Reading

1. | GW. Read and discuss the following views, on both positive and negative sides of a welfare state.

■ Although many people support the idea of a welfare state, there are some people who speak for the necessity of its partial change and there are those who do not support the idea at all. In the welfare state, most benefits are available to everybody who is entitled to them and it’s very good. In the welfare state, nobody is allowed to live in poverty.

Everybody is to have proper health care and education regardless of their income. The welfare state helps the disabled, people who are unable to work to earn money on their own. The welfare state system provides the elderly with an income that allows them to live to some degree of dignity. I think with the help of welfare state system people will have been living a comfortable life for many years.

Mr Abbasov

■ In a welfare state you don’t have to be poor in order to receive your pension, dole money or your child’s benefit. Only those people who really need benefits should get them. There are some other problems.

Some people who are entitled to various benefits do not receive them, because they don’t understand the complicated system and they are not able to fill in all the forms. Some other people do not know what they are entitled to receive. The poor simply don’t know about their rights to receive particular benefits.

Others may be too proud to apply, so they refuse to accept help.

Mrs Hope

■ I think the welfare state is ineffective. First of all, it is a waste of money. Besides, it is not selective! What else? The provision of benefits weakens the family. In other words, if there were less provision by the state, families would have to cope and this would make them stronger. I know a family that has been living on the provision of the welfare state for a decade. No one in the family tried to find a job. As you see, the provision of benefits deprives individuals of their desire to look after themselves. There is no need to help the unemployed or homeless. People should be responsible for what they do and have. I personally believe that anyone who is willing to work can find a job. The welfare state should help only those who cannot help themselves.

Mr Green
2. PW. Read the text again and answer the question.