Question

In Jason DeParle's 2005 book “The American Dream,” he writes: "We live in a country where anyone can make it; yet generation after generation some families don't. To argue about welfare is to argue about why." In response to DeParle's statement, discuss the successes and / or failures of welfare. If you are unfamiliar with welfare, discuss a similar program with which you are familiar.

Answer 1

Welfare is a program whose objective is to provide financial aid to individuals or groups who cannot support themselves. Such programs receive funding from the government. They allow families, and households to cope with financial stress.
Given below are the successes and failures of welfare programs.

Successes in implementing Welfare:

1. Welfare encourages people to get back into workforce by supporting them financially
2. They can help reduce poverty by closing income gaps
3. It improves the healthcare situation for families who cannot afford healthcare
4. They support children and their education
5. Helps in reducing income inequality

Failures of Welfare:

1. There are instances of free loaders who do not need financial aid, but take part in the program
2. These programs might not work for some families who have many mouths to feed. The financial support might not be adequate
3. Some families might get the financial support, while some might not
4. The people can become too dependent on the welfare benefits
5. Welfare programs are not a permanent solution to poverty