Changes

[[Image:Bank of America Victor Gruen.jpg|right|300px]]

[[Image:Bank of America Victor Gruen.jpg|right|300px]]

'''Welfare''' is a government program paid for by the taxpayers that gives money to the poor through [[socialism|wealth redistribution]]. It is strongly opposed by most conservatives.

'''Welfare''' is a set of government programs paid for by the taxpayers that give money or services to the poor through [[socialism|wealth redistribution]]. It is strongly opposed by conservatives.

==Welfare in the United States==

==Welfare in the United States==

Welfare in the [[United States]] has been growing for many years. The welfare system was established by President [[Franklin Roosevelt]], and extended by [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and the [[Great Society]]. Opponents say that, since 50% of Americans pay over 96% of the taxes, <ref>Jackson, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/250.html]</ref> welfare is a [[socialist]] policy. Supporters may cite the effectiveness of Roosevelt's policies to help end the Great Depression.<ref>http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/depression/overview.htm</ref>  Welfare also comes in the forms of [[food stamp]]s, free school lunches, and [[Medicaid]].  

Welfare expenditures in the [[United States]] have been growing for many years. The welfare system was established by President [[Franklin Roosevelt]], and extended by [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] as part of the [[Great Society]]. Opponents say that, since 50% of Americans pay over 96% of the taxes, <ref>Jackson, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/250.html]</ref> welfare is a [[socialist]] policy. Supporters may cite the supposed effectiveness of Roosevelt's policies to help end the Great Depression.<ref>http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/depression/overview.htm</ref>  Welfare also comes in the forms of [[food stamp]]s, free school lunches, and [[Medicaid]].  

==Corporate Welfare==

==Corporate Welfare==

This is a pejorative term used to describe business subsidies, bailouts, and tax breaks, especially for large [[corporation]]s.

This is a pejorative term used to describe business loans, subsidies, bailouts, and tax breaks, especially for large [[corporation]]s.

== Welfare Reform ==

== Welfare Reform ==

Highly successful and [[conservative]] legislation was the [[Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996]], which ended the AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) and radically changed the US welfare system. Tighter restrictions were placed on the eligibility and manner of recieving public aid in order to discourage families (mainly single, divorced, or widowed mothers with children)<ref>[http://futureofchildren.org]</ref> from remaining idle in the work force. For instance, recipients are required to find employment within two years of receiving aid, and a single family could recieve aid for a total of only five years. If a mother gives birth to a child while on public assistance, states are allowed to establish "family caps" in order to deny further benefits the family may have been eligible for before the reform<ref>Washington Post [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/welfare/welfare.htm#new]</ref>. Legal immigrants have also been made ineligible for any Social Security Income (SSI)<ref>Cornell University Law School</ref><ref>[http://topics.law.cornell.edu/wex/welfare]</ref>.  

Highly successful and [[conservative]] legislation was the [[Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996]], which ended the AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) and radically changed the US welfare system. Tighter restrictions were placed on the eligibility and manner of receiving public aid in order to discourage families (mainly single, divorced, or widowed mothers with children)<ref>[http://futureofchildren.org]</ref> from remaining idle (outside of the work force). For instance, recipients are required to find employment within two years of receiving aid, and a single family could receive aid for a total of five years. If a mother gives birth to a child while on public assistance, states are allowed to establish "family caps" in order to deny further benefits the family may have been eligible for before the reform<ref>Washington Post [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/welfare/welfare.htm#new]</ref>. Legal immigrants have also been made ineligible for any Social Security Income (SSI)<ref>Cornell University Law School</ref><ref>[http://topics.law.cornell.edu/wex/welfare]</ref>.  

== See also ==

== See also ==