Welfare

Welfare, it is on just about everyones' mind, whether it is Medicare or the


A.F.D.C.   Some believe there is too much and others think there is too little.   As the years


go by, the need for welfare reform increases.   President Clinton had pledged in his 1992


campaign to "end welfare as we know it".   Only time will tell   by what extremes welfare


will change.   As technology continues to increase and jobs continue to go overseas, the


United States must decide what direction the welfare system should take.


As they exist today, welfare systems are an evolution of the thoughts laid out in


the 19th and 20th centuries.   Before the Industrial Revolution, the responsibility of


helping the poor was mainly given to the churches or local communities.   As machines


took the place of workers, governments were looked upon to help the unemployed.


In 1883, Otto Von Bismarck, the German Chancellor, setup the first form of


Modern Welfare when he enacted a sickness and maternity law.   He followed up this law  


with a work injury law and an old-age assistance law in 1884 and 1889 respectively.  


Today European countries such as Germany, Norway, and Sweden have highly


sophisticated Welfare systems (Bender, 13).


Welfare did not reach the United States, however, until shortly after the Great


Depression with Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal."   The New Deal brought on new


economic and social welfare legislation.   This is the first time that the United States


Government used federal and public funds to finance the welfare needs of the people.


Today, the most expensive welfare program is Aid to Families with Dependent Children


(A.F.D.C.).   The A.F.D.C. was created after the passing of the Social Security Act of


1935.   Throughout the last 60 years, the welfare system has faced many changes,




including the 1988 Family...