A Call to Reform the Entitlement System

I believe that America’s economic, social and political problems cannot be solved until after we address and reform our dysfunctional entitlement system (food stamps, welfare, unemployment, etc.).

The current system causes more harm than good. It burdens our economy with high taxes by paying individuals not to work. It is changing our system of limited government into a centralized bureaucratic state. And, it is destroying the traditional two-parent family.

The federal government was never meant to take care of individuals within the individual states. This is a state responsibility. The way to reform entitlements requires a two pronged attack.
1. Transfer responsibility for these programs back to the states without federal regulations. This simple act would reduce overhead costs by 30 percent and go a long way to reducing our federal deficit. (63 percent of the federal budget is consumed by entitlements)
2. Change the nature of most entitlement programs from a dependency, handout system to a system that gives people skills and opportunities to take care of themselves.

To begin this process, I am going to suggest Idaho create a pilot program that uses correct principles of charity with the end in sight of reforming all social programs over the next 10 years. A pilot program is needed to compare and contrast the two approaches to helping the needy. Once the Idaho program is implemented and functioning, it will be easy to compare and contrast the two approaches demonstrating the need to phase out our current dysfunctional system of entitlements.

I am interested in what you think. Is it time to reform entitlements?