(Newswire.net –June 7, 2013) NEW CASTLE, PA — Rush Limbaugh Asks, “Who Are These Welfare Specialists?” During a discussion about the increased food stamp participation in our nation, Rush Limbaugh wondered who was teaching people how to qualify for all the government entitlements, and he asked the question, “Who are these welfare specialists?” In answer to his question, Joseph K. Waltenbaugh, author of a book about welfare entitlements, would undoubtedly reply, “I guess that would be me.”
Debates over welfare abuse facilitated by Rush and other commentators, such as Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin and Glenn Beck, are replete with criticisms of the American dependency class and the seeming inability of government bureaucracy to deal with the present day welfare state. But specifically what in the system is not working and why doesn’t it work? Why does an entitlement subculture exist and why is it growing exponentially? While these and other questions abound, answers and solutions appear few and far between, at least any that are substantive and practical.
Perhaps a better understanding of the problem can be found in Mr. Waltenbaugh’s recently published book “The Elephants’ Graveyard: A Guide for Getting and Keeping Your Welfare Entitlements”. The author uses a platform of humor to expose the fundamental flaws of the entitlement society and the failings of the bureaucracy that support it. “If you are going to write about something as dry as welfare,” he will tell you, “you need to make it funny if you expect anyone to read it.”
A thirty-two year veteran of the welfare system, Mr. Waltenbaugh began working in the bureaucracy of state government in Pennsylvania at one of the lowest levels in a county welfare office, and he advanced to finish as the director of one of the regional offices in the Bureau of Program Evaluation. He also spent several years adjudicating cases for three state departments as an administrative law judge in the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals. He uses his professional and personal insights into the culture of government dependency along with his interaction with unique individuals and unusual situations to spin a tale of recipient welfare abuse and incompetent bureaucratic mismanagement.
Although he initially tried a few different formats, he finally settled on a lighthearted, almost farcical exposé in the form of a “how-to” or “self-help” guide for scamming the system. It lays bare the techniques and motivations of the entitlement subculture, and it skewers all the sacred welfare cows … and elephants. No preaching, just some disturbing truths sandwiched in among the humorous stories and unique characters written by someone with thirty-two years of experience in the field of public welfare. The results are entertaining and disturbing at the same time, and they herald a call to action for entitlement reform. “And for those not concerned about welfare reform,” he is quick to point out, “the book is actually a pretty good guide for beating the system!”
Media Contact
Joseph K. Waltenbaugh
jkwaltenbaugh@verizon.net
127 Hillcrest Avenue www.waltenbaugh.net
New Castle, PA 16105 724-730-2092
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