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Since it's unfair and inaccurate to paint everyone with the same brush, we must admit that there are desperate and destitute people who are in that position through no fault of their own and there are others who are in fact lazy moochers who are gaming the system in order to live on the taxpayer's dime. It is because of the latter group that so many of us resent the welfare system. It irks me that I am paying for my own food, housing, transportation, clothing, etc., etc., and in addition I am paying for the food, housing, transportation, clothing, etc., etc., of other people. I believe government, in general, does a rather poor job of distinguishing between the deserving and the undeserving.
The long-term problem is that the net takers have one vote each in our system, just as the net givers have one vote each. As the group of net takers grows and grows, they can just vote themselves more and more benefits; eventually this will sink our ship. I never thought I would see any merit in the system of the founding fathers of this nation which restricted the franchise to people with a stake in the well-being of the nation as a whole, but I have reluctantly come to that view. Of course the restrictions of the franchise went beyond what can be justified in this day and age; I am just saying that when all adults except felons have a vote, there are extremely serious disadvantages to the long-term well-being of us all.
One of the most difficult points to make in any discussion of government support to individuals is the glaring fact that American for profit corporations are some of the worst offenders when it comes to outright theft from our treasury. Yes the takers do have a say in these matters, and again, the biggest takers, unfortunately, have the biggest say. Lobbyists are now the real constituent in American politics, they ARE the controlling factor in most spending bills, and lest we forget, companies like Walmart are one of the largest recipients of that welfare money that all those poor folks spend in Walmart's stores....
This fact alone should be enough to make us all rethink the ENTIRE systemic process by which OUR money is distributed. Attempting to separate these two classes of takers for the sake of discussion is very frustrating for the fact that the history of one of these entities has a LOT to do with the present situation of the other. This nation has it's share of sordid history with regard to our economic constructs, the horrendous battles of labor struggling against capital is truly a study in institutional unfairness and organized violence. Human labor was first conducive to those who put their sweat and tenacity toward their own survival, then, the industrial age left workers to be a type of rental unit, working for money, now, the tech age wherein the human element is being increasingly thought of as a thing of the past.
Today we are living in a world that is increasingly becoming immune to the plight of those who have been displaced by a super high tech labor system, forget the bums who have been on the dole forever, we now have real problems with the fact that humans are becoming a non factor in so much of the work that is being done, not just here in the U.S. but in low wage nations like China as well. My prior stated comment regarding the biggest voice in our government today being that of the corporations isn't taken seriously by enough of our countrymen, do we really have one vote each when it comes to the decisions being made in Washington? We don't necessarily have a deficit of dollars as much as we do have a deficit of democracy, if American's are really pressed to find the money that is needed to insure our future we'll be needing a lot better and bigger voice in those decisions being made in our name. My guess is that a lot more of our countrymen will be needing some kind of support in the future, how we view the determining guidelines for the validity of such claims may be the one thing that forces us to really look at the way in which OUR money is being spent....
Because these people in large numbers use it as a way of life and have no shame about it. You also act like everyone that is has a job is just balling out of control and can support their own family and a bunch of strangers that refuse to get ahead in life.
Government programs are stealing, they force people to funnel assets that would be used on their own family for strangers that we couldn't careless about. Get your head out of your ***** and think for 5 seconds...there is no money tree, and regardless what people tell you everyone is struggling relative to prior years and increasing the fleecing of those who continue to go to work each day are sick and tired of watching people abuse the system.
They are moochers by and large, they are worthless contributors to society by and large and propping them up shows the next generation the wrong way to live and devolves society.
Many of us would rather not support a war we don't believe in either, but yet, there it is
l Human labor was first conducive to those who put their sweat and tenacity toward their own survival, then, the industrial age left workers to be a type of rental unit, working for money, now, the tech age wherein the human element is being increasingly thought of as a thing of the past.
Today we are living in a world that is increasingly becoming immune to the plight of those who have been displaced by a super high tech labor system, forget the bums who have been on the dole forever, we now have real problems with the fact that humans are becoming a non factor in so much of the work that is being done, not just here in the U.S. but in low wage nations like China as well.
This reminds me of my father looking at promises of all that "free time" labor-saving devices, robotics etc would give us --- his response was "if none of us are working, who's gonna pay the bills for all that free time?" . They never said the free time would be on unemployment!
If industry is creating fewer and fewer jobs because of technology, at some point the remaining boots on the ground jobs - service sector - will have to become jobs which can support families or vast numbers of our countrymen & women are in big trouble.
I can only speak for myself. And just for the record, I always find it very disconcerning when everyone is clumped together. There are millions of people in this country so all of them cannot possible feel the same way about everything. I do notice these all inclusive terms are used mostly for critical appraisals of the American public. (ok..off soapbox)
I don't mind when people use these programs for what they are intended for. What I do mind is sitting back and having to watch the abuse of the systems.
Example #1...watching someone use their food stamp card at the grocery store while seeing fancy nails, hairstyles, I phones on the person. Along side the approved FS purchases are cigarettes, beer and candy...or replace that with some other junk.
If I'm short of $$ (which I have been many times) I don't get the extra stuff. I still have to pay for my house, utilities and vehicle. I don't get to have my nail done, I don't get to drink beer or smoke.
Example #2..I had a friend that was pregnant with her 1st child at age 19...not a big deal, good for her. To help out she applied for WIC. (Great program and I have no problem with it) Why you ask? According to her she "deserved" it. Both her and her husband were both perfectly able to work. In my mind I thinking...you're only 19...what did you do to deserve it?
Amnesty for Illegals...yes this country was build by immigrants....but legal ones. All of our ancestors had to go thru the loops to be call Americans. Why should these people get a free ride? Before I get slammed....please don't look past the fact that I am referring to the Illegals.
I feel Affirmative actions is fine to a point. Time and time again, I've watched a job got to someone less qualified just so the quota can be filled.
To go back and reference the word "deserve" again. The people who abuse these systems have somehow been lead to believe that they "deserve" these things.
I guess I was led to believe that in order to "deserve" things, you have to work for it.
It gets tiring to day after day, work your butt off, then watch your tax $$ be abused by others and if you say anything then you are unfeeling and selfish.
So here's one American that doesn't "dislike" these programs...she hate the abuse of these programs.
Well said.
Our neighbors across the street are a mixed race couple with 4 kids under the age of 15, I believe. They both don't work, and have not, since we moved here a few years ago. A couple of times he told us he was receiving a disability check because he got hurt at work, and had a surgery. He showed us a two inch scar on the front of his leg, under his knee. This man, walks well, cuts his grass with no problem, and hangs out in his garage all day long, working on his cars. His wife is the biggest snub I've ever met. She hangs out with couple of other female neighbors, who also are gaming the system. They both have 3 kids each and both of their husbands work only part time. The wives sit over a drink quite often and gossip about the neighbors. Their latest topic of conversation was about tax refunds. Apparently each year they receive somewhere between 6-8 thousand dollars. Enough to go on a nice spring break vacation. Every time I look out of the window and see them all enjoying themselves, I feel a tremendous disgust. It's like they've won the lotto.
IMHO - the government aid program use would/could be reduced if we focused on JOBS and the economy more, seriously. (Take a glance at North Dakota, for example = 3.2%) Of course, there will ALWAYS be abuses of government programs, by many people -- the need has BALLOONED ---> due to the economy and ---> lack of jobs.
I know 'guys' who have looked for jobs for a couple/few YEARS now (and you get tired of looking after a while). Sure, they are older guys, but they are good workers who want to work, and they can work - there are just no jobs - or the line for each job is LONG, too LONG! There are just not enough jobs available. (The workforce is shrinking - due to people giving up on working, thus unemployment 'appears' to be shrinking too - but it's not!)
Thus, I'm not surprised to see these 'government' programs 'exploding' - ie, disability, unemployment, etc, etc, and being abused, and therefore 'hated'.
Until the economy changes for the better - ie, increasing productivity, and yes, maybe involving carbon and energy use, instead of stifling productivity - this is what we will continue to see.
It's exploding, and we hate it (the cost) but we're not willing to demand change - so I'm 'over it' -- we 'got what we wanted' - no?
There will always be those who abuse the system. That is what makes people angry and rightfully so. We live in a country full of lazy and entitled mooches. Some people truly need the help and others are plain worthless.
I also have a problem with the ever annoying emails and posts I get and see from people who gripe about the woman at the store with an expensive phone and handbag paying with food stamps. How do you know she didn't have that iPhone before she had to go on welfare? And how do you know she didn't do her own nails and her own hair? Going on welfare doesn't mean you become ghetto trash and owe the guy behind you in line at the market an accounting of your finances.
People should be conservative when they are on welfare, sure. It is disturbing to see someone buying beer and cigs, absolutely. In that case, you know there is abuse taking place. But, when people are sneering at a complete stranger at the market, eyeballing their food selections, griping about what they are wearing or how well put together they look, it's just ridiculous. That steak and lobster in their cart probably ate up a good hunk of their benefits. The government doesn't give a fig if they go hungry for the rest of the month, that is all they're getting. You too can get that steak and lobster and go hungry for the rest of the month if you want to. The consequence is yours and yours alone, just like it is theirs and theirs alone.
There are plenty of people who worked before they sought government aid. It stands to reason they probably paid their taxes. So, isn't it their money to spend, based on the "my tax dollars are paying your way" mentality?
Yes, there are mooches out there. The guy or gal in front of you at the check out counter may be one of them. They may not. You simply don't know. Mind your business.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hedgehog_Mom
I always think it's funny when I hear people going on about someone living a luxurious lifestyle on government benefits.
When I had my first baby, I lost my job. My husband was making six dollars an hour. Our rent was $600/month, bills were about $300/month not including gas to get to work. We applied for food stamps and got $70 per month. We also got six cans of formula a month from WIC. My daughter used 10 cans of formula a month (I didn't produce any breastmilk or I would have breastfed her). The $70 was just enough to buy the extra cans of formula she needed, plus a bag of pinto beans and a bag of rice for us. Talk about luxury.
Exactly, and $70 a month hardly entitles anyone the right to dictate squat.
It's seems like people in this country have a very strong dislike for programs such as welfare, section 8, unemployment security, food stamps, affirmative action, amnesty for illegals and other similar programs. These programs were created at a time when many in America were struggling to get by, however many people claim that these same programs that were established to help Americans might be causing them more harm than good. For instance, terms such as welfare queen, ghetto people, reverse racism, and believing people are using the system for their own personal gain are always brought up when these programs are mentioned. Do you think that the media unfairly portrays people on these programs as moochers? Please feel free to share your views on the subject.
It makes people lazy, relient on the gov't and wastes taxpayers dollars.
Other counhtries have slng for those on wrelfare such as the british in beig o the Dole>I am sure other have slng for people on csuch programs as gurantee income in china but its shrink since they took several million last year off the program. I forget but they have a slng also for thsoe born i cities which means they get subsidised renat which those havig been not it eh city do not to keep people from movig to better paid cities in mass.
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It's what we wnated - no?
