Welfare

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

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, welfare is a socialist policy. Supporters may cite the effectiveness of Roosevelt's policies to help end the Great Depression. Welfare also comes in the forms of food stamps, free school lunches, and Medicaid. There is no evidence that anyone has ever been helped by welfare; in fact, some conservatives believe that welfare hurts the disadvantaged.

Corporate Welfare

This is a pejorative term used to describe business subsidies, bailouts, and tax breaks, especially for large corporations.

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) from remaining idle in the work force. For instance, a single family could recieve aid for a total of only five years. Recipients are also required to find employment within two years of receiving aid. If a mother gives birth to a child while recieving aid, states are allowed to establish "family caps" to deny further benefits.

"The only real cure for poverty is production". Henry Hazlitt, from Man vs. the Welfare State.

See also

• Essay:Greatest Conservative Legislation
• Capitalism
• Social democracy