Once again, Virginia wins the national championship for moving the most people from welfare to work. This is the third year in a row the commonwealth has taken first place. The Old Dominion claimed second place in the job-retention category.

Credit goes to the Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare program, which -- among many other good works -- has trained more than 400 welfare recipients to become certified nursing assistants.

Cynics might note that if a state is moving a lot of people off the welfare rolls, then it also must be putting a lot of people on welfare in the first place. But there is far less shame in falling into temporary dependence through unfortunate circumstances than staying in dependence for years on end.

Virginia should take pride in helping so many of those who stumble in life get back on their feet. That's the operative definition of giving a hand up rather than a handout.