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Welfare Programs In American Culture

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Welfare programs are not new to American Culture. They were rooted in our settlements during the early years prior to the Revolutionary War. Colonies had “British Poor Laws” which mandated whether you were able to work, considering your age or physical health, or not1. As America progressed, more programs were funded by tax payers and additional programs were created. Inevitably, as programs were created society viewed them as entitlements instead of the aid they were created to temporarily help with. American citizens have become more reliable on government programs for a means of living instead of making their own way. Although government assistance was originally created to temporarily help underprivileged get on their feet, the democratic …show more content…
While not all programs have been compromised, some important systems have been. Back in the President Lincoln days and post-civil war times, there was a huge division between the Republican Party and the deep-south Democrats. The Southern Democrats were set in their ways to keep slavery alive and founded the Klu Klux Klan (KKK) as a means to revive the culture of slavery. Quickly they realized once the slaves were given the right to vote, initiated by the Civil Rights Act of 1866, but solidified by the 1869 Congressional passing of the 15th Amendment2 (gave black males the right to vote), the slaves were naturally voting for the Republicans. As would anyone else who had an entity supporting their …show more content…
Today there is a generation of adult’s age 18-40 whom believe social welfare is an entitlement to themselves. There are countless YouTube videos that have indoctrinated citizens recording themselves bragging they aren’t going to work ever again and they’re never coming off of food stamps. In Clayton County, Ga the local government allegedly miss counted for EBT and the recipients were without for a couple of days. This resulted in a miniature town gathering of EBT recipients and giving the city worker’s “a piece of their minds”3. The gathering never became violent but the desperate tone and actions of the people showed the government how much control they have over people. This exemplified, if government aid was cut off, people would immediately take action to get their entitlements. On the other hand, it shows how the government can threaten to take away the welfare and make incentives to give them

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