There has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth about the forty eight month welfare cutoff in Michigan, initiated by the Republican Legislature, quickly signed by the Republican Governor and decried by every Democrat close to a microphone.
Come October 1, 2011 families that have received welfare benefits for four consecutive years will no longer be eligible for cash assistance. They’ll be cut from the rolls; a Bridge Card perhaps and Medicaid but no more cash payments. Ever.
An estimated 12,600 families, many of them women-led with vulnerable children. Who will take care of them, asks the Catholic Church. What about the helpless kids, cry the Baptist Ministers. This is heartless, cruel and inhuman say the social activists. It’ll be a catastrophe, warn law enforcement officials. How can those Republicans be so mean, scream the powerless Democrats?
Sit down and shut up, retort those responsible. Welfare is short term, not lifetime. Welfare is meant as a temporary hedge against hard times. Those we cut off should go get a job or go back to school; we don’t have the money to take care of them anymore.“But what about the children”, murmur those who still don’t get it? ‘Not our problem’ respond those who need the funds to sustain the $1.8 billion tax cut for Big Business. ‘They chose to have them, let them take care of them’.
‘Besides’, one of the bureaucrats added, ‘we plan to spread the pain. We’ll start to tax the pensions soon, then it won’t just be about the young vulnerable folk; it’ll be about the old vulnerable folk too’.
That is exactly what happens when you vote in the affluent to represent your best interest.
ReplyDeleteThank you Brian for your comment. Do you know anyone who will be affected by this? ^Jessica
ReplyDeleteThis information is very disturbing especially with Michigan being one of the leading states with economic problems. It's not as if they can all go out and get work right away. Terrible and sad.
ReplyDeleteThis is an afterthought; Though the decision is abrupt and harsh, I am also torn. This may have to do with my age. When I was very young and married, had a child then divorced quickly and on my own, my dad would not allow me to get on welfare. My support came from my family until I finished the schooling to get a job that provided for my daughter and I. -- I had friends that got on welfare but it was a stepping stone back then. It was always temporary. -- What the Legislature has decided now is something that should have been done over thirty years ago. Welfare should have been a stepping stone when jobs were plentiful in Michigan. This would have helped the needy to empower themselves instead of becoming dependent on the state. I have an older cousin that has always relied on welfare as well as her children and now grandchildren.Sure, some have needed it but many have taken it for granted.
Carolyn
Generational welfare is a definite trap. I have mixed feelings too. Overall I'm for the cutoff; four years is enough, probably too much, but as a recipient of welfare as a kid, though it was a pittance, we would have really been destitute without it... stay tuned Carolyn & thanks for your comment.
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