Welfare reform

[Matt]

Why is this not an issue? I just stood in line at the grocery store behind someone using food stamps, to pay for pretty much all junk, candy, chips, soda. Not a thing of any substance...it gets worse, he was buying **** for his friends...now here's the kicker...Afterwards, the kid bought cigarettes. Not only did he pull out a roll of at least 300 dollars, the cashier carded him. I caught a glimpse of his ID...he was born in 87. This kid is 18 or 19 and using welfare. He was able bodied, he had cash, why the hell was he on welfare? It is time for a major reform of the welfare program.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I agree that welfare does need to be reformed into a more effective system.

 

[Darthphere]

Why is this not an issue? I just stood in line at the grocery store behind someone using food stamps, to pay for pretty much all junk, candy, chips, soda. Not a thing of any substance...it gets worse, he was buying **** for his friends...now here's the kicker...Afterwards, the kid bought cigarettes. Not only did he pull out a roll of at least 300 dollars, the cashier carded him. I caught a glimpse of his ID...he was born in 87. This kid is 18 or 19 and using welfare. He was able bodied, he had cash, why the hell was he on welfare? It is time for a major reform of the welfare program.

This is what I get mad about when they throw out how much illegal immigrants cost the government each year, when you know, theyre working. They never compare it to figures like how much welfare the government hands out.

 

[Truthteller]

Why is this not an issue? I just stood in line at the grocery store behind someone using food stamps, to pay for pretty much all junk, candy, chips, soda. Not a thing of any substance...it gets worse, he was buying **** for his friends...now here's the kicker...Afterwards, the kid bought cigarettes. Not only did he pull out a roll of at least 300 dollars, the cashier carded him. I caught a glimpse of his ID...he was born in 87. This kid is 18 or 19 and using welfare. He was able bodied, he had cash, why the hell was he on welfare? It is time for a major reform of the welfare program.

DAMN! Have you checked this position with the DNC Matt?! I'm surprised to hear you say it. But I must relay that I had a very similar experience:

Same setup, I was in the Grocery store, standing in line at the register. I was buying needed food stuff for the family (3 kids, my wife and I) - I had apples, bananas, bread, maybe I had some bacon or something like that too. We are not health food nuts, but we eat reasonable. The person in front of me was a HUGE lady. I mean not just plump, but she had to be 400 lbs or more. Her cart was literally stuffed to overflowing with cases of soda and large size bags of potato chips. She paid for it with food stamps. And none of it was real "food" as in nurishment, it was all junk. So I hear ya man.

 

[Darthphere]

There was a rough patch when my family was on food stamps. We didnt buy chips and stuff but once in a while we'd indulge and buy a good steak or some fish, maybe shrimp.

 

[Truthteller]

What got me was the combination of what she was buying and her enoumous size, I mean this was one of the most over weight persons I have ever seen. And the stuff she was buying was not going to help with that.

 

[Darthphere]

What got me was the combination of what she was buying and her enoumous size, I mean this was one of the most over weight persons I have ever seen. And the stuff she was buying was not going to help with that.

I used to work at a supermarket and one lady couldnt fit through the checkout lane.

 

[Drakon]

Why is this not an issue? I just stood in line at the grocery store behind someone using food stamps, to pay for pretty much all junk, candy, chips, soda. Not a thing of any substance...it gets worse, he was buying **** for his friends...now here's the kicker...Afterwards, the kid bought cigarettes. Not only did he pull out a roll of at least 300 dollars, the cashier carded him. I caught a glimpse of his ID...he was born in 87. This kid is 18 or 19 and using welfare. He was able bodied, he had cash, why the hell was he on welfare? It is time for a major reform of the welfare program.

As someone who isn't entirely able-bodied [right leg prostetic] and in desperate need of a little extra cash [my leg is 10 years old, and I apparantly make too much money for government assistance] this infuriates me.

