The Devil's Encyclopedia: W
The Welfare State
The welfare state is a term referring to a nation or other geographical area having a government that undertakes economic and similar social programs to attempt to improve the quality of life for its population. It is generally assumed when doing so that the affluent members of the population can tend to their own needs and need many fewer programs.
The American idea of the welfare state came into effect most strongly via the Democratic Party of the Cold War Era, with prototypes such as Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" programs. In American politics, it tends to mean a blend between the capitalist style of the mid 20th century C.E. and the European-style socialism of current times. The influence of the idea of the welfare state has been largely reduced due to realignments in the Democratic Party following the C.E. 1984 elections.
American welfare state programs often draw very negative responses from members of the Republican Party and to a lesser extent, the Libertarian Party. The welfare program itself is the usual target of the Republicans, and the specific program is sometimes synonymous with the welfare state in general in the minds of this voting bloc. However, the programs are by no means limited to the lower economic class, including pieces such as Medicare for the American population 65 and over, a section with high assets and low expenses. Bills and platforms involving the welfare state tend to be what members of the Republican Party decry as "going too far left." However, the phrase is often used in reference to ideas from various (and often contradictory) political philosophies so examining statements case by case is often necessary to see if the welfare state applies.