What's Wrong with the economy, a nutshsell synopis

[Pseudomind]

Someone who goes by this pseudonym, "taxed-891387" posted this comment to this article:

Congressional aides: Budget deficit to hit $1.5 trillion

taxed-891387
Since the mid 60's we have spent $16 Trillion on means tested government giveaway programs. We are now $14 Trillion in debt and have 43 million people on food stamps, over 40 million kids getting free school lunches, 9 million more on WIC, about 8 million in subsidized housing, 71 million households not paying taxes because of EITC and the Child Tax Credit and about 49 million on Medicaid. Does anybody really think more debt or more taxes to pay for more giveaway programs is really going to help anything? How can a tax system be called "fair" when 47% of households are getting a free ride on the backs of the 53% who are paying income tax and carrying their own weight in society? What part of that is fair? If you pay people to be poor, they will be poor. If you pay them to have more kids than they can afford, they will have more kids. They know that as soon as they can say "in need" and "at risk" they will qualify for the money that somebody else expended a part of their life earning. Why should they be responsible when they can qualify for somebody else's earnings? This is just plain wrong and there is nothing fair about it. And no - I am not wealthy, just sick and tired of paying other people's bills.

I thought it pretty much hits the nail squarely on the head.

:smt024 And contrary to what so many folks today believe there is no such thing as a utopia, never has been and probably never will be, whether it is in religion, all religions, all forms of goverment, etc. :smt024

Because you always will have to have someone to shovel ch!t and there will be someone who wants to tell someone they have to shovel ch!t :huh:

 

[spikedaddy99]

Amen!:smt038

 

[comsnark]

<<deleted>>

 

[tdschafer]

That does seem to sum it up , somewhat.

 

[jason78]

I would say that sums it up pretty well. I think the biggest thing is that so many people have become just plain lazy and lost the desire to succeed or do better. They would rather live at poverty level and depend on handouts rather than working hard to succeed. Sure, there are exceptions, but it appears more often now, people would rather just receive benefits.

It seems more frequently every week that I get stuck behind the person at the store who is using a food stamp card. Many of those times 200 or 300 dollars in groceries are bought with food stamps then after they use the Stamp card for that, they buy another $100 worth of cigarettes and beer with cash. Funny how they can afford all this other crap but they need to be on Stamps.

I believe in the spirit of living assistance (a.k.a welfare)for those in need, the problem is they depend on the individual to be motivated to pull themselves out of poverty. What used to be short term assistance has turned in to a lifestyle for many. A lot of the problem is the government. That is why I choose to donate to a few select private charities. I have found the charities who provide direct assistance to individuals actually take the time to investigate to make sure the one receiving benefits is really in need. It seems easier for the government just to cut a check to satisfy the requestor and in many cases by doing so securing continued votes for politicians of one party in particular.

 

[floriduramax1]

I would say that sums it up pretty well. I think the biggest thing is that so many people have become just plain lazy and lost the desire to succeed or do better. They would rather live at poverty level and depend on handouts rather than working hard to succeed. Sure, there are exceptions, but it appears more often now, people would rather just receive benefits.

It seems more frequently every week that I get stuck behind the person at the store who is using a food stamp card. Many of those times 200 or 300 dollars in groceries are bought with food stamps then after they use the Stamp card for that, they buy another $100 worth of cigarettes and beer with cash. Funny how they can afford all this other crap but they need to be on Stamps.

I believe in the spirit of living assistance (a.k.a welfare)for those in need, the problem is they depend on the individual to be motivated to pull themselves out of poverty. What used to be short term assistance has turned in to a lifestyle for many. A lot of the problem is the government. That is why I choose to donate to a few select private charities. I have found the charities who provide direct assistance to individuals actually take the time to investigate to make sure the one receiving benefits is really in need. It seems easier for the government just to cut a check to satisfy the requestor and in many cases by doing so securing continued votes for politicians of one party in particular.

So do you see a way to get the people who are milking the system and have for a lifetime off the system and to work? I don't see it happening. I hope I'm wrong, but one day I see this coming to a "head" and I don't think it will end well:smt013:smt021 Us working folk will, in time, get sick..so sick... of this crap that something will change. And I for one am ready!!!!

 

[jason78]

So do you see a way to get the people who are milking the system and have for a lifetime off the system and to work?

Nope, I sure don't. The problem has gotten so bad it would be nearly impossible to figure out who was really in need and who is not. The fact that votes are basically being bought with welfare benefits make the problem even worse. Especially when, unfortunately, poverty seems to propogate itself more often than correct itself.

Sorry to generalize, but if you look at a family with 5 or 6 kids that is on welfare, chances are the kids will lead a similiar life. Sad but true. I don't have 5 or 6 kids because I can't afford to raise them and send them to college while living the lifestyle I like to live. For that reason I take responsible measures to ensure I don't have kids I can't afford. Someone who has never been taught responsibility is too lazy to go get FREE birth control available at EVERY health clinic in the US, they just keep having kids because they know the kids will be taken care of. I know this is not a myth because unfortunately I know several people who are in this very scenario.

The easy answer is to just put a time limit on benefits. Problem is there are some that need to be on permanent benefits for a legitimate reason. There must be a solution though. The 50% +/- of people who actually pay taxes is no doubt shrinking and eventually the people paying the benefits will not be able to sustain those on the benefits.

I think a good first step is make sure no one's tax return can EVER exceed what they paid in. If they get it all back because they are poor, fine, but why are we handing thousands of dollars to people as a "return" when it exceeds what they paid in to begin with.

 

[CROSE]

Monthly drug and alcohol testing might be a good place to start.

 

[jason78]

Monthly drug and alcohol testing might be a good place to start.

I agree but what do you plan to do if someone fails? No matter what happens, I am quite certain the government is not going to let kids starve because the parents smoke crack and I wouldn't be willing to either. Can't take the kids away because that is a violation of civil liberties, right? This is what makes it so tough.

I won't get in to details but a close friend once called DSS on a family who had no power during the winter. The family had a couple kids and the father simply would not work and the power got shut off. DSS told my friend if they had a heating source there was nothing DSS could do. She told them the power was out so there is no heating source, to which they replied, "we consider a blanket a heating source".

 

[CROSE]

Well, I had to pee in a cup in order to get my job. If I did drugs and got fired, would my employer care if my children starved? Of course I could always go on welfare. :smt021

If a welfare recipient is spending their benefit money on drugs or alcohol, they are already taking away from their children.

I don't suggest cutting the family off. If they test positive, reduce the welfare benefit by an appropriate percentage (25% for a family of 4) and force them into treatment.

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

When we get 100 percent participation in the welfare state we will finally all be in the same boat. :grin:

 

[CV-23]

Wow!.....I agree with every post. Life as we know it will get more exspensive with this Middle East unrest and entitlement fraud here in the US, Mike.