Welfare in Maine (Lewiston, Auburn: credit, loans, how much)

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by crb01

With all this talk of welfare abuse and the recent posts about Maine becoming 2 seperate states, I have to wonder if maybe we should seperate. Taxes for the folks in the southern 1/3 would be reduced significantly and the northern 2/3 would run out of welfare money, thereby forcing people to get a job. Just a thought.

Wow, talk about sweeping generalities.

I guess I must be on welfare then because I live up in the northern 2/3rd of the state. Jeeze Louise, somebody should have told me sooner. I have missed every single welfare check for the past many, many years and have instead stupidly went to work for my paycheck.

Do I smell trollish behavior and statements in the near future? I would hope this is just a case of stupidity manifesting itself in an ill-thought out post.

[msina]

I was going to respond but Bydand did it quite elloquintly for me.

[Bydand]

Which does not automatically put the lower populated areas as being the ones using and abusing the welfare system.

[mollysmiles]

Bydand you're absolutely right....and once you figure in the higher cost of living and....well, let's just say I know what the numbers look like....and they really DON'T compare....but they're not going in the direction he thinks!!

[crb01]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Which does not automatically put the lower populated areas as being the ones using and abusing the welfare system.

No it does not, there are many welfare recipients here too. But if I were to interpret the many posts on this forum correctly, we are filthy rich down here and all drive Volvos.
Wouldn’t that imply that the welfare money is coming from “Northern Mass “ ?
Of course none of this would explain why I drive a 14 year old truck with 240 K miles on it. I guess they forgot to tell me I had money.

[mollysmiles]

ok....so you're going to continue to try to argue....no one today has said anything about southern maine vs northern maine....you must be so proud to have brought that to the forefront today after the absolutely rotten afternoon we experienced yesterday on this forum.

[msina]

I have posted this before (sigh) but I will again. Though I may tease about "The Volvo Line" It is just that "teasing". I have family from Falmouth to New Brunswick, Canada, Bingham to Weld and points between. I tease my brother because he moved from Bingham to Falmouth three years ago, and he teases back calling me "Ma Kettle" as I prefer the smaller towns of the northern part of the state as my Mum did. If you're too thin skinned to recognize the tongue in cheek humor when you see it, I am sorry for any offense.
Now back to the subject at hand,... I am a very independant "disabled American" My DH is now 70, while we do recieve Soc. Sec. we do not recieve any "welfare" or State benefits including Mainecare health insurance. We try desperatly (as do most folks I know) to try to live within our means. Asking for help to many is embarassing and something only done from sheer desperation. God Bless and a Joyous season

[mollysmiles]

"you must spread some reputation around before giving...." yada yada....

[Zymer]

"Despite Maine's relatively low personal income and large proportion of residents below the poverty level, welfare payments per capita generally fall short of the national norms."

Maine - Social welfare

[Bydand]

<yawning, and stretching> Never give up do they? LOL

Back to the subject at hand. I think Msina hit the nail on the head with her post. I would gladly pay in much more into the system if those truly in need, got it, and those who are just getting a free ride for a while were given the boot. I saw the article posted here a few weeks ago about how tough it is on some of our elderly and was just incensed that I can name a couple of people here who are riding the system while they can, while those who really need, are going without because they are too proud to simply ask. Sure the ones I know fall into the guidelines, but falling into requirements should just be one of the check-points. If they are offered a job that they "just don't want" then they should lose some benefits. I have heard that statement, I wouldn't even want to know how many times. Or the one I like most, "That job is beneath my abilities." It's a job! It's a start! Get off your Snow sled or out of your boat and take it!