| Aug 30, 2007 @ 11:47 PM |
What is your take on Welfare?
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your_princess
Posts: 3,389
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Yup I am going to stir the pot a little bit and ask for peoples thoughts on our country's governmental assistance known as welfare. Been thinking a lot about this the past couple days as I am sick of seeing it abused. Do you think we should be spending our tax money on things such as education instead? Should we just do away with the program all together? Do you believe that over all it is a good thing, or good for those who deserve it? What are your thoughts?!?
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:01 AM |
What is your take on Welfare? |
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Silvertongue62
Posts: 6,932
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Lol.........
I'm going to attempt to start this off with some sort of reason. The most important thing you should know is welfare isnt even 1% of our US budget. So welfare is a very very small problem as far as our taxes are concerned.
Next!
Do you think if the social programs ended tomorrow, people who benefit from it would starve? I think they would be climbing in your window to get your TV set and anything else of any value. Because they are not going to starve. Be careful not to create a bigger problem out of one so small. Most major cities only have enough police on the streets to answer emergency calls now. So what do you think would happen then. We do have some real problems but welfare isnt one of them. Even with the fraud.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:02 AM |
What is your take on Welfare?
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lj450
Posts: 9,550
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In theory its a good idea, but it becomes a vicious cycle for some. Like a black hole.....once you go in, you never come out. It should be used as a crutch.....to help someone get back on their feet. It becomes a way of life.
We are not a communist society. Welfare is an example of controlled communism (socialism?).
In my opinion.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:09 AM |
What is your take on Welfare? |
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steveemac
Posts: 2,335
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My first thought is that this ought to be in the politics thread, but this is close enough.
I don't have a problem with "food stamps" or their modern equivalent-in a nation where we pay farmers NOT to grow some crops (so as not to glut the market), I would rather see those subsidies go for buying the food, and distributing it to the hungry. In the richest nation in the world, nobody should ever go hungry, for any reason.
As far as other benefits, such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children: I'm not thrilled with it, but short of putting children of poor parents in orphanages (a la Newt Gingrich) or putting birth control in the water supply, what's the alternative? Are we willing to let children starve to make a point? Of course we should be spending more on education, but "welfare" acounts for something like two cents out of every tax dollar; if we want to spend more on teaching our children better life skills along with "Readin', Ritin', and Rithmatic," the money is gonna have to come from some other source. Certainly, there are better ways of doing things than the current method, but is that the fault of the concept, or of the enactment of the concept? Like President Clinton said about this same subject: "Mend it, but don't end it."
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:10 AM |
What is your take on Welfare?
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your_princess
Posts: 3,389
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OK these are my thoughts...
I feel that there are people out there who are trying to do the best they can with what they have. I think the program is great for those who use it for a limited time to get themselves back on their feet. I can respect that and handle that. Unfortunately the cases I see most often are women who have 5-6 kids, do not work and strictly live on welfare and the child support they recieve because of those 5-6 kids at least 2-3 have different fathers. That can really add up!
I think if they are going to offer welfare, those who are accepting it need to hold some sort of job! I believe the same should be true for child support as well. I do not feel it is fair for the part time parent to support the other parent who isnt even willing to go out into the work force.
I don't have a problem with "food stamps"
I have seen in some places it is given as a "cash card" type. Many places do not restrict the type of groceries one buys with them...and have seen many buy booze and cigarettes with it. (I used to work at a gas station in high school) But then you have those who are honestly using it and making the purchases accordingly, to feed their children!
[Edited on 8/31/2007 12:16 AM]
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:12 AM |
What is your take on Welfare? |
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candylily
Posts: 1,347
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It really shouldn't be much of an issue since welfare reform several years ago. In Indiana a person can only draw it for a limited amount of time and that's it regardless of how many more kids she has. My last job was working for the state so my attitudes about the people who are on various types of assistance changed when I actually met the people and knew the individual circumstances. To receive benefits, everything has to be verified, all questions about living arrangements, resources, and income have to be answered. As far as cash assitance for kids, the mother has to actively look for a job once her baby is a certain age or she loses the cash even before her time is up. In Indiana it's called TANF or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and it truly is temporary. It definitely is not a way of life anymore which is good because it shouldn't be. Every state is different so maybe some of the others are more liberal with benefits than Indiana is.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:20 AM |
What is your take on Welfare?
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your_princess
Posts: 3,389
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To receive benefits, everything has to be verified, all questions about living arrangements, resources, and income have to be answered.
As you said it varies state to state however, one girl I used to work with openly told all of us how she screwed the government and milks it for all its worth. She would drop her hours to on call for a month to make her income look like barely anything, she was not honest about her living arrangements and how much she paid in rent ect as she lived with her mother. Some people are VERY good at working the system which makes you soooo frustrated with all of it, and gives the good people a bad image.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:20 AM |
What is your take on Welfare? |
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Silvertongue62
Posts: 6,932
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This is whats wrong with this country. Everytime a politician wants an angle he comes up with this stuff to side track us from the real pork barreling. They got us arguing over gay rights. Roe VS. wade, privatization while they are robbing us blind.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:21 AM |
What is your take on Welfare?
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steveemac
Posts: 2,335
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those who are accepting it need to hold some sort of job!
Here in Wisconsin, the "W2" system is set up in that way; however, the primary beneficiaries are the private agencies that the state contracts to oversee the program; and the myriad legions of "Day Care Providers" that have sprung up to care for the children that must now be watched by someone while their mamas go to work at Arbys.