Now, I'm not saying that I want/need foodstamps, but I am saying that there are other people who deserve them more than anyone else, like this bastard. 50 bucks says he was selling pot for that money.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I used to work at a supermarket and one lady couldnt fit through the checkout lane.

Supermarket checkouts should be redesigned, it's obviously prejudice against overweight people.

 

[Darthphere]

Supermarket checkouts should be redesigned, it's obviously prejudice against overweight people.

Or people could lose weight?

 

[StorminNorman]

Welfare needs major reform - I am all for supporting Soup Kitchens, Shelters, etc to help the homeless and all for giving aid to those workin jobs and still are having problems paying for the basic comforts of life - but to simply pay people not to work is ridiculous.

 

[jaguarr]

I've seen similar things at the grocery store as well. Welfare needs some serious reform.

jag

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Why is this not an issue? I just stood in line at the grocery store behind someone using food stamps, to pay for pretty much all junk, candy, chips, soda. Not a thing of any substance...it gets worse, he was buying **** for his friends...now here's the kicker...Afterwards, the kid bought cigarettes. Not only did he pull out a roll of at least 300 dollars, the cashier carded him. I caught a glimpse of his ID...he was born in 87. This kid is 18 or 19 and using welfare. He was able bodied, he had cash, why the hell was he on welfare? It is time for a major reform of the welfare program.

What the hell are you talking about. Look for information then post. Welfare HAS BEEN an issue in the Senate since 1996, a HUGE ISSUE. Hence why Clinton ran on the "end Welfare as we know it" slogan, and why he passed this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Responsibility_and_Work_Opportunity_Act. However like most policies it is not perfect nor will welfare ever be perfect, however we have nearly cut Welfare expendatures in half since Reagan and dropped significantly since 94. In the state of South Carolina alone Welfare costs went from 40 million annually to 24 million annually. Furthermore the workforce increased in that time, and several urban housing projects have been turned into partnerships with great success, like Eastwood. True there are some people who mooch of Welfare, however now the stipulation is you have to work. Whether you quit your job or not at the end of two years when your Welfare expires is still somewhat of a problem, although not as bad. So no the welfare is not in SERIOUS need of reform, nor can people just live off welfare anymore.

Furthermore the junk food issue has nothing to do with welfare and everything to do with the competitive food market. You honestly expect people to pay more for food that does not taste as good, has less flavor additives, no addictive properties and is more expensive just because he should be healthy. That is DHHS department, not Welfare.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Or people could lose weight?

But it's not the person's fault for being fat, it the corporations fault that make bad food taste so good. Also, who's gonna buy more food the fatty or a skinny person? Gotta accomadate your best customers...

 

[lazur]

Why is this not an issue? I just stood in line at the grocery store behind someone using food stamps, to pay for pretty much all junk, candy, chips, soda. Not a thing of any substance...it gets worse, he was buying **** for his friends...now here's the kicker...Afterwards, the kid bought cigarettes. Not only did he pull out a roll of at least 300 dollars, the cashier carded him. I caught a glimpse of his ID...he was born in 87. This kid is 18 or 19 and using welfare. He was able bodied, he had cash, why the hell was he on welfare? It is time for a major reform of the welfare program.

Uh huh, and I bet he's among the typical less fortunate who also 'can't afford' health insurance. He has a roll of at least $300, but he can't afford a $70 a month payment to Kaiser Permanente for health insurance.

What a crisis the health care system is in .

 

[lazur]

What the hell are you talking about. Look for information then post. Welfare HAS BEEN an issue in the Senate since 1996, a HUGE ISSUE. Hence why Clinton ran on the "end Welfare as we know it" slogan, and why he passed this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Responsibility_and_Work_Opportunity_Act. However like most policies it is not perfect nor will welfare ever be perfect, however we have nearly cut Welfare expendatures in half since Reagan and dropped significantly since 94. In the state of South Carolina alone Welfare costs went from 40 million annually to 24 million annually. Furthermore the workforce increased in that time, and several urban housing projects have been turned into partnerships with great success, like Eastwood. True there are some people who mooch of Welfare, however now the stipulation is you have to work. Whether you quit your job or not at the end of two years when your Welfare expires is still somewhat of a problem, although not as bad. So no the welfare is not in SERIOUS need of reform, nor can people just live off welfare anymore.

