Is there anything that can be done about welfare?

[Bamabuzzard]

I have just about had it with the abusement of the welfare system that is costing me out of my bee hind. I work with two young ladies that both have two and three kids, no father and receive welfare benefits. They both make $12.00/hr with opportunities for advancement but get this. They did not want advancement because they would then make too much to still be on welfare. I saw one of them at Wal Mart and her buggy was packed full of steaks, cereal galore all brand name groceries. When she went to pay guess what she pays with? A dang government welfare card. Her family is eating better than mine and I'm paying for it. It took all I could to not simply go ape #$%@ nuts right there in the check out line. She talks about having direct tv with all the movie channels etc. Her kids all get free lunches, they live in subsidized apartments that the government flips the majority of the rent bill.

How do so many cases like this continue to fall through the cracks? She has no business being on welfare.

 

[Jack Bourbon]

Probably Not

 

[Bama Reb]

You're not the only one to get frustrated and angry over cases of abuse such as the one you illustrated. I've seen women pile shopping carts full of meats and brand name groceries, pay for it with government debit cards (or in the past, food stamps, ADC or WIC coupons) then wheel them all out and load the bags into an Escalade, Excursion or even a Hummer.
As long as the government rewards and subsidizes laziness and punishes those of us who bear the cost through our tax dollars, abuses like this will continue.
Which is one reason that I've always been of the opinion that people who feed at the public trough shouldn't be allowed to vote.
When you add up all the benefits received by a family on welfare, they probably earn upwards of $35K or $40K per year by sitting at home and doing nothing...
So is this another argument in favor increasing the minimum wage, so as to make it more rewarding to work than to sit at home and collect welfare?

 

[Bodhisattva]

I feel this way about all entitlements (welfare, social security, medicare/medicaid, prescription drug benefits, etc.). On the aggregate the program costs more than it should (because, if nothing else, bureaucratic salares have to be paid to administer it). More importantly, it encourages people to be less productive. Those that produce shoulder more and more of the burden .... until being productive becomes pointless.

 

[NYBamaFan]

Don't worry. Within our lifetime, we will see the government collapse under the weight of social service promises made that cannot be kept...

 

[mikeua69]

Take it away from the government and privatize it. Resources can come from private donations, similar to the United Way and Salvation Army, rather it be forced from my paycheck. If it is run privately with only donated money, I can guarantee you they won't allow people like this to take advantage of it.

 

[Displaced Bama Fan]

You should have smoked her and her kids on behalf of all us taxpayers.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Thanks for the opinions. My family has two incomes that are respectable and we have one daughter that is age two. We do not have cable, direct tv but just the regular local channels. We cannot afford to "load" our grocery cart with steaks and all name brand groceries. My wife and I both work 40+ hours each week and many times I work weekends without additional pay because I'm salary.

I add up the taxes taken out of my paycheck alone and it adds up to me working one full day and half of another for the government. I don't start earning money for my household until Tuesday around noon. Monday and half the day tuesday the government takes.

I'll get off my soap box now.

 

[Bodhisattva]

Thanks for the opinions. My family has two incomes that are respectable and we have one daughter that is age two. We do not have cable, direct tv but just the regular local channels. We cannot afford to "load" our grocery cart with steaks and all name brand groceries. My wife and I both work 40+ hours each week and many times I work weekends without additional pay because I'm salary.

I add up the taxes taken out of my paycheck alone and it adds up to me working one full day and half of another for the government. I don't start earning money for my household until Tuesday around noon. Monday and half the day tuesday the government takes.

I'll get off my soap box now.

Shame on you and your selfish ways.

 

[It's On A Slab]

Thanks for the opinions. My family has two incomes that are respectable and we have one daughter that is age two. We do not have cable, direct tv but just the regular local channels. We cannot afford to "load" our grocery cart with steaks and all name brand groceries. My wife and I both work 40+ hours each week and many times I work weekends without additional pay because I'm salary.

I add up the taxes taken out of my paycheck alone and it adds up to me working one full day and half of another for the government. I don't start earning money for my household until Tuesday around noon. Monday and half the day tuesday the government takes.

I'll get off my soap box now.

Unless things have changed in the 9 years since I left Alabama, you are probably paying sales tax on groceries.

9 years ago, a gallon of milk from Bruno's cost $2.99. Then, you added 18 cents sales tax.

 

[wisten]

Lemme throw this at cha...

My ex lives in Florida. She get food stamps, assisted housing, Medicare, more back from her income taxes than she pays in, and gets my child support.

Now to have all of this, she tells the state of Florida that I do not pay child support, so she rides on the "single mother" bandwagon, however, her and her current live in boyfriend pull down a combined $60K per year.

In contrast, I pay a mortage on my home and a rental property, pay my taxes and hers too from the looks of it, and work my ..... off. In fairness, I have succeeded enough to where I am finally beginning to enjoy the fruits of my labor, and having fun.

Fact is, there are people who manipulate the "system", and I have learned enough to say that they will probably get away with it for life. But, some of us know what's right and what's not right.

