This essay was assigned in a developmental writing class (ENG 096) at the community college by Professor Lawrence Checkett. This persuasive essay was limited to three pages in length, double spaced, and was obviously limited to the rudimentary three point thesis format.
Dec. 5, 2003
NO TITLE: Welfare Persuasive Essay
In these maddening days of rising prices, falling stocks, and closing job markets, making a living has become increasingly complicated. With the current unavailability of job offerings due to terrorism, the economy, and war, those without special skills or training now find it exceedingly difficult to eke out a living. So imagine if a citizen, without special skills, works to support a family as well? Now suppose said individual is a single parent. Given such circumstances, the situation becomes extremely complex. Fortunately, help does exist; a safety net of sorts, constructed by the American Government helps thousands of families nationwide: a system called welfare. The welfare system disperses relief funds to families and individuals unable to survive without monetary assistance. For the most part, the system seems to work; however, some individuals abuse the system in order to avoid having to work. Parents with no jobs who live off of welfare alone, live a life which may seem unacceptable and unfair to those sincerely trying to contribute to society. Parents abusing the system must be persuaded to work, otherwise, how is a family ever to get away from welfare dependency? In order to allow parents on welfare a chance to get off welfare, set a good example for youth, and to instill a sense of pride by contributing to society, parents receiving welfare should be required by law to work at least part time.
Citizens on welfare are usually on welfare because of an inability to maintain finances necessary to pay for the necessities of living. Such an inability stems from, usually, a failure to find gainful employment, often due to un-marketability and a low skill level. Though just because a citizen receives welfare to help to pay the bills, does not mean remaining at work is unnecessary. A worker also receiving welfare still stands a chance for advancement in the job world and a chance to get away from the welfare system. Those who do not work; however, stand no chance in ever taking care of finances independently and therefore the system becomes self-perpetuating. That is to say, once a citizen receives welfare and quits working, there is little chance of financial independence in the future.
A wise man once said: “the apple does not fall far from the tree”. In some cases, a statement as such is very clearly proven. Learned behavior in children is often subconsciously reproduced later an adult life. Now suppose a parent on welfare raises children on nothing but welfare funds, the children grow (never seeing their parents go to work), and are later expected to finish schooling and join the work force and contribute to society. Such an expectation conflicts with the upbringing of the new adult. Now another generation must receive welfare funds, so should said generation become parents while still on welfare, what happens next? The system again has become self-perpetuating. In order to teach children the way to live, an individual must display such characteristics; parents who work while still receiving welfare show a much better example.
For many, the failure to advance and live independently becomes a source of broken self-esteem. In some cases, a lack of self-esteem can become a debilitating lack of initiative. Such a lack of initiative can cause complete inaction. In order for a parent on welfare to feel good about living on welfare, they should still maintain at least a part time job. In this way, parents on welfare will feel a sense of accomplishment by still being a part of the working community and contributing to society.
Of all of the problems and potential problems inherent in American society, the alleviation of poverty is perhaps of the most difficult to solve. Aid to the needy can help the recovery of the underprivileged; too much aid can cause a lack of recovery. Many feel the welfare system does a poor job of evening out poverty, and perhaps such a statement is true. Any system has the potential of being abused, and the welfare system is no different. The answer does not lie in a single law or regulation, but if something is not done, there will unfortunately always exist a lower class which is dependent on welfare.
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