Furthermore the junk food issue has nothing to do with welfare and everything to do with the competitive food market. You honestly expect people to pay more for food that does not taste as good, has less flavor additives, no addictive properties and is more expensive just because he should be healthy. That is DHHS department, not Welfare.

If Bush does anything about welfare, he'll just be accused of 'taking the focus off Iraq'.

 

[Lackey]

...and people say FDR was a good president.



Welfare Reform - get rid of it. It's unconstitutional.

 

[Superman79]

welfare has "a good heart" but no brains...the system is fundamentally flawed, easily abused, and (if you wanna throw the current fave issue immigration in there) too easily attained by those who don't need it/shouldn't have it (legal citizens and illegals alike).

Trash it, find a new way to help people out, cause it's not working and who ends up paying for the dysfunction??? The middle class. That is not how it should be.

 

[MakeMineMarvel]

Although I personally am for welfare being dropped as it is right now, I don't know what someone's eating habits have to do with anything. If you get food stamps and spend it on chips and soda, that's up to you. I do have an issue with someone pulling out a wad of cash after paying for stuff with food stamps however.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Although I personally am for welfare being dropped as it is right now, I don't know what someone's eating habits have to do with anything. If you get food stamps and spend it on chips and soda, that's up to you. I do have an issue with someone pulling out a wad of cash after paying for stuff with food stamps however.

But people should not abuse the welfare system to just get what they want. Food stamps should be used to get the basic needs: bread, butter, pasta, some meat (like hamburgers, hot dogs, etc.), cheese, milk, eggs, sandwich materials, etc. Not soda, chips, candy, steak, lobster, etc.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

If Bush does anything about welfare, he'll just be accused of 'taking the focus off Iraq'.

He has, it just does not make news. He expanded TANF. Pushed for faith based organizations to become involved. He also created housing vouchers. He encouraged a marriage bill to help and give encouragement to marriage amongst the welfare community.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

George W Bush on Welfare
I tried to find articles that were not critiquing these policies, although all policies can be critiqued, these being no exception--however I should note several groups including femenist coalitions, academia and Welfare organizations have been critical
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/02/26/welfare.reform/index.html
http://www.issues2000.org/George_W__Bush_Welfare_&_Poverty.htm
http://www.results.org/website/article.asp?id=251
http://www.asgoodasnews.com/volume_1/issue_2/bush_proposes_welfare.html

 

[D.Rex]

As someone who was at one point on the asissted living program (as a child my family qualified for the food stamps program because my father had 5 depedants and made under a certain amount of money). I can tell you that that the program does help people and should not be eliminated entirely. That is extremely unfair to the people who legitametly need it. However it is in need of reform as it is being abused by many. The system should be monitored closer and recipeints should be checked up on more throughly. Those that aren't holding up their end of the bargain (ex:those that aren't trying to get a job at all, those who abuse the program by buying unnecassary items, other chronic offenders should have their payments stopped) I don't know enough about the issue to completely outline a new program (I was pretty young only around 8 when my family was on it and we eventully got off the program when my father got a better paying job and my mother was able to return to work) (I know there is a lot more to it than that) but you get the idea.

 

[Darthphere]

He has, it just does not make news. He expanded TANF. Pushed for faith based organizations to become involved. He also created housing vouchers. He encouraged a marriage bill to help and give encouragement to marriage amongst the welfare community.

Except gay marriage.

 

[Immortalfire]

Agreed, giving money to someone who can work but won't work, is absurd.