The article "The Shrinking Welfare State: The New Welfare Legislation and Families" takes a look at the welfare reform that occurred starting in 1996. This article keys in on the adverse outcomes that have resulted from welfare reform, and attempts to establish alternatives. I found this article to be very interesting, and it allowed me the opportunity to look at welfare from a much different perspective. It has always been my opinion that welfare is just a means to keep people comfortable with living at the poverty level. If the government is willing to provide something for nothing, why aspire to do anything more? This article has opened my eyes to a great deal of information that I would not have otherwise sought out on the topic of welfare and has also altered some of my previous opinions on the welfare system.
             It has always been my opinion that the welfare system is too lenient. It gives individuals a safety net with no expectation that they will first attempt to fly on their own. With unemployment compensation, individuals are required to continue looking for gainful employment, and the benefits will only be provided for a set amount of time. In the original welfare system, there was no time limit, and no obligation to find work. Mothers were provided with more financial assistance with each child they delivered, which in my opinion promoted the idea of having more children to make more money. I found it very interesting that since 1970, the average monthly payment from AFDC has decreased by almost 50 percent, and that in states with lower benefits rates the illegitimacy rate is higher (cited in Post, Lawrence, & Weber, 1999, p. 404). These statistics really struck a chord with me because I have been of the mind that those on welfare will look for ways to remain on welfare, from the information just cited this would not appear to always be the case. I am still not convinced that this does not happen, but I am open to the ide...