State and local governments are on the front lines of most programs for helping the needy. They provide much of the money and/or administration for unemployment insurance for the jobless, health care clinics and hospitals for the poor, school lunch programs for hungry children, and homeless shelters. Although many US citizens see poverty firsthand as volunteers for local charities such as food pantries, some have doubts about how much government should do to help poor people who cannot take care of themselves. According to the Pew Research Center's Spring 2007 Global Attitudes Survey, citizens of other nations vary greatly on the question of whether "it is the responsibility of the (state or government) to take care of very poor people who can't take care of themselves".
These opinions reflect very different social and economic conditions in each country. Japan has a culture of self-reliance that puts the burden on individuals to help themselves, while Nigeria continues to suffer from some of the highest poverty rates in the world. In this regard, US citizens tend to mirror the Japanese- they want government to help the less fortunate but also want the less fortunate to help themselves. As a general conclusion, citizens of wealthier nations think poor people should take advantage of the opportunities that already exist in their economies, whereas citizens of poor nations believe that government should be more aggressive in providing support.
This does not mean wealthier nations are uncaring toward citizens in need, but it does suggest that they sometimes view poverty as the fault of the poor. In the United States, these opinions reflect the importance of equality of opportunity as a basic social value, meaning that all individuals regardless of race, gender, or circumstance have the same opportunity to participate in politics, self-government, and the economy. Most Americans want to help the less fortunate, but only when they are truly needy, not when they fail because they will not help themselves.
What are some advantages and disadvantages of having the government provide services for the poor? Where do you stand on this issue?
Mike Jeune 1B
ReplyDeleteOne advantage to having government help is that it will increase overall health, give better education, and allow people to get back on their feet and decrease the poverty line. With a better education, people are able to get a better job, afford more expensive products and with that their will be more tax revenues. the government has to keep the country above the poverty line, otherwise the country might become a third-world country.
One disadvantage is that some citizens will never get the motivation to stand back on their feet without any help, some will always rely on the government. Additionally, not everyone is going to be truthful about their situations, some will lie just to get government help that they don't even need. Furthermore, these taxes could be used for better education, creating more schools and universities, creating more roads, and industries and improving the life of this country's citizens. It could also be used in order to protect the environment that we live in, by reducing air and water pollution, stopping deforestation, and protecting areas of endangered species.
One advantage to having government help is that it provides free education, has health care related services, helps people find a job, and get back on thier feet.For example homeless childern can to go to school, then go to college so they can get a wellpaying job, and help thier parents, and have a better chance of not going back to being homeless. The government funds serveral programs to help the homeless.
ReplyDeleteOne disadvantage is that some people want to be catered to and dont thinkm they need to find a job. All they want is free food, and shelter. Taxpayers are funding these homeless shelters, basically supporting the homeless, inclding the of the homeless who want to be lazy and welfare bums.For those who want to be welfare bums, the money used to support them can be used in other areas, like mike said"taxes could be used for better education, creating more schools and universities, creating more roads, and industries and improving the life of this country's citizens. It could also be used in order to protect the environment that we live in, by reducing air and water pollution, stopping deforestation, and protecting areas of endangered species."
lillian smyth 1B
Francis Perez 1B
ReplyDeleteOne of the advantages of having the government provide services for the poor is that if people can take advantage(in a good way) of the help given to them, they can provide a better life for themselves and their family. Being in the Early Childhood academy, I have learned about a lot of government help especially for young children in low income families. One of these programs is called Child Find. In this program, children with disabilities are helped for free. Child Find finds the area that children need help with and help them overcome their disability. I think this is a very good form of government help because it will helps solve the problem quickly and helps the child have a better life. However, a disadvantage of government help would be when people take advantage(in a bad way) of the money given to them by the government. Instead of using it for food for their children, they use it for clothes for themselves. And then instead of getting a job to help themselves, they choose to live off of everybody else's hard earned money. I understand the need for government help because today it's you, but tomorrow it could be me; however, I believe that the government should have more control and limits on who it helps and how it is helping them.
