Conservatives (GOP) are the group most likely to oppose welfare programs in America.  Their primary argument is that recipients rely on the benefits to the extent that they are not motivated to obtain employment.  After all why work when you can receive housing, food stamps, and money to pay for everything else.

The question is: If welfare aid was reduced would those relying on that money starve or go elsewhere in search of work?

 Of course the question is too simplistic. 

• If a single mother has no one to care for her children where will the money come from for the day care?
• Can the people receiving welfare perform a job?
• Do any of these unemployed people have physical or mental handicaps?

This calls for discussion and compromise between the political parties.  It appears that agreements are an unlikely event.  Rigid positions taken by both Democrats and Republicans have brought congress to a near stand still.  When it ends, the 112th Congress will have passed about 220 public laws — by far the least of any Congress on record. This according to the Washington Post.

Unless the president finds a way to reach a compromise, the country will most likely be managed by continuing resolutions.  In other words, whatever we have been doing we will continue.  Current welfare recipients need not fear for the next three years.

We need new leadership in both houses and in the administration.  I look forward to 2016.