GOP Approach to Welfare Reform
* Re “Homeless? Hungry? It’s All Your Fault,” Column Left, Dec. 1: Left-wing scholars like Roger Boesche, not living in the real world, miss the point. Newt Gingrich and other conservatives are as compassionate as the good professor with regard to hunger and homelessness. Their approach to improve the situation is different! It may not be the fault of the people who find themselves in these difficult situations; however, it is definitely not other citizens’ fault. Everyone makes choices every day that generally determine your position down the road.
Yes, help the unfortunate to better their lot but don’t lay a guilt trip on the successful, the motivated and the more fortunate. They are not morally, legally or ethically at fault.
ROBERT X. PUMA
La Quinta
* To read Boesche’s column, one would conclude that the concept of laziness is nothing more than a myth created by the rich and powerful. If Boesche would bother to descend from his ivory tower, he would see that some people are simply more motivated than others.
Further, Boesche’s parallel of the Democrats’ disaster last month to the popularity of the book “The Bell Curve” is way out of bounds. The Republican resurgence has much less to do with racism than with the average American getting fed up with the liberal elite and their obsession with the failed concept of socialism. Until the Democrats stop making excuses and accept reality, they’ll remain out of power.
SCOTT SMITH
Garden Grove
* Re “Welfare Reform Without Tears,” editorial, Nov. 30: I just participated in a group analysis of the two approaches to welfare reform as part of my graduate program. It is interesting to note that The Times has come up with recommendations that are far different from ours.
The reality is that time limits and work requirements represent our misunderstanding of the welfare system, and the frustrations that arise from these misunderstandings. With a jobless recovery in place, and Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan hiking the interest rate every time unemployment falls below 6%, work is not available to all. And the service-sector jobs that are available are hardly going to lift people out of poverty.
Welfare is not the reason we have a trillion-dollar debt. AFDC expenditures represent about 2% of the national budget. If we are looking for cost containment, we would be better served by looking at the much more expensive entitlements like farm subsidies, Social Security, etc. The problem with this approach is that the middle and upper classes receive those benefits.
Let’s stop scapegoating the poor. They are not responsible for the declining standard of living in this country. Increasing global competition and the people who propose “reforming” the welfare system are.
MICHAEL AVRIETTE
Long Beach
* Let us indeed cut welfare, including welfare payments in the form of subsidies to agribusinesses, tax breaks for businesses (including tobacco companies getting tax breaks to sell cigarettes abroad) and other corporate tax reductions labeled “incentives” (Nov. 23). Yes, cut welfare costs, but do it across the board, rich and poor alike!
HAROLD WILKE
Claremont