Welfare Check - The doomsayers were dead wrong about reform

The Wall Street Journal ^ | July 30, 2006 | Ron Haskins

[Zakeet]

Ten years ago next month, a bipartisan majority in Congress and a Democratic president launched America's welfare policy in a new and largely uncharted direction.

It would be difficult to exaggerate the predictions of doom hurled against the Republican welfare reform bill signed by President Clinton on Aug. 22, 1996. Mr. Clinton had previously vetoed two versions of welfare reform when, with skill, daring and persistence, Republicans in the House and Senate pushed it through Congress a third time and put it again on the president's desk. In an act of remarkable political courage, Mr. Clinton defied senior members of his own party and most of the American left and signed the radical bill into law.

[Zakeet]

Haskins blows hot and cold in this article and in the process gives good insight into RINO logic.

On one hand, Haskins points out how welfare reform was universally condemned by the left. Yet, to most people's astonishment, "tough love" works. "Poor mothers scored a victory for themselves and their children, showing that given adequate motivation and support from work-based government programs, they can join the American mainstream, set an example for their children and communities, and pull themselves and their children out of poverty."

Then Haskins does an about face and argues that, "Now and for the foreseeable future, the nation will have millions of poorly educated and unmarried young mothers who are capable of producing labor value of around $8 per hour when they first enter the labor market. They face a Hobson's choice of living in poverty on welfare or living in poverty while working--unless government subsidizes their income.

Of course, an important question that Haskins fails to consider is why it is better to back off from a program that works in favor of a program that doesn't.

[horse_doc]

He also misses the biggest point of all - if young girls see their friends having to make an unpleasant "Hobson's Choice", many will rationally decide to do whatever it takes to avoid getting knocked up.

Unless, of course, you believe that poor minority girls are incapable of making rational choices - which is ultimately the racism that liberals believe.

[Michael.SF.]

In an act of remarkable political courage, Mr. Clinton defied senior members of his own party

BS. He did it to save his political rear.

Morris told him to sign it or loss the election.

[Obie Wan]

Clinton never did anything for our country.It was always about what was best for Bill Clinton !!!

[durasell]

All teenagers have a hard time with rational choices...

[Jacquerie]

Mr. Clinton defied senior members of his own party and most of the American left and signed the radical bill into law.

Let's not forget that Bent Willie bent with the wind. There was not a single principle, liberal or conservative that he would defend if the poll numbers were against him. The guy even polled where to vacation. Bill Clinton believed then and believes now in Bill Clinton. Period. It is a miracle we survived such a narcissist.

[Michael.SF.]

sign it or loss

Should have proofed it, of course I meant: "sign it or lose"

[pickrell]

"...Let's not forget that Bent Willie bent with the wind. There was not a single principle, liberal or conservative that he would defend if the poll numbers were against him. The guy even polled where to vacation. Bill Clinton believed then and believes now in Bill Clinton. Period. It is a miracle we survived such a narcissist.

Sadly, we don't know that we have. We will be cashing checks written by that foul man for decades. The gutting of our military, the norming of perversity, the Hillary kiss on Arafat's wife's cheek... but most damaging- the 8 years of conduct signalling to the world that Americans must be every bit as despicable and weak as Clinton- else, how could he have been elected twice? He was the poster boy for hiding behind women's skirts.

We won't know the total toll until we count the bodies over the next couple decades. The Clinton's were our Vichy/Quisling team, our Neville and Nevillette Chamberlain. The toll, I fear, has only begun to register, as the ones who enabled Clinton, are now working feverishly to desparately throwing gravel into the machinery of the war on terror, simply to, in their diseased minds, make Bush look bad. Such insanity defies description, but it doesn't make it any less costly.

[Jacquerie]

1. norming of perversity

2. the Hillary kiss

3. The Clinton's were our Vichy/Quisling team

4. throwing gravel into the machinery of the war on terror, simply to, in their diseased minds, make Bush look bad.

Choice quotes all. I wonder if there are there any Democrat pols left who consider themselves Americans first, last and always?

[GoLightly]

I remember Clinton's promise to "fix it" as he signed it. I will give credit where credit is due, welfare reform was initially proposed by a Donk. Tommy Thompson picked up the ball & made welfare reform all his own. Wisconsin applied for waivers & Clinton turned down those applications for years. Next thing ya know, Clinton's given full credit for it.

[Old Student]

"I wonder if there are there any Democrat pols left who consider themselves Americans first, last and always?"

Zell Miller, methinks, was the last of the breed.

[TNCMAXQ]

He defied members of his own party but so what? Did they withdraw support from him? Of course not. They would have stood by him and remained flunkies for him even if he committed murder on live TV.