The shrinking welfare state essays

The shrinking welfare state essays Welfare has been the topic of much controversy over the past few years. The welfare program has been important for many people. The purpose of welfare is to assist people who are jobless or cant make ends meet financially. One of the stated purposes of the Personal Responsibility Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, popularly known as welfare reform was to end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparedness, work, and marriage. To this end, this federal legislation, along with many other changes in state policies before and after passage, has increased incentives and requirements for families receiving benefits to move into work and eventually off welfare. After reading the article on the Shrinking Welfare State the question I asked myself was should there be a welfare reform? Personally I think welfare reform is more reasonable and feasible rather than abolishing welfare altogether. For one, the redistribution of wealth is necessary to maintain equality among the economic classes. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening each day, and welfare aids the redistribution of wealth. Secondly, doing away with welfare altogether would further impoverish those who are currently under it support. There is still a need for welfare, but amendments to its policies would reduce the cost of its upkeep as well as reduce welfare fraud. Such amendments to its policies can include a voluntary savings plan to reduce the amount of taxes paid or a limitation on the duration support. To do away with welfare altogether would increase the poverty level in the U.S. Though proponents of this movement site that many people take advantage of welfare, their argument is only half valid. No one denies, that welfare fraud exits, but doing away with welfare away altogether would hurt those residents who truly have a need for the support. Welfare reform can reduce fraud an...