I'm still not out of wind yet. Sorry.
Regarding welfare: I don't know too much about welfare because I've never been on it (at least not the government-supported kind). But, from what I've heard, it sounds like some forms of it in some countries tend to discourage people from working, because if you work and are pushed above a certain income level, your welfare benefits are taken away. So, if your job doesn't provide you enough money to live on, then it's more logical not to work.
That's one reason why, instead of welfare, I prefer Richard C. Cook's idea of (if I recall/understand it correctly) an unconditional cash stipend for every citizen. Here are a couple of his incredibly interesting articles on monetary reform, debt, poverty, usury, etc.:
An Emergency Program of Reform for the United States Monetary Reform and How a National Monetary System Should Work
I originally mentioned those articles in a thread I posted a while ago which I unfortunately began to neglect, maybe because I'm a lazy poor person.
Just thought I'd point that thread out in case it's of interest to anyone:
An Emergency Program of Monetary Reform for the United States Quote:
Originally Posted by fountainAtlas  Further, my jaded view is probably the result of me not receiving charity, when I felt I should have. |
That's awful. Sorry to hear that. I'm glad you were able to get by without it and hope things are much better now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lauxa Has anyone looked into LETS (Local Exchange Transaction System)? It markets itself as a self-regulating usury-free "currency". |
Not yet, but, it sounds interesting.
Best wishes,
Apollia