LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Welfare Reform
built 633 days ago
Time plays a role because the savings from welfare reform appear early, while the social and financial costs of a botched welfare reform do not show up for years or decades. In the short run, the Republican leadership has gained $70 billion to spend on tax subsidies for political supporters. As long as politicians run for re-election every 2 or 4 years, it is difficult for them to turn down offers that they enjoy now, when others must pay later.
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Progressive pessimists were blind to the promise of reform partly because they believed that the American discomfort with welfare was really a mask for racism. Welfare recipients were, and are, disproportionately black: African Americans totaled about 37 percent of the welfare rolls in 1996, though they were only about 12 percent of the population. If Americans didn't like welfare, pessimists reasoned, it was because they didn't like blacks.
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That is why Mr. Greenspun could insert into his welfare reform theory a link to an article boasting about his purchase of a quarter million dollar condo. It's the reason Mr. Greenspun can whine about how much money Bill Gates controls and then turn around and brag about his fancy camera, the cool (and expensive) car he rented, his 2000 albums, and so on ad nauseum.
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[B]ecause participation rates are low partly due to the “chilling effect” of welfare reform, more ought to be done to educate immigrants about the welfare rules. Even eligible immigrants when not correctly informed or afraid do not apply for benefits. The administrative processes by which benefits are obtained should be more transparent and accessible. Where necessary, translation services should be available.
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Welfare reform succeeded because it made going to work more attractive than going on welfare. Reauthorization of reform is being held up and threatened by the failure of many in Congress to recognize this point.
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Although the 1996 welfare reforms restricted food stamp eligibility for legal immigrants and able-bodied adults, legislative changes since gave states new opportunities to expand access to food stamps. Many states ... made signing up and staying qualified for food stamps easier.
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Welfare Reform