“There were times in my teens I was told not to work because it could jeopardize the government assistance our family was receiving. Even then, the idea was astonishing to me. Poverty and government dependence don’t just affect your bank account. Eventually, they come to affect your mind. You make decisions you normally wouldn’t make because you’re trying to survive. Your mental state can become extremely limiting. You see nothing but what’s in front of you. And when what’s in front of you is a politician with another handout, watch out.” PovertyWelfareGovernment AssistanceGovernment Dependence Book:Taken for Granted: How Conservatism Can Win Back the Americans That Liberalism Failed Source: Taken for Granted: How Conservatism Can Win Back the Americans That Liberalism Failed
“More often than not, the people around me weren’t simply deciding to give up. They were living in a culture of dependency that had been passed down from birth. My mother and grandmother gave in to the culture. And they expected me to figure out the best way to live on that same track, to game the system and not even try to escape. My friend Ben agrees. 'Most of the time, what you see in the housing projects are generations of families,' he says. 'People accustomed to this lifestyle. It becomes comfortable, so they don’t move away, and even their children stay and raise kids in the same environment.' In neighborhoods like the ones where Ben and I grew up, there is no perceived incentive to advance. After all, the checks for housing and the food stamps and assistance arrive every month. This is why the system must be reformed. Welfare should exist only for a certain period of time, unless you’re disabled and can’t physically work. It should not last for a generation or more. There are millions of jobs open, without enough people to fill them or, rather, without enough people who have the necessary skills and training. This is where the government should come in, providing incentives for real-world training and educating recipients about a life beyond government dependence.” WelfareWelfare MentalityWelfare Mindset Book:Taken for Granted: How Conservatism Can Win Back the Americans That Liberalism Failed Source: Taken for Granted: How Conservatism Can Win Back the Americans That Liberalism Failed