Here's my idea of welfare reform...comments?

Me | 6/22/11 | Self

[dalereed]

Just eliminate all welfare, food stamps, and subsidized housing!

[dalereed]

Make your own way in this would or quit taking up space on this planet!

[gimme1ibertee]

Just eliminate all welfare, food stamps, and subsidized housing!

I couldn't agree more.Best way to do that is to get the fed out of it,period.

[YHAOS]

I don’t propose to kick anyone off a program. I propose to kick the program off the back of the American taxpayer.

“On the other hand, my proposal would cut the length of time a person can receive benefits to 18 months”

Then you would have them kicked off the program. Please examine what you are doing. You are arguing for a more efficient method of achieving an end of which you do not approve.

For every ambition there is a given objective and a real objective. The purpose of welfare programs is not to mitigate the curse of pauperism. It is to achieve the election and reelection of politicians.

And there are ancillary objectives: 1) the organization of advocacy groups; 2) the development of service staffs to operate the advocacy groups’ organizations; 3) including lobbyists, who beg Congress for grants to aid them in their noble efforts; 4) including the creation of charitable organizations who beg the American People for aid in their noble efforts.

All of which activity comes right back to politicians’ and party coffers, or in otherwise aiding their reelection efforts . . . remarkably.

Recommend you read Memoir on Pauperism, by Alexis de Tocqueville, a very short tome (really little more than a pamphlet) with an excellent introduction by Gertrude Himmelfarb. It can be ordered at most any bookstore or can otherwise be found on the ‘Net.

[Secret Agent Man]

Not trying to be argumentative, but just because most training programs take at least a year, doesn’t mean the government’s training program has to take a year. They could be looking for some level of work WHILE taking the training program. There’s probably a lot of inane stuff in those programs that don’t really need to be there, or aren’t necessary for them to actually get some kinds of work.

[Secret Agent Man]

Also, while you say this contract would be the same for all local governments who are in charge of running things, you an be damn sure that if local governments are going to run their programs, they are all going to change their contracts. You are not going to have any uniformity, as some places will be far more generous and extend deadlines or not make it one time only, and other places may make things even less enticing.

San Fran’s program will not be the same as Boise’s. The very idea that local governments run it but every local government will use the identical contract, while on paper looks like it would work, will not work in the real world. If you say they all have to by federal mandate then local government’s are not really in control.

[Secret Agent Man]

Hey, I said the same thing in a different way and you read me the riot act! :)

[gimme1ibertee]

Of COURSE you're not going to change the mode of operation of the political machine-and that's not what I am proposing.You ar reading waaaay too much into this.

I propose to kick the program off the back of the American taxpayer.

ME TOO!!!!!

The purpose of welfare programs is not to mitigate the curse of pauperism.

I agree.But it should be retooled to mitigate-strike that...eliminate-the curse of an entitlement mentality.

You are arguing for a more efficient method of achieving an end of which you do not approve.

Wow..am I really being that confusing???I have said from the beginning that I would love...LOVE...to see people get off their butts,get to work and to end welfare.How do you not get that,reading the contract in its entirety??
To the point of politics and creating lobby groups,etc.,well,that may very well happen.I'm not proposing an end to the labyrinth of political scheming and underhandedness,though that's certainly a desirable goal. I am speaking strictly to getting the regular,everyday joe and jane on the street to work,relieve the tax burden on we the people and put an end to welfare once and for all.I'm not trying to change the world....just a simple idea to try and change the way those who freeload on the system operate.

[gimme1ibertee]

Also, while you say this contract would be the same for all local governments who are in charge of running things, you an be damn sure that if local governments are going to run their programs, they are all going to change their contracts. You are not going to have any uniformity, as some places will be far more generous and extend deadlines or not make it one time only, and other places may make things even less enticing.

On the contrary..I think this would work,particularly in the more conservative states and/or municipalities.I can see why it would be up against strong resistance in CA or NY,for example....but i'd throw it out there to the states where it might have a real chance of working.You don't know what will work until you try it,and you're going on the assumption that every state in this country thinks the same about welfare.
Not everyone wants to throw their hands up in defeat,you know.You may be pleasantly surprised (or hopelessly frustrated,since I can't seem to make you understand what i'm proposing).And,once again,for the millionth time,the feds would be out of it completely.