Debate Over Welfare Changes

We have fought long and hard to have society acknowledge the value of women’s work at home. In your editorial on “welfare reform” (March 21) you take us back to the Dark Ages when you say, “The work requirement is justifiable, but not without some provision for child care.” Child care is work. Why should a stranger be paid to take care of a women’s child? Let’s hire mothers to raise their own children.

They should get full benefits, including family health care and Social Security, and be paid at a level comparable to others who serve society. Our guideline could be the salaries of teachers or health care workers, since mothers are teachers and primary care givers with major responsibility in preparing our young people to be responsible, caring and creative participants in the human community.

But really, women who raise children should be paid the same as the politicians who are proposing to reform welfare by wiping out motherhood. Let’s fire all the politicians and give the money to the mothers. Our future will be much safer in their hands.

CYNTHIA CUZA

Los Angeles

*

The current congressional debate on welfare is primarily about rewriting the “rules of the game” when the the “game” itself should abolished.

Both major parties support the immoral act of the state using its police powers to rob productive Peter to support non-productive Paul. The current discussion is just over how the dirty proceeds will divided up.

Until the Republicans address the real issues at stake--namely, should government be in the welfare business at all?--and is it moral to robe one person to provide benefits for another?--they’re no better than the Democrats and prove how desperately we need Libertarians in Congress.

DON HULL

Costa Mesa

*

Re “Immigrants and Welfare,”’ March 22:

I am a Canadian citizen, and have resided in the U.S. legally for 15 years. Although this point was briefly mentioned in the article, I’d like to remind your readers that as a legal permanent resident, I am subject to all federal, state, and local laws (including the draft, were I male), and all taxes, including property, income, SDI, payroll, sales and any others you could possibly list. Therefore, I am equally entitled to benefit from those programs into which I have paid.

I resent the constant implication currently so fashionable that people such as myself are to blame for America’s troubles. It’s bad enough that I can’t vote, even though I pay just as much or more taxes than some citizens who never even work. But now I learn that ignorant constituents looking for an easy target are pressuring Congress to deny me benefits I have inarguably earned. This is essentially theft of my payroll taxes, portions of which are intended to cover me in case of brief unemployment or disability, and portions of which are ostensibly for my senior years.

If this legislation passes, I certainly will expect to be relieved of those portions of my taxes that currently pay into Social Security, welfare and any other programs from which I would be denied benefit. And I will be eagerly awaiting my checkrefunding 15 years worth of those programs’ tax contributions, with interest.

SHANNON AHERN IKEDA

Monterey Park