Down with Welfare!

For years my husband was Enlisted Army. The common misconception on the civilian side of the world is that people in the military are well-do-to. Let me be the first to say that junior Enlisted are anything BUT well to do. We were dirt poor and worked very hard for everything we earned. Since then, due to an injury while serving in Iraq, he has been discharged. Now we are out on the civilian side and my perception of the government aid systems has dramatically changed. I would say the years of scrounging for every nice thing we had really opened my eyes. My husband and I were discussing this issue on our way home from work one day and came up with a plan to “help those who will help themselves” so to speak.

First off, we get rid of the welfare system as we know it. One of the main problems with the current system is it breeds those who want to do nothing but sit back and get everything for free. In the current job I am in, I deal with government insurances on a daily basis and the vast majority of the clients I deal with are not in any hurry to try to better their lifestyle so they stop getting everything for free and can become a productive part of society. Contrary to popular Democratic belief, we should make everyone responsible for their own actions and lifestyles.

We need to set up a new system to better our economy. The current Democratic Party has proposed raising the minimum wage in order to better the lifestyles of those working for minimum wage. This idea needs to be thrown out immediately. The current minimum wage in comparison to the current cost of living is no different now than it was 15 years ago. Raising minimum wage only accomplishes raising costs across the board. Once a person on minimum wage gets more money, the next person in line who has worked to get to their current pay will demand a raise as well. Then, the next person, and the next person, and the next, and so on. When employees start making more money, costs for housing as well as other living expenses will raise to accommodate the influx in wages. And, so goes the vicious cycle.

It’s time to stop this all right now. We need to replace the current welfare system with a Cost for Living Program. This new program will make people become an active part in society. In order for a person to receive any government assistance, they will need to work. The type of work they do doesn’t matter, only that they are working to help better themselves is all we ask. Of course, there really are people who are unable to work due to a disability or lack of job market. In this case, the person will need to go through a process to prove they are too disabled to work in ANY job we can find them. In the process of getting rid of the current welfare system, there will be jobs no longer needed. In an effort to keep jobs open, some of the current welfare program administrators will be taking the part of making sure those who are on assistance are currently working and those who are unable to work due to a disability or lack of job market are in fact unable to work in ANY position available. Aide will be given as a supplement according to their monthly income up to a certain monetary limit. But, the fact that they are working in order to get aide at all is what will help to make them productive. Some on assistance will quickly find themselves excelling in their jobs at which point there will be no need to stay on the Cost for Living Program.

Other major factors in the job market today are illegal immigrants. They come to America and take jobs. Granted, some of these jobs are unwanted by Americans, however, when we are giving aide based on working, these jobs will be needed by American citizens. The remainder of the current welfare program jobs that are out there will then be put into positions that monitor illegal immigrant workers. They will monitor each company on a yearly basis along with random checks throughout the year and check each employee to ensure there are not illegal immigrants working.

So, between the Cost for Living Program that requires participants to have a job and the illegal immigrant monitoring, more jobs will be taken by Americans leaving fewer jobs for illegal immigrants. With fewer job out there for illegal immigrants to take they will not want to come into America for jobs; reducing the number of illegal immigrants.

Yes, the implementation of a plan of this magnitude will be difficult, but the current welfare system is not working and we need to jump in head first to correct the problem before it gets any worse. We cannot allow complacency to take over our standards as a society. In turn, the money those on the Cost for Living Program make will get put back into the economy by them and better the economy as a whole. Everybody wins….except illegal immigrants and those who want everything for nothing. It’s time to go out and get a job and be a productive part of society!!