Welfare

It is the mark of a strong and caring society to look out for the sick, the aged, and needy.

However, government welfare dependence is having an emotionally destructive effect on physically healthy families. Generations are growing up on government welfare without incentive to become independent. This cycle of dependence easily becomes engrained.

Some of our dependent neighbors don’t see or understand how or why to work toward independence. When government is taking care of a family through welfare, food stamps, fuel assistance, Medicaid, and HUD housing, the individual sometimes loses motivation to try something else. It becomes easier not to. Men lose the sense of being needed and drift away from the family unit, resulting in single family homes and boys without any other role model other than other fatherless boys.

‘Dakotans for Honesty in Politics’ supports equal rights, freedoms and responsibilities for all citizens. An individual who accepts the benefits of citizenship must also accept the responsibilities. The primary responsibility for the health and welfare of our citizens resides with individuals and their families. We encourage all people to exercise responsibility by making healthy life choices and caring for their well-being.

When one neighbor is forced to support the other, it is an infringement on the first neighbor’s right to his or her own property.

• Enforce strong child support laws in order to restore parental responsibility and financial security for children.

• Establish two-year state programs to educate citizens in vocational skills. During this time, welfare and day care would be provided. At the end of this period, individuals will be expected to financially support their families. Parents unwilling to work toward independence could be found neglectful of their children.

• Encourage the work of charitable and religious organizations.

• Offer a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for contributions to private charities that provide social-welfare services.

• Limit federal assistance, making it available to only United States citizens, born or naturalized.

• Immigrants to the U.S. should show proof of self-sufficiency, a private hosting agency or a hosting individual. Hosting agencies or individuals should be required to post appropriate bonds to seal their commitment to bear economic responsibility for a period of time for the immigrants.