Socialists believe that children and their unemployed parents are entitled to a minimum of food, clothing, shelter, health care and other necessities. The Socialist Party of Wisconsin strongly opposes so-called welfare reform policies of the Democrats and Republicans. These reforms, which will provide more cheap labor, are welfare for the rich. Socialists disagree with the propaganda of the rich and powerful that says the poor deserve their fate because of moral or genetic flaws.
Capitalism places profits before the welfare of people, thus causing poverty.
Work means that each of us contributes to making society a better place. The current capitalistic structure requires unemployment and inequality. Not only does Wall Street and Washington collude to keep unemployment rates at a high level, but more and more jobs are part-time and temporary. These disposable workers are difficult to organize, which enhances the profits and power of the corporate elite while providing a cheap source of labor and adding to the number of poor people in the United States. Another method of impoverishing people and enhancing corporate power and profits is the globalization of the economy.