This from http://www.policylibrary.com/US/Employment/_Audit_of_Wisconsin_Works_(W2)
The Legislative Audit Bureau of Wisconsin have issued this evaluation of the famous welfare to work scheme. They find that while employment has increased slightly, the jobs are often low paying. The numbers receiving assistance have decreased dramatically. The W2 scheme operates at a higher public cost than the previous AFDC programme.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:30 AM |
What is your take on Welfare? |
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steveemac
Posts: 2,335
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Many places do not restrict the type of groceries one buys with them...and have seen many buy booze and cigarettes with it.
I have seen this myself, in convenience stores...but does this mean that the system is flawed, or the grocer abusing the system is flawed? In Wisconsin, I believe one must now use a card that gets scanned; it not only tallies the amount of the purchases, but also lets the checker know which items in the shopping cart are eligible for purchase with Assistance $. When the state announced they were going to this system, the big stores were totally cool with it, while a lot of the smaller stores screamed bloody murder...the general concensus by those that use food assistance is that they like it a LOT more than the old food stamp system.
one girl I used to work with openly told all of us how she screwed the government and milks it for all its worth. She would drop her hours to on call for a month to make her income look like barely anything, she was not honest about her living arrangements and how much she paid in rent ect as she lived with her mother. I too have known people like this; but we have to realize -once our indignation dies down; after all, they're robbing US- that the amount of money she is scamming isn't all that much; by this, I mean if she put the same amount of effort, care, planning, and execution into a CAREER instead of a scheme, imagine how much better off she'd probably be? And without having to constantly look over her shoulder...yeah, she's taking us, but she's taking herself far more.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:31 AM |
What is your take on Welfare?
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your_princess
Posts: 3,389
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They find that while employment has increased slightly, the jobs are often low paying.
I dont know of too many college educated professionals milking the welfare system.....there are always going to be cheap jobs for underqualified employees
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:34 AM |
What is your take on Welfare? |
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Silvertongue62
Posts: 6,932
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underqualified employees
some more mis-information.
maybe the brick masons find themselve underqualified because the illegals are more qualified.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:37 AM |
What is your take on Welfare?
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your_princess
Posts: 3,389
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What is the general income class for those who are on welfare?
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:43 AM |
What is your take on Welfare? |
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steveemac
Posts: 2,335
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there are always going to be cheap jobs for underqualified employees ...and this is another cause of the illness: the attitude that certain types of work are less valuable than others. I'm NOT saying that someone flipping burgers should make the same as a CPA or a Nurse, but when people on assistance are told to quit milking the system and get a job, but the only jobs are "cheap" for the "underqualified," well...many of them figure, "Why bother?" And the corporate attitude that these jobs are "cheap" is constantly reinforced by the fact that these same companies will shout to the rooftops against any effort to raise the minimum wage...and yet, they expect you to act grateful if they give you a thirty-five cent raise every six months. And if you have children, losing your state medical benefits for your kids may not be something you can afford to give up.
A little  : when my landlord bought the Dominos he was managing, one of the first things he did was offer his employees a single person health-insurance policy; employee pays half, he pays the other half. He also provides his employees with a small life-insurance benefit, and is looking into starting a 401(K) plan, with matching contributions. Pretty decent for a guy that owns ONE unit, and is supporting a wife and five kids! My point is this: if he can afford to do this, why can't these bigger corporate operations? That might get more people off Assistance.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:46 AM |
What is your take on Welfare?
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Silvertongue62
Posts: 6,932
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Steve is absolutely 1005 correct. The bottom line is greed.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:50 AM |
What is your take on Welfare? |
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your_princess
Posts: 3,389
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You mean corporations such as WAL-MART?? Our society is based off of education, the more you have you more you are compensated...or at least thats how you think it would be. I do not feel ones job at 7.75 is anyway less than one who makes 20.00/hour...however companies feel that as long as they keep their wages low for those who have little or no education its cheap wages for them and thats all they are really after. Pay as little possible for wages and soak up the extra money made because of those cheap wages.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:55 AM |
What is your take on Welfare?
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Silvertongue62
Posts: 6,932
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Another lie society has perpetuated. i know many who have phd's who work in steak joints. walmart is a problem but thats not what i am talking about. read your mail.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 12:55 AM |
What is your take on Welfare? |
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steveemac
Posts: 2,335
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Pay as little possible for wages and soak up the extra money made because of those cheap wages.
My point exactly; while in an ideal world, I would like to see corporations treat their workers with respect, at this point, I'd settle for having corporate America just 'fess up to what you said, above.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 1:02 AM |
What is your take on Welfare?
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candylily
Posts: 1,347
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Steveemac, You're right that most of the jobs the welfare clients get are minimum-wage jobs. Angel, I was living in Bloomington, a college town, so I had lots of clients who were getting their graduate degrees but receiving assistance while going to school. If they have kids, they're eligible for food stamps. I also had many clients who were non-citizens both legal and illegal who received assistance because of the kids they had as soon as they came here. The taxpayers pay for all those deliveries and medicaid covers the babies after they're born. Your friend may think she's gotten by with scamming the system, but we had access to all kinds of information so sometimes it just takes a while for it to catch up to clients at which point, if the caseworker is good, they do get caught and they have to repay. People even go to jail when it's proven they intentionally cheated as opposed to "forgot" to report a job or bank account.
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| Aug 31, 2007 @ 1:03 AM |
What is your take on Welfare? |
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budo13
Posts: 3,609
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if a person really needs welfare i'm all for helping those in true need.shame on those who abuse the system.as far as education we learn nothing in our government schools just another way of the politicos control.
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