 

[It's On A Slab]

Sure wish there was a way to turn her in. I'm all for child support, but those that abuse the system like that deserve to be taken to the cleaners. I just hope you get to see your kids as often as you like.

Lemme throw this at cha...

My ex lives in Florida. She get food stamps, assisted housing, Medicare, more back from her income taxes than she pays in, and gets my child support.

Now to have all of this, she tells the state of Florida that I do not pay child support, so she rides on the "single mother" bandwagon, however, her and her current live in boyfriend pull down a combined $60K per year.

In contrast, I pay a mortage on my home and a rental property, pay my taxes and hers too from the looks of it, and work my ..... off. In fairness, I have succeeded enough to where I am finally beginning to enjoy the fruits of my labor, and having fun.

Fact is, there are people who manipulate the "system", and I have learned enough to say that they will probably get away with it for life. But, some of us know what's right and what's not right.

 

[CrimsonChuck]

How do so many cases like this continue to fall through the cracks? She has no business being on welfare.

It is really sad, but I can't blame her for doing that. When she goes to her welfare supervisor, all she has to do is say "I didn't get the promotion" and what can you do? It is the system that allows this that we should be mad at. I am sure that for every one like her there are many more people who are using welfare honestly. How do we get people like her off of the system, and keep the honest ones? I don't know. I'll have to think about that one.

 

[Bamaro]

Sure wish there was a way to turn her in. I'm all for child support, but those that abuse the system like that deserve to be taken to the cleaners.

I think some states have provisions to do that.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

It is really sad, but I can't blame her for doing that. When she goes to her welfare supervisor, all she has to do is say "I didn't get the promotion" and what can you do? It is the system that allows this that we should be mad at. I am sure that for every one like her there are many more people who are using welfare honestly. How do we get people like her off of the system, and keep the honest ones? I don't know. I'll have to think about that one.

I find no problem in blaming her. There are a ton of ways I could take advantage and manipulate people every day. From my wife, mother, sisters, friends, co-workers and so on. But the ability to do it doesn't take any blame or responsibility off of me and doesn't give me the green light in the morale department to do it.

The system didn't make her do wrong. She saw the system had a flaw and did wrong through the system. But the "wrong" was in her not the system.

Not throwing flames at you but her.

 

[wisten]

I think some states have provisions to do that.

My lawyer and I were talking the other day about a unrelated topic and he asked is she was still milking the state. He said, "Good thing you don't play the lottery, becuase they would hold your winnings until you proved you paid, then arrest her."

In all fairness, other than that, she does meet me with the kids halfway, and lets me get them every weekend and all summer ... just the welfare thing gets me... her whole family does that, even her 62 year old mother.

 

[CrimsonChuck]

The system didn't make her do wrong. She saw the system had a flaw and did wrong through the system. But the "wrong" was in her not the system.

Is there are requirement though welfare that she has to take any promotion that she is offered? I am just asking...I don't know the answer.

Actually, that gives me the idea of what would solve this problem. If you are on welfare, you are required to take any raise in salary that you might be offered or face forfeiture of welfare. You may turn it down only with the special permission of your welfare counselor. Anyone who does not receive an increase in salary over a three year period will be audited. That is what should be law.

 

[Bama Torch in Pcola]

Is there are requirement though welfare that she has to take any promotion that she is offered? I am just asking...I don't know the answer.

Actually, that gives me the idea of what would solve this problem. If you are on welfare, you are required to take any raise in salary that you might be offered or face forfeiture of welfare. You may turn it down only with the special permission of your welfare counselor. Anyone who does not receive an increase in salary over a three year period will be audited. That is what should be law.

I would be all for that, except for the fact that it may give rise to even more beaurocracy. Still an interesting idea.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Is there are requirement though welfare that she has to take any promotion that she is offered? I am just asking...I don't know the answer.

Actually, that gives me the idea of what would solve this problem. If you are on welfare, you are required to take any raise in salary that you might be offered or face forfeiture of welfare. You may turn it down only with the special permission of your welfare counselor. Anyone who does not receive an increase in salary over a three year period will be audited. That is what should be law.

I don't have any good answers either. I just know a ton of people are sucking good hard earned tax money out of the tax system when it could be put to good use somewhere else.

 

[NYBamaFan]

Is there are requirement though welfare that she has to take any promotion that she is offered? I am just asking...I don't know the answer.

Actually, that gives me the idea of what would solve this problem. If you are on welfare, you are required to take any raise in salary that you might be offered or face forfeiture of welfare. You may turn it down only with the special permission of your welfare counselor. Anyone who does not receive an increase in salary over a three year period will be audited. That is what should be law.

I think that you miss the point. Wrong is wrong. Our character is determined by what we do willingly. These people described have willingly decided to sponge off of the government instead of working for a living. That might not seem like a big deal to some, but it matters.

What happens if too many people decide that they would prefer to suck on the government tit rather than work for a living? Currently, 38% of Americans collect some money from the government. The percentage increases every year. Who will pay the bills when it reaches the breaking point?