Imagine There’s No Welfare

It’s all but certain now. The nation’s welfare structure is about to be curtailed.

All that’s really at stake in the current partisan squabble is who will get the credit. President Clinton says he’s ready to implement a welfare-reform plan by executive order if Congress doesn’t pass a bill pretty soon. Republican leaders in Congress say he simply should have signed the measure they sent him but which he vetoed.

You don’t have to overwork your brain to realize that if all the politicians are maneuvering to identify themselves with welfare reform - and no effective voice is arguing energetically against the concept - it’s because the public is for it.

Indeed, who disagrees with the notion that all Americans should be encouraged to take responsibility for themselves, that public assistance should be reserved for those in genuine need and only until they can get on their own feet?

So, “Bagpipes” would like to hear what you think the ideal welfare system would look like. What kind of structure would be fair, humane and reasonable while upholding the spirit of self-reliance and personal accountability, not to mention public affordability?

Benefits for substance abusers?

On a similar theme, Social Security disability benefits are about to be cut off for people who qualify only because they are addicted to alcohol or other drugs.

Some of them are angry. So are their advocates.

Let’s say the situation were reversed: no such benefits were in place now but lawmakers were talking about creating them.

What would the public debate sound like then?

Marking Butch’s territory A Washington State University alumna, who is a lesbian, asked for and was loaned a Butch the Cougar costume to wear in a Gay Pride Parade last month in Seattle.

On Tuesday, the WSU student newspaper editorially criticized the decision to allow the costume’s use for that purpose. But WSU’s athletic department stood its ground, saying the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Allies Program is an official university program entitled to the same treatment any other campus group would receive.

The editorial writer argued Butch should be authorized to participate only in universitywide events that are “universally supported.” But that restriction probably would exclude football games, among other things.

What restrictions would readers favor for Butch’s appearances?

, DataTimes MEMO: “Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.