Thousands dropped from food stamps due to work requirements

[KingOrfeo]

What gives society that right?

The fact that the superrich have and wield political power far out of proportion to their numbers, and wield it in their own interests even when that is to the detriment of everyone else's.

 

[KingOrfeo]

Don't believe it, maybe in the very short term, but we see how fast burger technology is coming online to do away with $15 an hour labor in that industry. It won't be long until lettuce picking technology will be introduced, as it has with other crops.

I'm all for technological progress, but technological unemployment as such is always a problem, not a solution.

 

[Ishmael]

I'm for it.

Let's start with the simple fact that starvation has NEVER been a problem in the US. (Donner party excepted.)

I was living and working in DC when the whole 'Food Stamp' movement started. The battle cry was, "Those poor folks in Appalachia. They have to live off of what they can grow. Look how skinny they are. They need access to wholesome supermarket store food!" About every other month from spring on the capitol mall would be lined with booths selling Appalachian folk art and in each quadrant would be a booth from one NGO or another begging for petitions to be signed and handing out the phone numbers and mailing addresses of the various senators and congressmen. The whole PR campaign was organized around the notion that 'white folk' were starving. (Whites are still the largest group of recipients numerically, I haven't bothered to look at the percentages vs overall population in years. I'll leave it to one of you Google wizards to do that.)

So the bill was passed and signed into law. Now here we are going on 60 years later and those "poor skinny folks" are fatter than pigs ready for the slaughter house from having access to all that super market processed food. Makes you wonder just how much of a favor we were doing them? Or maybe the plan was an early death all along.

Ishmael

 

[handysr]

Don't believe it, maybe in the very short term, but we see how fast burger technology is coming online to do away with $15 an hour labor in that industry. It won't be long until lettuce picking technology will be introduced, as it has with other crops.

Oh, I don't believe it. That type of story is designed to make people mad the country is trying to make sure we aren't flooded with illegals making substandard wages.

As it is, we hardly pay "fair" value for food as it is. So much farming and ranching is subsidized by the government it's not even funny.

The jobs aren't glamorous, and they aren't super easy, but they ARE there. People just don't want to do the hard work for low pay because they want to depend on a government funded debit card getting filled every week for doing nothing.

And yes I know it's not everyone. There are people who are working hard and still not making ends meet. They don't always need more benefits, many times they simply need budgeting help and some hope. They also have to want to get self-sufficient.

 

[Rightguide]

I'm all for technological progress, but technological unemployment as such is always a problem, not a solution.

Not of it targets illegal foreigners who don't belong here and corrupt businesses who do not want to compete fairly in the American labor market.

 

[VeraBad]

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/201...ner-Wanted-Secret-Communications-With-Kremlin

 

[handysr]

The fact that the superrich have and wield political power far out of proportion to their numbers, and wield it in their own interests even when that is to the detriment of everyone else's.

It's a bad thing when too few people have too much power, but only in the minds of those who don't have that luxury. But... That's been that way for ever.

So what are you going to do? Take all the money in the world and redistribute it equally to every person? The person once worth $100 Billion is now worth $1mil. He person who was worth -$10 is now a millionaire. Give it a year, and guess what? We're back to an "unequal" bank accounts. It is not sustainable. Even if a society carefully manages the bank accounts, there is no reason for people to succeed. This idea doesn't work, and it never has.

I challenge you to find a socialistic nation that survived by stealing the wealth of others, and expecting more to be there for the taking later. If someone told me that they were going to take 50% of my wealth every month, not only would I be broke very soon, but any new money I got would never be visible.

 

[Rightguide]

Oh, I don't believe it. That type of story is designed to make people mad the country is trying to make sure we aren't flooded with illegals making substandard wages.

As it is, we hardly pay "fair" value for food as it is. So much farming and ranching is subsidized by the government it's not even funny.

The jobs aren't glamorous, and they aren't super easy, but they ARE there. People just don't want to do the hard work for low pay because they want to depend on a government funded debit card getting filled every week for doing nothing.

And yes I know it's not everyone. There are people who are working hard and still not making ends meet. They don't always need more benefits, many times they simply need budgeting help and some hope. They also have to want to get self-sufficient.

Socialists in government have spent decades marginalizing the work ethic and convincing people there's no dignity in certain kinds of productive work, while they create for themselves advocacy kingdoms in government where they can make huge incomes producing nothing for sale.

