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OPTION 1: Lillie Harden and Bill Clinton’s Welfare Reform
Read the following two articles:
1) Jilani – The Tragic End (in Module 4 – Seminar Materials folder on Blackboard)
2) Massie – Lillie Harden was Bill Clinton’s Welfare Reform Success Story
Then, in approx. 500 words total, answer the following questions:
1) Explain how Bill Clinton changed welfare in the US in the 1990s.
2) Explain who Lillie Harden was, and the symbolic function she fulfilled by being present
when Clinton enacted welfare reform.
3) Explain how welfare reform affected Harden personally, and poor people in the US
overall.
4) Choose three terms from the list on page 3 and explain how they apply to this
situation/topic.
a. Term 1
b. Term 2
c. Term 3
You do not need to provide a works cited, but do include the author’s names if quoting or
paraphrasing.
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OPTION 2: The Mississippi Welfare Scandal
Read the following two articles:
1) Wolfe – ‘Downright Sinful’
2) Meserve – The Mississippi Welfare Fraud Involving Brett Favre, Explained
Then, in approx. 500 words total, answer the following questions:
1) Explains what the TANF program is.
2) Explains what the scandal is around the program in Mississippi.
3) Explains why the program is so vulnerable to corruption.
5) Choose three terms from the list on page 3 and explain how they apply to this
situation/topic.
a. Term 1
b. Term 2
c. Term 3
You do not need to provide a works cited, but do include the author’s names if quoting or
paraphrasing.
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VOCAB LIST
• Bourgeoisie
• Capitalism
• Deserving/Undeserving Poor
• Exploitation
• Hegemony
• Nanny state
• Permanent employment relationship
• Principle of less eligibility
• Reserve army of labour
• Small government
• Socialism
• Sphere of reproduction/reproductive sphere
• Surplus value
• Temporary employment relationship
• Welfare queen

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