ABSTRACT
A welfare state requires the acceptance of legitimate authority, and obedience to the reign of law. It emphasises the duty of every man or woman to perform paid or voluntary work according to his or her capacity and ability. All sections of society must be willing to consider the rational justification for, and the adjustment of, the prevailing standards of remuneration and the existing distribution of wealth. The standard of life in a welfare state is to be evaluated in terms of the quality of the environment, the benefits provided by the social services, the level of incomes and the distribution of wealth, job-satisfaction or dissatisfaction, leisure and recreation, health, education, housing, and similar criteria. The welfare society should beware of the excessive concentration of power in the hands of the central government, public corporations and commercial undertakings. The environment is an essential aspect of welfare.
