""Long term assistance ONLY for disabled and elderly."
I even disagree with that. That is what the church is for. People will only rise to the level you expect them to rise."
Sometimes life intervenes. I have worked with the severely disabled and elderly, as well as the so-called 'dis-advantaged'. One size does not fit all.
While faith-based programs have a greater success rate than the govt. run, I have not seen 'the church' step in very much.
I think that's part of the problem. If 'the church' were doing its job, there would be much less need for the welfare types of government program.
Conversly, why would a government program be created in the first place if not to fill a need that the private sector is not doing a good job with?
Seems to me that some of us don't want our tax dollars being spent to help the less fortunate, but we're not very generous with our time or charity dollars either (and I do feel that these welfare programs are evil in so much as they give people a justification to be less generous with their time and charity....)