ParrotHead Posted April 14, 2005 Report Share Posted April 14, 2005 I say that if we don;t get back to a government that is elected by the people and is FOR THE PEOPLE then no, we won;t survive. What I find astounding is we continue to put representatives in place that do absoultly nothing for us! Most governments (history dictates) never last more than 200 years - we're working on borrowed time right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeStandBowHunter Posted April 14, 2005 Report Share Posted April 14, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? [ QUOTE ] Think a minute, [/ QUOTE ] I am brother, trust me...but I can't figure it out. What exactly are you saying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 15, 2005 Report Share Posted April 15, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? Think what you are getting at is that the common working class people are supporting everyone in this country. Think about it and discuss it all the time and it makes me sick. There are too many handouts in this country and too much encouragement to be lazy and live on governmental systems designed to help out people in need only in their time of need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted April 17, 2005 Report Share Posted April 17, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? Bumper sticker I saw a few weeks back. "Keep up the hard work, thousands of people on welfare depend on you. (yes, I'm going to thow a bible reference in here) Have you read Revilations? Every day is one day closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? the end of our lifestyle is near Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? you'll see Canada fall first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingInMaine Posted April 19, 2005 Report Share Posted April 19, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? [ QUOTE ] Unfortunatley WELFARE is a state of being not a tool of getting back into society. Before I am condemned for ignorance and hatefullness, I have family members working the welfare system. They make much more than I do. Dan [/ QUOTE ] I am a divorced mother of two boys (I left an abusive alcoholic husband who tried to kill me one night because I "looked at him funny") who is going to school through a "welfare" program and am really sick of hearing how "every person on welfare is nothing but lazy and looking for a free hand out." It is HUMILIATING to receive public assistance. It is DEMEANING to know that your current situation leaves you unable to support yourself or children. I am given $485 a month and $320 of that is child support the state collects from my ex. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but I don't see how anyone is getting rich on welfare. (Yes, there are too many who abuse this system, but lots of people like me who can't wait to be done with them!) When I left my husband the only marketable skill I had was woolen mill work and day care provider. Well, the woolen mill work went over to Russia and day care provider didn't make enough money to support my family. It was fine when I was married and my husband was also working, but alone it wasn't enough. My only choice was to apply for state aid and they are helping me go to school (I pay my tuition and books, they give me money to get through the month.) Many times I can't afford to pay for the sports my boys want to play, and while I could apply for a fee waiver, I instead trade off my help with the sport so my kids can play. The last few Christmas's have been low on presents from me because I am too embarassed to apply for the free presents some groups gather for low income families. (the kids DO get lots of presents from the rest of the family, but I haven't been able to give them the Christmas I would like to give them) My point is this, you don't know why someone is in the situation they are, and you don't know what they are doing to change their situation! It's easy to point the finger and say that they are all lazy and looking to suck up your tax dollars, but maybe they had some bad luck and are working their butts off to make their lives better for themselves and their family. Please know that this isn't directed only at you, but at all the people who have made this wide sweeping judgement against people who really need this help if they are going to have a better tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted April 19, 2005 Report Share Posted April 19, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? No, America will fall, just as once did the great Romans! Come on Bud, get a clue. Complaining about welfare and giving in to special interest groups, gives self-indulgent blow hards something to do with themselves. Take her easy, I think the good ol USA will be around for a while huh? And I guess if we are around to support her, Canada will be around too (just joking Buckee ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronS Posted April 19, 2005 Report Share Posted April 19, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? Dan, unfortunately our country is going to heck in a handbasket, and I don't see it turning around any time soon. HuntingInMaine, I commend you for what you're doing for yourself and your family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slugshooter Posted April 19, 2005 Report Share Posted April 19, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? Thanks for your candor HuntinginMaine, it's nice to see somene stick up for themself when faced with a sweeping judgement against people in their situation. There are people who abuse the system, I find it very hard to believe that someone on welfare is making more than 30 Grand a year like the statement you quoted. Doesn't the government pay people to live in Alaska, I have family there and they