 

[Fala]

I don't paddle from the same boat as James.

However....I learned from a young age that we ALL HAVE TO WORK.

Unless somebody is disabled, they need to WORK like the rest of us...or else step onto and sail off on the garbage barge.

 

[handysr]

In other words:



http://thumb3.zeppy.io/d/l400/pict/172493848828/ass-grass-or-gas-nobody-rides-free-sticker-funny-jdm-drift-marijuana-cars-window

 

[Jennifer]

The stupid is thick here. Jesus.

 

[handysr]

The stupid is thick here. Jesus.

I know, right? Some people are always wanting to take what isn't theirs. Kinda sad, really.

 

[KingOrfeo]

It's a bad thing when too few people have too much power, but only in the minds of those who don't have that luxury. But... That's been that way for ever.

So what are you going to do? Take all the money in the world and redistribute it equally to every person?

Needn't go that far; a tax system that is openly and intentionally far more progressive and redistributive than what we have now should suffice. Just making the Social Security payroll tax progressive would be a good start, and end concerns for the system's long-term solvency. The nations of Europe have managed to curb much of the power of the rich without going full socialist.

 

[pointless]

The stupid is thick here. Jesus.

well, that and a complete absence of empathy on even the most basic level.

oh, add in no understanding of history or why the welfare state even existed in the first place. hopefully when the riots start some of these cunts will burn. not that they'd learn anything from it, but it's be nice to think they'll at least get a taste of life in the new police state they're attempting to unleash.

 

[Fala]

The stupid is thick here. Jesus.

I hope your comment wasn't about me?

And Pointless...I possess empathy for many....people, animals.

I put my money where my mouth is.

...and I put my sweat into work all my life.

Jesus is here. Bet on it...but for whom?

 

[Fala]

I found this in another article:

Those who receive benefits must work at least 20 hours a week, be enrolled in state-approved job training, or volunteer for a state-approved non-profit or charity.

When I googled for more articles on this I noticed none of the lefty media outlets were writing about this. I guess it can't be spun in their favor.

I *am* a lefty and I still think everyone needs to pull their own weight. I do have sympathy and absolutely believe that there are people who cannot manage to work or otherwise care for themselves.

These are the people that that need help.

Not those who just choose NOT to work and expect everyone else in society to pay their way.

Fuck it....take off on the garbage barge....bon voyage!

edited to say....woo hoo! FREE JOB TRAINING! Fuck...why did I work two fucking jobs to put myself thru school. *just ain't no emoticon....*

 

[Ishmael]

I *am* a lefty and I still think everyone needs to pull their own weight. I do have sympathy and absolutely believe that there are people who cannot manage to work or otherwise care for themselves.

These are the people that that need help.

Not those who just choose NOT to work and expect everyone else in society to pay their way.

Fuck it....take off on the garbage barge....bon voyage!

edited to say....woo hoo! FREE JOB TRAINING! Fuck...why did I work two fucking jobs to put myself thru school. *just ain't no emoticon....*

What is NOT reported is that there are exceptions. Like mothers with minor children not able to attend daycare, the seriously ill, those with serious physical disabilities.

Ishmael

 

[magicalmoments]

It seems true of most societies that have a welfare system in place. That is, the State puts a lot of effort into managing those on welfare by limiting access to benefits by a wide range of entitlement tests. Yes, this is necessary to control the bludgers and free riders but it does hurt a lot of those who have genuine need.

However, it is noticeable that the State does not put the same level of resource into managing tax dodgers and deadbeat dad's who are dodging their obligations. The potential savings or revenue enhancement from monitoring tax dodgers is far greater than savings that may come from bashing the beneficiaries.

It seems bashing beneficiaries gathers more votes than bashing tax dodgers.

 

[Fala]

What is NOT reported is that there are exceptions. Like mothers with minor children not able to attend daycare, the seriously ill, those with serious physical disabilities.

Ishmael

" I do have sympathy and absolutely believe that there are people who cannot manage to work or otherwise care for themselves.

These are the people that that need help. "

I am well aware of the 'exceptions'...those were included in my above comment.

I do a lot for people who can't do for themselves in my community. Maybe that's why I'm so pissed off when the 30 year old deadbeat drug dealer next door steals their wallet...and other things these old people have worked for all their lives.

Fuckin' dude doesn't belong on the garbage barge...he deserves to be strapped to the hull sucking barnacles.

