By THOMAS ITO
Staff Writer
 

Perhaps one of the most problematic issues of welfare reform is that it affects so many people. From the richest software giant to the poorest of poor, welfare has a social and fiscal impact. The problem being that the government shells out taxpayer dollars on a program which for the most part doesn't work. The pitfalls of a corrupt and over-budgeted welfare system are numerous, so perhaps a brief examination of the system itself would be beneficial to resolving the problem.

First off, let's think about welfare. Welfare, as a concept, is a generous idea. The idea of having a social "safety net" to fall back on is a very comforting one, but is it really a right? I don't recall the U.S. Constitution entitling people to handouts, but that's just me.

Secondly, regardless of the constitutionality of welfare, the system as it stands is a nightmare. In addition to the problems of corruption and welfare abusers, the system itself is detrimental to the survial of its recipients. Welfare and other programs of social assistance are selffulfilling prophecies of humiliation and abasement, which can keep its recipients "down" with no hope for getting up out of the system. Why does this phenomenon occur? Because welfare as it stands is a system which victimizes not only those whose tax dollars are being stolen to pay for it, but also the self-worth of those receiving the "assistance." Welfare de-humanizes its recipients and lulls them into a lifetime of dependence upon the government. By treating people as if they are worthless, patting them on the head and cutting a check, we are taking away their self-worth and offering no motivation whatsoever to become financially independent of the government. A classic example: Why should a welfare recipient get a job paying five dollars an hour, when he or she could make more money doing absolutely nothing and collecting checks?

Perhaps even more disturbing than the failure of American welfare is who pays for welfare. The majority of welfare capital comes from the middle class. These are people who work hard and try to inch ahead, but are saddled with an enormous tax burden - one that could be alleviated by cutting out the welfare burden. The Robin Hood myth of robbing the rich to feed the poor is ludicrous.

Furthermore, a frightening aspect of today's welfare is that it has an underlying socialist theme to it. Several noted authors and thinkers have commented upon this, and perhaps the most effective among them is Star Parker.

Parker, an African-American woman who is a former welfare recipient, broke the pattern of dependency on the government, and has become a foremost opponent of the system which almost destroyed her. Drawing from her book, Pimps, Whores and Welfare Brats: The Stunning Conservative Transformation of a Former Welfare Queen, Parker said in a speech at Texas A&M University: "Capitalism is opportunity, it gives people vision, structure, absolutes and order.... The American dream does not involve socialism, it involves capitalism." Parker went on to explore the pitfalls and disincentives of the welfare state, saying, "Where else can you go that you get $500 a month for getting pregnant?"

Parker's message is a strong one, and one that rings true. Our "safety net" has declined into a vulgar collection of abusers and takers, draining every cent they can out of the government (by the way, those cents are your tax dollars).

Before closing, I would like to add that not all people on welfare are abusers. Welfare can work for some who stay on it for a short time and use it as a crutch in between jobs, in hard times, etc... For these people who return to the productive world, welfare is a good thing. Its just the overwhelming abuse of the system that makes it in dire need of reform.

The current system of welfare just doesn't work, as it needs to be rebuilt from the bottom up. If you think about it, you might be for welfare reform too. All I'm asking is the next time you receive a paycheck, think about why you earned $200, but only get $160. Think about who is getting your $40 and why. Perhaps welfare isn't such a generous idea after all.