Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I personally have a lot if issues with people who abuse the welfare system, or purposely manipulate their situation to take advantage of government benefits.
For me and my side of the family, it's a matter of pride. Honestly, it's sad that so many people just see government benefits as 'free money'. I'm not saying that everyone on welfare has something to be ashamed of, because some people legitimately need it- but too many people don't.
I know one individual who has been claiming full unemployment for almost a year now- this individual is married to someone who earns 6 figures and they're definitely not hurting for cash. They refer to the unemployment as 'play money' and intentionally apply for jobs they know they aren't qualified for in order to keep receiving the benefit. They think they're clever and actually brag about it!
I think it's disgraceful, especially considering their financial situation is well above that of many Americans to begin with.
As for where frugality comes into government assistance- they're too totally different things. Frugality, in my opinion, is living within modest means or below your means. It means living (and spending) sensibly in an effort to save money and break away from the typical materialistic culture of consumerism that we're expected to embrace.
In my opinion, government assistance is there for those who really need it. I think that everyone should do everything within their power to avoid going on benefits- in order to help support our already broke country, and to leave the money there for those who truly need it.
It's parasitism on society and doing it consciously. We lived on welfare when we entered the country. It helped us to have good education and become useful society members. We pay our debt back now by our work (we are both in healthcare), taxes, and donations. But we did our best to move up, not to consciously step down in our abilities and our return to the society.
Has none to do with frugality.
1. I am on Medicaid (as of now) and have a fine neuro-oncologist. Doesn't get much more specialized than that.
I am glad for you. How long did it take for you to find one? My DIL's mother recently had a head injury and getting an appt to see a neurologist took months.
Location: where you sip the tea of the breasts of the spinsters of Utica
8,297 posts, read 14,166,733 times
Reputation: 8105
There's no such thing as a person who needs chronic medical or psychiatric condition who requires constant care, and yet can get a job of any type much less a job that offers private insurance.
This thread is insulting to disabled people who need such care, making it seem like they have a choice but are simply too lazy to work. That's not how it is. That's why you people lost the election, you don't want to deal with reality.
There's no such thing as a person who needs chronic medical or psychiatric condition who requires constant care, and yet can get a job of any type much less a job that offers private insurance.
This thread is insulting to disabled people who need such care, making it seem like they have a choice but are simply too lazy to work. That's not how it is. That's why you people lost the election, you don't want to deal with reality.
I agree. If they are truly disabled they have no choice in the matter. Anyone who is faking it or taking a lower paying job so they can get benefits is taking advantage of a system that is set up to serve the truly needy.
I am glad for you. How long did it take for you to find one? My DIL's mother recently had a head injury and getting an appt to see a neurologist took months.
The neuro-oncologist came into my hospital room about 2 days after surgery (then I was on the MNCare plan, which comes from Medicaid funds). I initially chose to see a cancer "generalist" up here but returned my care to the hospital in Minneapolis in February of 2010. I was placed on straight Medicaid in 2011.
Neither of those would what I would call frugal by and stretch of the imagination.
Being frugal does not translate to poverty, it does not translate to use of government resources or choice of income.
Frugal means making the most of what you have and being wise with spending.
Anyone with any income can have a frugal lifestyle, it's the people with low incomes that have more of a need to be frugal. But the scenarios you give are not frugal moves in the least.
#1 is flawed. No one chooses government medical care. If one gets ill, and has a job with insurance, they will do that until they can't. Either they become too sick, can no longer work, and can no longer afford the insurance, or become so in debt, they can no longer afford the insurance.
#2 is just a lazy opprotunist taking advantage of the system.
Those people would have an insane amount of disposable income if they all went to work and continued to live together. Doing it any other way is just dumb.
Now all living together and working and sharing the basic needs expenses, that's frugal.
What you (OP) are describing is commonly referred to as "playing the system". The outcome may be similar for the one playing the system, but it's not frugal because it's not holding down expenses as much as it is getting others (government) to pay for them.
I'll resist giving my opinion about those who play the system. Some say I'm no different for receiving Social Security and Medicare. (I don't see it that way.) And someday I might need welfare assistance myself. Either way, I think some welfare programs are good for those who really need help and have no other options.
But it's not being "frugal" at all. Wrong word. Living off the charity or others, including the government, is not frugality.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
