The U.S. welfare system would be an unlikely model for anyone designing a welfare system from scratch. The dozens of programs that make up the âsystemâ have different (sometimes competing) goals, inconsistent rules, and over-lapping groups of beneficiaries.
Definition of skepticism. 1  1 : an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object. 2  2a : the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertainb : the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism characteristic of skeptics.
On this continuum, the level of professional skepticism moves from something less than complete trust, to a neutral mind-set, to presumptive doubt, and all the way to complete doubt. The appropriate level of skepticism to apply is initially determined only after a careful and rigorous risk assessment.