Laura's Corner

LAND OF THE FREE HANDOUT

Posted by Laura Beyer on March 1, 2009

I am sure everyone has heard multiple reasons why we are in a recession.  Some would say it is due to the mortgage industry and extensions of credit to unworthy individuals.  Other would say that the men at the top, the greediest of greedy were to blame.  Stories of suicide regarding investors have been a part of the news.  Yet, I believe that we have overlooked some basic injustices which have been going on for a long period of time.

Welfare was introduced into our system in the 1930s.  Per this website:

http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/00342/Welfare.html it states:

"This act made it so that states had to contribute one-third that the federal government gave to needy, dependent children, as well as old people, crippled children and the needy blind."

In the 1990s, they reformed the system and within the same article you will find the following:

“Adults receiving family cash-aid benefits must go to work within two years. States may exempt a parent with a child under 1 for no more than 12 months. States had to have 25 percent of their welfare caseloads at work in 1997 and 50 percent of their caseloads at work by 2002. States who fail to meet these requirements will lose 5 percent of their federal block grants. Each adult is limited to no more than five years of cash assistance during his or her lifetime. But states may exempt up to 20 percent of their caseloads from this limit”

Don’t get me wrong, I believe in helping those who are in need.  Yet, has the government extended the cash assistance to certain individuals over the five years maximum?  Is anyone monitoring this system?  Over time, this "assistance" has grown into a multi-million dollar extension coming from hard working individuals.  Those of us who pay taxes have done so because it is the law.  Unless you work for money under the table, it is guaranteed that a certain percentage will come off the top.

So, if a certain percentage of my hard earned dollars is going into a system, why do I not have a say as to what I find an acceptable use for my tax “investment”?  If I am working 20, 30, or 40 hours a week, isn’t it fair for me to have some sort of input?

Welfare was designed years ago to help those in need.  To get them back on their feet, a temporary respite of sorts.  Yet, what was intended temporary has become an abused partnership between mothers and their children.  The mentality of those within the United States has been that of many.   I recall as a young woman of twenty years.  I became pregnant and did not really have a plan of attack.  I recall words from my own mother.  “Hey, why not go get a free hand-out?  Everyone else does it”.   Although my life did not take a turn for the worst, I still remember those words as fresh as the morning dew.

I was raised in a middle class family.  My father a firefighter, mother a nurse.  They both attained degrees and also worked full time.  We had a comfortable life, traveled and entertained ourselves with cable television when it was first introduced into our neighborhood.  My mother’s statement regarding a free handout was something foreign to our family.  Yet, over time, the mentality of even the working class has succumbed to that of an easier way. 

For years we have bailed out individuals, some who are in desperate need of help.  Family members have stepped up to the plate and opened their doors.  The economy is in shambles and the future does not look bright. 

Years ago, when children were in need of financial help, parents gave loans.  Some even signed promissory notes.   It was known that the money was not a gift.  Other ways to obtain assistance could have been a trip to the bank.  A personal loan was granted if an individual had good credit and proved responsible with their current debts. 

In lieu of loans and parents, our citizens know that they can walk into an establishment and receive money.  No promissory note needed.  Stop by for free food, child care, and rental assistance.   It’s all yours, no worries about paying it back.  Why, because Joe and Suzie, who work 40 plus hours a week will foot the bill. 

I say if you want to eat, work.  If you want to put gas in your car, get a job.   It is time we stop handing out money to parents who don’t plan on using birth control any time this century.  They know the more children they have, the greater the reward from the system.  Put a cap on how much each individual will be granted and have them sign a promissory note.   When the money has run out, it is sink or swim time.  I can guarantee that these parents will find work.  Legal or illegal, they will find a way.  Next, ensure that sometime within their lifetime all if not part of this money will be paid back. 

I believe the citizens within our country have already been bailed out.   We are in financial ruins today because of laws that were put in place so many years ago.   Let’s change our system so that our children can live in a debt free world with jobs a-plenty.