I’m writing in response to Brandon Corkum’s letter (Oct. 7). Corkum states that the national deficit will not be fixed without fixing welfare. I am a senior in the University of Maine at Augusta’s mental health and human services program; I will graduate in May. As a former welfare recipient, I wanted to let Corkum know that in the history of our country, if you added up all of the welfare, food stamps and other in-kind supplies and services set aside from the total federal budget to help the needy, in any one year that amount has never constituted more than 7 percent of the national budget.

The most significant costs to the American people and the federal budget are the military and its subsidiaries, and tax breaks for the large corporations and for the wealthy.

As for welfare being a “waste of tax dollars,” I can say from personal experience that I used the benefits to better provide for myself and my two children. If I hadn’t been able to qualify for welfare benefits, I’d still be making $7 per hour and getting poorer every week.

As it is, I will graduate from college with a four-year degree in May and will be able to care for my family and contribute to the betterment of our society.

If anything, benefits for the poor should be increased, and people should not feel stigmatized for accepting assistance.

Shannon Moxcey, West Paris