--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The old welfare system was hurting people…" description: "\"The old welfare system was hurting people by discouraging work and marriage. Welfare reform, and now this legislation, will build on the understanding ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea2/jim-talent-22881_discouraging_the-old-welfare-system-was-hurting-peopl_3128593.jpg" --- # The old welfare system was hurting people by discouraging… ![“The old welfare system was hurting people by discouraging work and marriage. Welfare reform, and now this legislation, will build on the understanding that work and strong families are the foundation upon which we build our future.” quote by Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea2/jim-talent-22881_discouraging_the-old-welfare-system-was-hurting-peopl_3128593.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea2/jim-talent-22881_discouraging_the-old-welfare-system-was-hurting-peopl_3128593.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea2/jim-talent-22881_discouraging_the-old-welfare-system-was-hurting-peopl_3128593.jpg) > “The old welfare system was hurting people by discouraging work and marriage. Welfare reform, and now this legislation, will build on the understanding that work and strong families are the foundation upon which we build our future.” [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The welfare system discourages work and marriage, so reforms aim to strengthen families and promote employment as societal foundations. **In simple terms:** Welfare can demotivate work; reforms try to fix that. Key Takeaway Support policies that link aid to work and family stability. Themes welfare family work policy economics Mood critical hopeful Type political policy When to use this quote - government legislation - social services - community programs - employment initiatives Key Concepts social safety net incentive structures family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can reforms balance assistance with empowerment? - What safeguards protect vulnerable families? A Different Perspective Reforms may overlook structural poverty causes and individual hardships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hurting people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurting-people/) [Legislation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislation/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Our future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-future/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Strong family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-family/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Welfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare/) [Welfare reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare-reform/) ## Related quotes > [“At the old welfare program’s height in 1994, it served more than 14.2 million people—4.6 million adults and 9.6 million children. In 2012, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-edin/at-the-old-welfare-program-s-height-in-1994-it-served-more-than-14-2/) [Kathryn Edin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-edin/) > [Came out my mama's pussy, I'm on welfare. Twenty-six years old, still on welfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-dirty-bastard/came-out-my-mama-s-pussy-i-m-on-welfare-twenty-six-years-old-still-on/) [Ol' Dirty Bastard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-dirty-bastard/) > [ “What the \[Clinton/Lewinsky scandal\] showed was that a matter of personal behavior could crowd out of the public's attention far more serious matters, indeed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/what-the-clinton-lewinsky-scandal-showed-was-that-a-matter-of/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The issue I highlight in the book is welfare reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/the-issue-i-highlight-in-the-book-is-welfare-reform/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [We need welfare reform to get people back to work and provide proper support for those that can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-kendall/we-need-welfare-reform-to-get-people-back-to-work-and-provide-proper/) [Liz Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-kendall/) > [There's no doubt that when the Republican Party took over in 1994, the 'Contract with America' was an opportunity to implement some things -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/there-s-no-doubt-that-when-the-republican-party-took-over-in-1994-the/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I stated that I'm a libertarian Republican, which means I believe in a series of issues, such as smaller government, constraint on budget deficits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/i-stated-that-i-m-a-libertarian-republican-which-means-i-believe-in-a/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [And some of what we're doing in Government even now, some of the welfare reform programs that are helping lone mothers come into work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-hewitt/and-some-of-what-we-re-doing-in-government-even-now-some-of-the/) [Patricia Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-hewitt/) > [The 'Welfare Reform and Work' Bill does nothing to address low wages, or underemployment, and I haven't even got started on how it undermines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-welfare-reform-and-work-bill-does-nothing-to-address-low-wages-or/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [Conservatives were sure that if you eliminated welfare for single moms, it would eliminate - or at lease greatly reduce - single motherhood. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/conservatives-were-sure-that-if-you-eliminated-welfare-for-single/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [Welfare reform happened with reconciliation; half the Democrats voted for it. The Bush tax cuts happened with reconciliation; twelve Democratic Senators voted for it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/welfare-reform-happened-with-reconciliation-half-the-democrats-voted/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [Not only are the philosophies of animal rights and animal welfare separated by irreconcilable differences... the enactment of animal welfare measures actually impedes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/not-only-are-the-philosophies-of-animal-rights-and-animal-welfare/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [“Although white women as a group lost the most in welfare reform, they got the one bone that's always been thrown to white working-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-briggs/although-white-women-as-a-group-lost-the-most-in-welfare-reform-they/) [Laura Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-briggs/) > [Weirdly enough, the best thing that ever happened to black people in the last twenty or thirty years was the O.J. Simpson verdict because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/weirdly-enough-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-black-people-in/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [When Hillary Clinton was in the Clinton White House as first lady, the left - the right accused her of being wide eyed radical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-corn/when-hillary-clinton-was-in-the-clinton-white-house-as-first-lady-the/) [David Corn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-corn/) ## More by Jim Talent > [Gov. Romney is a proven and effective leader with vast experience in the business world, in the non-profit world and in government. And