The Influence Of Social Policies On Welfare

American social policies are influenced heavily by society’s perception of poor dependent individuals. Some ways that policies are affected are the way policy makers view the “welfare” recipients. They view the unemployed, as lazy simply because the economy is not providing them with a decent job. Another ideology that the policy makers have is that minorities are the only population that receives “welfare”. Lastly, people who are dependent on welfare to survive cannot fend for themselves. They need assistance for various reasons like illness or disability. These are some ways poor and independent individuals can influence social policies and programs, which goals are to reduce poverty. Many conservative politicians have the idea that …show more content…
An idea has come about that welfare is just about receiving food stamps and checks. This is outright wrong. Welfare encompasses so much more than just these two benefits. In the article, The Roosevelt Years And The Rise Of The Welfare State, it states, “An act to provide the general welfare by establishing a system of… more adequate provision for aged persons, blind persons, dependent and crippled children, maternal and child welfare, public health and… unemployment compensation laws… and for other purposes” (Meyer, 2014, p.45). This was a section of the actual social security act and it states that it is to help everyone who is in need of welfare assistance. Today, we have programs like social security, public housing, school lunch programs, food stamps, medicare, medicade, WIC, TANF, disability insurance, and more! Regardless of what type of benefit you are receiving, it is called welfare. Whether it be disability insurance due to an accident or food stamps due to the face that you cannot afford to purchase groceries. These programs were created during a time in which there was great need, not to say that there is not need today but when these programs were created, like the social security act was during the great depression. People needed assistance like people need assistance now. What is interesting to me is that the people who were mainly receiving assistance then were white people. Now they are …show more content…
Not just economically, but physically and mentally. There are many types of welfare programs that were created for a specific group like disability and temporary or permanent housing for homeless individuals. I believe that everyone at some point has received welfare benefits. The people who have stigmatized minorities for receiving the most “welfare” are people who are receiving benefits as well without even