from SLATE, again: >In another sign of the toll that the recession is taking on Americans, the >[Washington POST] reports that welfare rolls are surging for the first time >since the system was redefined more than a decade ago. This trend is notable >because welfare rolls usually don't see much increase during economic >downturns. Now, welfare rolls are climbing in at least a dozen states. Some >think this means that "welfare will awaken from years as a political issue so >sleepy that President-elect Barack Obama did not mention it during his >campaign," notes the Post. When welfare was redefined, a lot of emphasis was >placed on finding jobs, but now many of those applying for assistance are >people who used to live a comfortable middle-class existence and can't find >work at all. Many of those signing up for welfare "shouldn't be receiving >assistance if there [were] jobs out there," one Maryland official said. "The >problem is, what we are seeing here is something that looks more like 1936 >than 1996." Not surprisingly, several states decided to use the welfare money >for other purposes during the economic boom and now risk running out of funds.<
If more "middle class" folks are seeking relief, will the government start treating people on "the dole" with more respect? -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
