I agree with many of the points made in there. Private chairities can be more flexible and efficient at helping the poor than large government programs so they certainly have a role to play. But that doesn't mean that the government doesn't also have a role to play as well. They are also on the mark that welfare programs do risk disincentivizing work and creating dependency. A careful balance must be struck and it's next to impossible to eliminate this entirely.Originally Posted by BanginJimmy
However, I feel there were a number of connections they made that didn't differentiate between corellation and causation and thus led them to some unfounded conclusions. Some examples:
They say "Studies have found that the poor on welfare do not have a strong sense that they need to take charge of their own lives or find work to become self-sufficient." They conclude that welfare caused this mentality but it just as plausible that the causation goes the opposite way. That is people who do not feel the need to take charge of their own lives end up poor and on welfare.
They even admit "Whether or not causation can be proven, it is true that unwed fathers are more likely to use drugs and become involved in criminal behavior than are other men". This feeds into the implied assumption that it's always better for a couple to marry, especially if they have a kid. They don't discuss any downsides of marriage out of obligation. They further assert that welfare is the reason why most single mothers don't get married and don't seem to consider other factors such as the women's equality movement.
Reply With Quote