Angelica Witherspoon 1B
ReplyDeleteOne advantage of the government providing services for the needy is that when people in need take advantage of the services provided to them, they may start to get on the right track of life and then start to help themselves by receiving jobs and gaining money to take care of themselves. Once they start to work they will replenish the money and help rebuild the services once provided to them by paying taxes to the government. In doing this the government can continue to help more people in need and the process of the needy helping themselves becomes more frequent, eventually greatly decreasing poverty.One disadvantage, it that some needy people do negatively take advantage of the services provided to them, "living off the fat of the land". Some needy people are truly self-sufficient and are too lazy to get up and work.. These people do not want to work and make it hard for others who are truly unable to do for themselves.I believe that it is both the state's and the government's duty to help the needy and disabled citizens as much as they can. I also believe that responsibility can be placed on some needy people. I feel that government should make requirements in receiving these services much more stricter.
I believe that it's okay for the government to help the needy, but I also believe that the needy need to help themselves. I believe that if you really are needy you should show proof that you're trying to better yourself. You should show that you are trying to get an education or a job, etc., they should also show that they're not doing drugs. The thing with the government helping a lot, is that people would get too dependent on the government and not do anything. now if the government was a bit harsher it would most likely give the needy a reason to better themselves. I think the government should find a balance. I also believe that only the truly needy people should be the ones to take advantage of government help.
ReplyDeleteI believe that one Advantage would be that people Won't die (excuse my choice of words) Like it says at the top, The government give alot to people in poverty. They give money, health care, food, to kids in school they give supplies. The major disadvantage will have to be that the economy is suffering due to the fact that the government is giving away all this stuff. I say that as long as they are trying to find a real job (as in full-time) then i think its fine that the government is giving them assiastance. I don't think it's right that people that aren't looking for a job are getting benefits. I believe they think "why work, if the government is supporting me". The government has been doing a pretty good job so far dealing with situation. Like it said in the last reading (somewhere) it talked about how the government is asking the applicants to fill certain requirements such as proving that they are looking for a job constantly.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the government assisting with the needy in terms of food, shelter, and health care, I find relevant. However, when you have the common people who apply for government assistance, perfectly capable of taking care of themselves but decide to sit on the couch, wait for their food stamps, not seek a job, it becomes a problem. People make bad choices throughout life. It ultimately is up to the person to choose the path they want to life. If they choose drugs, don't follow up on school, then it IS their own fault for not being able to sustain life with all of its necessities and don't deserve government help. With that being said, single parents that are WORKING or can provide proof that they've been trying to find a job, those who are injured permanently from war or other reasons, do, however, deserve help. To sum all of this up, if you want additional help, you have to help yourself first. Don't be lazy and expect that somebody else will provide you with whatever you need. Because the government has other responsibilities than to assist a couch potato when the money could be used for more reasonable purposes and even more towards those who are actually in need. Therefore, one advantage could be that those who are incapable of helping themselves are receiving help and a disadvantage could be that people aren't seeking jobs to help themselves because government has helped them for whatever reason.
ReplyDeleteJorean Bradley of Class 1B
ReplyDeleteI hate seeing poor people and wish to help them as much as I can (Which is ironic, because I only have 10 community service hours). However, there's only so much the government can do in terms of helping the poor. There is already a kinda balance that helps the poor and lets them fend for themselves. We have Red Cross, Blue Shield and the like. So things should go as they are so things don't reach an imbalance.
Jarrod Archambo
ReplyDeleteSome advantages to providing services to the needy are for one emotional satisfaction, people who help people in need to feel great and almost heroic for doing what they did; I personally would have a great day just knowing I did what I could to help my fellow man. Also by helping the needy, you can decrease crime. Most criminals that steal, steal only to make ends meet. By providing shelter, food, clothing, and some education, you steer people to a more positive life style.
Now some bad juju can come out of helping the needy. If you feed one cat In the neighborhood, soon you'll be feeding all the cats. Another words sooner or later all the needy for that community will be draining that resources out of that charity. Communities would start paying more and more so these people can survive. That's more taxes and less money. Plus we have these low lifes that claim disability or welfare just so they don't have to work. I see it all the time. I don't live on the beach side so for when you see some person driving BMW or Mercedes into a bad neighbor hood, you know his job does not pay for that car.
