TSA Confiscates Congressman’s Last Meal During Food Stamp Challenge
TSA Confiscates Congressman’s Last Meal During Food Stamp Challenge
Today, four members of Congress conclude the Congressional Food Stamp Challenge, in which lawmakers chose to live “on three dollars of food per day, the same amount an average participant in the Food Stamp Program receives.”
One of the participants, Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), “stuck to the challenge” even as he traveled to speak at his alma mater’s commencement exercises, bringing along his “pasta and sauce, as well as the last of my jelly, peanut butter, and bread.” After the ceremony and late for his plane, he rushed through the airport choosing not to check his bags to save time. He writes:
I step up to the metal detector, take my shoes off, place my bag through the scanner and come out the other side to the most dreaded words in travel, “Bag Check!” [...]
As the agent sifted though my bag, I tried to recount what could possibly be in there that was threatening… my mouthwash? Toothpaste? Yeah, it was those two, but it was also my peanut butter and jelly. [...]
He politely put the peanut butter and jelly to the side, closed my bag and gave it back to me. I was too astonished to talk. I took my bag and walked towards the gate thinking about the 4 or maybe 5 meals that she had taken from me. What am I going to do now? It’s not like I can just go to Safeway and grab another jar. I have .33 cents and a bag of cornmeal to last today and tomorrow.
While Ryan took the loss in stride, comforted by the fact that he could soon lift his $21/week spending limit come Tuesday, one in 10 Americans constantly live with such restrictions and “over 80 percent of food stamp benefits go to families with children.”
Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) explained that “nearly 36 million Americans” do not “consistently have enough food to feed themselves or their families.”
He added that on such a low budget there’s “no organic foods, no fresh vegetables, we were looking for the cheapest of everything.” “We got spaghetti and hamburger meat that was high in fat — the fattiest meat on the shelf. … It’s almost impossible to make healthy choices on a food stamp diet.”
You can read more about the Food Stamp Challenge and H.R. 2129, Feeding America’s Families Act HERE.
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call me crazy, but it's INSANE that every single American is searched like a potential criminal, and the most harmless items are taken from us.....this is nothing more than treating us like dogs.
Oddly enough, the 5th amendment makes clear the rules about taking property, and the 4th amendment makes clear the process that the government must follow to search people.
If we continue to allow the feds this kind of power, I can only imagine where it will lead.
It's time to start demanding that the government follow the bill of rights. It's not just some "good idea" - it's the law. And even the TSA is not above the law.
Some reading:
May 21st, 2007 at 1:17 pm"Contract with America: Bill of Rights"
http://www.populistamerica.com/contract_with_america
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!!???
If I implement humane policies that treat the least among us with respect and dignity, then how can I justify tax cuts for my high dollar friends. I could always borrow more money from China I guess!
Listen, unless I completely break the bank in this country, you whacko liberals will continue to fund things like Social Security, Medicare, and education. Those programs don't do me or my corporate friends any good whatsoever.
So a kid or two goes hungry. It builds character. If we just give them food, then what is the incentive to get a job? JEEZ! think it through a little
May 21st, 2007 at 1:17 pmI guess this is what the constant announcements in the airport about "TSA has raised the threat level to ORANGE" are all about. They are trying to track down wayward peanut butter eaters.
I feel safer already
May 21st, 2007 at 1:18 pmexcellent example congressman Ryan! if only more members of congress would participate in this... exercise in empathy. Some of those 'compassionate conservatives' in particular
May 21st, 2007 at 1:19 pmAt least TSA did the job that is expected of them by this administration: Inconvenience millions of Americans enough to scare them into thinking that everything can be perceived as a terr-ist threat. That includes nail clippers, water, and yes, peanut butter. They're basically saying that every American is a suspected terr-ist that is out to exploit American freedoms in order to kill Americans because they hate our freedom. Yeah, that makes sense...if you're a fascist.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:21 pmNow these out of touch congress men & Women can see how the low and middle class people live.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:21 pm#1 – Real security has absolutely nothing to do with inconveniencing, harassing, or spying on innocent citizens. The appearance of security is an entirely different matter and the ditto heads can’t tell the difference.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:27 pmWe are now safe from peanutbutter and jelly. I guess this means it's a good thing the poor can't travel often by air, their meals are safe from the TSA.
