President Reagan’s war against ‘welfare queen’ is unfounded

Editor,

In 1976, Ronald Reagan invoked the image of the mystical “welfare queen.”

The portrayal of this woman is typified as black, lazy, negligent and sitting in front of the television waiting to collect her 99th week of unemployment benefits.

Thank you, Mr. Reagan.
However, before dethroning our beloved “welfare queen” and snatching away her crown and glory (the check) we must evaluate the economic conditions affecting her employment status.

When given the opportunity, most people, even our beloved “welfare queen,” work. However, lack of opportunity keeps many involuntarily out of the labor force. Unemployment rates are high and unevenly distributed by race and ethnicity. Furthermore, labor markets reward human and cultural capital, which are also unevenly distributed.

In February, unemployment fell to 8.9 percent from 9 percent in January. A year ago, unemployment was at 9.7 percent. The improvement in the unemployment rate can be attributed to discouraged workers who cease seeking work because of low success expectations.

This trend causes the labor force to contract. A weakened labor force foretells a sluggish recovery. Job-growth data supports this somber account of economic calamity. In February, 192,000 jobs were added. However, economic expansion requires an average of 400,000 new jobs per month and 4.8 million a year.

The economy is recovering at a slow pace, and as usual, historically marginalized groups are affected disproportionately. In January, unemployment was 8 percent among whites, 11.9 percent among Hispanics and 15.7 percent among blacks.

For those who have been wandering in the jobless wilderness, that good ol’ Puritan work ethic won’t be enough to ensure deliverance into the Promised Land of employment. The average duration of unemployment is at a record high 37.1 weeks. This cannot be attributed solely to a lack of motivation or inspiration to find work.

Human capital is a major determinant of how quickly an individual can move from the unemployed to employed pool. Lacking education, training and experience reduce a person’s chances of finding employment. Lacking cultural capital also precludes groups from finding work in a “who you know” labor market.  Unemployed women typified as “welfare queens” and other marginalized groups often lack human and cultural capital that allow them to move into new jobs.

Politicians in Washington are frenzied with talk about the budget deficit.

However, the deficit is a severe long-term ailment, not a paper cut that can be remedied by slapping a Band-Aid on it. Until the economy bounces back, high unemployment rates and a stagnant job market will remain the crisis to be addressed.

Albeit the unemployment rate is a lagging indicator, the response to it will be a determining factor in the strength of the recovery. Before politicians write off our beloved “welfare queen,” they must bring the economy back to full employment. Job creation is a viable start.

Kay Simmons
UNM student