Social Welfare

   The Great Depression struck America nearly a century ago, putting millions of people out of work without the benefit of government-funded social assistance.
   Private organizations did what they could to help those in need after families were abandoned to the hazards of trying to survive without employment. But that was not enough.
   Moreover, the collapse of the economy struck worldwide, but since people in some other countries had even fewer opportunities for employment and survival, they moved to America and took whatever jobs might be available.
   Even so, that was before the stock market crash of 1929 and the greater collapse that followed in the early 1930s.
   As a result, the federal government set up agencies and programs to help workers and reduce the problems that caused economic downturns. For decades, those policies helped.
   Nevertheless, many business leaders and their political allies want to eliminate government intervention, citing the doctrine of "free enterprise," based on the argument that an economy can only be fully when there is no government intervention, including programs that help those in need of help at the expense of corporate profit.
   We now see efforts in Congress to reduce or eliminate government sponsored programs such as those that provide aid for those out of work, old age pensions and health benefits for the sick and those unable to work.
   All these on the premise that socialism is evil. But is social welfare evil? That is the question.
   Amid all this, health care has become an industry, with private companies minimizing hospital staff and reducing wage output as a way to increase profit.
   As a result of being overworked and underpaid, many nurses and other health care professionals leave.
   Among the corporate owners, profits are more important than health care.
   In short, private enterprise is important. Greed is not.