In response to Helen Thompson's "Blame welfare recipient" letter on Aug. 23.

Too many years ago (about 1959) a small California county implemented a work program for welfare recipients as suggested by Thompson's letter.

State legislation allowed removal of welfare services from the control of county commissioners within a few weeks.

The county work program clearly had demonstrated that given the opportunity to remain as a welfare recipients, most recipients participated in the county work program, and most were employed by local employers after they had participated in the county work program two or more weeks.

Soon after the state of California assumed control of welfare services, we began to witness the growth in the number of welfare recipients and an increase of state programs providing opportunities for welfare recipients to obtain an education required to qualify for employment.

Today the state of California debt is alarming. Welfare cost continue to escalate.

ED KENEALY, Kennewick