How Today’s Fragmented Welfare System Fails To Life Up Poor Families

Many immigrants seek moving to the United States in search of the American Dream. This so called “Dream,” entails an easier life with more opportunities in having money and the ability to support ones family better. However what makes this concept ironic is the search for this so called opportunity. Especially with the issues rising in immigration and DACA programming with the previous presidency, it has become harder for any “outsiders” to accept working opportunities they might have come to the U.S. looking to find.

Getting started can become very difficult especially for families that have no true background to lean against when applying. For many, starting a family came before getting any sort of education and in the United States that is almost crucial and without it, will get you nowhere. However this is a misconception that our nation creates for us to believe and spread the limited knowledge that this is the only method of success: through education.

The government has created welfare systems which do support lower income families financially by providing them with money to buy groceries, to pay for the rent and anything else they might need. While this is an effective way to reduce homelessness, the “American Dream” of getting a decent job to live happily is fading. “We can do more to promote and reward work, and we should, including reviewing and perhaps improving the phaseout points for some of these programs. But we need to do it together with a realistic view of the difference between these opportunity programs and what has traditionally been called “welfare.” (Washington, 6) These families are now relying on the governments assistance and subtracting the possibility of finding a real job where they work for their money. By handing money yo these families, they are no longer seeking to be successful, they simply want to be provided with what they need to survive if it means less labor.

In addition to this, by providing so much money, the taxes placed on these families by the end of the year cause them to struggle financially due to all the money provided to them. “In contrast to spending on healthcare programs, total spending on the cash assistance programs and tax credits I have discussed is projected to fall over the next decade. That expected decline mainly stems from changes in the earned income tax credit and Child Tax Credit, which have changes that are scheduled to occur under current law.” (Washington, 8) Instead of teaching families the need to work for their money, they are handed it and then expected to pay all their high taxes (higher than the working class) on time.

Works Cited

Washington, D. (2013). Reviewing How Today’s Fragmented Welfare System Fails To Lift Up Poor Families, House of Representatives