Welfare reform in the 1990s and the eventual passing of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 was spawned by new conservative thinking, the New Democrats and mainstream academic thought. What are some examples of these beliefs and

Question

how did they influence welfare reform? What aspects of these beliefs led to punitive and morally based reforms? What do you feel were positive aspects of reform? What aspects did not work well?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Welfare reform and the eventual passing of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 included areas that addressed illegitimacy and New Democrats embraced academic thinking that dwelled on ways to reduce dependency, particularly those believed to be “trapped” into dependency. Tax credits were expanded and welfare time limited with work requirements. There were many rules and regulations that both made acquiring aid a disincentive and difficult to maintain so that people were discharged from aid programs. There was a cap on family size that was left to the states. It worked in reducing cost most of all. The largest negatives were the children and the fact they did not really address the issue of those who were not skilled or educated enough to get jobs that pay a true living wage to support a family on.