What's wrong with "Welfare"?
Because W*lf*re suggests charity. It demeans unemployed recipients as "poor unfortunate souls" or losers at best, and scroungers and bludgers verging on criminality at worst.
Without beating the social constructionist drum too much, "Welfare" locates unemployment in the failure of the individual rather than in system failure. In fact, did you know that the western economic system*, requires at least 5% unemployment as fodder against inflation, and as a frightener to keep the great unwashed ready to accept poor terms and conditions.
Why is "Social Security" a better term?
- is another term for insurance that is owned by taxpayers, not corporations.
- treats us as responsible adults who take out insurance against unemployment via our taxes. in case of disability or economic downturns.
* I didn't want to frighten anyone off with the correct economic
term for our system,( the dreaded C-word)