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Welfare Reform
"I’m tired of hearing candidates criticize the poor, saying that we don’t want to rise above circumstance. Because if there’s one thing I learned from being on welfare, it’s the drive to rise above it. "
By Jennifer Marshall
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Youth Radio’s Jennifer Marshall strongly believes critics of today are super quick to look past the distractions of those in poverty and profoundly judge poor people based on the circumstances in which they live. In the 2008 election, she hopes to see a genuine plan to reform those on welfare.
The Iraq war is the big issue in the 2008 election. But I’d like to see more focus on welfare reform.
I remember being nine-years-old and waiting hours in line at the Salvation Army, hoping to get meals to last us until the first of the month. I remember the relief we felt when we would get our 1,000 dollars from the government to support our family of four. And I remember long waits at county hospitals, sitting next to kids with runny noses and head lice to see over-worked doctors who didn’t have the time to give us the care we needed.
So while I’m sitting at home watching the 2008 presidential candidates preach what seem like empty promises, I hope that someone will talk about ways to help children and teens get off of government assistance. I’m tired of hearing candidates criticize the poor, saying that we don’t want to rise above circumstance. Because if there’s one thing I learned from being on welfare, it’s the drive to rise above it. And if a candidate spends more time criticizing those who are less fortunate than helping them, they’re not worth my vote.
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