I for one think assisting those in need is a weighty but important undertaking. Such a philanthropic approach is not just an act of kindness but it endeavors to boost the morale and the potential of the less advantageous. It should also motivate such individuals to reassess their own lot in life and improve the areas that are deficient. It may be education or just a matter of learning how to make better judgments. Benefactors of such programs may learn how to find and seize opportunity better. Or it may be any combination of results.
Sadly though like most good things in society we have found ways to ruin these programs. In general most people are aware that these efforts are good in principle but disingenuous in application. What are the problems?
To start we have to face the reality that there is an enormous amount of corruption in Government. Regardless of your political or non - political convictions you have to be living under a rock or be in a coma not to see the extortion and putrescence of the world's governmental system. And if it isn't obvious to you then consider the following.
Experts on the USA government spending and fiscal administration estimate that 75 - 80 cents of every dollar earmarked for welfare is used just to cover the cost of running the program. This seems quite excessive. So where is all this "overhead" going? Surely it is not easy to run such a program either. However it would be more effective and efficient if those gainfully employed just walked through a poor neighborhood and gave people a few bucks. For one we would save some serious tax dollars. Secondly and more important those struggling to make ends meet would actually benefit instead of the endless horde of managers and staff at welfare offices across the United States.
Again I repeat I am not suggesting that there are not hardworking people in these offices but I am pointing out it is set up as an incentive for crime. No one is really holding a true accounting on the welfare system or other government assisted programs. In fact the US government has taken money from this program and appropriated it for other "official" financial blunders. This system has run amuck and we are powerless to stop it.
Of course to add insult to injury there is a percentage of recipients of goverbnebt assistance that are outright liars and abusers of the system. They are defrauding and stealing what little money is left after the government has squandered its enormous slice of the pie. Not to mention we supposedly pay people to find these criminals. And according to people who know the system, these regulators are not worth the money they get as a whole. It costs more to find the abusers than the amount of money that would be wrongfully embezzled by false claimants.
Much of the above points are also valid for the unemployment compensation program. Another excuse for a percentage of the common man to decide society owes him and another avenue for corrupt politicians to plunder our tax money. And the legitimate people in need suffer as a result.
I will not pretend I have an answer or a solution but I do have a suggestion. I find it hard to believe that others haven't presented this, but I know you would never hear a public servant present this because it would limit the ability to dip in.
When it comes to welfare and unemployment it should be a supplemental source of income or a wage for a free public service. Any one without an extreme exception who can work should be required to work to some reasonable degree before they receive any benefits.
For example if you are a single mother and you need welfare assistance, that is more than judicious but you should perhaps be required to work a fair amount of volunteer hours at the welfare office nearest you to earn it. That would cut down the need for hired help and save administration costs. Of course this person would be a mother first. But getting help with your children is possible when mom wants to go out for a few hours and have fun isn't it? So she should be able to spare a reasonable amount of work time to raise the value of the welfare dollar she receives.
Say we have a man down on his luck and he needs welfare assistance for him and his family. Again that is perfectly tenable. But he could be required to help at the welfare office too. Or he could work at the local mini mart for minimum wage to a little above minimum wage and have a supplemental check come from Uncle Sam. Imagine if a vast majority of able to work recipients were required to do this? For one thing unemployment benefits would improve and secondly the government reliance would be cut considerably. If you made $7.50 - $8.50 an hour at work and then another few bucks from the Government that would be better then the Welfare department shelling out the whole freight wouldn't it?
The same would or could be true with unemployment. If someone suffers a lay - off at a factory and they qualify for benefits of $10 an hour say, wouldn't it be better if they had to earn $8 an hour at Wal-Mart and receive an additional $5 per from the unemployment office? The unemployed could potentially gain money and save the Government some serious cash and costs at the other end.
Some are reading this and saying but there are way more on welfare and and unemployment than you think. This is oversimplified you may remark. As true as that may be let me remind you that this proposal is multi-faceted. While many may be required to take on entry level jobs others will be retained at government offices for volunteer work thus cutting the amount of people on the government payroll and increasing the dollar amount of money received by those in need.
Not to be lost in this is another option that can be offered to those receiving financial aid. If neither of the above scenarios are feasible than some community service should be required. Even if it means taking to the streets and cleaning. This would also be two fold in nature. Obviously it could improve our towns and cities appearance but also it would mean no one is just sitting at home collecting from an agency that is mismanaged and being run into financial disaster. Also cleaning supplies could be generously donated by corporations like Lowes and Home Depot. Simple things like brooms, shovels and trash bags would go a long way at relatively minimal expenditures.
Well that is my rant. Seriously though fellow earthlings isn't it better to help the needy and avoid wasting a colossal amount of money on lining political pockets? Or wouldn't this lessen or end the incentive for people to lie and pluck money from the taxpayers wallet? It may not end corruption but it could boost the effect of these needed programs for the better of everyone. It perhaps would also expose some hidden agendas polluting humanity.
