Quote:
Originally Posted by calgirlinnc
Nothing irks me more as when someone makes those sweeping generalizations. In 2008 we lost pretty much all our income and we had 2 small kids. It's a miracle we didn't end up on assistance. My husband eventually found a new job but we were in a big hole for a long time and it was hard to get out.
Whenever I see people who are truly poor I always think "there but for the grace of God go I."
A poster upthread asked how he was blessed.
I know every day that I am blessed, blessed to be born in the US, blessed to have had parents who provided me with an education, blessed that we are all relatively healthy, that my husband works hard and doesn't beat me, etc.
There are a hundred different factors, large and small, that could have made my life much harder. We aren't wealthy really, but I know I am fortunate.
However, none of that negates the FACT that there is a need to manage government programs, including welfare, more efficiently. Or that there are abuses to the system.
Compassion and Government accountability need not be not mutually exclusive.
|
I can agree with that
I grew up very poor, went to college with Pell Grants and other scholarships and student work programs
And we have been through some difficult financial times and have family who has as well
So yes, I agree, the people must make an effort
But even making an effort can fall on fallow ground
I have also worked for the TX Dept of Health and Human Services
I have seen people I knew were lying to me in order to receive benefits--tried to do everything I could to get accurate info about their financial and living situations--even send fraud investigators to get the truth
And often was not successful
I have also seen people lie during interviews when they could have received help if they had told the truth
Under different programs--but they were afraid to be honest
This was decades ago and the laws and scale of benefits has changed significantly *been reduced really since then
There is just not--from my perspective--an honesty about the purpose of social programs
So many people who support the GOP want NO BENEFITS period--they pass along false stories that the majority of welfare recepients are minorities--when they aren't---they are Anglo
If you want to get people off Welfare, make companies offer a living wage so people don't have to work three jobs and still qualify for Food Stamps or Medicaid or need public housing assistance to have a roof...
If you want people off Welfare, fund job programs and help people get back and forth and have decent child care
If you want people off Welfare, put money into public schools and teach children so they have viable futures
If you want people off Welfare, stop trying to make money off student/college loans
If you want people off Welfare, support a national health system so all people have access to affordable health care
If you want people off Welfare, support family planning, educate youth about responsible sex acts not just staying "pure" until marriage, put money into educating young MEN about their responsibility to their children
And if you want people receiving government assistance programs to be ethical--
Then look to who are running those programs
Do you think an EPA head who fires people because they won't book him a first class airfare which is against Govt policy sets the right example
Do you think the head of HUD who is a wealthy man up from poverty himself should expect the government to pay 31K for a dining room set???
If you want a moral government, maybe choose someone who has a moral compass to run it
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.
