And, one way or another, continued assistance for women and children who don't find regular jobs is absolutely critical. The worst thing the 1996 law did was create a new fault line between deserving and undeserving poor. Those who don't find work have been put in the undeserving category unless they are legally disabled. In this hot economy they have lost major ground, because their losses in welfare and food stamps outstrip any earnings they have. This is unconscionable.
People are literally unaware that millions are worse off, including millions of children.
If we care about everyone having a tough time, we need to get into the game all the way. That's part of the agenda, too. Peter Edelman is a professor at Georgetown University Law Center. Edelman resigned his post as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services in protest of President Clinton's support of the Republican welfare reform proposal. The Open-Source Society .