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Ambassador
Col/e~
Plroto
ELFARE
A Social Disaster
?
Plans are now being considered which may make the United
States the world's foremost welfare state . Yet, the welfare
problem won't be so/ved. Just what is the best way to help
the poor?
by
Ronold A. Kelly ond Gory Alexonder
N
ATIONS
have always had their
poor - the eldedy, the sick,
the unemployed, the incapaci–
tated, the uneducated, the indolent.
Government leaders, economists, social
scientists today are faced with the
same problem: "How can we
PROVJDE
for the poor ?" "How can we be sure
everyone will
fare tueJJ
in our Jand
?"
Sorne nations have disregarded their
poor. In others, only the fit survived.
One ancient nation had a speciaJ sys–
tem - long since neglected - which
provided for those who were in real
need. Widows, orphans, crippled and
poor were cared for in a unique manner
that did not encourage indolence.
The Welfare States
Most
modero nations
of
the Western
World have chosen to assume the role
of the welfare state. The road has been
a rocky one - leading to spiraling
taxes, inequities, Ioss of self-respect,
aod increased indolence.
The present U. S. welfare system has
been called a "scandal." But, though
criticized, it is still not as "complete"
oc
"classic" as those of three other nations
- Sweden, Great Britain and Uruguay.
In order to support a birth-to-burial
welfare program, Sweden has instituted
the world's
highest taxation rafe.
Approximately 41 percent of all wages
are taken in taxes to support the most
advanccd cradle- (free prenatal care and
chi ld delivery) to-the-grave (generous
oJd-age pensions and funeral support)
care.
Swedeo's womb-to-tomb welfare pro-