Are We Responsible For Those in Need?

Today’s class discussion centered mainly on the government funded programs that serve to aid those members of society that are struggling to survive. As we were discussing some of the other controversial questions that need to be addressed in order to arrive at an answer to this bigger question, minor questions were posed with regards to the actual programs. With regards to one of the more prominent of these programs, according to the NYCCAH, food stamps are actually not a form of a welfare program but rather a program that serves to keep people off of welfare. They also say that state taxpayers don’t directly pay for such a program as it is a federally funded program and that even though people argue that this costs Americans too much, that the benefits of such a program outweigh the costs.  This is due to the fact that for every dollar of emergency money spent during a recession; this generates a dollar and eighty-two cents in local economy activity which leads to more jobs and productivity. http://www.nyccah.org/learn-about-hunger/food-stamp-myths. With facts like these out there, I think that we should inform ourselves as best we can so that we can truly and objectively address the bigger question of whether or not the government should have a responsibility in an issue like such.

One of the main controversies surrounding such welfare programs is that of whether or not the government should be responsible for these individuals who are not up to par with the average citizen. In my perspective, I believe that the government does have a responsibility in this issue. I believe that the government should intervene and at least make an attempt in providing aid to those who need it. Although I believe so, I also believe that this help should only be provided for a fairly reasonable amount of time just so that these individuals have a chance to gain some firm ground. After this period of time though, the government should slowly fade out of the person’s life regardless of their standings as some may simply take advantage of the aid. I think that this approach serves to please both sides; those who say that the government should not aid those in need as it has no obligation and those who argue that the government does in fact have this responsibility over its constituents.  I think that this approach is also reasonable as it will essentially provide a second chance to those who in might have made a mistake before which would have led them to be in the situation they’re in.  With such an approach, the people will not be able to say that they never got that second chance – with such an approach, these individuals will have the choice of either working to turn their lives around or to simply remain as they are.