Are Americans becoming addicted to social welfare programs?

Question

Are Americans becoming addicted to social welfare programs?

Answer 1

No, but I think that the "recently-deprived" are whining the loudest.

Just listen in the coming weeks who the retirees from GM who were previously salaried employees scream loudly to the high heavens about health care, or lack thereof, now that GM has terminated their benefits.

I'll wager that not one of the newly-deprived ever thought about the life-threatening conditions faced daily by others who lacked health care.  Now, it will be a certified CRISIS.

How self-serving!

Another phun example is how the Republicans pontificate about self-reliance and the horrors of big government haven't whispered a peep about the inappropriateness of the sub-prime mortgage bailout when we all know that the mortgage bankers should be doing the per-walk in their fancy three-piece suits!

Welfare is detestable for families but quite adequate for corporations, my derriere!

Answer 2

ADDICTED TO SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS?  LOL!

Children whose families need HELP raising them  in other nations are not singled out for the racist, sexist and classist notions that American children have been made to endure. \

I will never forget when the decision gained popularity to "END WELFARE AS WE KNOW IT" and tout instead

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY and the non-existent "safety net" that has resulted in American children across the country going without: food, housing, health care, dental care, educations, and last but not least anyone left around who has the time or resources to raise them.  It is an OUTRAGE that there is welfare for CORPORATIONS AND BANKS and no appropriate help for the homeless, mentally ill, the young and the old, the veteran.   IS THIS THE AMERICA ANY OF US WANT?  I think it is just that Americans like the idea of having a JOB that PAYS ONES BILLS and PROVIDES FOR ONE'S FAMILY and IF THERE IS NONE TO BE HAD, THEN AMERICANS LIKE THE IDEA OF NOT BEING EVICTED, FORCLOSED ON, AND/OR LEFT TO ROT UNDER A BRIDGE.  

Yeah I think people are sort of ADDICTED to the idea that these things just are NOT supposed to take place in America!

Answer 3

I think that this is a hard and double ended question. While there are a lot of Americans that are lazy and will take advantage of programs designed to help the needy, their also a lot of people who really need it and can not get it because of our governments strange rules to receive the government aid. If you look at European countries and their government programs you can see that Americans are sorely lacking. The more important question should be why are all of the forms to receive such aid in English and Spanish.  And why do they not take into a count the average persons bill when looking at income such as rent, car, insurance, ext. Our health care system alone is worth shaking your head. For a 'super power' we seem to not be able to create and regulate the simplest of programs.

Answer 4

Well with the bad economic times! Of course theres going to be a lot of people signing up for welfare!

Answer 5

In the USA you probably have less social welfare programs than any country in the "developed" world. In order to match your poor showing in social welfare you would have to find a third world country.  So you don't really need to worry about that one. In fact anyone trying to promote more social welfare in the USA is considered "red", "unpatriotic", etc.

The selfish right rules!

Answer 6

Yes in some respect.  There are some who have it so easy that they don't want to work.  There are others who don't want to be on it but really need it and can't get it.  There needs to be some kind of reform.  A reform that makes a person sit down with a social worker and layout their plan of action for getting off the system.  Then this social worker follows their progress and or helps them find jobs, helps them further their education etc...  Don't just hand over funding if a person has no ambition to get off the system.  For God sake, take a look a their work history, do they have one?  For example when you go on unemployment, you are required to make x amount of contacts a week to show you are looking for a job, do the same with welfare.  Evaluate these people, what are they doing to get off the system?  If nothing, kick them off and see how fast they move their butts.  For people who have always worked and have lost their jobs, be compassionate.  They should be the ones that are helped the most.  They worked and THEY paid into the system.  Unfortunately when it comes their time to collect on what they have paid into it, they get turned away!

Answer 7

Yep