Reforming the Social Welfare System
By bobmnu
@bobmnu (8157)
United States
April 21, 2008 10:00am CST
It is time for the political leaders to do real reforming of the Social Welfare system in the US. people who receive government aid in the form of welfare should have to work or do community service. We should not be paying them to sit home and watch TV. We do not need National Health Insurance, but we do need Health Insurance that people can afford. Why not have the Medicare and Medicaid offered on an ability to pay available to people. This way people could work and still have insurance. A family friend was in the situation that she wanted to get a job and could get one but could not afford the child care and health insurance. Instead of working with her the Social Services gave her a choice Quit your job and get the benefits of keep the job and no extra help. She was forced to quit because Welfare is an all or nothing deal.
My proposal would be to index all benefits and provide them only to people who were working. I work wihth a severely disabled young person who is able to do many things under direct supervision. I have not problem creating work for these people. I know of a person in the area that is collecting disability from the state for a bad back. He has to spend his time hunting and fishing and driving around to help friends cut firewood. At the same time I see a person in Walmart in a wheel chair helping customers as a sales associate. We need to encourage employers to hire these people and if they want benefits then they have to work.
What are your ideas for reforming the Social Welfare System?
2 responses
@4ftfingers (1310)
•
21 Apr 08
I agree. Here in the UK some people, particularly those with a number of children can earn more sat on benefits than they could doing a regular job. So perfectly able people are claiming incapacity benefits (a.k.a. 'bad back' benefits). It's not their fault, a lot of people would do the same in their situation. The system is failing when someone can claim for something so pathetic as a bad-back, or sore toe, etc.
With the technology we have, people can earn a decent wage sitting on their behind. If someone is genuinely disabled and the wage they earn for the job offered to them is not enough to meet their needs, benefits could be offered to them on top of their wage, if they can prove it's necessary.
I am too young to remember the day but I have been told that people were once too proud to claim benefits. Now, with it being so easily available there isn't that culture any more. It should not be so socially acceptable to take money for things you haven't done.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
21 Apr 08
Nice to hear from you again 4ftfingers. I have nothing against helping people who need the help. The friend that need insurance but had to quit her job to get it is wrong. When I see people in wheel chairs working and the handicapped working at jobs and then healthy people sponging off the rest of us. The goal should be to give them enough to help them over the rough spots.
When I was in college I took any job I could to get money to help me get buy. Now if you have to work in college you are consider an oddity.
@4ftfingers (1310)
•
23 Apr 08
Fortunately it's not too unheard of for students here to be working, although I'm sure it could go that way in time and I do know of some people who say 'what's the point? I've got all the drink money I need, why work!!?'
Here our system is is public but I read that you have a number of privatised systems, is that correct? I think they are considering privatising the system here, apparently it will save billions. In the newspaper they championed the American and Australian privatised systems.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
23 Apr 08
We do have private charities and they are getting tougher on who they will give help to. In one community I helped put together a First Call For Help Program. In that program people call one number and from there they are directed to the orginazation to receive the help they need. What they found out the first year was the same people were calling every month asking for different help. They were upset that the group was now giving aid only once every three months. One person even claimed that he might have to get a job if people weren't going to give him the money he wanted. We also had people upset because they were only getting one Food Basket at Thanksgiving and at Christmas. This experience supported my belief that there are people who are taking advantage of the programs. These are the people who need to be removed and forced to get a job.
@WhatsHerName (2716)
• United States
23 Apr 08
I have a couple of ideas.
Welfare is supposed to help you get buy during hard times. It's not supposed to be your job.
I would have the social service program be somewhat like joining the military.
If you want the hand outs you are taking from your country than you have to earn them by doing something for your country.
Mothers can work at schools when their children are there instead of staying home eating and watching soap operas and once a week take a self esteem course and job training.
Schools always need help, so do hospitals and nursing homes. It could be like the temp services I see all the time now. If the employer likes you, you can probably stay and make more money.
Why can't some of them do the jobs so many claim only illegal immigrants can do?
Then we could get on with building the fences couldn't we? 
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
23 Apr 08
Unlike many people who are opposed to welfare I am for creating (making work) a job for a person on welfare. I have seen people who have to do community service in some schools where I have worked. Part of my responsibility was to help create work they could do and not take a job away from a district employee. While it was mostly busy work and it took time to train them there were positive results. What I noticed was that their dress improved, their interaction with others improved and they were more confident. Work improved their self esteem and if they had to continue to work at the make work job they would have quit and taken something better and better pay.
Pay people to do nothing and they will become dependent and sink into the pool of self pity. Create a job and allow them to grow and improve they will become a productive citizen.
