Welfare in the US By: Scott Heward

Overview Welfare has been a very dividing subject among political parties and individuals for many years. It consists of government money used to secure the economic well- being of its people. In the United States welfare mainly refers to programs such as: Social Security Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (aka food stamps or WIC) Unemployment Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)

Biases Historically support for welfare comes from democratic or liberal-leaning persons Opposition usually comes from conservative or republican parties

The Heritage Foundation Article on Poverty in the US The article was written in 2007 Bias The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think thank centered in Washington D.C. The article uses several fallacies in order to persuade the reader that the definition of poverty in the US isn’t really that bad Argues against attacks that welfare isn’t doing enough The tone of the article is meant to convey a factual approach and cites many statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, perhaps in an attempt to appeal to authority.

Heritage Article Fallacies Oversimplification The article compares square footage of the home of the average family classified as poor in the U.S. to those of the average population in Europe and other developed countries. The poor in the U.S. have a larger home than the average person in these countries. The problem with these comparisons is in many of these countries every extra square foot may incur exorbitant costs. The study includes countries like Japan where even the wealthy may only be able to afford a small square footage area. Many of America’s poor live in rural areas where there is usually very little extra cost associated with extra square footage. Also compares conditions with those of families 30 years ago. Oversimplifying that our standard of living has and should continue to rise.

Fallacies Continued Rationalization Post hoc, ergo propter hoc The articles seeks to rationalize welfare reform based on statistics of ownership of material goods Post hoc, ergo propter hoc The article suggests that these people’s obesity is caused by welfare

Telegraph Article This news article is written about how California residents spent the welfare money they received from Oct 2009 to May of 2010. The Telegraph is a newspaper based in the United Kingdom Bias: The Telegraph is known as a conservative leaning newspaper It shows readers how welfare funds were used inappropriately

Fallacies While it’s clear that the Telegraph intends to show welfare in a negative light the article is brief and very factual. Because of the brevity of the article there are no true fallacies but only an appeal to prejudice; that people on welfare use their money unfairly.

USA Today Article This article is specifically written to examine how welfare reform in the late 90’s has affected America It cites several facts about decreasing poverty among single mothers List things that experts say welfare could do better Follows a couple of single mothers stories through the reform USA Today is regarded as a neutral news source UCLA study found: “Of the print media, USA Today was the most centrist”1 http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-07-17-welfare-reform-cover_x.htm

Fallacies The USA Today article in general avoids any serious bias and cites stories of success on welfare as well as those that are struggling on welfare Emotional appeal is used through the personal stories

Welfare Cartoon

Welfare Cartoon The purpose of this cartoon is to humorize healthcare reform The artist is depicting someone in need of healthcare aid In the first panel of the cartoon they are receiving the aid In the second they are receiving aid in the form of teaching them to swim The artist is depicting the different approach that healthcare reform is trying Rather than simply give someone aid the idea is to teach them to help themselves The artist is attempting to convey that while the second may be the long-term fix it is not what the person really need (a way to stay afloat now)

Sources Articles Cartoon http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2007/08/how-poor-are-americas-poor-examining-the-plague-of-poverty-in-america http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8044976/California-welfare-money-spent-in-Vegas.html http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-07-17-welfare-reform-cover_x.htm Cartoon http://www.claybennett.com/pages/welffare_reform.html