The Register’s Nov. 3 editorial, “Iowa should learn a lesson from Arkansas, reject Medicaid work requirements,” which denounced requiring able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work in return for receiving Medicaid, was misguided, short-sighted and disrespectful toward taxpayers.

This policy isn’t unfair to elderly or physically disabled recipients, and won’t require children to work in exchange for benefits. In most cases, it won’t impact recipients who already work full-time. Nonetheless, most Democrats in both houses of Iowa’s Legislature oppose this Trump administration-inspired proposal. 

Why do leftists ignore the reality that taxpayers have a right to set the conditions and terms for those who want such benefits? After all, those who pay the piper should get to call the tune. Many Iowa taxpayers are working 40+ hours each week; some actually work two jobs to make ends meet, save for retirement and educate their children. 

But I know some Medicaid recipients who don’t work, or desire to, despite being able-bodied and employable. While society must always provide for the truly needy, some beneficiaries of Medicaid and other welfare programs are lazy, irresponsible, entitled and ignorant.

I’ve seen Iowans purchase junk food with Food Stamps and SNAP coupons; I’ve also witnessed EBT and WIC recipients buy, with cash, beer and cigarettes. Some of these wards of the state were substantially overweight and others were drug addicts. Iowans have told me that as they purchased bread, beans and hamburger, some welfare recipients bought steaks. 

The US might be the only major industrialized nation in which the poorest 5% of its population is considerably fatter than the richest 5%. Work is GOOD for the soul, and these welfare recipients will be focused, busy and realize that nothing is free. The adage “Idle time leads to the devil’s work,” is often true, particularly in cases of welfare recipients, many of whom have been sapped of ambition by welfare. The “work-for-welfare” requirement could help to keep such people out of trouble.  

Other benefits would also accrue, for these recipients and for the taxpayers. Maybe, after a hard day’s work, they’ll be too tired to make babies they can’t afford and lack the ability to properly raise. There are third-generation welfare recipients in north Iowa, which is shameful. It’s probable that even more such folks reside in Black Hawk and Polk counties, and other more populous areas in the Hawkeye state.  

Under a well-managed work-for-welfare program, even low-skilled recipients can be productive and lead worthwhile, happier lives. They could wash vehicles driven by cops and other law enforcement officers, shine the shoes of police officers, assist school custodians and pick up trash along the roads, highways and in public parks. They can shovel snow, rake and bag leaves and assist maintenance employees in keeping their communities clean. The exercise will do them good, and they’d develop a positive mindset that could, eventually, lead to gainful employment.  

Electrical power like that created by wind turbines throughout Iowa can be produced, even by illiterate Medicaid recipients; they can jog or walk on treadmills, and/or pedal stationary bicycles, which are wired to internal micro-invertors. This will simultaneously improve their health, facilitate preventive care and generate electricity, which can be sent to the power grid.

“Work-Fare” can benefit Iowans from ALL walks of life. But the Democrats are nearly unanimous in opposing such reforms, just as they’re against random, mandatory drug-testing of recipients of Medicaid and other means-based social services. However, many Iowa workers, whose taxes fund such programs, are subjected to mandatory, random drug-testing. WHY exempt able-bodied welfare recipients from working, even part-time, for such benefits, and from being drug-tested?  

The Register’s anti-work-for-Medicaid stance is, in reality, anti-taxpayer.   

Todd Blodgett of Clear Lake served on the White House staff of President Ronald Reagan, and as an adviser to the 1988 presidential campaign of George H.W. Bush.  He also worked for the Republican National Committee and the FBI.

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