why isnt welfare treated like a federal loan and paid back over time with interest?

Because most welfare recipients have no intention of ever getting off the public dole or getting a job. The democrats won't make them, either.

Welfare should be treated like student loans. The money is there but it isn't a freebie! At least the American People get something in return for guaranteeing student loans; higher-wage earning taxpayers. Most on welfare will continue being losers forever.

I've been studying welfare for awhile now. It is different in different states, but here, in order to receive a check, a person has to be working 40 hours a week (for no pay at places like Goodwill, etc.) and there is a time limit on how long a person can receive it. Food stamps don't have the requirement or the limits, and I don't think Medicaid does, either.

In 1997, the federal government sent welfare back to the states. I think most states have been actively working on the problem, personally. But it still comes down to deadbeat dads, in most cases. Women don't have babies by themselves. So, all of our society is picking up the slack for the deadbeat dads. Let's pick on them sometimes.

That's an interesting and original idea. That could actually work. It would provide the safety net welfare is ostensibly supposed to provide, yet it would cost far less (could actually make money) and would have inherent motivation to get off welfare.

Obviously, collecting from some people would be difficult, but a certain amount probably would pay the loans back, which would at least make it somewhat less costly than the current system.

Because you can't get blood from a turnip.

Suppose a person is on welfare and receives $20,000 over a 1 year period. Then that person gets a job paying $35,000/year (a pretty high wage for someone coming off welfare). A portion of that wage income would need to be repaid to cover the welfare expenses.

All it would do is create FURTHER incentive for people to STAY on welfare. Why go back to work, if it means that each dollar you earn is going to be worth even less, because a portion of it goes to repay your loan?

That amounts to responsibility/accountability. You can't keep your zombies placated if you go a shakin' up their world. I mean, when you (i.e., the govt.) are doling out other folks' (i.e., taxpayers) money, what do you care? Welfare is a form of slavery. Many a govt. bureaucrat depends upon a large, dependent population. This is what is known as job security.

Now would you really expect a leach to pay you back? And this is addressed for those that has made a career off the system, or kicks out kids just for the money.

Trying to repay it would keep a person in a perpetual state of poverty. It would amount to taking out a loan to pay off a loan.

It would also create yet another layer of government which the taxpayers would have to pay for.

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Probably because it would never get paid back.

The majority of people living below the poverty line will never elevate themselves above it, even if they get a job and stop collecting welfare.

If you're poorly educated and have no connections or support it's very very difficult to rise above adversity and poverty.

Although America offers that "equal" opportunity, you won't likely succeed if you have average or lower intelligence, no skills and no talents.

Blood from a turnip.

However, public health insurance could operate this way, and folks either have family members bear medical costs or it is collected from estates

Welfare is a way of life in America. The money would never be repaid.