$3 a day? No wonder so many of the poorest people are the fattest -- you can't eat decent food on $3 a day. Lots of pasta and fat, I guess. Jeebus....
May 21st, 2007 at 1:27 pm#1, first, you are traveling in an airplane owned by a company, not the government. Our constitution cannot dictate that a privately owned company is not allowed to have it's own regulations concerning what is allowable on board.
Now, first of all, I dont mind helping out families, where the parents are totally disabled and unable to work, but to help out healthy adults with money to feed their kids, while we are showing the LOWEST unemployment rates in a LONG time, is really not right. Why should I work, and the money I earn to support MY family, go so someone who is capable of working, but would rather get free money. I think the 21$ a week is an incentive to "GET A DAMNED JOB!".
May 21st, 2007 at 1:29 pmit's a good experiment... now this would make a good reality show - one with a social conscience, rather than voyeuristic intent...
this points out not just the folly of the food stamps program, but of the TSA... what kind of security risk was the peanut butter sandwich? and now these no-thrills airlines aren't serving food yet allow you to bring food on? wtf?
May 21st, 2007 at 1:29 pmMan Im so sorry to hear this , I never knew things were that bad . perhaps Michael Moore should do a food stamp documentary ........
The poor are being so manipuated in America , even Indian poor are entitled to a bowl of rice a day
With 1 Billion in India when do you hear of starvation there, never
May 21st, 2007 at 1:29 pmNow these out of touch congress men & Women can see how the low and middle class people live.
Comment by Mary Poplins
Too bad they won't do anything about it.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:29 pmTime to put taxes up for the Rich
whats more important charity at home ( food and health) or bombs on Iraqi childrens heads
May 21st, 2007 at 1:34 pmWith 1 Billion in India when do you hear of starvation there, never
Comment by Tobey Tall — May 21, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
#
That is because we are sending so many jobs over there.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:35 pmOn my last flight, the TSA took my bar of soap, shampoo, and conditioner, but not my toothpaste. Go figure.
But at least they left me a little slip of paper telling me that they'd searched my bags and that some items may have been confiscated.
Bar of soap = terrorist
Toothpaste = just a regular guy
You'd think that national security was an important enough reason to hire competent people at the airport bag-checking stations. But the quality of people seem to be worse now than they were before 9/11. Did we contract out our security to the lowest bidders?
May 21st, 2007 at 1:36 pmWow, a real leader. Hats off to Tim Ryan.
~Sean
May 21st, 2007 at 1:37 pmDouglas G.,
That's exactly what I said.
What's the incentive to work.
I mean Jesus had it all wrong back in the day. Why would he heal lepers and the blind? If he goes around giving out free health care to everyone, where's the incentive not to get sick. Ridiculous.
You keep fighting the good fight my man.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:37 pmMaybe a better idea would be for the congress men and women to live on food stamps for a month plus live in an apartment in the inter city as well.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:38 pmIt is heartening to hear of Congressmen actually sharing the experience of the poorest of their constituents in order to get a better understanding of the challenges they face. Is anyone surprised that Ryan is a Democrat?
Contrast this episode with Bush 41's astonishment at a supermarket scanner in '92. Or the sentiment expressed by Babs Bush that Katrina was "working very well" for the refugees forced to sleep on cots in the Astrodome. Or Chimpy's "battle with brush" scar story that he shared with combat amputees in a military hospital.
I got an idea! Let's elect Jeb!
May 21st, 2007 at 1:38 pmI really respect these members of congress doing this.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:39 pmI hope this signals a movement toward the reality of poverty. Not just here in the US but abroad. Poverty is our greatest challenge, linked to environmental distress and health issues. More attention needs to go toward poverty.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:41 pmEating is overrated.
(snark)
May 21st, 2007 at 1:42 pmWait a minute. A Democrat is proving that $3 is enough to eat? Or is he trying to say poor people should not fly so much?
Hey #1, flying is not a right, I will check the constitution again, but I thought it is a privilege that you either play be their rule, or don't do it!
I am glad they searched him and made him play by the rules. Don’t carry on anything you don’t need during flight or trust to not be broken and/or stolen by baggage handlers.
