Welfare state

Every truly democratic government strives to design a policy of providing social and economic well-being to all its citizens. Apart from these mundane attributes, a state is said to be truly a welfare state when all its citizens live in peace and tranquillity with one another as well as with neighbouring states. A democratic state is where debates and discussions are held seeking agreement with the divine command 'love your neighbour as yourself'. Divine love is the raison d'être for the incarnation of Jesus.

There is no end to good deeds. In this country, which can truly be described as a welfare state, there is the Malta Community Chest Fund (MCCF). In a circular letter to benefactors, the President of Malta described MCCF as "being there in time of need". It is there when hope starts to fade, when life takes a turning for the worst. In this manner the MCCF represents in a most tangible manner our national disposition to care for our neighbours.

There can be no doubt that the Maltese are a charitable and generous people. Proof of this are the many millions donated to the missions spread all over the globe.

Even locally an individual or a family in dire circumstances approaches the parish priest who will immediately respond by appealing for help without mentioning the individual concerned, and this out of a sense of charity. Response there will always be, that is for sure.

When crisis is felt there can be no place for humility, one cannot be too proud not to recognise one's plight and make one seek help. There is always help for those whop ask and who deserve such help. "Knock and the door shall be opened", advised the Lord Jesus, Even when dark clouds obscure vision there is always the recognition of the silver lining in any cloud. That is a promise of better things to come. Nothing is impossible to achieve. While there is hope there is always life to be lived to the full. For hope springs and lives eternal in the human breast.

Welfare state denotes the acceptance by democratic government of the responsibility for the economic and social well-being of the community and of all citizens. The welfare state's programmes have been designed in the first instance to alleviate hardships caused by unemployment, disability and old age. The principal aim of the welfare state is the securing of all, irrespective of income, of adequate medical care and other essential services.

Social security is the collective title for welfare programmes. This has been accepted by all modern democratic states as essential. Industrial workers, as distinct from farming families, have become increasingly dependent on other sectors of the labour force for other needs of daily life.

It is strange but true - individuals, families and local communities are now less able to provide sufficiently for even their daily needs.

Governments have long attempted to change economic and social opportunities and promote justice, education and health for their citizens but progress has tended to be selective and therefore limited.

National insurance has been introduced to cover sickness and old age for wage earners. The UK National Insurance Act provided unemployment insurance, the US with the Social Security Act adopted a programme that subsidised pensions for the elderly, compensation for wage earners and pensions for the surviving spouses with dependent children. By the end of the 1930s Sweden had established health and unemployment insurance for wage earners, housing subsidies, old age pensions and paid vacation and a maternity leave plan.

Scandinavian countries dealt with unemployment by retraining, so that unemployment in that sense had been by and large limited.

The means test as an aid for subsidies had been considered demeaning. Hence the importance of retraining for an alternative job for the 'unemployed' worker.