get money just for living in Alaska. I've gotten unemployment once in my life for a couple months, and even that is demeaning, as is everyone elses feelings that I have personally known that have collected welfare or food stamps. I don't think anyone likes to be on government assistance, the problem is the far right journalists like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, tell their listeners that everyone on welfare and government assistance is abusing the system, if people would sit back and look at peoples situations, they would find that the abusers of the system are in the minority, and from most responses on this topic in previous months, it seems that the majority on here think that anyone on the system is abusing it, when they have no knowledge of the people on it and only know what Hannity or Limbaugh tells them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimT Posted April 20, 2005 Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Unfortunatley WELFARE is a state of being not a tool of getting back into society. Before I am condemned for ignorance and hatefullness, I have family members working the welfare system. They make much more than I do. Dan [/ QUOTE ] I am a divorced mother of two boys (I left an abusive alcoholic husband who tried to kill me one night because I "looked at him funny") who is going to school through a "welfare" program and am really sick of hearing how "every person on welfare is nothing but lazy and looking for a free hand out." It is HUMILIATING to receive public assistance. It is DEMEANING to know that your current situation leaves you unable to support yourself or children. I am given $485 a month and $320 of that is child support the state collects from my ex. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but I don't see how anyone is getting rich on welfare. (Yes, there are too many who abuse this system, but lots of people like me who can't wait to be done with them!) When I left my husband the only marketable skill I had was woolen mill work and day care provider. Well, the woolen mill work went over to Russia and day care provider didn't make enough money to support my family. It was fine when I was married and my husband was also working, but alone it wasn't enough. My only choice was to apply for state aid and they are helping me go to school (I pay my tuition and books, they give me money to get through the month.) Many times I can't afford to pay for the sports my boys want to play, and while I could apply for a fee waiver, I instead trade off my help with the sport so my kids can play. The last few Christmas's have been low on presents from me because I am too embarassed to apply for the free presents some groups gather for low income families. (the kids DO get lots of presents from the rest of the family, but I haven't been able to give them the Christmas I would like to give them) My point is this, you don't know why someone is in the situation they are, and you don't know what they are doing to change their situation! It's easy to point the finger and say that they are all lazy and looking to suck up your tax dollars, but maybe they had some bad luck and are working their butts off to make their lives better for themselves and their family. Please know that this isn't directed only at you, but at all the people who have made this wide sweeping judgement against people who really need this help if they are going to have a better tomorrow. [/ QUOTE ] Your on the right track for sure Linda..... Life is full of curve balls. Yours hit you in the face, mine have just glanced me so far. Any of us could be in your position....It probably took alot to write that...Your stock just went up with me {again}...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted April 20, 2005 Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Unfortunatley WELFARE is a state of being not a tool of getting back into society. Before I am condemned for ignorance and hatefullness, I have family members working the welfare system. They make much more than I do. Dan [/ QUOTE ] I am a divorced mother of two boys (I left an abusive alcoholic husband who tried to kill me one night because I "looked at him funny") who is going to school through a "welfare" program and am really sick of hearing how "every person on welfare is nothing but lazy and looking for a free hand out." It is HUMILIATING to receive public assistance. It is DEMEANING to know that your current situation leaves you unable to support yourself or children. I am given $485 a month and $320 of that is child support the state collects from my ex. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but I don't see how anyone is getting rich on welfare. (Yes, there are too many who abuse this system, but lots of people like me who can't wait to be done with them!) When I left my husband the only marketable skill I had was woolen mill work and day care provider. Well, the woolen mill work went over to Russia and day care provider didn't make enough money to support my family. It was fine when I was married and my husband was also working, but alone it wasn't enough. My only choice was to apply for state aid and they are helping me go to school (I pay my tuition and books, they give me money to get through the month.) Many times I can't afford to pay for the sports my boys want to play, and while I could apply for a fee waiver, I instead trade off my help with the sport so my kids can play. The last few Christmas's have been low on presents from me because I am too embarassed to apply for the free presents some groups gather for low income families. (the kids DO get lots of presents from the rest of the family, but I haven't been able to give them the Christmas I would like to give them) My point is this, you don't know why someone is in the situation they