2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: No. Hillary Clinton did not call people on welfare, "deadbeats." (edit: internet slooow) [View all]BainsBane
(53,032 posts)I don't find that statement problematic at all. I don't believe people want to live on welfare. It's a function of society based on inequality, without opportunity. People would much prefer to have access to education and a living wage. Note that in communist countries, there is no such thing as welfare. People have paying jobs, day care, medical care, and education. Everyone fills a role in society.
My problem with the Welfare reform was that it didn't provide real opportunities for training people for jobs the economy actually needed, for jobs that could give them a future. My mother benefited from such a program in the 1970s, was able to get training, find a paying job and support us. And sadly, like the women Clinton spoke about, we had a father who didn't pay child support. That is often part of the situation for women and children living in poverty.
I see nothing dignified about a system of inequality that keeps some at the bottom, without education, opportunity or access to a living wage. That is what Welfare supports. Yes, it is necessary in our society, but only because the society is broken.
I certainly didn't feel dignified growing up in that situation, far from it.