Also be supporting the needy, we hinder our economic growth; the government is supporting too much for these people and are wasting away my taxes, my retirement, and my Social Security for these people. I believe the Government should reduce the support that's already been given. I know it's hard to say this, knowing many people could die, crime can go up, but in the long run I feel that people will man up and proper choices to survive on their own. Plus I feel the requirements that is needed to claim these financial aid should be more strict, that way the real needy and only the needy well be helped.
Queen Jenna has arrived.
ReplyDeleteOne advantage of providing services such as welfare to the needy would be that if they happen to be going through a tough time in their life it can help them get back on their feet and back in the career world.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT SHOULD DO. GET YOU BACK ON YOUR FEET. NOT LET YOU SIT AROUND YOUR HOUSE AND DO NOTHING AND WASTE YOUR LIFE AWAY AND THINK ITS OKAY BECAUSE YOU ARE GETTING CHECKS EVERY MONTH FROM THE GOVERNMENT WHO FOR SOME STUPID REASON ASSUMES YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB BUT YOU AREN'T. GAHHHHHHH!
ALSO, IF YOU ARE ON WELFARE DDDDDDDOOOOOOONNNNN'TTTTTTT THINK YOU CAN ROLL INTO PUBLIX AND BUY 5 RIB-EYE STEAKS AND LOBSTER AND PUT THEM ALL ON YOUR EBT CARD AND FOOD STAMPS. SORRY SCHOLASTICA YOU GETTIN SPAM IN A CAN. (Someone came to Publix, named Scholastica, and really did this, my brother was working, she went through his line.)
My family can't even affored that, why in the world should that be okay for someone who is living off my taxes and sitting on their butt all day get to eat like a king!!!!!
okay let me stop.
byeeeeee.
We have to take a drug test to be hired... why do the people who apply for food stamps and things like that don't? BLOWS MY MIND. that's all I truly have to say, we shouldn't help lazy behind people.
ReplyDeleteI keep forgetting to say this is me haha.
DeleteSebastian
The advantages, are people who really need the help, are reviving government assistance. The sad disadvantages are the people who spend more money on their phones and cars who are still receiving govermet help. Maybe it's just me, but if you can buy the new iPhone, and you'er paying for your kids dippers with EBT, you need to get your priorities in check. I've seen this countless times. And it honestly annoys me. I honestly think that if I have to take a drug test to get a job, people on government assistance should be tested at random. "oh but it cost to much!" logically it would save the government money. It's sad because the people who really need the help, aren't always reviving it, but the people who are sliding through loop holes are.
ReplyDeleteGeovany Melendez 1B
ReplyDeleteHelping the poor through social welfare programs and the like will prove most advantageous for the government as it will help people get back on their feet much faster. One of our rights as citizens of the United States is the pursuit of happiness, is it not? This right, however, cannot be exercised properly if one is unemployed or are being paid to little to actually do so. Welfare keeps people afloat long enough so that they can get a good job (or a second one if necessary) and continue their pursuits. If we cut our disgustingly high military budget, we can more than afford to help the poor (and fund some other necessary public services as well).
The main disadvantage (which you'll never really get rid of no matter how hard you try.) are people willing to take advantage of the system for "free money". In my personal opinion, a drug test seems fair since,as Sebastian so eloquently put it, drug tests are common for those applying for jobs.
Kymber Myers 1B
ReplyDeleteOne advantage is like a lot of people have said already is that citizens will be able to get back on there feet. But, disadvantages of this would be people sitting around and taking advantage of the "free" money they get for being poor, I mean get up and go look for a job. I think the government does right by providing these kind of services for the poor because some people really can't be on there own without a little "push" from the government.
Though fraud finds itself to be inherent to the system and millions of dollars are used annually, helping the poor is a task the government must assist with.