Food stamps are supposed to be a temporary supplement until you get back on your feet, just like welfare. Not a way of life. There would be more money in the system if there was less abuse. How many people sell their food stamps for 50 cents on the dollar since they can’t by drugs, cigarettes and alcohol with them? It is bad enough you reach into my pocket for even that much.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:42 pmYou should be more informed before you post such things. The "regulations" that you speak of has nothing to do with the privately owned companies aka airlines. These are FEDERAL regulations that have been put in place, and yes, the Constitution DOES dictate about such things.
As for the Congressmen, all politicians in the State and Federal level should do something similar. It should be required that they all do it for one month for every year they are in office to remind them WHO they are serving.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:44 pmDo you call yourself a Christian, Douglas G.? If so, didn't your god-man, Jesus say, "Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me."? Or is that one of those inconvenient statements that today's Christians like to forget?
May 21st, 2007 at 1:46 pmDouglas G:
Wake up. The "unemployment rates" in this country are incredibly misleading, because they: 1) don't count people who've given up looking for work, which in the US is much higher than in any other First World country; and 2) they count people who are working part-time and/or making less than the "poverty wage".
So if you're scrapping between part-time jobs that maybe pay your $50 in a good week, or if you're unemployed and no one will hire you so you've given up, you may very well be willing to work, but not making poverty wages.
It's the myth of the corporatist media that there is this army of welfare queens out there. I'm sure there are some people out there who may be sitting on their fat asses taking in welfare; there are many many more who are slowly starving because they can't find a job.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:48 pm#22,
Yet you have no problem paying defense contractors $1,000 for a $2 toilet seat.
Starving those in need so that you can extravagantly kill, maim, and torture those that you don't "like".
Shame on you "Happy Guy", shame on you very much.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:49 pmThank God that someone in a position of authority now recognizes the class warfare ongoing in this country! With rare exception, the cheapest foods at the grocery store are those with excessive fat, salt, sugar, or cholesterol content. Those on a limited budget, therefore, have limited means by which to maintain their own health and still have something resembling a diverse diet.
While I readily concede that the processes by which the "lower grades" of food are made are no doubt less expensive, which informs the retail price, I also feel—not know; I submit this as speculation, not fact—that this represents a conscious "culling of the herd" by supplying working-class diets that may lead to high cholesterol, heart disease, Type II diabetes, and other forms of nutrition-based chronic health problems. With inadequate health coverage, the double whammy of diet and limited preventative care might yield a higher mortality rate among the working poor in this country—hardly consistent with a "compassionate" and "spiritual" nation.
Anybody got some facts on this? If so, please enlighten us all.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:50 pmWhen a Kuwaiti marries another Kuwaiti they are given $25,000 when they have their first child they are given another 25 grand and so on for each child
Unemployment benefit per week in the UK is $130 , along free B&B for the homeless also free healthcare
what has Happened to The US, a food stamp for £1.50 is pathetic
MY GOD IM IN SHOCK
May 21st, 2007 at 1:52 pmput up taxes to the stinking rich and look after your poor
May 21st, 2007 at 1:54 pmThis is what I wrote as a comment on the blog... Doubtful anyone will read it though.
Ok, one brownie point for sticking to the $21 a day diet. But how about bringing more awareness to the true plight of the Low Income people by living in the same conditions they do? Sure, you may have decreased your eating but you still went home to your "lavish" home and still went out to the "lavish" meet-and-greets.
You will NEVER know what it is truly like as a low income American until you immerse yourself totally into their day-to-day life.
So, when are you going to truly "do as the Romans do", in this case? Until then, it seems that you are just doing it for the PR.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:54 pmAfghanistan War Date 10/2001
Iraq War Date 3/2003
Note the Extreme LOWS and the date of those LOWS on the following charts. Wars act like a back end tax to all. When we STAY the Course in Wars commodities will and do SURGE!
