Reply #63: Sorry, but the vast overwhelming majority of people who take welfare,

[MadHound]

Need it.

The federal government spends 8/10s of one percent of the annual federal budget on welfare programs. Hell, more money is spent on one stealth fighter than what is spent on welfare in a year.

Contrary to popular belief and myth, very few people are on welfare because they're trying to cheat they system, or to live their life without having to work. If I remember right, the average stay on welfare is aprox. three months.

Clinton's welfare to work plan was wrong headed in two ways. First there was the assumption that jobs would always be available. Proposed and passed during the go go ninties when jobs were plentiful, the sad truth is that when the economy went south, jobs were unavailable and those who were required to work for their benefits got those benefits yanked when they most needed them.

Secondly, it can screw members of the working poor, those who don't receive welfare. This is done by the government subsidizing the pay of a low skill, low paying job. Since the employer in these types of jobs sees his payroll shrink, he hires more welfare to work recipients rather than the working poor who would normally get the job.

Face it, our country and economy is so big that there is always going to be a group of people who are on welfare or are unemployed. Rather than punishing them and ripping away the social safety net, instead help them become better, productive citizens. People don't want to be on welfare, but they do want it to be in place in case they need it.