ReplyDeleteA well and just government is a government of care, one who seeks the utmost best for its people. And as such, should find little problem in helping those in need; those who have actually put fourth a viable effort to help themselves but still need that little push. Obviously this assistance refuels the economy by getting these people back into the workforce and contributing. I'm sure there are more advantages.. but I'm a tad absent minded right now.
As stated by everyone, because it is overtly abused and sometimes personally affecting, the abuse of the system is the disadvantage that find itself so annoying to us. People seek government assistance, yet remain idle fools. However, I'm a ignorant to whether or not people can live off of government assistance indefinitely, but I would hope not.
Period 1B
I think we should help those in need. Government assistance is good for those who are in between jobs, got laid off or just don't make enough to provide and can really help people get back on their feet. That being said I don't think that it's fair for the tax payers that their is so many people living off government assistance and do nothing. I think we should help those who want to help them selves,If you are capable of working there is no reason for you to sit back collection tax payers dollars. their should be some kind of program that you have to be working, proof that you're looking for work, or in school before receiving programs like welfare. There's too many people perfectly okay with living off the government and our taxes. As a country we should be trying to better our citizens, so that we can better the country as a whole.
ReplyDeleteSome advantages of providing services to the poor, is that it keeps less people off the streets and boosts our economy by having a smaller percentage of unemployed and assisting those who actually need assistance and aren't capable of sustaining themselves. The disadvantage of the government's role among the poor is that a lot of the times it doesn't dig deep into the real situation. There's a difference between being disabled and too laxy to work. There are americans out there that work for a living and don't get as many "wants" as those on welfare just because the government is oblivious to this. There should be a set amount of time that a family or person can be on welfare, not an unlimited amount of time.
ReplyDeleteJacob clark 1/B
Sam Tith 1B
ReplyDeletea advantage is better education for people and health. There are also disadvantages though because if they are poor, what happens if they want to be poor and have free stuff and have "hand outs" in life. What if the education wont encourage them to better themselves? For example today we have public schools and education but there are those who does not care and will not want to use the government for good but to be lazy. I find the health of those will be good but those who are not poor like middle class or rich would have to pay more in taxes to help the poor. So in my opinion I think its good to help but to be given a certain amount of time to be on welfare or atleast show progress that they're looking for a job or to education to better themselves.
Advantages of government aid is education for those who may not usually be able to attend school, transportation, such as school buses and city buses for those who may not own a car, and health care. Disadvantages are that people become complacent. If the government provides them with everything they need, why should they try to find work? There are those who truly need government aid, however, many of them get passed over. I believe the government should help those who truly need it, TO AN EXTENT. I am not sure if the federal government is the best one to administer this type of aid, simply because they are too big and bureaucratic to possibly oversee everything.
ReplyDelete- Angelina Alejo
1B
Christine Baezaponte 1-b
ReplyDeleteAdvantages to government support would include, the better health of many unemployed people who can't afford medical expenses, food provided through food stamps to the needy, and public transportation that would help many of the population who can't afford to buy a car. Disadvantages to this kind of aid would be many people would take advanatge of the help and use it to get "free stuff" . They could abuse the help and start saving money for themselves to get things that they want with the thought they won't get caught. Many of the population today do that, and you see that they have help that they don't even need but claim that they do. Its just waisting help, there's someone out there who needs help and instead someone is abusing government aid.
I think we should help those in need. Government assistance is good for those who are laid off, are between jobs or just don't make enough to provide for themselves/family and it can really help those type of people get back on their feet, or at least assist. That being said I don't think that it's fair for the tax payers that their is so many people living off government assistance and do nothing, for example people who are on welfare and/or food stamps, but have the latest smart phones. I think we should help those who want to help them selves That's why I think if you are capable of working there is no reason for you to sit back collection tax payers dollars. There should be some kind of program that you have to be working, or have some kind of proof that you're looking for work, or in school before receiving programs like welfare. There's too many people perfectly okay with living off the government and our taxes and are not trying to better their own lives, just freeloading. As a country we should be trying to better our citizens, so that we can better the country as a whole, and if we had more people earning their money I feel like we wouldn't have as much debt.
ReplyDelete