Ohio to Force Welfare on Amish

(Claridon Township, Ohio) The Ohio state Office of Family Stability (OFS) is having a wedgie. Ohio's Amish communities do not believe in nor want welfare. They won't take food stamps. This Amish attitude is contrary to the nanny state philosophy held by bureaucratic serf-makers.

The Amish communities in Geauga and Holmes counties have refused to plant their maws on the teats of the taxpayer-funded state welfare sow. Rather than trumpet the Amish spirit of personal responsibility, the state Deputy Director of OFS, Jeanne Carroll, has issued a mandate to figuratively shove welfare down Amish throats. Billboards and other local means will be used to advertise food stamps. Hopefully, the campaign will state, "Hey Amish people! You need this so much, we have to advertise."

According to OFS employee Tim Taylor, "No matter how much we do, the Amish won't sign up. It's not something they endorse."

The state Office of Family Stability could use some instability. I say the bureaucrats managing the agency should be fired. Trying to manufacture needy people is not in the public's interest.


[Update 10/21/06]

The Ohio Department of Job & Family Services has reversed its decision to shove food stamps on the Amish. I wonder why.