Welfare and Workfare: wrong or right?

Most of us grew up in homes where everyday commodities and privileges were taken for granted. What would you do if you had to go to bed hungry, sleep in a one room rundown apartment, or worry about even having a place to live after eviction? It’s easy for people who have never had to worry about such things to look down on those who do and judge. But the truth is you don’t know what it is like until it’s you.
Many would agree that the word “welfare” does not have the greatest connotation. Most people classify those seeking government aids as lazy moochers. In all honesty, the same adjectives used to come to my mind as well. Being young and naïve, I didn’t understand why someone could not acquire a job, there is always McDonalds. But what I have come to find is that the world is not the pretty, perfect place I had imagined years ago.
Growing up, I had plenty of experience with those who are less fortunate but I never could fully comprehend what they were going through. Before entering kindergarten, my babysitter and I would volunteer at a soup kitchen every Tuesday. I made friends with many of the homeless, or what I called the dirty people. I then proceeded to go home to a well cooked hot meal and quickly forgot my friends who would not be dinning like me. In my catholic elementary school, I remember constantly doing can drives, raising money for the sick, and donating at church to the poor. In high school around Christmas, each homeroom would adopt a needy family and every year I would insist on paying out of my own pocket for the children’s clothing. Although I had developed a sense of sympathy for those who were struggling, I still was unaware of how easy it was to loose it all.
Today I have mixed emotions about welfare, workfare, and similar types of government aids. Not having a system would be unjust but at the same time having such a system can also deplete a budget that is not there in the first place. Watching the three videos in class provided clear evidence to the fact that there will always be people of need, in good times and in bad. One clip highlighted the dirty jobs required for workfare and the time limits that kept cyclists from benefiting after five years. However, one film gave statistics from 1996, when the economy was riding high. Currently, our economy is in the worst recession since the Great Depression. Over 750,000 people in the U.S. lost their job just last month. There is no way possible our government could provide aid to everyone who is suffering. Too many people are still working the system and those who really need the help are not getting their fair share. Just as our text said, there needs to be a reformation.
I believe providing welfare or workfare is a necessity to keep our country afloat; however, abuse of this governmental aid could sink the U.S. trillions of dollars under. Until we experience the struggle ourselves none of us will fully understand the turmoil. What we can do is join forces and try our hardest to lend a helping hand. No one wants to live in poverty. We all dream of living in comfort. The U.S. can help the dreams of thousands of struggling citizens come true through an improved welfare and workfare system. Nobody deserves a stroller ride through their entire life but sometimes we all need short piggyback.