The Congressional Budget Office has just released its latest projection for the next ten years.
“In the agency’s updated projections, annual deficits nearly double over the next decade, reaching $2.7 trillion in 2033 … As a result of those deficits, debt held by the public also increases in CBO’s projections, from 98% of GDP at the end of this year to 119% at the end of 2033.”
The picture keeps getting worse.
The difference between Democrats and Republicans on the issue: Republicans say let’s do something; Democrats say let’s do nothing.
House Republicans have put forward the Limit, Save, Grow Act as condition for increasing the debt limit, which imposes limits on growth of spending over the next 10 years and achieves reductions in expenditures.
Democrats are beside themselves because Republicans propose to achieve efficiencies in spending in Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families by imposing more stringent work requirements.
The idea that those getting welfare should have some skin in the game regarding humanitarian assistance they receive from U.S. taxpayers is an idea that is bonkers to our president and his party.
But, for me, Democrats screaming about cruelty and heartlessness regarding work requirements for welfare is nothing new.
I started my public career working on welfare reform passed in 1996.
It was my personal experience with the horrifying and destructive realities of welfare that opened my eyes to how badly reform was needed.
I was in the system as a young woman and collected welfare in the pre-welfare reform world of AFDC, or Aid to Families with Dependent Children. I saw from the inside the destructiveness, inhumanity and cruelty of government support pretending to be assistance and charity.
Welfare funds were available to women who were poor, not working and not married. Those were the conditions that had to be met to get the money.
Instead of being charitable and humanitarian, the government assistance was really a heartless subsidy that encouraged poverty, unemployment and sexual promiscuity out of marriage.
Welfare reform in 1996 showed how a Democratic president, Bill Clinton, could productively work with a Republican House, under the leadership of then-Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Bill Clinton had promised to “end welfare as we know it,” and House Republicans stepped up to work with him.
When Temporary Assistance for Needy Families was put forward by Republicans, reforming welfare with work requirements and time limits, Democrats started screaming, as they are screaming now.
Poor women would be thrown into the streets. It is amazing how those who supposedly care about people have such little respect for the humanity, creativity and resiliency of those same people.
When suddenly poor women on welfare were faced with time limits for welfare and work requirements, the world changed for the better, for everyone.
In 2006, 10 years after welfare reform was passed, Ron Haskins, Brookings Institution scholar, testified before Congress summarizing the results.
From 1994 to 2005, welfare caseloads declined 60%. From 1993 to 2000, employment among single mothers increased from 58.9% to 75%. Employment among never married mothers increased from 44% to 66%.
For female-headed households in the bottom 40% of the income distribution, income attributable to earnings increased from 30% to 55% from 1993 to 2000, and income attributed to welfare declined from 60% to 23%.
Theologians and philosophers over the ages have noted that the highest charitable act is to help someone become self-sufficient.
Unfortunately, the many forms of welfare distributed by our government take recipients in the opposite direction.
Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans are doing the nation a great favor with the Limit, Save, Grow Act.
Let’s hope they get somewhere with a president and a Democratic Party whose vision for our future is a nation bloated with spending, debt and dependence.
Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show “Cure America with Star Parker.” To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website.
COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM
History Lesson: the Roman Empire started welfare known as Doles and looked what happened to their empire. My 10th grade Civics teacher stated it best: “Get rid of welfare and make people earn their living.” So as long as the government continues to provide free money to the undeserved, this nation will continue its downhill slide into oblivion.
Too many people that can and are able to work are on welfare. Which is pure laziness and a WASTE of Tax Payers Money.
If it were meant as a help to the people it should not have been introduced ever It destroyed every bit of self worth
Folks who have always been on welfare have no idea that they are able to support themselves, or at least subsidize government money. There are help wanted signs everywhere. Of course, many only pay 18.00 an hour but that 18 dollars an hour is close to 2000.00 a month after taxes and welfare can pick up the slack with rent and food stamps. Hey, I’m on social security and living on 2000.00 a month and I worked 60 years for that 2000.00 a month.
All this is being further exasperated by allowing an open border. We always required people seeking citizenship either have a trade to support themselves or a sponsor that will. That, coupled with “social programs” like Medicare & Medicaid continues to put us in debt we can never pay off.
way to go Star Parker!!
when I worked in social work we had a self sufficiency program that was voluntary.Everyone receiving assistance in our program was welcome to join the self sufficiency program. the participants were given educational or vocational support (whatever they needed) of all kinds to help them succeed in their vision for self sufficiency. they moved from a place of depression, helplessness, and hopelessness to a position of hopefulness, self respect and dignity in what they were able to accomplish when they graduated from a program or got their first pay check etc. They celebrated and never looked back. Give the man a fish and he is helplessly dependent; teach him to fish and he is hopefully independent.
Give the people some pride in themselves, let them work. Teach them and encourage them. They will survive longer with knowledge of how to work and take care of themselves rather than just a “pat on the head, you poor baby” you can’t fend for yourself attitude. You cannot pass out self-respect or dignity like a free candy bar.
Check this out. Maby 25 or 30 years ago,Michigan came up with a plan to hire welfair workers. Lets say Joe was hired at 500 per week. Heres your kicker. Joe gets money whether works much or not. Now the owner of the compoany gets 500 from the State or Feds, I forget which. So what a deal. Thats true folks. Check it out if you can find it. Michigan. Kyle L.
Good article. This workfare produced good results until Obama dismantled it and went back to welfare.
Unless they are physically unable to work…..all welfare recipients should have to work. I had 5 kids and I worked full time. And my kids grew up knowing they also had to work for a living.
Good article, well done.
Yes, indeed! “The highest charitable act is to help someone become self-sufficient.” I know I have observed this to be true with women I met when doing property management. When one lady I vividly remember got a job, even though low pay, she was so happy and excited to make things better for herself and her daughter. Not everyone in this situation likes just sitting and not able to contribute. Love this effort to get more people producing and exchanging for the help they receive.
I seem to remember that in one state, Idaho I think it was, those young men of draft age were refused unemployment unless they had applied at a military recruitment office. Of course the government stepped in and gave the “cease and desist” order on that requirement. Today with military recruitment being what it is (and the prevailing disrespect for America being shown by many young people due to their “liberal” education). I think to it would well serve America to reinstitute this – give those who enjoy the freedoms of America a “hands-on” education as to the cost of those freedoms.
Welfare work requirements? What? Those two words just don’t go together. Our politicians seem to think keeping generations of welfare recipients on a free ride somehow helps them. Of course we all know why the politicians want these people to stay on welfare. What a waste of life! Many of these people could be an important contributor to our society with talents they may not even know they have. For those who cannot work, I get it. For those who can, let’s adopt the Bibles words: if they don’t work, they don’t eat. Radical, yes but if we continue down this road, we ALL lose. We can no longer afford all the socialist freebies.