After reading your commentary on the welfare reform, I would like to add a few comments from a slightly different point of view.(posted 8756 days ago)First and foremost, I live in Newfoundland, Canada. We have at times had in the range of 25%+ unemployment, the highest in the country. With this we also have a fairly significant income and sales tax level (in most cases property tax is low or non-existent), but all in all taxes are relatively high for the individual (and family) compared to other provinces.
Secondly, I have seen the effects of "make work" projects on the population. The temporary influx of moneys is just that, temporary! Sure, I agree with government expenditure, that is if it is a well planned out investment in the community (Hoover Dam and Hibernia Oil Project) and not moving rock from point A to Point B.
Third, to reiterate what I have just said, well planned! Basically, there has been too many projects that have had great potential, but not planned out in a workable fashion. That is also in regards to the bureaucratic structure of the public (governmental) bodies. I have seen $26 million pumped into a greenhouse that supplied tomatoes and cucumbers to a market that didn't consume these, just to scratch the surface.
Also, on the topic of welfare reform, would it not be best to find out the root cause of the problem and not not the outcomes? To say, educate the people as they have done in Ireland for a low cost (or free)? To have the necessary infrastructure to have adequate health care as we do in Canada? Or to have family planning? These seem to be an expensive investment at first glance, but rather are quite cheap when you look at the net present value of the outcomes.
These are just some thoughts on the subject that you may wish to ponder. I would be only to glad to elaborate on anything here. I also have a friend, Kathy Bayliss, who is enrolled in the Phd. Economics program at Berkeley who would also be able to comment on much of the above.