Welfare is much more than food stamps

Katrina Barnes
freshman, speech communications

Yes, that is right. I am not ashamed to admit that I am on welfare. Then again, so are the majority of the students on campus.

First, let me explain why I decided to write this article. I overheard a conversation between two employees at the bookstore, and it was the opinion of one of them that people should not receive food stamps.

If I am not mistaken, her job is a form of welfare. Work-study is a form of financial aid, and financial aid is welfare. When we hear the word welfare, we immediately think poor women and food stamps. What we don't think of welfare as is what most of us use to pay for our education. Those of you who think welfare is just for the poor are mistaken. You have fallen into society's misconception of welfare.

Obviously, welfare programs are food stamps and an allotted amount of money given by the state to people who fall under certain guidelines, but so is financial aid. State grants are given to people who fall under certain income, and even subsidized loans are offered under the same criteria. Both loans and grants are paid for by tax dollars. That makes public aid. As a matter fact, more government money is spent of student financial aid than is spent on welfare programs. Taking that fact even further, only one percent of government tax dollars are spent on welfare programs.

We are supposed to be in college to become educated and to have a broader perspective on life and society. This is the time when we can look at the world and study it for ourselves. Once we do that for ourselves, we will see things for what they really are. The world is a lot deeper and more complicated than it seems to be on the surface.

My advice to the young lady in the bookstore is if you haven't already, take a sociology class with Dr. Benford. He will give the true facts about the welfare system you think you knew. If you don't want to take the class, I challenge you to go beyond the requirements for your major. Take advantage of your privilege to receive a higher level of learning.

Katrina Barnes
freshman, speech communications

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