should government strengthen welfare requirements?
79267
Yes. Too many people that are ripping off the government using the welfare system. Also, welfare is not a permanent solution, but is a helping hand until you get on your own two feet.
569440
DEFINITELY> GOVERMENT HAS TO TAKE CARE OF ITS CITIZENS
777423
I agree.  I also feel that if you have to take a test and prove your skills to drive a car the same should be true for parenting.  I don't believe the Government should regulate our personal lives but it seems that the people with the most kids are the worst parents.  They did something similar with welfare...they stopped giving bigger checks for more kids so they should do the same thing for taxes.
215296
the goverment does, however, a lot of people refuse the help that could fix there situation. For example, there are mental disorders that may lead to someone not being able to find work. There are medicines for these conditions, but the person does not take them, do to unpleasent side effects. It's really hard to stay homeless in America, with all the programs and low income housing, but there is a lot of help for those that "fall through the cracks".
928482
Welfare is meant to help people that are on hard times. I believe in a compassionate state where no one should be hungry, be without shelter, security, education. I do not believe in handouts to the lazy as it is a tremendous drag on society and is a major reason for high taxes. \n\nI therefore advocate a system where people that are unable to support themselves receive welfare in a different format.\n1-safe and secure housing (very basic)\n2-food vouchers (healthy food only)\n3-free access to education and job training that is of a very high caliber\n4-vouchers for consumer goods at thrift stores like goodwill and value village\n5-health care\n6-mass transportation\n\nThis spartan existence should not be preferable for people to live off so there is an incentive to get to work and improve their lives.\n\nNo one should get cheques to squander on cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, junk food and other wasteful things. Not everyone is able to care properly for their children so welfare should not be a pay raise for people. On this note, there should be excellent boarding houses (akin to those used by the wealthy) where children can be brought up in safe and healthy environments and afforded the best education. Transforming future lost generations into productive members of society.
225637
So far the government has been a failure in response to poverty. Social programs don't work as they allow for to many people to cheat. How ever the Clinton approach was closest to the best in my opinion, he helped to create an environment where everybody that wanted to work could get a job. His welfare to work program, raising taxes on the very rich and reinvesting it in the poor without giving it to them might be something that needs to be looked into closer. Education is an influence on poverty. Everybody needs to be something whether it is a taxi driver or a doctor everybody has potential for something.
801486
Nice! \nDemocrats all the way baby!!!\n\nRe: Mei-Lin...You have no knowledge of assistance programs if you are going to make the claim that people that receive assistance simply are refusing to work. Taxes fund lots of programs such as social security and Medicare--do you want to take that assistance away from your grandparents? If not why then are so programs people deserving of and others they are not according to you? Are you aware that the large majority of people seeking welfare do not actually get it? In 1996 the nation had a major welfare reform. Welfare is no longer an entitlement program. If people seek welfare and they are able to work they typically receive no cash assistance. These programs are not easily accessable. So, that FAMILY may go without food or housing or heat until that parent can find a job. Is that ok with you? Do you want children going hungry? And, the majority of people receiving welfare are on it short-term, an average of 1-3 years. Also, people receiving welfare overwhelmingly have major life problems. A large percentage of recepients have a history of domestic violence, learning disabilities, mental illnesses...and the list goes on. Thus, these are not parents refusing to work these are parents with significant barriers to healthy life functioning, which includes maintaining employment. There will always be people that need help in any society and if those people do not recieve adequate help it will negatively effect the society. \nSecondly, in your republican mantra you stated that people should get their money back because they work hard. Question...city services among many other things need to be funded do you understand that that requires taxing people? It always seems that conservatives fail to see that taxing is necessary to provide citizens adequate services. You get something in return for the money you pay.
597323
I totally agree with you! You need a valid SS# to get any kind of  welfare from the government!