Commodities are made up of FOOD, Energy and Metals. The link below is a commodity chart going to 1997.
http://charts3.barchart.com/chart.asp?vol=Y&jav=adv&grid=Y&org=stk&sym=%24CRB&data=H&code=BSTK&evnt=adv
Here is the symbol for Orange Juice " OJU7 "depicting screaming
I N F L A T I O N. Paid $ 2.10 for a gallon of Tropicana on 11/2001, now paying $ 6.99 for the same gallon of juice.
http://charts3.barchart.com/chart.asp?vol=Y&jav=adv&grid=Y&org=stk&sym=OJU7&data=H&code=BSTK&evnt=adv
Here is the symbol for GOLD " GCQ7 ", depicting screaming
I N F L A T I O N.
http://charts3.barchart.com/chart.asp?vol=Y&jav=adv&grid=Y&org=stk&sym=GCQ7&data=H&code=BSTK&evnt=adv
Here is the symbol for the Crude Oil Chart, " CLU7 " notice the extreme low prices and the dates on the chart.
http://charts3.barchart.com/chart.asp?vol=Y&jav=adv&grid=Y&org=stk&sym=CLU7&data=H&code=BSTK&evnt=adv
Tis site will show you chart of gasoline prices going back 6 years. Note the lows of the prices to the date. Customize the chart at the bottom of the page. Also click on the check oil prices of crude.
http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx?time=24
Well given the current extreme high prices, we will be heading much much higher as long as we are babysitters to a Civil War in Iraq. These republicans are destroying the middle class financially.
And NOW we have 19 Democrats that are FAILURES! They just sent MORE soldiers to their graves. They voted DOWN the Feingold and Reid Bill to Leave Iraq.
Carl Levin is a disgrace to the Democrats. Additionally, he is sitting within MI a state of the ecomonic depression from the auto industry depended on low oil prices. This Senator voted down the Feingold & Reid Bill.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:56 pmI got an idea! Let’s elect Jeb!
Comment by KRank
ARE YOU FRIKKIN NUTS???
May 21st, 2007 at 1:56 pmThe poor are being so manipuated in America , even Indian poor are entitled to a bowl of rice a day
With 1 Billion in India when do you hear of starvation there, never
Comment by Tobey Tall — May 21, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
I've just been to Kolkata and I can confirm that there is some EXTREME poverty there. The poorest American lives in luxury compared to many people in India. We don't hear of starvation there because thanks to the Green Revolution they don't have widespread food insecurity, but there are most definitely people there who don't get one bowl of rice a day. I'm not saying that poverty is not a problem in America - it's just that comparing American poverty and Indian poverty is like comparing apples and oil filters.
May 21st, 2007 at 1:59 pmYou see, this is where poor people have a good deal. They don't fly, so they never have their food confiscated, so they always have enough!
Easy as pie!
Mmmmmmmm.... Pie!
May 21st, 2007 at 2:03 pmJake-o-bin
Actually, you got that wrong. A fair number of people who are actively seeking work are excluded too (Thanks to Saint Ronny.)
You see, the fact is that in America the longest you can be unemployed is six months. After that six months, you know, when the benefits run out, you are no longer unemployed.
Even if you are still actively seeking employment.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:07 pmIt's a shame that some people make it harder on others, and here's an example:
May 21st, 2007 at 2:07 pmI split time growing up between a rural farming community in northern KY, and living in "Over the rhine" section of Cincinatti. As a disclaimer, I recieved "goverment subsdidized (sp) food in both places. (hey, we were broke) In Cincinatti, almost evryone in the neighborhood was on welfare, food stamps, ect. They refused to take any farming jobs, or work in food service, because it was "too hard". Instead, they sold drugs and other felonious activities, drove brand new Suburbans and Explorers, wore the newest shoes and clothes, all the while living on welfare.
No joke, I went back there last winter, and I saw people pulling up in decked out escalades to cash their welfare checks. Are these the same poor people everyone wants to help out??
As long as these RECKLESS Senate Democrats that voted down the Feingold and Reid Bill to leave Iraq don't change their minds and support the bill in the future,
We Will ALL be PAYING MUCH HIGHER AND HIGHER
Prices for Food and ENERGY.
The FUN has just really begun. Take out your check from 5 years ago. Note what you paid per week on grocerries. Note what you are paying now.
Rice will look real good, if we stay in Iraq for another year.
No STEAK for you, just Jessie James eats steak a.k.a. Bush and the Clan!
