Do contemporary welfare policies reflect the realities of the economy and the needs of those in need of public assistance, or are they based on outdated and idealized notions of work and family life? Are we moving from a "war on poverty" to a "war against the poor"? In this critique of American social welfare policy, Sanford F. Schram explores the cultural anxieties over the putatively deteriorating "American work ethic" and the class, race, sexual and gender biases at the root of current policy and debates. Schram goes beyond analyzing the current state of affairs to offer a progressive alternative he calls "radical incrementalism", whereby activists would recreate a social safety net not tailored to the specific life circumstances of those in need. His provocative recommendations include "divorce insurance" for women whose economic fortunes decline after their marriages break up, and "pregnancy insurance" for pregnant women who have no means of economic support. By providing aid based on such criteria, Schram argues, activists could make great strides towards achieving social justice, even in today's reactionary climate.
