Independence Party of New York
Platform - Welfare

Strengthen the Family Structure: Welfare
The Current Condition:
The Solutions of the Independence Party:

Strengthen the Family Structure: Welfare

The Current Condition:

 The deterioration of the family in American life is the product of many forces, some of which are outside of the ability of the government to control. However, government policy, itself, should not be one of the primary forces that undermines the preservation and maintenance of healthy families. The problem, of course, is that government policy, especially the welfare system in all of its dimensions, is one of the primary agents behind the deterioration of families in the inner cities across the United States.

The current welfare system is the creation of both the Republican and Democratic parties, and both parties have been loath to reform this area of policy, despite the near uniform agreement that the welfare system, as designed: (1) encourages the creation of a dependent class of citizens, wards of the state for multiple generations, (2) encourages fathers to leave their families because it is more economically profitable for the family if they do, (3) encourages teenagers to have children out of wedlock because the state enables these children to leave home when the baby is born, and (4) fosters the growth of values formed by peer groups rather than parents, fostering violence, disruption, and mayhem destroying the security and safety of family members and neighbors.

Moreover, the current welfare system has produced a huge bureaucracy that absorbs a disproportionate share of financial resources, estimated at 68 cents out of the dollar. The amount of money currently spent on the various welfare programs would completely eliminate poverty if the money was simply given to the poor.

The Independence Party has no ability at this time to rewrite all of the very specific provisions of the laws that govern the welfare system broadly defined. At the same time, we believe that voters have a right to understand the principles that would guide such an overhaul of the welfare system, if the Independence Party were responible for the system.

Further, we believe that the educational system is the greatest agency for creating equality of opportunity in the United States, and the enhancement of the educational system in that role is a key factor in strengthening the prosperity and future for our children.

The Solutions of the Independence Party:

Completely Overhaul the Welfare System:

 The values promoted by the current welfare system are incompatible with the larger goal of strengthening the family. We believe that the welfare system must be completely overhauled to promote the following values:

  1. Work and Not Dependency: To require and encourage "work" and not "inactivity" on the part of income recipients, ending permanent "welfare dependency" except for the seriously impaired and disabled.
  2. Keeping Families Together: To encourage, rather than discourage, fathers to stay with their families, assuming in the process financial responsibility for their children.
  3. End Teenage Pregancy: To discourage teenage pregnancy, and to discourage the current practice of children trying to raise children of their own.
  4. Tame the Welfare Bureaucracy: To reduce the size, scope, and power of the welfare bureaucracy, providing the money for reform out of the exorbitant overhead costs of the current welfare system.
  5. Parental Support: Take steps to insure that both biological parents contribute to the support of children by strengthening the state and federal government's abi1ity to assist in enforcing children support orders and child support agreed upon by the parents.
  6. IRS Cooperation: Remove barriers to permitting the IRS to divulge the whereabouts of non-paying parents to appropriate state and federal agencies.
  7. Residency Requirement: One year residency requirement in New York State before one can receive welfare assistance.
  8. lllegal Aliens: No welfare assistance to people who are illegal aliens.
  9. Federal Waivers: Request federal legislative waivers so that New York can change its welfare system without explicit federal approval.
The Independence Party clearly rejects the approaches of both the Democratic and the Republican Parties on the issue of welfare. The Democrats insist on reforms that leave the entire welfare bureaucracy intact, perpetuating the agency most responsible for resisting changes that would reduce its power. The Republicans, by contrast, promote solutions that are largely propaganda, knowing full well that they will never be responsible for implementing their positions in most areas of the country. The Independence Party acknowledges the continuing need for a safety net to protect citzens, but we believe that the system needs a complete overhaul.
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