are, and you don't know what they are doing to change their situation! It's easy to point the finger and say that they are all lazy and looking to suck up your tax dollars, but maybe they had some bad luck and are working their butts off to make their lives better for themselves and their family. Please know that this isn't directed only at you, but at all the people who have made this wide sweeping judgement against people who really need this help if they are going to have a better tomorrow. [/ QUOTE ] You are absolutely right. For you and me(I'm collecting unemployment at the moment) Government money is what we have paid into the system and are getting back at a hard point in our lives. However, there are far to many people that abuse the system. As a counselor working for a non-profit agency I have seen far too many people that use bogus disability claims to stay on welfare and SSDI(socialsecurity disability) Before anyone reams me for calling them bogus claims...That is my job...I evaluate peoples mental health. I have helped many people get on welfare or other assistance when they needed it. I just have a problem with the ones that do abuse it. Welfare has a finite amount of money...if the bozos who abuse it would get a job and get on their own feet...there would be more money for people (like HuntinginMaine) that realy need it. As to seeing someone getting $30g a year...I havent seen that...but when you add the insurance coverage the tax breaks and food stamps etc into the pot I have seen some that have a better bottom line than I did at $30g salary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted April 20, 2005 Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? Linda I'm sorry if I made you feel bad, that was not my intent. Actually it sounds like your situation is a classic example of what government assistance was intended for. I have absoloutely no problem in helping people who need it. When I was young we moved from CA to Arksansas and the job my dad was promised wasn't there. I don't remember how long we were on assistance, but I know that we were. I do remember traveling to a different town to grocery shop because my mom didn't want to be seen using food stamps. We were on them untill my dad got a job and we were on our feet. My only problem with welfare is people who can work who won't. I've also got a friend who got his girlfriend pregnant in the 11th grade. After they graduated they both went to college and were on assistance the entire time. Sence then they have together paid in 5 times in taxes what they recieved in assistance. These type situtions are what the welfare system is designed to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 20, 2005 Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? [ QUOTE ] My only problem with welfare is people who can work who won't. [/ QUOTE ] That is the biggest part of the problem. Not everyone is like Linda. I would venture to say most probably are not. Furthering yourself and putting yourself in a position to be free of any assistance and helping out in a time of need unless I am mistaken is what the systems were deigned for. Not to carry you indefinitely because you do not want to work or because you are popping kids out right and left becuase you are too ignorant to understand the concept of birth control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingInMaine Posted April 20, 2005 Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? I am not angry at anyone, just wanted to point out that not everyone receiving aid from the government wants a hand out so they can sit on their butts and do nothing. When I signed up to receive benefits the state of Maine requires you to attend a two hour meeting explaining what the state can do to help you, and also what is expected of you. The state says you MUST be working at least part time and they will help you find employement, clothes needed for the job, ect. You are only allowed 5 years of state aid, but there are circumstances (birth of a child, time spent in education, ect.) that can lengthen your allowed time. I sat in a room full of women who were complaining that they would have to work! I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but they felt some sort of entitlement to free money without having to do something to earn it. I know all too well how people are scamming the system and how this hurts everyone. Just wanted to remind you that not all of us enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronS Posted April 20, 2005 Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? [ QUOTE ] For you and me(I'm collecting unemployment at the moment) Government money is what we have paid into the system and are getting back at a hard point in our lives. [/ QUOTE ] Sorry but this is an all too common misconception that is absolutely false. Unemployment benefits are funded by a tax on employers. Benefits paid to a former employee are withdrawn from the employer's unemployment account. If benefits paid are greater than the taxes collected, the employer's unemployment account goes into the red, and they are sent a bill by the state and must write a check to bring it back into the black. Employees contribute zip to unemployment. That's how it works in this state, I can't say with certainty that it is the same in the other 49. Check into how it works in your state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slugshooter Posted April 21, 2005 Report Share Posted April 21, 2005 Re: Can we survive at this pace? [ QUOTE ] I tend to get disgruntled in my new urban environment. [/ QUOTE ] Funny, I never thought of any environment in Alaska as being "urban" exept maybe Anchorage, and even that's not all that urban is it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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