Would you advocate something similar to *FDRs **WPA and take nearly every person off welfare?

"Every person" meaning every able-bodied person. Put the lazy slobs to work, give job training to those who need it, and stop generational welfare families from continuing the cycle.
While at the same time, increasing the aid given the TRULY needy.
An incredibly large job which obviously couldn't be accomplished overnight, but over a reasonable length of time.

*Franklin D. Roosevelt, Democratic President 1933-1945
** Works Project Administration

TIMMY, but is IS the job of government to provide everyone with welfare??? Where is the middle road??

I'm not sure that fixing the welfare system is possible at this point. I agree that those who truly do need assistance, even for a short period of time should be allowed to get it, yet there are so many restrictions, and many get turned away.
I see allot of abuse in the system where my family lives, but I have no idea how the whole system can be fixed so such abuses don't take place.
There currently are 'back to work' training programs in place in all States, but then there are those that get Doctor's to write them off as disabled etc. Many people do participate in the programs offered, and do get back on their feet, others don't and keep finding a way around the system. How they can monitor or regulate that, is something I have no ideas on.

I do agree with you that there are many that do need help, and there will be many more if things continue as they are going, but are being turned away, and getting angry, resentful about the whole thing.

Even in the medical end of the system, those with medicaid get everything paid for, illegal immigrants get everything paid for. Everyone goes to the emergency rooms for treatment. Those without insurance who are neither immigrants, or medicaid recipients, go by the wayside, even if they try to go on a monthly payment plan at emergency rooms where most go for service. Hospitals are closing because they can not afford all of this.
The whole system has exploded in such a way that I think changes must be made, but don't think it's really possible for anything to be done.

I am very concerned about seniors and how they will have heat this coming winter with energy costs going sky high and still be able to feed themselves as well, when living on very limited incomes, and Medicare, which does not pay for everything.

You do know most states require a certain amount of work or school per week, right? In california, it is required that all on welfare work or go to school 32 hours per week. The only exemptions are if you have a newborn under 6 months (or 12 weeks if its not your first), you are disabled, your child is disabled/very ill, or you are taking care of some one who is disabled/critically ill. I honestly think education is a better solution than work is. These people have a time limit 2-5 yrs depending on the state to become independent. If they just work, they are going to be in the same spot they were when they started. Sure maybe they will get promoted from a McD crew memver making minimum wage into a crew trainer or a manager making a few more dollars an hour, but that still wont let them be independent. Education however will get you a better job and way better pay.

Nope, because it is not the role of the government to provide every capable person a job.

EDIT: Government's job is to enforce voluntary contracts, not to provide jobs.

Absolutely not. That program was nothing more than slavery writ large.

Why not just abolish the welfare state and all other big government measures? Why do you need to propose half-measures that get more people employed in counter-productive government employment?

Yes, I think many people would love to have a job and training.

I would be totally for it.