Great Job 19 Reckless Senators. Time for us to educate their citizens in their States of these worthless Democratic Senators.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:10 pmThe Congress and Senate should all try eating with that program for a month and see what it is like for some of our poorest.
Heck take it a step further and let them live in a FEMA trailer for 3 months.
Hating the Repukian Mafia daily
May 21st, 2007 at 2:10 pmTo clarify my above comments, I'm not saying that SOME people don't need a helping hand sometimes, just that people who shouldn't be getting the benifits are taking money from those that need them. (I kinda sounded like a heartless bastard above)
May 21st, 2007 at 2:13 pmAre these the same poor people everyone wants to help out??
Comment by Craig Mack — May 21, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
These people do not represent the greatest percentage of poor people. I would rather take the chance that some slugs will be getting money they don't deserve, than take the chance that honest poor people won't get the help they need.
Just my feeling, of course.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:16 pmTSA is the phoniest excuse for security I have ever seen. They harass innocent people to instill fear, then leave gaping security holes for terrorists to exploit, and refuse to close them even when the problem is publicized. It's almost like these people want another terrorist attack.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:18 pmYou loon-a-tick liberals. I can go to burger king and get 3 whoppers for a day and enpd up like heart-attack burger bill clinton.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:19 pmI’m not saying that poverty is not a problem in America - it’s just that comparing American poverty and Indian poverty is like comparing apples and oil filters.
Comment by toasterhead
I completely agree. My mom went last year to India. She says poverty is almost beyond imagination...and we live in Mexico. That tells you something.
Anyway, just to defend the point I think Tobey was making, most of Indian people dont need too much stuff to live OK. For Western Standards, living OK means, I guess, a nice car, a house, cell phone and a hot wife, but for them, (there are currently two Pakis studying at the Department I belong to, so this is first hand info), having a bowl of rice and covering from the sun is to live OK.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:19 pm#36,
Bullshite! How dare you lump all the impoverished in with your local crack dealers and drug lords. Besides being a logical and intellectual farce, your generalization is intended to marginalize the suffering of the impoverished and imply that everyone on welfare is a criminal.
If we, the USA, spent 1/4 as much as we do on "corporate welfare" on actual welfare for the poor, there would be no problem, no issue. But I don't hear you crying about corporate welfare. Nor do I hear you calling corporations "crooks", though more evidence exists for that claim than the asinine one that you put out.
Show me one shred of evidence that supports your claim. Go ahead, sparky, try and tell another lie.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:21 pmI’m not saying that SOME people don’t need a helping hand sometimes, just that people who shouldn’t be getting the benifits are taking money from those that need them.
Comment by Craig Mack
This is the kind of ignorance I hear when discussing poverty and social programs.
Craig, you are NOT helping anyone. It is not about HELPING poor people. It is about JUSTICE, about giving them the same kind of opportunities you may or not have in your life. That is why taxes are for, to lift the living standards of ALL people. This is a GOVERNMENT´s duty. And is your duty as a citizen to encourage your government to provide all possible means so that ALL people that conforms SOCIETY can afford a better quality of life.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:23 pm#44, please see #39.
Just sayin'
May 21st, 2007 at 2:24 pm$3 a day!? I had no idea. I lived off $5 a day in grad school and lost 60 pounds. People I didn't know asked me if I was ill. We owe our children better, regardless of their parents.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:29 pmLet this be a lesson to all poor people out there. If you're on food stamps, barely able to pay for a meal, then no matter HOW late you're running for your flight, make sure you check your peanut butter and jelly. Get to the airport sooner rather than later, tip your cab an extra 5 bucks if you need to, that'll make those mofos fly down the highway!
I would've thought that was a given, but some people need to be taught EVERYTHING.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:31 pmtake it a step further and let them live in a FEMA trailer for 3 months
-Comment by Buck Fush
Except now they're finding sick kids & adults, poisoned by the FEMA trailer they were living in. It seems the 'contractors' used toxin laced formaldehyde, among other questionable products, to build the trailers. People living in them are being hospitalized with respiratory and flu like symptoms.
Babs Bush thinks this is great; it makes them feel like they're home again.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:33 pm#48 - slappy magoo
Heh. Nice one...
