Should the US Government increase social services for the poor?

Topic:
U.S. Political Debates

21 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
62% of users

  • The U.S. Government should increase social services for the poor, due to the effects that the economy is having on people.

    In today's hard economic times, the government should do as much as they can to ensure their citizens are taken care of. Nowadays, with the economy unstable, and jobs hard to come by, many people need a helping hand. The government should assist and provide help to those in need.

    Yes AverageHoward86

  • Just do it to save the country's name!

    Obviously we should, because poor people will die without their needs being fulfilled. We need to let them have what they need, and maybe we wont be pestered by all those people on the side of the rode. We will know if thy are an impostor because all the poor get what they need, however, i think they need to be put into a job, forced to work to gain food, money, etc. Lets just get them off the street, help them get back on their feet, and move on with our wonderful world. Europe helps all their people, and nobody is homeless there!!!

    Yes Anonymous

  • Providing services for the poor is ultimately less expensive than institutionalizing or killing them, and it contributes to a better quality of life for all.

    By cutting social services to the poor, the government forces the poor to fend for themselves, or burdens their families with having to provide for them. In a bad economy such as this, with high unemployment and high food costs, the overall quality of life for everyone is reduced. A poor person without a family to help them will beg or steal and be a nuisance to society. A poor person forced to rely on their family reduces the family's ability to provide for their own selves, and can produce a chain reaction of poverty.

    Yes LavishKerry

  • Everyone deserves a chance at a successful life.

    The US Government should absolutely increase social services for the poor. For all those people who believe that the poor use the money for things that are not helpful, although some of them don't, many of them do. A possible solution is for the government to send out update forms for the the people receiving social service checks, and they would then have to fill out the update form and include their receipts. If they don't fill out the form, or aren't using the money well, then they will stop receiving checks completely.

    Yes Anonymous

  • Yes, because in this country, it it shameful that people are going without when there is so much wealth.

    The United States is a country of wealth and abundance. There is no need for anyone to go without life's basic necessities. And the fact that there are so many sheds a negative light on the government. The government should do everything in it's power to ensure that no one goes without things like food, water, shelter, heat, and clothing.

    Yes TownNoam

  • I oppose increased social services for the poor because they ultimately make the poor even poorer.

    Government provided social services have their place in helping people get back on their feet and reestablish themselves. Unfortunately when the poor become dependent on those services a learned helplessness takes place that creates a lower class that is perpetuated between generations. Increasing social services only feeds a system that is woefully broken and undermines the ability of the poor to care for themselves.

    Yes SpoiledKelly

  • The largest hurdle our country is facing is the widening gap in socio-economic status between the rich and the poor.

    Social services are the backbone of our democracy. The idea that America is the "land of opportunity" stems from our country's history as an immigrant nation and the support our government has provided to newcomers to the country and to those less fortunate living here. The widening gap between the rich and the poor in our country is very troubling and I feel that our government is responsible for providing for the less fortunate among us.

    Yes NorN45c4r

  • The nation as we know it cannot claim to be great if it neglects its poorest citizens.

    Social services for the poor must be increased to ensure that the nation can be legitimately considered a first world country. In order to actually fulfill that statement, poverty stricken individuals should not be driven out of their homes or starve in what is considered a first world country. Especially given the state of the economy where no one is truly safe from the possibility of adversity.

    Yes KiPPyAway

  • At a time when our country is suffering economically, social services for the poor are vital for getting people back on their feet.

    As more people are victims of job cuts and the downturn in the economy, social services for the poor are vital to the survival of the existing and newly poor. It is the government's responsibility to provide these services to the citizens of our country during this economic depression. Current social services are not meeting the demand for help.

    Yes Stud Monkey

  • Yes, the government should increase social services for the poor, because I can see their hopeless and homeless faces.

    In some countries (even in Europe!) people die on the streets from hunger without anyone care. If the poor's only chance is the government's help to get started, we can't afford to not help them a bit. And the number of poor people - and their children too increasing from year to year. I do think that they (the poor) should and must take care of themselves, but we must help them at least to get started.

    Yes N Walsh

  • Poor people are the most neglected people of any country.

