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The inter-related concepts of “conservative welfare consensus”, welfare state retrenchment”, “devolution”, “residual welfare”, and “welfare pluralism” are closer than they seem at first glance. By defining the concepts, the connection becomes clearer.
Conservative Welfare Consensus is embraced by both neo-conservatives and neo-liberals (Class notes, Week10) the belief largely being that “social programs should largely rely on the private sector and volunteer or “faith-based” non-profits to meet program needs. Only individual responsibility and local initiatives can be successful” (Political Landscape, 2007) the concept is that the system of the welfare state is placed in the hands of private companies be it for profit or non profit and slowly the once government run programs are being under funded and over used. By cutting taxes or allowing people to decide how their money if any is to be spent, we are bankrupting these programs. Without the income to these programs there is no outcome of services. The bottom line, private funding is used for running programs thereby cutting our taxes. Upon first glance this sounds like a solution to benefit all. However, cutting taxes and shifting spending so that there is less money for social programs. This in turn forces people to become self reliant or to turn to private organizations for not only for education and health care but for food and general existence. (Fields, Echo)
Policies such as these are the basis for “welfare state retrenchment”, the shifting of program funding from the governmental subsidy to private agencies through devolution. Although a considerably broad term, the concept addresses the “privatizing of government programs” The definition of retrenchment is “the reduction of expenditures in order to become financially stable (e.g., by cutting jobs). It is a tactical concept similar to downsizing.” (Accessed at http://www.answers.com/topic/retrenchment) The concept of devolution is...