Morals alone are simply not strong enough weapons to use against the problems facing young people today. Expelling drug users from schools does not help them end their addiction, nor does sending them to prison. Prisons often turn young people who could be saved into hardened criminals, who come out worse than when they went in. No matter how badly they might behave, it is not right to give up on people who still have their whole lives ahead of them. Despite many years of good intentions, innovative ideas, and billions of dollars spent on thousands of different programs, youth are more,ore at risk than ever.
Programs can actually have a negative effect.
They end up putting money into institutions and in the pockets of professionals. They increase the role of government in private matters. And they create more and more layers of agencies, experts, regulations, and redtape. In the long run, welfare programs can actually undermine local initiative rather than encourage it. Government assistance just encourages people to continue to rely on the government rather than taking responsibility for themselves.