Free Essays on Welfare Reform

WELFARE REFORM: CHANGING FACES FROM COAST TO COAST HISTORY The welfare system began as a ‘local’ program. â€Å"When and where public relief was needed, it was left up to state and local officials to provide it.† Each town made up their own set of rules and regulations concerning who would be helped. â€Å"By the early 1900’s, a number of states were requiring cities and countries to offer some assistance to their neediest† (Weiss, 1990, p. 34). Because each town was responsible for their own poor, rules were often made to dissuade would-be users of the assistance programs. â€Å"Local authorities were clever about reducing the welfare price tag with strategies designed to discourage people from applying for relief. One popular tactic, used widely until the mid-twentieth century, was to list welfare recipients by name in the town’s annual written report† (Weiss, 1990, p. 35). Given today’s confidentiality policies, this would not be tolerated. Applicants and recipients are granted a great deal of privacy, protecting them from the public humiliation that was popular in historical times.  · PRESIDENTIAL INFLUENCE During, and following, the Great Depression, President Hoover was against a federally funded welfare programs. â€Å"Hoover was convinced that ‘socialistic’ welfare programs would wreck what remained of the nations’ economy† (Weiss, 1990, p. 38). However, the American people were ready and willing to make a change. During his election campaign, President Roosevelt proposed his creation known as the New Deal. This program â€Å"succeeded in relieving suffering and giving the nation renewed hope.† Job programs were created and millions of people were placed in these programs. While Roosevelt enjoyed the success of his idea, â€Å"he was uncomfortable with the thought that his programs might prove to be the first step toward U.S. adoption of federal welfare on a broad and permanent basis† (Weiss, 199... Free Essays on Welfare Reform Free Essays on Welfare Reform WELFARE REFORM: CHANGING FACES FROM COAST TO COAST HISTORY The welfare system began as a ‘local’ program. â€Å"When and where public relief was needed, it was left up to state and local officials to provide it.† Each town made up their own set of rules and regulations concerning who would be helped. â€Å"By the early 1900’s, a number of states were requiring cities and countries to offer some assistance to their neediest† (Weiss, 1990, p. 34). Because each town was responsible for their own poor, rules were often made to dissuade would-be users of the assistance programs. â€Å"Local authorities were clever about reducing the welfare price tag with strategies designed to discourage people from applying for relief. One popular tactic, used widely until the mid-twentieth century, was to list welfare recipients by name in the town’s annual written report† (Weiss, 1990, p. 35). Given today’s confidentiality policies, this would not be tolerated. Applicants and recipients are granted a great deal of privacy, protecting them from the public humiliation that was popular in historical times.  · PRESIDENTIAL INFLUENCE During, and following, the Great Depression, President Hoover was against a federally funded welfare programs. â€Å"Hoover was convinced that ‘socialistic’ welfare programs would wreck what remained of the nations’ economy† (Weiss, 1990, p. 38). However, the American people were ready and willing to make a change. During his election campaign, President Roosevelt proposed his creation known as the New Deal. This program â€Å"succeeded in relieving suffering and giving the nation renewed hope.† Job programs were created and millions of people were placed in these programs. While Roosevelt enjoyed the success of his idea, â€Å"he was uncomfortable with the thought that his programs might prove to be the first step toward U.S. adoption of federal welfare on a broad and permanent basis† (Weiss, 199...