“I’m paying taxes to support this!?” says many working Americans when they see a “Welfare Queen” dressed in designer clothing , but swiping an EBT card across a keypad. Many people believe that individuals on welfare are either lazy, drug addicts, or “Welfare Queens.” Is this all true? No. In fact, many of the welfare recipients are actually elders, children and the disabled. Not every person is trying to mooch off of the government because they want to be lazy or be addicted to drugs. There are many welfare recipients who actually need the government’s assistance because they are too young or too old, and they can’t physically or legally work to provide for themselves. The common belief about welfare recipients is that they’re lazy, drug
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In fact, recent drug testing results prove that a low percentage of recipients test positive for drugs. In 2014, Tennessee tested their welfare applicants for drugs and the results were that less than “1%” tested positive. Drug testing in Florida occurred for four months and only “2.6%” of their applicants tested positive (Rhymes). The ironic thing about this is that Florida’s population where they didn’t receive welfare tested 6% higher for drug use (Rhymes). Furthermore, this proves that the research done by the federal government is false, because majority of the welfare recipients aren’t drug …show more content…
According to Edward Rhymes, journalist, Ronald Regan used the stereotype for the “Welfare Queen” to describe a black woman. In reality, black women aren’t the only race receiving government assistance. 38% of white people receive government assistance and 37% of blacks and 25% of other races also (Rhymes). Welfare is not just a black thing, but it’s for all races and for all people who need it. Journalist Bryce Covert claims that families who receive benefits are better at budgeting their money than people who don’t receive benefits. They tend to spend their money on necessities such as food, transportation and housing. They live their lifestyle cheaper and only buy items that they need to survive (Covert). This contrasts with the “Welfare Queen” because the Queen has all of these children, but she depends heavily on the government without working, budgeting money, and having priorities. The reality of it is that there are very few “Welfare Queens” out there. Most of the families are trying to make a living and they genuinely need the government assistance. In conclusion, there may be many different misconceptions about welfare assistance. The majority of the families or individuals on welfare actually need the help because they are either too young or too old and can’t physically or legally provide for themselves. There are the few who cheat the system, and that shouldn’t determine
In fact, recent drug testing results prove that a low percentage of recipients test positive for drugs. In 2014, Tennessee tested their welfare applicants for drugs and the results were that less than “1%” tested positive. Drug testing in Florida occurred for four months and only “2.6%” of their applicants tested positive (Rhymes). The ironic thing about this is that Florida’s population where they didn’t receive welfare tested 6% higher for drug use (Rhymes). Furthermore, this proves that the research done by the federal government is false, because majority of the welfare recipients aren’t drug …show more content…
According to Edward Rhymes, journalist, Ronald Regan used the stereotype for the “Welfare Queen” to describe a black woman. In reality, black women aren’t the only race receiving government assistance. 38% of white people receive government assistance and 37% of blacks and 25% of other races also (Rhymes). Welfare is not just a black thing, but it’s for all races and for all people who need it. Journalist Bryce Covert claims that families who receive benefits are better at budgeting their money than people who don’t receive benefits. They tend to spend their money on necessities such as food, transportation and housing. They live their lifestyle cheaper and only buy items that they need to survive (Covert). This contrasts with the “Welfare Queen” because the Queen has all of these children, but she depends heavily on the government without working, budgeting money, and having priorities. The reality of it is that there are very few “Welfare Queens” out there. Most of the families are trying to make a living and they genuinely need the government assistance. In conclusion, there may be many different misconceptions about welfare assistance. The majority of the families or individuals on welfare actually need the help because they are either too young or too old and can’t physically or legally provide for themselves. There are the few who cheat the system, and that shouldn’t determine