Does Welfare Work

In the present economic situation, a lot of people are preoccupied about their jobs, but what about people on welfare? In Tim Delvin’s article “Does Working for Welfare Work”, the focus is on a program made by the government of Alberta to reduce the number of people on welfare by making them work for the government. He interviews some people who have participated in the program, and almost all of them agree that is it a catch. What are the two sides of the coin?

When we think about welfare, the first thing that comes in mind is pretty much a filthy guy sitting on a couch drinking beer. What we forget about is that this guy may have a wife and children too. Children are the ones who are going to take over the society of tomorrow and what…show more content…
What is the most important thing, giving a person the chance of contributing to the society again by paying their medication even if they work at minimum wage, or keep them on welfare and pay their medication but as soon as they find a job stop paying their medicine? By doing this they are sending the wrong message. According to CBC/SRC news, in 2006 the welfare benefits were lower than the last twenty years in inflation-adjusted dollars in almost every province except Quebec, Yukon and Newfoundland. For example, in New-Brunswick, one person who is able to work had revenues of $3427 a years, 20% percent less than the poverty…show more content…
There is clearly a lack of comprehension by politician. Yes, welfare programs are paid by our taxes and something we’re angry because all that money could be spend elsewhere, but as a society can we afford to put all those people on the street? It is not like people chose to be on welfare. Social assistance programs are regulated by provinces and not the federal government. Would not it be a good thing if provinces could collaborate and borrow ideas from overseas to make the best policy available? Political will and partisanship are the main problem.

References

Boessenkool, K. J. (1997). Back to work: learning from the Alberta welfare experiment.
Commentary - C.D. Howe Institute, (91), 1. Retrieved March 14, 2009, from ProQuest database (404648741).
Kumove, Leon. (2006). A job is not enough. Community Action, 22(2), 1. Retrieved March 14, 2009, from ProQuest database (1186321261).
Breitkreuz, R. S. (2005). The self-sufficiency trap: A critical feminist inquiry into welfare-to-work policies and the experiences of Alberta families in poverty. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Alberta (Canada), Canada. Retrieved March 14, 2009, from ProQuest database (AATNR08208).
Plus riches et plus chiche. (2006, August). Retrieved March 15, 2009, from