The general public of the United States does not like the welfare system. Welfare includes all social support for citizens. The welfare in the U.S. is easily accessible and is used by many people. Large amounts of people who have no desire to better themselves misuse taxpayer’s dollars. There are many critics of the welfare system, and they all agree there need to be changes made. The current welfare system enables the poor to make too much money without working, is easily taken advantage of, and does not encourage work.
There are so many options for welfare and Michael Tanner, a fellow at the Cato Institute, ran a study to see how much a hypothetical family could receive on welfare. The family was made up of a single mother raising a one-year old and a four-year old child receiving seven benefits available to them in all fifty states. The results were equivalent to if the mother had a job she worked forty hours a week at, making over $35,000 in some of the easier welfare states. Welfare enables the lower classes to gain a large amount of money without lifting a finger. Tanner says, “In fact, in 33 states and the District of Columbia, welfare pays more than an $8-an-hour job. In 12 states, including California, as well as the District of Columbia, the welfare package is more generous than a $15-an-hour job. In Hawaii, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, D.C., welfare pays more than a $20-an-hour job, or more than 2.75 times the minimum wage… In California and 38 other states, it pays more than the starting wage for a secretary… California welfare benefits can still exceed 96% of the state's median salary.” Clearly, the benefits of welfare are outrageous and enable citizens to take advantage of the government and taxpayers. 
People on welfare can easily take advantage of the programs available to assist people in need. Recently in Louisiana, there was an Electronic Benefit Transfer card system outage, and Walmart shoppers exploited the store by buying much more than what was on their cards, leaving the shelves bare. The excessive food was obviously not necessary for the citizens, but they decided to greedily and selfishly exploit the system and Walmart. People easily steal from tax paying citizens by taking too much from government programs. Some Democrats even argue the debt limit needs to be raised. Many citizens claiming disability do not rightfully deserve the benefits. To receive more benefits, people can stretch the truth or even sell their food stamps or checks for other items or money. The system needs to be relooked at so people cannot exploit it.
Welfare creates no incentives for people to work. It creates dependence and gives money to people who are not working. Why would anyone want to get a job when they have a source of income without working? There is no motivation to update their skills when they can make just as much money or more that they would make with a minimum wage job. Tanner also states, “…with a rise in income, people will "purchase" more leisure by reducing their work effort." In other words, an increase in benefits could encourage people to reduce their work hours. We've seen this with unemployment benefits, which increase both the rate and duration of joblessness.” There is no reason for someone to stop receiving great benefits and actually put in effort to find work.
Welfare receivers are not going to find work if they can get just as much money from the government as they would with a job. The system is constantly being taken advantage of and has many drawbacks. Welfare costs the government a lot of money, and our economy is not in the greatest place. People are not always truthful and are trusted too easily. Changes are necessary to ensure a better economy and a better America. Welfare needs a serious reform, before it’s too late.
Sources:
Tanner, Michael D. "Why Get off Welfare?" Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2013. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
"U.S." US A Walmart Shopping Frenzy After Food Stamp Cards Malfunction Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
"America's Misguided Approach to Social Welfare." Global. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
"Alpine-liquor-store-food-stamps." FrontPage Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.
"The Real Deal behind Welfare to Work." The Real Deal behind Welfare to Work. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.
"EBT Fail Causes Shoppers to Empty Walmart Shelves in Shameful Display of Greed (Watch)." EURweb. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment