I've Been Accused of being Liberal. Okay I'm laying my cards on the table

Richard said

So what is the answer? How do we interrupt the cycle of poverty and dependence on the government for basic needs? I agree that education is important, but that can't help everyone. The bottom line is that I believe that all benefits for food stamps or TANF should be time limited and tied to a work program, unless there is an exemption. If people participate and are moving toward self-sufficiency, then they receive benefits. If they do not cooperate, commit fraud or make no effort to become self-sufficient, they lose their benefits.

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The problem there, of course, is that there are kids involved. If a mother doesn't participate to the level required then and is cut off, then it is likely the child or children will suffer.
One avenue that I believe is working is going after the fathers of the children and forcing them to pay the State for the support the State is giving out to the mothers. If you have a well run child support services and court system it is not that hard to fund 75% of your aid to mothers with dependent children programs through child support collections.
There are jurisdictions here in Tennessee that will sometimes run surpluses for the year.
I think the myth of the welfare mother is that very little taxpayer money is actually going to them.