    Yes, I agree the US government should increase the social services for the poor. Social service is define as subsides given by government on food, medicine and the basic necessities for the poor. Almost one sixth of American population are poor. The US government should increase the social services in order to avoid any social problems in the future. I feel that the poor people of any country are the most neglected people in the world.

    Yes I0rFashion

  • The U.S. Government should increase social services for the poor.

    Especially in trying economic times like the United States is experiencing now, it is important for the government to provide social services for the poor. Additionally, the number of Americans falling into deeper poverty is most likely growing as more and more Americans lose their jobs, and quite possibly their homes, the government must step in to assist Americans in troubled times.

    Yes NatBIab

  • I support that, there are still many deaths that happen due to a starvation.

    Why is there a need to ask about that? For foreigners our country is a happier one with no hunger there to kill people. But still many are dying due to starvation, or change of climate. Its hard to believe that there are many in our streets who just do not have a dress to wear. Then how would he able to withstand the cold climate which passes off this country every year

    Yes gutalin
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No
38% of users

  • I do not think that the government should increase social services for the poor, due to our current economic state.

    I believe that, given the current financial plight of the country, it is currently unwise to increase spending on social services. Instead, it should be possible to focus on ways that the current money, which has already been allocated, could be better spent. One could form a committee or task group to work on this task.

    No 54vi0rCar

  • the government should not increase social services for the poor

    the government should not increase social services for the poor. some may say that it may be shameful to not help lower income families and individuals when there is so much wealth in the nation, which is the case to a certain extent. although there are very deserving people of services that will aid them through their hardships due to the economy and job lay offs, what seems to be the majority of the recipients of welfare and food stamps are the scum of this country that are breaking the law, in and out of jail, and have no intention of improving themselves simply because they think they don't have to because there is no end in sight of their government checks they get every month to live on.

    No Anonymous

  • The US Government should not increase social services for the poor because it has problems overseeing the ones it has now.

    I feel that the US Government is putting in too much money as it is into social services. They do not have a proper way of managing what they have now and because of it the funding is mismanaged. Doing a complete revamp would allow them to open up funding so that it would go to the people who really need it.

    No eyeslikethat

  • No, the U.S. Government should not increase social services for the poor, but should work on job creation instead.

    Welfare for the disabled is appropriate, but increasing social services for the poor in general is not a good idea. We need to create jobs and income for people to help themselves instead.

    No R4v4g3rPavI

  • It is the governments and our social responsibility, however I think we pay enough.

    Foodstamps and homeless shelters are some examples. The expanded Medicare program leaves no reason why a lower income family should not have health care. I think it is the poor's responsibility to take advantage with what they have and to use those outlets to get them back on their feet.

    No N3Ph3wHaeI

  • No, the US Government should not increase social services for the poor because they don't have the money and it would only put them into debt more.

    No, the US Government should not increase social services for the poor because they don't have any money and it would put the country and its people into even more debt which we will never be able to repay. Social services have been around for over 60 years and it hasn't helped.

    No MycCra2ii

  • I oppose expanding social services for the poor because we should instead require more livable wages.

    While providing more social services for the poor seems like a good idea, I think the bigger issue is why is there such a huge division between the wealthy and the poor. I believe it is because we allow the wealthy to exploit the poor by charging too much for healthcare and paying wages that are too low. The gross disparity in pay between the highest paid and the lowest in most companies is disgraceful. We should instead focus on raising wages and providing universal healthcare.

    No F43IDown

  • I do not believe the government should increase social services for the poor.

    I believe instead of taking the path of increasing taxes on everyone the government needs to lower taxes so that companies and other small business owners can create jobs to offer the poor. Lets not give people fish lets teach them to fish. We need to give inspiration to get a job and not give hand outs. This includes citizens and immigrants as well. I do feel that maybe some help is needed along the way to get folks started. Help with child care transportation etc. Discounts or what ever it maybe. I also feel health care needs to be addressed in some way to control cost no matter what that means. We need to face the facts that it is beyond the poorest amongst us to be able to have affordable health care that does not take every dime me make either in premiums or co-pays or what the health plan will not cover, but I think we can all agree that it would be better to have to pay a little instead of all the needs of the poor. I also feel most of us want a job and to provide for ourselves and family first and foremost.

    No Iebe2cooI
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