90512
Yes they should require it..they should BE a part of the community that supports them.\n\nBut then you will get into Senate Bills and House Bills. and you will have to lobby on the bills to make them what you expect what is right and wrong, and then vote for it.\n\nIf the handicapped can find employment within a Sheltered Workshop and provide a service to the community.. regardless of their abilities.. then ANYONE that is able to collect welfare should be held to that same principle!!\n\nHowever.. you must consider the amount of money invested in these programs. In order to have mom and dad work, someone has to pay the babysitter... if we have to fund THAT too.. then how much are we willing to spend to get people out there working?\n\nThere are pros and cons to everything.. the key is to find what better serves the nation in education and self sufficiency.. and standing behind THAT. Because everyone in the community should be expected to carry their own weight.. regardles of personal choices or situations!!\n\nBut to Angie Rose..I appreciate you opinion very much, and happy that it worked out for you in the best way.. but the government isn't really doing a whole lot for us that are trying to make our situations better just because we  "married the right person", and are working out butts off everyday while having childen to support... and I got an education/work skills before I got married for my own ablities improvement.. so why is it that I am helping to fund others that didn't strive for that in their lives until they were in a hard spot and then give them the ability to live better than I do without me benefiting from it. ( SO you have to give respect to the asker's opinion of what do I get back).. You are able to give back LOADS now.. and I am happy your situation turned out that way, but there are people who decide "for whatever reason"..that they shouldn't work or give back ever. And I disagree with that.\n\n..Don't get me wrong I am for helping anyone in a tight spot.. but I just don't see having to remind people that they should always strive to be prepared for that "rainy day" (divorce, death of spouse, house burns down, "natural disaster may stretch it a bit far", but still a devestating situation) and not depended that THAT rainy day would never come to them. It's an odd world out there, your best is to have your defenses ready when you have an offense you didn't think would happen.\n\nIf my husband divorced me tomorrow, I know I will be responsible for making a home and income without him for my childrens sake.. and I will do my damned best before applying for anything until the community decide it's Too Much for one to bear.. I have my own accomplishments and drive to be able to do what is necessary if I get in a tight spot, and if I needed help.. I would FULLY expect to pay back whoever gave me the help when I got on my feet!!
818609
It ought to be mandatory to get food assistance in 3rd world countries where they are producing babies as fast as they starve to death, but it's not a bad idea here, especially if they are 3rd generation welfare recipients. I'm one of the working pooor who gets annoyed at people on food stamps driving better vehicles than I have, have their rent paid for, who whine about not getting more money and spitting out babies to get more benefits. Gee, I guess I'm developing an attitude :P
30819
You have to remember that government programs to help the poor are really just applying a financial band-aid to the problem.  It keeps them alive, so that they can climb their way back into a better life.\nThe key is that the person must desire to change.  This is true for any disadvantaged person: poor, alcohol or drug dependent, overweight, etc.  They must desire change, or no amount of help will do anything over the long term.\n\nThe government programs are their to sustain these people until they are ready to help themselves...and then there are government programs to help them do that, too.
938799
Call social services in your county and ask the department who you should call for the requirements. They will point you in the right direction.
844598
No.  The government's responsibilities to the various failing industries is pretty much limited to auditing, unions and welfare.  Also, passing legislation allowing taxes from wealthy areas to supplement the taxes from poorer areas is controversial (the wealthy want to keep their money in their own communities, which is both understandable and somewhat selfish, and I don't know what my actual opinion of it is).  If they could do that, though, it could help prevent depressed areas in other cities, but not enough to make a huge difference, if you ask me.\n\nThere are all kinds of problems.  If the government were responsible for ALL of them, it would be even less effective as it is now.  Starting up business is a risk, and an investment.  There are depressed areas of nearly every city or town in the US.  It wouldn't make sense to hold them responsible for depressions that haven't happened yet when there are so many poor people and poor areas out there.\n\n\nYo, Reagen:  that's a lie.  There are rags to riches stories in America, sure, but the fact is, if you grow up in a town that can't offer good schooling, it can hinder you when it comes to going to a good college, and if you can't go to a good college, getting the executive jobs are virtually impossible.  \n\nUnlimited resources to get ahead and acheive your dreams is a pretty theory, but for the most part, that's all it is.
900220
Since the country has grown in terms of population, technology, economy, military, etc. over the years, the bureaucracy has had to expand proportionally. However, it definitely could be tightened up among certain agencies which would most likely benefit the overally running of the nation.
1142837
Thanks for asking.  Here's the answer.  The government should never, ever, hand out money, or anything of value for that matter.  The fraud involved in that method is vast.  Make sure the people are getting what it was intended they get (eliminating, for example, the old food stamps for crack barter).  Concentrate hard on eliminating the waste and fraud inherent in the system.  Every dollar you save by eliminating fraud and waste could be used to get these people off welfare (at no additional cost to the taxpayers).  Education, job training, relocation.  Once you have a good system for getting people off welfare, then you can start to install restrictions to "encourage" the less motivated.  You could also clamp down on fraud and waste in other government departments and use that "free" money to get people off of welfare and out of poverty.  Done.  Next problem.
689560
Hard one this, without a government willing to keep taxation & regulation / paperwork to a minimum + the availability of an Organisation (such as the "Princes Trust" here in the UK) offering funding, training & support to encourage people.
373193
Umm...depends on the requirements and the benefits. SURE!