. It's not fair to the recipients or the taxpayers.

Answer 4

I don't think anyone wants to abolish Welfare.Where has it been reduced by the way?We just want it to be under control,it's no way to live.How hard would that be?NY has greatly reduced welfare by restrictions and job programs.Sure in the short term some may suffer,certainly not starve though.In the long run reducing Welfare is a plus for everyone,including recipients.Most times,a good earned not handed out.

Answer 5

Starving children is a great political tool. Care of those that (legitimately) can't take care of themselves is not (should not be) a political issue.

The great welfare state mentality has now contributed to hundreds of square miles of ghettos in our urban areas, created the overall drug problem (idle hands?) and given the liberal Democrats an extremely powerful voter base, which perpetuates the problems. Couple that to the fact that over 35% of the nations voters are now employees of some part of government (city, county, state federal), and their retired predecessors all vote for more government, what happens to the private sector working mans vote?

There is way more to welfare than food stamps. It's killing us as a nation.

Answer 6

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What about people who lose a spouse?, or the spouse doesn't pay child support? Or they became ill and can't work? Or they lost their job?

Or their spouse was killed in Iraq?

Not everybody on welfare is an irresponsible deadbeat. Most people are just going through rough times (like Katrina victims for example) and I don't think they should just be left to die, or beg on the streets. Especially if they have children to care for.

I call for compassionate conservatism and "Christian" charity.

Answer 7

I have no problem with people being on welfare who honestly need it and have no other option, and I don't believe anyone else with a heart has a problem with that situation either. But people who are able to work and use their children as a sort of "human shield" in order to receive welfare benefits don't deserve to have their children or welfare benefits. It's not a matter of making children suffer, it's a matter of getting the leeches off the system, off their fat butts, and into gainful employment.

Answer 8

We could start charity programs. Nobody wants children to starve and I think that churches or private organizations could provide food and clothes. Most people are able to work but they don't want to. If we abolish welfare, then they might get to work even a low paying job which would be enough to pay expenses. The children could be taken care of by private charity programs that won't cost the government any money. We will love the children and take care of them. I wouldn't let them starve but I'm tired of people making themselves dependent on the government. I think parents on welfare are able to work and will, then they could provide their children a better life. Welfare isn't going to do anything for the children, it enables their parents to remain unemployed and most of them live in projects or bad neighborhoods. Those children will probably have a life similar of their parents. Don't worry, if welfare is terminated people will take care of the children.

Answer 9

I am not opposed to WELFARE and would not like to see anyone starve.

But my problem is when women can't stop having kids so their welfare monies grow and the WELFARE of the kids gets less and less.

By the way wefare is not ment so these crack whores can keep up their habit. It was and is ment to help the truly needy who need help and I have no problem paying my taxes for that.

Answer 10

Welfare will NEVER go away...there will always be some people that have a legitimate need for it.
But many taxpayers are disgusted by the abuse of it and the fact that some of their taxes are going to support deadbeats coniving their way into a government paid free-ride.