Do you think crime rates would escalate if we ended welfare or they would just go find jobs and work hard?

Question

End welfare for able-bodied adults who are on generational entitlements.

If we stopped ENABLING them - would they rise up and meet the challeges of a JOB head on or would they turn to a life of crime to sustain their lifestyle?

Answer 1

Some of both, truthfully. For one thing, of course, crime is not purely a function of poverty.

But you have raised a valid point. Many of my clients have way too much time on their hands. I tell them to get a job that makes them get up early in the morning so they are too tired to stay out late.

It keeps me out of jail.

ADDED: Guerilla, I deal with them BEFORE they get to jail. And most of my clients DO NOT GO TO JAIL. Because I get them into treatment but most of all, I get them EMPLOYED. Yes, they relapse. Because many are not socially prepared to hold down a job. This is where the welfare thing comes in. It is killing the ability of these people to be employable.

And Dona, that's wholly unfair. You are speaking of underdeveloped countries who haven't the resources or the wealth available that is here. I blame those governments, not the churches trying to help them.

Answer 2

Some people would realize that if they want to keep getting money they will have to go out and work. Most however, will turn to crime because they lack the most basic skills required to get hired anywhere. Not to mention their lack of work history, no employer wants to hire a 30 year old who has never worked before. That combined with the fact that a lot of welfare recipients have an overblown sense of entitlement, they would probably turn to crime because they feel they have a right to money that they did not earn.

Answer 3

The crime rate would increase. With no offense meant, there is an undercurrent of idealistic Utopian dreaming underlying this question. "If we stop welfare, they will all embrace right thinking and be model citizens." Sort of like "if we remove Sadaam and give the Iraqis freedom they will become a pro-U.S. peaceful democracy." --- just not grounded in reality.

Welfare families have their own culture with their own issues. Generally the leadership in the households are poorly educated and either do not work or do not have high paying jobs. The best you can hope for is to wean them off welfare by tweaking welfare benefits and requirements and pushing the twin concepts of birth control and abstinence at public schools. Any plan that doesn't start with those elements will fail.

Answer 4

I understand your point. But take a NYC ghetto with over 200,000 people on welfare and just remove their income? Can you imagine the rioting and consequences there of? Generational welfare perpetuated by the Democratic party misleading the low income population that the Democrats are their for them is the biggest scandal I've yet seen. The Democratic leadership(Soros) is on a mission to make America a Socialistic society to hasten a eventual one world government. Generational welfare is merely a baby step for the far left to achieve the same goals as Hugo Chavez.

Answer 5

Some may turn to crime...some might be able to find better jobs...not all people on welfare are lazy, many have jobs that are just not paying enough to get by. They have a Jobs Program within the Social Services Dept that people have to go through to help them find work or get skills. Be careful not to label those who need financial assistance as criminals or moochers. This is far from the truth.

Answer 6

When Colorado put a two year limit on welfare the crime rate dropped.

Answer 7

Even though they LOOK able bodied, there are lots of people out there that are taking welfare cause they are the population that has slipped through the cracks of society...
they have mental issues, abuse issues, and poor education.

They should be made to work for their welfare cheques... but doing what is any mans guess... they could do anything...for the towns they work in eg: sweep streets, pick up garbage, mow lawns, crossing guards, park patrol, neighbourhood watch patrols, babysitters, etc... we need these people too and it is a great idea to cut their cheques off... but employing them and building their confidence is a much better way of handeling it..I think

Answer 8

We have already done this with the last welfare reform program. Unfortunately you would be bucking the bleeding heart liberals who want government to take care of everyone. You would also be bucking the social services establishment who rely on having welfare cases to keep their jobs going.
On Y! answers I once suggested using welfare recipients to sit along our open borders and act as spotters, to report illegal invaders to the Border Patrol. The social service workers could then be used as supervisors to make sure the welfare people are on the job.
I got a lot of favorable responses from Y! A users. I posed the same idea to my elected officials. I did not get any responses.

Answer 9

Some people on welfare DO have jobs already but do not get child support from the other parent. Why make the chldren suffer for the crimes of their idiotic father (or mother) Yes I am afraid many would turn to a life of crime but others simply would be unable to take thier children to the Dr. for immunizations and be unable to feed them properly.

Answer 10

I am a 13+ year employee of the Ca. Dept. of Corrections. I talk to the people to whom you are referring on a daily basis. 90 % of them have more than one arrest for possesion or sales of drugs. Drug habits, greater and greater usage of drugs, are to expensive to be satisfied by regular 40 or less, hour a day jobs. 90% of crimes are committed to obtain drugs to sell/use to sustain habits. So, no, I don't believe ending Welfare would positively affect (reduce) crime rates. Ending Welfare would only affect the children of the people currently collecting Welfare.

Guerilla30892001

Answer 11

We'd have to combine the end of welfare with real job creation
(not just military service), and start helping people afford the absurdly overpriced college tuitions. It would have to be a multi step operation.

I think there are lot's of people who want to work... but the job market really bites the big one. I've been looking for a job to replace the one I lost two years ago. I used to command 60 K, now I find myself settling far down.

I know kids fresh out of school get decent jobs, but then, five years later, they are considered too old. Ask around. The job market tanked after 9/11 and never really recovered. All claims to the counter are deceptive.

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two whole thumbs down? Can't handle a little perspective.