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Tomas mentioned giving something back to society in exchange for welfare. It reminded me of something I had seen about the work for welfare ( not sure what its called) scheme in operation in michigan. What it sounds like at first glance is a way to get long term unemployed people back into the world of work ( probably a good thing for most) and offset the cost of the welfare aid they get ( possibly a good thing depending upon your political stance)
Nice idea shame about the execution. In reality what it amounts to is an abuse of the most vulnerable in society (the poor and desperate) by wealthy corporations. There was a single mother for instance who had to leave her house at 5 am to get bus to another city in order to work behind a counter selling icecreams to the rich at play in a large mall complex. She left that "job" for which she recieved her state welfare and worked another job for a pittance so low as to leave her still able to qualify for statehelp. By the time she returned home atthe end of the day her son was long since in bed. Even with the job and the wlefare programme she was still unable to meet her rent and was evicted. She and her son went to stay at her brother's house where her son found a gun wrapped in cloth under her brothers bed. ( it was a rough neighbourhood,) Perhaps had she been able to stay and raise her 6 year old son herself he might not have been unattended during his morning pre school routine and wouldnt have been able to take the gun to his school and shoot a fellow pupil. Alas she was probably still travelling when he got to school having left before it was light.
A graphic example sure, and not the inevitable consequence of poverty or work for welfare. It raises an interesting political issue though. Why are corporations allowed to use slave labour? If the choice is starve on the streets or accept whatever conditions your employer deems suitable up to and including a life of work for foodstamps .....that surely is a brand of subtle slavery.
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