The Program

Growing up with parents that were immigrants, in a land that was completely foreign to us was a bit of a challenge. We didn't have family in America that we could fall back to for support. It was tough for my parents to obtain a stable job and raise a family, but an American program did come to our Aid. This program is called welfare. We received some help from the government when my family established themselves in America. My parent's had very low income and had to figure out strategies to take care of the family. We couldn't afford a babysitter so my parent's split shifts at work in order to take care of us. I remember we would receive peanut butter, canned food, and food stamps from the welfare program. Through this experience, my feelings grew positive toward the welfare program because today I feel that if it wasn't for this program, my family and I would have never moved up from the poverty level and into middle class. Due to the fact of our success through the welfare program I feel that ultimately I will always be in favor of it.
Through out high school and into college I would have debates with my peers about welfare. This was a huge issue during the 2009 Presidential race. Many of my peers are republicans and against welfare, due to tax increases and many times I would debate this issue. Those who oppose welfare brought up some interesting and understandable points. it made me think that the program is not perfect but it is definitely a necessity. It's a program that minorities and low income residents have access to that differs from institutionalize white privileged programs. Welfare focuses on giving the minority a chance to succeed in a land where it almost seems that the rich are getting richer and the poor stay the same, because low income residents do not have the opportunities,networks, and support that middle to upper class do. As mentioned before, I understand the welfare program is not perfect but we can work on the problems rather than eliminating it completely.
There are people that take advantage of the system. During the most recent recession, I noticed a few things. One thing that caught my attention was the "unemployment" group. It is very unfortunate to see people loose their jobs. What I did witness through observing my own friends was that there were a few that were taking advantage of the system of support. A few of my friends who lost their jobs filled for unemployment and they received help. Rather than working on finding a new job, my friends took it as a vacation and just relaxed and enjoyed the time off. Those same friends applied for an extension and received it, and still are up to the same thing. There are always going to be people taking advantage of helpful systems so I understand peoples frustration, but I do feel that if we work on bettering the program, welfare will be beneficial to our country.
I am very thankful for our welfare program. From a person that experienced it first hand, I can say it truly works. I don't think I would have move above the poverty line, have gone to a private high school, go to a University, play football for the University, and live what i feel so far as the beginning of an American Dream, with out programs such as this one.