May 21st, 2007 at 2:36 pm#49 yeah, that was what my point was.....the toxin laced FEMA trailers.
hating the Repukian Mafia daily
May 21st, 2007 at 2:37 pm#46,
I saw the backpedal, but even in that the poster re-iterates the negative and false implications again:
The moron says:
To clarify my above comments, I’m not saying that SOME people don’t need a helping hand sometimes, just that people who shouldn’t be getting the benifits are taking money from those that need them.
That statement then implies that only "SOME" people are deserving of welfare while the majority are crooks and criminals.
Same bullshite, different wording.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:40 pmBabs Bush thinks this is great; it makes them feel like they’re home again.
Comment by Zimzone
According to her, they are better off than they were.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:41 pmComment by red state liberal -Do you call yourself a Christian, Douglas G.?
Errr. NO! I am NOT a Christian, and even if I was, nowhere in the new Testament does it say to permanently support anyone.. Of course somewhere, someone said, "Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime"...
I think that statement speaks for itself. Since MOST of the people recivving benefits are more than capable of earning their own way, we need to find a way to encourage this to happen.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:42 pmWhat non-addicted-to-something person would try to live off of food stamps? The challenge is all wrong. Revamp the whole thing or cut it out completely. It's wrougth with fraud and abuse.
Facts:
The Federal government already has tried the equivalent of some 25 Marshall Plans to revive inner cities. Since 1965, it has spent an estimated 2.5 trillion dollars on the War on Poverty and urban aid. (That figure includes welfare, Medicaid, housing, education, job training, and infrastructure and direct aid to cities.) Economist Walter Williams has calculated that this is enough money to purchase all the assets of the Fortune 500 companies plus all of the farmland in the U.S., but it has not spurred urban revival. In 1992 alone, Federal aid to states and cities rose to $150,000,000,000. Adjusted for inflation, that is the largest amount of Federal intergovernmental aid ever extended.
Yeah, let's keep giving out money........it's fun to watch failed programs continue to fail.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:45 pmCraig Mack
Welfare is more about prevention then cure. Most of things the right likes to demonise about leftwing governance (Such as business regulations) come from the idea that America never, ever, ever wants to go through another Great Depression.
The welfare system is probably at the point where what it is doing more then anything else is preventing America from backsliding in its fight against American poverty. The thing is, that is really what you want of it. You do not want to go back to the days before welfare, just read between the lines of your folklore to see why.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:50 pm#54,
I hope that when you need it, and you will, that you will receive far more compassion and charity from your fellow man than you are willing to give. In fact, the very people that you are spitting on now will probably be the ones to carry your sorry ass.
When that moment comes, be sure and reflect on your attitude of this moment.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:50 pm#55,
Gee, since the impoverished tend to stay impoverished under the current structure, then where do all those $billions go? It's not in their bank accounts or under their mattresses, so where does all the money for these programs go?
Didn't think that through now did you einstein?
May 21st, 2007 at 2:54 pmI think that statement speaks for itself. Since MOST of the people recivving benefits are more than capable of earning their own way, we need to find a way to encourage this to happen.
Comment by Douglas G. — May 21, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
I think you are forgetting something. This thread is not discussing welfare or unemployment benefits, it is about food stamps. Also, I find the following quote from the article to be the most poignant.
While Ryan took the loss in stride, comforted by the fact that he could soon lift his $21/week spending limit come Tuesday, one in 10 Americans constantly live with such restrictions and “over 80 percent of food stamp benefits go to families with children.â€
So based on this statistic, preserving the status quo of food stamp benefits serves primarily to punish children.
You might also be forgetting that food stamps are not only given to families with no income, but to any falling below the poverty line. So it is entirely possible (and very likely given the current "living wage") that families receiving food stamps have one or more earners and are not just lazy as you would like to suppose.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:54 pmDouglas G
So you support free education, vocational training, and possibly giving someone a grant to start a business?
May 21st, 2007 at 2:54 pmsince they can’t by (sic)drugs, cigarettes and alcohol with them? It is bad enough you reach into my pocket for even that much.
Buy - not 'by' or 'bye'. Not being able to spell, use correct grammar or even mount a logical argument doesn't seem to be your forte, does it? Regardless of what you, it does make a difference.
