Cutting back on Welfare

            Today we discussed the wisdom and success behind socialist welfare programs. One major issue was the fact that stable taxpayers unwillingly gain the responsibility of paying for these programs and helping those in need. This 'safety net' has helped many, but it has also given individuals the incentive of not having to strive so hard for money. It has even led to felony and discontent among the fortunate, both the hard working and rich. One argument proposed was cutting back on welfare programs. After all, we live in a capitalist nation and perhaps Wilson was right about "rugged individualism", but I still believe that the government should aid its people. 

            We only discussed the consequences of paying for those in need, but not the consequences of cutting back on aid programs and leaving these people to help themselves. One recent NYTimes article I read shows that by doing so, (which we have been trying to do for the past decade), there has been an increased amount of crime of varying degrees. (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/us/welfare-limits-left-poor-adrift-as-recession-hit.html?pagewanted=all)

             President Clinton first proposed to "end welfare as we know it" back in 1996. According to the article, as many as 16 states have cut back on welfare. The example used was Arizona- which cut back on its welfare case loads by 50%. Many of the individuals that were denied aid are single mothers, who shared their experiences and how exactly they make ends meet now. These mothers are desperate and have children to feed. Not only do they skip meals and scour their neighborhoods for empty cans and plastic bottles, they also shoplift and steal food. Some are so troubled that they sell blood or go back into an abusive relationship in hopes of gaining assistance. They mostly worry for their children and sacrifice a lot just to help them survive, even if it puts their own well being in jeopardy. One woman spoke about how she and her daughters sell brand name clothes, yet she doesn't know where the clothes came from, and she doesn't ask either. As you can see, not every person had the privilege of a good education, so many try to get out of their situation through illegal means. 

              In my opinion, cutting back on welfare programs will only cause more problems. It may not even help the economy at all because crime rates will rise and people stealing items and reselling them causes companies to lose money. Such acts may even become the 'norm' in low income or isolated areas. If anything, the government should find better ways to help those in need. Positive initiatives that a person can take to gain stability should be made known to those that might not have the capability to do so. The government should make sure that federal aid is indeed going to those that need it and that individuals aren't taking advantage of the safety net. They should also make sure that all kids receive proper education to prevent poverty. I know that many are not on board with this humanitarian view and that it's still impossible to eliminate every problem, but I think there will be more consequences if the government continues to cut back on welfare programs.