Welfare

Welfare is a type of government support for the citizens of that society. Welfare may be provided to people of any income level, as with social security (and is then often called a social safety net), but it is usually intended to ensure that people can meet their basic human needs such as food and shelter. Welfare attempts to provide a minimal level of well-being, usually either a free- or a subsidized-supply of certain goods and social services, such as healthcare, education, and vocational training.

A welfare state is a political system wherein the State assumes responsibility for the health, education, and welfare of society. The system of social security in a welfare state provides social services, such as universal medical care, unemployment insurance for workers, financial aid, free post-secondary education for students, subsidized public housing, and pensions (sickness, incapacity, old-age), etc. In 1952, with the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, the International Labour Organization (ILO) formally defined the social contingencies covered by social security.

The first welfare state was Imperial Germany (1871–1918), where the Bismarck government introduced social security in 1889. In the early 20th century, the United Kingdom introduced social security around 1913, and adopted the welfare state with the National Insurance Act 1946, during the Attlee government (1945–51). In the countries of Western Europe, Scandinavia, and Australasia, the government out of the national tax revenues, and to a lesser extent mainly provides social welfare by non-government organizations (NGOs), and charities (social and religious).

Growing up, our parents were our Welfare State. They provide us with clothing, food, shelter and possibly the ability to speak. The instructions that come with pregnancy have certain requirements.

They were also our banks. Want some candy or a comic? Ask your parents.

Then the responsibility of ‘earning’ income fell on you. That meant long hours of struggle and sweat called WORK. It was easier before.

So the government creates all these ‘safety nets’ for those who become disenfranchised from the ability to earn income (from a myriad of reasons). Don’t worry; the government will take care of you. They have the big pockets.

Whatever they want to call it, “bailout” “stimulus” “bonus” “financial assistance” “compensation” “disadvantaged recovery” “destitute delivery” “penurious payments” it is FREE money for doing nothing.

Maybe this is our ‘feel good’ charity until the scales shift. How many are working at food banks or delivery during these ‘trying times’?

In this time of FREE TIME when the usual requirements are absent, are we exploring new ideas and innovative thoughts, or relying on becoming an encampment of beggars wanting to be feed and clothed and sheltered by an organization of empowerment?

Time will tell.