Welfare Analysis
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Eastern Gateway Community College *
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202_ 500
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Philosophy
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by skyysays
Welfare Case Analysis
Skylund Higgins
PHI202
2-4-24
Case summary
In this case Rebecca and Jimmy are in need of help from welfare services. Rebecca has a drug addiction and uses extra money to support her habit. Jimmy is a veteran that suffers from mental and physical disabilities he obtained from his time in the military. He is unable to work because of these disabilities and would rely on the money from welfare.
Philosopher’s theories
Murray's philosophy of welfare points out that while the current welfare system is designed to provide support to those in need, it falls short in many ways. One major issue is that it may exclude individuals who are in dire need of assistance due to the stringent eligibility criteria or lack of resources. As a result, these individuals may be left to fend for themselves, with no safety
net to rely on. According to Walzer's philosophy of welfare, society has a responsibility to provide welfare to those who are most in need. He believes that resources should be distributed equally throughout society, and that the Western world lags behind other countries in terms of social equity and welfare provisions.
Which person would the philosophers choose?
In this scenario, Murray has to choose between two individuals, Jimmy, and Rebecca, for welfare
support. Murray's decision is based on Rebecca's habits, which he considers to be undesirable. As a result of his automated system, he sees her as undeserving of welfare support. However, if Rebecca were to give up her habits, Murray's automated system would see her as eligible to receive welfare support.
It's important to note that if Rebecca were to succeed in giving up her habits, she might no longer
need the help of welfare to support herself and her family. This is a crucial aspect to consider when evaluating the effectiveness of welfare programs. In summary, Murray's decision-making process is heavily dependent on his automated system, which evaluates the eligibility of welfare recipients based on their habits. The system is designed
to be fair and impartial, but it may not always take into account the unique circumstances of each
individual.
In Walzer's view, Jimmy deserves to receive welfare assistance as he is going through a very difficult time in his life and is in dire need of financial support. Jimmy is facing physical and mental challenges as a result of his past military service, which makes it impossible for him to earn a living and support himself. Therefore, according to Walzer, Jimmy should be given priority over others when it comes to receiving welfare support.
On the other hand, Walzer is strongly against providing long-term welfare support to Rebecca. Although she is also receiving welfare assistance, Walzer believes that she is not using the money for the intended purpose. Instead of using the additional funds to support her family, she is using them to fuel her addiction. Therefore, Walzer does not think that Rebecca should be given long-term welfare support.
Which is the best solution?
Murray's solution for determining who should receive welfare is quite intriguing. His approach entails helping both Rebecca and Jimmy, but in different ways. He believes that Rebecca's first step towards becoming self-sufficient is to get sober, in order to become a functioning member of society. Jimmy, on the other hand, has no other option but to receive welfare due to his
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conditions. Murray's approach is to provide both individuals with the necessary assistance to improve their lives, but with a tailored solution that's unique to their circumstances.
Who would I select?
This particular case poses a considerable challenge, and after much consideration, it is my opinion that Jimmy should receive the welfare support. The reason being, Jimmy is in more dire need of support than Rebecca. While Rebecca may have the financial means to sustain her addiction, she should also have the means to provide for her family. On the other hand, Jimmy would rely solely on welfare support to purchase food and other basic necessities. It would be unjust to prioritize Rebecca's needs over Jimmy's. In light of this, I would recommend that Rebecca seek help to overcome her addiction so that she can redirect the money ordinarily used to fuel her addiction towards taking care of her family's needs.