2.  “The government has created a protected class of citizens who are, based on lack of income, entitled to cash payments denied workers who pay their fair share of taxes” - Mickey Kaus, Conservative Commentator

3.  Most government programs that provide help or benefits to citizens require the citizens to previously have worked.  Welfare is one of the only programs that allow benefits to be given to people who have never previously worked.

4.  Gives help to people who are: ◦ Out of work ◦ Elderly ◦ Disabled  Is intended to help poor and needy families get back on their feet

5.  Cash, or income, assistance  Food Stamps  Medicaid  Medicare  Child Care Assistance  Section 8 Housing

6.  Cash Assistance: ◦ Helps with:  Shelter  Utilities  Living Expenses ◦ Provided to:  People who have lost their jobs  People temporarily unable to work  Food Stamps: ◦ Helps:  People with low incomes and resources to buy food ◦ Food Stamp users:  Given a Debit card  Their monthly food stamp allocation is placed into an account which links to the debit card

7.  Medicaid: ◦ Helps:  Low income individuals and families with health care ◦ These people are:  Children  Pregnant Women  People with disabilities  Elderly  Medicare: ◦ Helps:  Focuses entirely on elderly population ◦ Types of Medicare:  Part A  Covers hospital bills  Part B  Covers medical insurance  Part D  Covers prescription medications

8.  Many critics see welfare as a promotion of out-of-wedlock childbearing and dependency on the government.  People who work minimum wage jobs often cannot qualify for welfare and struggle to provide for their families.  65% of the people on welfare will stay on welfare for at least eight years.  Children who were raised in a family who received welfare assistance are seven times more likely to be on welfare themselves.

10.  Exploitation of the welfare system is a serious problem and should be stopped.

11.  http://www.enotes.com/welfare-article http://www.enotes.com/welfare-article  http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-welfare.htm http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-welfare.htm  http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/help/food/foodstamps/index.html http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/help/food/foodstamps/index.html  http://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/foodstamp.cgi http://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/foodstamp.cgi  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicaid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicaid  http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/?TabId=59 http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/?TabId=59  http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/media/storage/paper932/news/2010/11/18/Opinion/P utting.Welfare.To.Work.Community.Service.For.Welfare-3961721.shtml http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/media/storage/paper932/news/2010/11/18/Opinion/P utting.Welfare.To.Work.Community.Service.For.Welfare-3961721.shtml  http://www.madisonjournaltoday.com/archives/404-OPINION-Welfare-class-needs-to-learn- self-reliance.html http://www.madisonjournaltoday.com/archives/404-OPINION-Welfare-class-needs-to-learn- self-reliance.html  http://www.cato.org/pubs/handbook/hb105-25.html http://www.cato.org/pubs/handbook/hb105-25.html  http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/785769/gross_salary_versus_takehome_pay_what.h tml?cat=3 http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/785769/gross_salary_versus_takehome_pay_what.h tml?cat=3  http://www.liheap.ncat.org/profiles/povertytables/FY2010/popstate.htm http://www.liheap.ncat.org/profiles/povertytables/FY2010/popstate.htm  http://www.rentjungle.com/average-rent-in-richmond-va-rent-trends/ http://www.rentjungle.com/average-rent-in-richmond-va-rent-trends/  http://www.eia.doe.gov/ask/electricity_faqs.asp#electricity_use_home http://www.eia.doe.gov/ask/electricity_faqs.asp#electricity_use_home  http://www.leakbird.com/running-toilets/the-average-monthly-household-water-bill-5100- water-facts-and-running-toilets-leakbirdx http://www.leakbird.com/running-toilets/the-average-monthly-household-water-bill-5100- water-facts-and-running-toilets-leakbirdx  http://www.themenumom.com/the-average-grocery-bill http://www.themenumom.com/the-average-grocery-bill  http://www.welfareinfo.org/payments/ http://www.welfareinfo.org/payments/  http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30357 http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30357  http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1499477&referrerid=93883 http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1499477&referrerid=93883