Meh...I'm probably not in a good place to be posting tonight.

g'nite.

 

[HisArpy]

You obviously haven't looked for work lately have you?

I think what you should do is stop judging people and acting like everything is easy out there.

Then go to hell with James and Rightguide and watch them lick each other's nuts

I don't judge people. Not even you. I don't like your attitude, but I don't judge you for having it.

What's funny is that you're totally wrong about what I said. Go back and read it again to see what you missed. Pay attention to the part where I said I support this program.

Here's something you don't know: I work every day with people who have lost everything or are about to lose everything. It's my job to help them figure out a path through it. I know EXACTLY how difficult things are for most people, probably more than you ever will. I actually get to see their financial records which YOU don't. What they have for assets, their liabilities, what their actual income from all sources is, what their expenses are, their income/debt ratio, all of it.

You know what ALL of the people I deal with every day have in common? NONE of them gave a shit about their future. It was all about scarfing as much credit as they could and fuck paying for it tomorrow. Just to show off to everyone how well they were doing financially. Oh, and the guy who comes calling to collect? He's the devil who wants to take all their stuff from them and make them suffer so that he can just get richer.

Not one of them care about WHY they're in the situation they're in. And half of them will default on their account to me leaving ME screwed by them too just because I couldn't magically make it all just go away.

From there, you know what I do see that gives me heart? A lot of self entrepreneurs. You think that guy with the push cart lounges around his house all day complaining about how Trump wants to deport him or about how the rich don't pay their fair share? No. He gets out and pushes/pedals his cart. Because if he don't, he don't sell his stuff and earn a living so he can pay his rent. Or pay for any of the other things most people have to pay for in society today. And the coolest part about it is that he probably didn't WANT to be a push cart vendor. Yet that's what he is. And he makes money. Not a lot, but he isn't on the dole either.

Same for the taco truck guy. Or the guy driving the Fed Ex van (who is probably an independent contractor & NOT an "employee" of Fed Ex - read the side of the van and look to see who owns it. If it's not Fed Ex, it'll say so right on the van.). Or the plumbing guy who got laid off and now does plumbing (and other things) as a handyman. Ditto for the framer/carpenter who's sitting through classes to become a licensed contractor.

THEY all got off their asses to make their future happen rather than rely on the Gov to save them. And I respect them for it.

I also reiterate, I SUPPORT this program because sometimes people need help. That doesn't mean they should get a free ride, if they're capable of helping themselves, instead of making the State pay for everything.

 

[HisArpy]

They'd sell drugs. Or themselves. Or both.

It's illegal in many places to cut hair in your kitchen or fix cars in your driveway. More right wing laws to extract licensing or permit fees and to protect chain businesses who donate to campaigns.

This is true. But it is also illegal for a 7 year old to sell lemonade on the sidewalk in front of their house without a health permit and inspection. Have a consulting business in your home? That's illegal too. Store items in your garage to sell at the weekly swap meet? Illegal.

Yet people do this or something like it every day. Because they want to succeed. And where there's a will, there's a way.

 

[spacekowboy]

Yep, lets let the people who need help the most go ahead and starve so we can save a few bucks.

Because fuck em! They're poor.

 

[Ishmael]

Yep, lets let the people who need help the most go ahead and starve so we can save a few bucks.

Fucking idiot.

Ishmael

 

[AngeloMichael]

No. Just fucking no. What right do you have to tell someone else they must give away their wealth so you feel better? I'm not rich, but I help out in various ways to help those less fortunate. You know, by my own free will. I don't ask for praise, a volunteer t-shirt, or adoring fans. I don't care if nobody knows, but I know the recipients are thankful, and that's enough. But to be forced by law to have my property taken against my will? No, fuck off.

There are tons of people who can work, but won't, so why should they be freeloaders on my dime? This story is about people with no kids and physically able to work, and people are still upset that the big meanie government is taking away their freebies. This isn't taking food away from babies or the mentally/physically challenged, it's from those who can provide for themselves but won't.

I can't fathom the amount of laziness and the lack of self-respect needed to maintain that life.

What right do the wealthy few have to dictate policies to the many just because they are rich enough to have politicians in their pockets?

In power there is wealth and in wealth there is power. The power must not go unchecked.

 

[spacekowboy]

Fucking idiot.

Ishmael

Twisted old cunt.