Over the years anti-poverty initiatives have been trying to help out the less fortunate. These groups and services include
social security funds, Medicaid, Medicare, wage assistance programs, minimum wage, food stamps, and welfare
(AFDC) or now known as
TANF. Social Security and Medicare is leaned towards helping the elderly and provides many benefits in the health care area. Medicaid also provides free or reduced costs for medical care for low-income Americans of any age. One more commonly known program would be the Federal Minimum Wage. Minimum wage is the lowest level set where employers can pay their employees. This level should be set at a wage that a person can live on however it is proven that you can’t live off of $7.25. The Food Stamp Program provides credits on cards for needy families to get food at participating stores. Finally, welfare (AFDC) provided direct cash payments to low-income families, with children under the age of 18. Much of this money went to single mothers. After years of criticism that the AFDC created dependence and provided incentives for recipients to stay unemployed they changed their name and policies. Now it is called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This program now has more time limits and work requirements.
I think that welfare is a good program however I see how the original program was questioned. If you are giving direct cash payments to people that might be telling them that,”It’s okay to be unemployed; you c
an live off of other people’s money”. This is not true. The unemployed need to know that it is necessary to have a job in order to live. The welfare cash might not always be there. So yes, I agree that there should be restrictions on who gets the cash payments during their difficult times. As far as the other programs, I think they are great. They provide much help to people and are greatly appreciated. Also I glad that people did not forget about the elderly. Not all the people living in poverty are young or middle aged, some are in their last years of life. Barack Obama also agrees with me in saying that welfare receipts know how to become successful but need help. (
http://www.ontheissues.org/Welfare_+_Poverty.htm#Headlines)
Maya's Issue #2-
http://mayaseverson.blogspot.com/2010/04/issue-2-boosting-minimum.htmlFelicia's Issue #1-
http://felicia01.blogspot.com/2010/05/all-things-being-unequal.html
an live off of other people’s money”. This is not true. The unemployed need to know that it is necessary to have a job in order to live. The welfare cash might not always be there. So yes, I agree that there should be restrictions on who gets the cash payments during their difficult times. As far as the other programs, I think they are great. They provide much help to people and are greatly appreciated. Also I glad that people did not forget about the elderly. Not all the people living in poverty are young or middle aged, some are in their last years of life. Barack Obama also agrees with me in saying that welfare receipts know how to become successful but need help. (http://www.ontheissues.org/Welfare_+_Poverty.htm#Headlines)