Are social welfare programs part of the safety net to help prevent a 1930's type Depression?

[Luckygiraffe554]

Social welfare programs ---- I'll just call them out for what they are, nothing more than socialism, or wealth redistribution ---- were implemented in part because of the Great Depression, but there are also other factors that influence their existence today.

One is various treaties the U.S. has been a signatory to such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Section 25 of this document states that:

"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control."

However, in the case of the United States, these socialist programs aren't guaranteed to people. Congress can use revenues it collects from the Social Security tax for purposes other than socialist programs, without providing funds to keep the socialist system operating. Congress can also abolish socialist programs whenever it pleases without regard to prior 'obligations' (Congress is under no obligation to provide those who have paid into the program with services).

Also these programs can only be voluntary (and rightly so), as participating in socialism cannot be forced on the People because the Constitution never granted the federal government the power or authority to do so.

The main statutes that govern Social Security can be found in Title 42 of the U.S. Code, Chapter 7; and also 20 C.F.R. Chapter III