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Hm, can one really live a decent life on welfare alone in the States? That is hardly possible in Germany, let alone here in Portugal. It would make me wonder why many Americans tend to look at Europe as commie land with an exaggerated social security system and safety net
Well, that is the irony isn't it?
Most Europeans seem to think there is no social welfare system in the USA. There is indeed such a system and it is quite large to say the least. It is probably marginally less generous than your typical structure in Europe, but its here.
From what I have observed, living in both the US and Germany, is that each has its share of lifelong welfare recipients. So if you live in Commieland (your sophmoric words, not mine), then we must also be a province. I have seen your Wohnblocks full of the permanently unemployed, so let's be honest.
Is the life decent? Not by my standards and probably not by yours. But having heat, food, housing, and the aforementioned cell phone given to you beats the hell out of living in a tent. The point is that its addictive- it is devoid of challenge and when people are devoid of challenge and have the basics handed to them, they stagnate. Or did all those older Ossis acclimate to Wessi Kapitalismus without a worry?
You know better. And if you do not, then you should.
You wonder why those on welfare have so many kids....
In the state of Texas they get over $800(It was $861 last I checked for illegal trespassers and their anchor babies) a month, for EACH child, until the child is 18.
5 x $800 = $4000 a month off the taxpayers dole What a free ride racket.
Kids are their cash cow, and nothing else. You see no parenting come from it, just cash.
Most Europeans seem to think there is no social welfare system in the USA. There is indeed such a system and it is quite large to say the least. It is probably marginally less generous than your typical structure in Europe, but its here.
From what I have observed, living in both the US and Germany, is that each has its share of lifelong welfare recipients. So if you live in Commieland (your sophmoric words, not mine), then we must also be a province. I have seen your Wohnblocks full of the permanently unemployed, so let's be honest.
Is the life decent? Not by my standards and probably not by yours. But having heat, food, housing, and the aforementioned cell phone given to you beats the hell out of living in a tent. The point is that its addictive- it is devoid of challenge and when people are devoid of challenge and have the basics handed to them, they stagnate. Or did all those older Ossis acclimate to Wessi Kapitalismus without a worry?
You know better. And if you do not, then you should.
Germany is a special case, most of those Wohnblocks full of unemployed are in East Germany, people there often had only two possibilities after the fall of the wall: leave for the West and find work, or stay and be unemployed. There are Wohnblocks in the West, too, but many of its tenants are employed, albeit it in jobs most people would not want to do.
I don't know about the free cell phone, I don't think there are any such offers in Europe. I read that in German jails people are entitled to a TV set
It needs completely abolished and replaced with a "work for food" program or something productive to the taxpayers..
Again, I guess the problem is that a country will be considered primitive if it lets people starve to death should the person decide not to work, for whatever reason.
I read about a German professor today who said in the long run we have to get rid of the notion that everyone will and should be working. There is simply not enough work anymore, and even less so in the future. He proposes a general, unconditional salary of around 1500€ (about 2250$) for every adult regardless of whether they have a job or not. Naturally it has to be accompanied by a radical change in our priorities, motivations, goals, etc.
It needs completely abolished and replaced with a "work for food" program or something productive to the taxpayers..
Or a requirement of some type of improvement to their life. Ie they dont have a ged get one. Have one you must attend some type of trade school something.
I dont mind helping people that need help. Life can be rough at times. Problem is there is to many abuses to the system.
Who needs motivation when the overwhelming number of alternatives are easier.
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