Tuesday, August 22, 2006

The world doesn't owe me a living

This is from a fairly balanced article in yesterday's Washington Post. It demonstrates how people now view welfare in the States. My feeling is there is a good chunk of New Zealanders who believe welfare (for people able to work) should be temporary;

Miss Britt, 35 and the mother of three, entered the District's welfare system in 2002 after leaving an abusive relationship. She has finished classes in medical administration at the So Others Might Eat's Center for Employment Training and expects to be employed soon and off welfare within the year.
Miss Britt never experienced the "unlimited" welfare of the old system, but says she doesn't mind that the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits are limited. "Temporary is just that," she said. "I know that it's going to end."
She is grateful for the many efforts aimed at helping her leave welfare and get a good job. "Nothing is more gratifying than to walk into a grocery story with my own money, rather than a TANF card," she said.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

A truly caring society doesn't enslave people through dependence on others, it tries its level best for people to overcome their problems and regain their independence.