Michael B. Katz's The Price of Citizenship and the State of American Welfare

Michael B. Katz's The Price of Citizenship analyzes the collective developments of the American welfare state for citizens living in disadvantaged and impoverished circumstances. Through a multitude of historical events during and following World War I, Katz explains that the American welfare state has dramatically transformed from its beginnings with the colonial relief programs to the recent Republican plan for compassionate conservatism.

Due to this change in the United States' economic and social structure, he conveys an opposing view to the current social welfare policy because it does not provide all individuals with the social rights and equal opportunities to maintain a financially stable and secure life.

However, while Katz's appeal for social justice is reasonable, this passive solution does not compel individuals to climb the ladder of success and achieve the infamous "American Dream." Katz subtly incorporates his central message of social justice and equality with a plethora of factual information in his opening discussion of the invention and history of welfare.

During its beginnings of the 1920s, the United States' welfare program signified an anticipation to reach economic stability and protection from ominous, unpredictable risks.

Katz simply states that the basic definition of the American welfare state is a "collection of programs designed to assure economic security to all citizens by guaranteeing the fundamental necessities of life: food, shelter, medical care, protection in childhood, and support in old age" (9).

Thus, in these early years, the welfare state granted economic security and dependence for American citizens.

However, the welfare state rapidly changed during Truman's presidency and the 1950s, strictly focusing its services on single mothers or African-American and Hispanic women unable to support their children. As this split between public assistance and social insurance unfolded, welfare had become strictly for the "undeserving poor" while social insurance, such as Social Security, represented those of the "deserving poor."