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Jenck's criticisms do apply to Olasky's arguments concerning the need for personal and local involvement in charity and aiding the poor, though to a lesser degree. Olasky argues in the Tragedy of American Compassion that welfare and other social programs perpetuate poverty because they do not demand any self-help from the recipients, which is similar to Murray's argument that the benefits for remaining poor in a welfare state outweigh the benefits of employment (Olasky 1992; Murray 1984). While it might be true that personal and local involvement are preferable to federal social programs, Jenck's assertion of the inherent imbalance in today's society also implies an imbalance in the degree and amount of support that could and would be offered in certain communities (Jenck 1993). That is, in communities already mostly or entirely reduced to poverty, there...
A federal system allows for the redistribution of resources across broader areas and populations, and though this leads to the depersonalization of aid that Olasky decries, it is arguably the only solution for lifting entire segments of the population out of poverty.
Though Jenck might be a little presumptuous in the strength of his assertion, there is some merit to the points he raises. A completely ands-off system such as that advocated by both Murray and Olasky assumes a generally balanced society, and even a cursory examination of demographics relating to poverty does not support this assumption. There is an obvious imbalance in today's society, and though the current welfare system might not provide an adequate solution to poverty for many, neither would an entirely laissez-faire…
Christopher Jenck's main contention with Murray in his own book Rethinking Social Policy is that there are still inherent imbalances in society as a whole that afford unequal opportunities to various segments of the population (Jenkcs 1993). There are also different value systems at work in a diverse society, and the bleak view of social programs that Murray possesses fails to take into account the fact there is an uneven playing field to begin with. Jencks points out that those likely to utilize social programs often have an overall disadvantage in society due to intergenerational poverty and/or a minority status (Jencks 1993).
Jenck's criticisms do apply to Olasky's arguments concerning the need for personal and local involvement in charity and aiding the poor, though to a lesser degree. Olasky argues in the Tragedy of American Compassion that welfare and other social programs perpetuate poverty because they do not demand any self-help from the recipients, which is similar to Murray's argument that the benefits for remaining poor in a welfare state outweigh the benefits of employment (Olasky 1992; Murray 1984). While it might be true that personal and local involvement are preferable to federal social programs, Jenck's assertion of the inherent imbalance in today's society also implies an imbalance in the degree and amount of support that could and would be offered in certain communities (Jenck 1993). That is, in communities already mostly or entirely reduced to poverty, there would be little help available at the local and personal level. A federal system allows for the redistribution of resources across broader areas and populations, and though this leads to the depersonalization of aid that Olasky decries, it is arguably the only solution for lifting entire segments of the population out of poverty.
Though Jenck might be a little presumptuous in the strength of his assertion, there is some merit to the points he raises. A completely ands-off system such as that advocated by both Murray and Olasky assumes a generally balanced society, and even a cursory examination of demographics relating to poverty does not support this assumption. There is an obvious imbalance in today's society, and though the current welfare system might not provide an adequate solution to poverty for many, neither would an entirely laissez-faire approach.
Welfare Reform Working for wages is the principal means for obtaining income and getting ahead in American society. Work is the key to personal independence and an effective way to achieve a meaningful role in our society. Significant participation in the workforce also is a necessary condition for receiving benefits from our nation's major social welfare programs, unemployment insurance, workmen's compensation, Social Security retirement and disability payments, Medicare health insurance, and
It is at this point when new ideas will be studied and analyzed as part of the process. This will ensure that a variety of perspectives are taken into account by government officials. (Bardach, 2000) In the case of the PRWORA, this process means looking at the impact of these changes on recipients. Over the last several years, many officials are realizing that more people need the help of these
Welfare History Chapter 7 List the Specific Reforms that Roosevelt Obtained in 1935-36. Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal took a 'Left turn' in the Second New Deal of 1935-36 after the Supreme Court had ruled several important First New Deal programs unconstitutional, particularly the National Recovery Act and Agricultural Adjustment Act. With the Social Security Act of 1935, FDR created the basis for a federal welfare state that provided old age pensions, unemployment
Welfare State Over the past century, the welfare state in the United States has developed into a way of life as more and more people have become dependent upon it, both as consumers and producers of its services. As a result, we live in a large, expensive system of bureaucratic service delivery that consumes a good deal of the wealth created by Americans annually. As the welfare system has increased in size,
Mothers -- Transitioning from Welfare to Corporate America Welfare in the United States is both a complex and controversial subject. The issue focuses on several aspects of public policy: economics, cultural diversity, actualization, incentives, education/training, taxation and even the actual role of the government. We first begin this study with an overview of the idea of a state welfare system, its origins, development, purpose, and particularly view the manner in
Nor is she eligible to receive Medicaid, based on her minimum wage income. This has put the minimum wage earning single parent in a situation where she must devote her minimum wage to food and healthcare, if healthcare is available to her through her job, and, if it is not, she becomes medically uninsured. TANF now allows states money to.".. spend their share of federal block grant funds ($16.38 billion annually)