As always, they object to anything that might make life on welfare more inconvenient - and there is no disputing that 20 mandatory hours of work per week is a lot more inconvenient than zero hours. But life on welfare should be inconvenient. Not because we want to punish women for foolishly deciding to have a baby before they had a husband and a job, but because we want to discourage their younger sisters and friends from making the same choice. Yes, welfare reform should be designed to get recipients off the dole. McIntyre, who has spent 32 years in the welfare department, fears the Legislature may be tempted to substitute training for work without extending the work requirement to all able-bodied recipients.
Work is the fastest route out of dependence.
Nothing else can touch it. The best preparation for a job is a job.