in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/gov-romney-is-a-proven-and-effective-leader-with-vast-experience-in/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [Given Mr. Obama's lack of experience as an executive, and his past performance in crises such as the oil spill, it is reasonable for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/given-mr-obama-s-lack-of-experience-as-an-executive-and-his-past/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [People are working harder and harder than ever before and barely staying in place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/people-are-working-harder-and-harder-than-ever-before-and-barely/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [I just think that the independent voters are going to take their time and look at both candidates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/i-just-think-that-the-independent-voters-are-going-to-take-their-time/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [The elections in Iraq are a victory for freedom and the Iraqi people, and a blow to the transnational network of terrorists who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/the-elections-in-iraq-are-a-victory-for-freedom-and-the-iraqi-people/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [I would love to be able to serve in office in some capacity with Romney as president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/i-would-love-to-be-able-to-serve-in-office-in-some-capacity-with/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [Governor Romney is a good debater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/governor-romney-is-a-good-debater/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [I've been very active in Missouri.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/i-ve-been-very-active-in-missouri/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [We should not allow wealthy people, including corporate criminals, to hide their assets and avoid paying their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/we-should-not-allow-wealthy-people-including-corporate-criminals-to/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [General McChrystal had to go. Whatever his virtues as a strategist and commander, the 'Rolling Stone' interview fatally compromised his ability to represent the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/general-mcchrystal-had-to-go-whatever-his-virtues-as-a-strategist-and/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [If we hold true to our ideals and our commitment to freedom, this generation of servicemen and women will have extended liberty to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/if-we-hold-true-to-our-ideals-and-our-commitment-to-freedom-this/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [When the private does well, there's revenue for the public sector.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/when-the-private-does-well-there-s-revenue-for-the-public-sector/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [It's like doctors can't save all their patients, but, on balance, Bain under Gov. Romney created well over 100,000 jobs, which is certainly more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/it-s-like-doctors-can-t-save-all-their-patients-but-on-balance-bain/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [It's traditionally not federal policy to fund state and local salaries. It's done sometimes on a temporary basis or a grant basis. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/it-s-traditionally-not-federal-policy-to-fund-state-and-local/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) > [When we get the private sector going through job creation and growth, then the governments at all level have revenues to do the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-talent/when-we-get-the-private-sector-going-through-job-creation-and-growth/) [Jim Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) [Explore all 26 Jim Talent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-talent/) ## More Discouraging quotes > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [I wasn't good enough. I had a little talent but not enough. There is nothing more discouraging than having just a little talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamunde-pilcher/i-wasn-t-good-enough-i-had-a-little-talent-but-not-enough-there-is/) [Rosamunde Pilcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamunde-pilcher/) > [The full implications of feminism will evolve over time, as we organize, experiment, think, analyze, and revise our ideas and strategies in light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bunch/the-full-implications-of-feminism-will-evolve-over-time-as-we/) [Charlotte Bunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bunch/) > [When champions fail, they get back up and try again. They don't let failure discourage them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ellen-clark/when-champions-fail-they-get-back-up-and-try-again-they-don-t-let/) Mary Ellen Clark > [I just have a more holistic sense of what it means to be for life, knowing that life does not just begin at conception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/i-just-have-a-more-holistic-sense-of-what-it-means-to-be-for-life/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [A good man likes a hard boss. I don't mean a nagging boss or a grouchy boss. I mean a boss who insists on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/a-good-man-likes-a-hard-boss-i-don-t-mean-a-nagging-boss-or-a-grouchy/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [It is discouraging how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/it-is-discouraging-how-many-people-are-shocked-by-honesty-and-how-few/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [“Discouraging words should not weigh you down instead they should challenge you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/discouraging-words-should-not-weigh-you-down-instead-they-should/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Literary theory has become a parody of science, generating its own arcane jargon. In the process, tragically, it discourages love of literature for its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/literary-theory-has-become-a-parody-of-science-generating-its-own/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [As a peacemaker the lawyer has superior opportunity of being a good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-a-peacemaker-the-lawyer-has-superior-opportunity-of-being-a-good/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Nothing is so discouraging to an actor than to have to work for long hours upon hours in brightly lighted interior sets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/nothing-is-so-discouraging-to-an-actor-than-to-have-to-work-for-long/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) > [“It might look discouraging , but at every relapse, you learn something new.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-hari/it-might-look-discouraging-but-at-every-relapse-you-learn-something/) [Johann Hari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-hari/) > [Because of my compact and muscular body composition, my short hair, and my "Johawk," I have been mistaken for a boy on many occasions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-lohman/because-of-my-compact-and-muscular-body-composition-my-short-hair-and/) [Joanna Lohman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-lohman/) Browse all 379 Discouraging quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The old welfare system was hurting people by discouraging work and marriage. 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