From: em@nynexst.com (Edward Man)
Subject: Re: Rush on Wisconsin Politics
Organization: Nynex Science and Technology
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 92 22:36:20 GMT

In article <1992Apr16.123546.21777@doug.cae.wisc.edu> suo@cae.wisc.edu (Franklin Suo) writes:
>On the other hand, I was disappointed to hear Tommy getting praised, because
>IMO, he's the biggest disgrace to the state since Sen. McCarthy. Thomoson has
>instituted a number of welfare 'reform' proposals, all of which pander to the
>stereotype that welfare recipients are a bunch of lazy, although
>proliferative, parasites on society. 

I guess that's why many states are now considering copying the Wisconsin
program. I watched NightLine with Gov. Thompson a few days ago, and
got an impression that his programs are working very well.

>Learnfare, the proposal that links welfare payments to a child's school
>attendance, is one example. While it sounds good in theory, it overlooks the
>mentality of the people it is supposedly aimed at. If a parent truly cares
>about the well-being of their child, they will ensure that that child is in
>school anyway.

Nowadays, parents can't control their kids. The point of this program
is to force the welfare receipients to be retrained so that they have
the necessary skills to get a job. Many are complaining that they can't
get a job because they don't have the skills. If we are giving them
money anyway, we may as well get something out of it.

>Chances are, that such a parent will use every means at their
>disposal to try and find a job in order to better provide for their child. The
>parents who tend to be chronic welfare recepients will probably tend not to
>care much about their children anyway, so the receipt of a few dollars a month
>more or less isn't likely to make much difference.

So, you are proposing not giving them any money. Helping them get
a job is more important!

>Another proposal is a two-tiered welfare system, where people who move to WI
>from another state, (mainly Illinois) will receive a lower welfare payment
>than native Wisconsinites for a period of time (6 months, I think.) Besides
>the fact that such a law is clearly unconstitutional under the Equal
>Protection Clause, it will solve nothing. It is a blatant attempt to pander to
>the paranoia that droves of welfare mothers are moving here from Chicago, just
>so they can collect more welfare money.

From what I'd heard, many go to Wisconsin because Wisconsin had a
better welfare system, especially the retraining part.

>Another proposal, Bridefare, links receipt of full AFDC benefits to whether or
                   ^^^^^^^^^
>not the mother is married.

I wonder if I qualify. I want 10, maybe 20, brides.

>In theory, it is supposed to promote parental
>responsibility of the father by encouraging marriage.

A man doesn't marry a welfare receipient because if he did, the woman
loses the welfare payment. They may as well just live together. The
point is not to punish them because they get married. (Please no flames
on the man and woman thing. I am trying to make it readable. Besides,
this was the way it was used on Night Line.)

>In reality, AFDC
>payments will increase for elligible married couples, and all we'll end up
>with is a bunch of married teenagers with no impact on the problem of teen
>pregnancy in the first place.

So, doing nothing about it will help a lot, right? There is a program
for teens too. They have to stay in school in order to get welfare.
They should get an education so that they at least have a chance of
getting out of it. So that they won't be a burden on society later on,
and can live a better life, for her and her child(ren).

>Well, these are just a few of my opinions about Wisconsin politics. I realize
>most non-cheeseheads care about as much about Wisconsin politics as I care
>about New York and California politics (very little). But hey, Rush did
>mention it, and it's not about abortion, right?

I may not care, I sure know you are wrong. Those programs are working
well, and saved the state a lot of money, and you are putting it down.
Shame on you.

---
Ed
Newsgroups: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh