A commentary article in the Star-Ledger on September 24th reads: "Contrary to what many people predicted, welfare reform has so far been a success. States have drastically reduced their rolls, and there have not been dire social consequences from ending benefits for recipients who did not find work."  After reading that paragraph I realized how insane we approach welfare in this country.
 According to the Ralph Nader Reader 20% of children in the United States grew up in poverty in the United States.  The astonishing number of children living in poverty, I assure you, did face dire social consequences from ending benefits for recipients who did not find work, and even ones that did find work.
During a recent speech Bush said, "Across America, no doubt about it, single mothers do heroic work.  They have the toughest job in our country; raising children by themselves is an incredibly hard job."  He's right, and now their jobs have become even more difficult.  Bush's welfare reform bill calls for stricter work requirements.  Single mothers and fathers will now need to work at least 40 hours a week of with no more than ten hours  to job training to remain eligible for assistance.  The 1996 proposal required an already high thirty hours of work a week.  I don't know about you, but I don't know many people that work 40 hours a week, especially single parents.
 Welfare recipients did have the opportunity to fulfill hour requirements towards a job-search program or vocational education activity.  Not anymore, according to Bush's plan.  Bush has limited eligibility for those who participate in a drug treatment program or physical rehabilitation program to three months.  If you need further physical rehabilitation or drug treatment before being able to get a job you cannot receive assistance.
 Childcare is another problem in the US.  Since families are now required to work longer hours the number of welfare recipients requiring childcare and the number of hours of childcare needed will increase.     According to the Children's Defense Fund Bush does not provide new child care funds for the next five years, despite increased work requirements.  The plan allows 114,000 fewer children to receive childcare assistance over the next five years.  Only one in seven children eligible for childcare assistance receives it.  For example, in Bush's home state of Texas, 37,000 families are waiting for childcare assistance.
 Welfare reform is nothing more than a failure that has cause dire consequences for many children.  Causing single parents to work longer hours and not providing adequate childcare leaves many children without a bright future.  It's especially disturbing in a country that spends more than the rest of the world combined on its military.  It's completely scandalous that we can allow anyone to go hungry or homeless in the richest country in the world Especially if it's 20% of our children.