If someone is actually surviving on food stamps, they won't be flying anywhere. It's too great an expense.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:55 pm#45, you are DEAD WRONG!!! That's NOT what taxes are for. Show me WHERE in the U.S. Constitution where it even considers that money is to be given to people who arent making lots of money are given money from taxes. Taxes are to fund the federal government's responsibility to guard our borders.
It is NOT my responsibility to work and make money for someone else. in fact that's theft!
Example, we are in the park, and you ask me to give 5$ to the guy asking for money. That's charity. You hold a gun to my head, and demand I give him 5$, that's theft. How DARE you even think that the reason for taxes is to provide a living for someone else. That's not justice. I am BARELY above the poverty level, as a singla dad with 2 daughters, and you think it is MY job to give the money I make to someone else? You give them YOUR money.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:55 pmSince MOST of the people recivving benefits are more than capable of earning their own way, we need to find a way to encourage this to happen.
Comment by Douglas G.
Even if it costs you money?
May 21st, 2007 at 2:56 pmSame bullshite, different wording.
Comment by Fed the Fcuk Up!
My bad....mea culpa.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:57 pmGreat post's by some here...First off the poor don't fly, the realy poor car pool drive old wreck's or the bus..Many can't afford their own vehicles and the disabled have to call a special bus through charaties to even get to a doctor or the food bank...I know there are abuses but that is not the majority of the poor only a hand full in every district across our nation..That could be remedied if there had not been so many cut's in needed program's to support bush' war and big business complex...More people monatering would fix the abuses and insure the realy needy get help.
Since bush was installed the unemployment rate figures have been screwed..Yep! you read that right...I was unemployed just before I retired...When I talked to the employment screener I asked her the big question's, where are the job's.? There were lot's of job's during the Clinton year's and I usualy held down atleast 2 at a time...Her answer, all the job's are being outsoursed, out of the country....Next question...What am I going to do when my benefit's run out if I can't find a job.? Reply.Guess you will have to go on welfare.....The staff at the employment office had by then been cut in half..
I had worked a few volenteer day's at the food bank in 1999....Again in 2000, then 2001,2,3,4,5.....As the year's passed the lines and destitute became larger...All the people there were on food stamp's and getting food at the food bank to try and get by....Many were and are disabled vet's, widow's, aged and very poor.....Have you viseted a food bank lately, donated time money or help.?....
It's all fine and well to come on any site and post your disdane for the poor and say all they have to do is find a job....That is fear of ending up in the same boat talking and reichwinged bull shit behavior..Plane and simple..
All of the same one's that bash the poor are more than ready to bomb the shit out of any country and throw away the lives of your fellow citizens children for the bush genocide to steal oil from under some one else sand....
I got new's for you in your dreamy bush bizarro world, these murderious lieing thieves you back in our black house don't give a rat's ass about you any more than they do about me or the poor....And they sure don't care about all our military rather they are on the front line in Iraq or food bank line here in the state's.....Wake up folk's and get your pitch fork's ready, were gonna need them along with all the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches we can get our hand's on.....Blessings
May 21st, 2007 at 2:58 pmInstead, they sold drugs and other felonious activities, drove brand new Suburbans and Explorers, wore the newest shoes and clothes, all the while living on welfare.
How did they do on welfare? If - if - what you say here is even close to the truth, their income is coming from somewhere else and most likely illegally. However this does not speak to or for those receive such benefits and are actually surviving.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:58 pmOur borders are sieves but everybody who flies on a plane is protected from peanut butter breath. Since security is such a non-issue at our ports and borders and on cargo loaded on planes you have to assume the everything-but-cavity-searches at airports is mostly to make sure we stay fearful enough to not ask questions.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:59 pm#62,
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
You, doogie, are a dolt.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:02 pmEric
Come to South Africa one day. Take a look around a squatter camp, keep an eye out for the kids begging at the side of the road. Try not to get stabbed.
Look at the huge walls topped with electric fences, the roads boomed off by people afraid of getting murdered, the security guards they hire to protect them.
In South Africa, you are imprisoned either by your poverty or your wealth.
Then go back to America, which started off little better really, and tell me that those urban renewal contracts didn't do anything.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:03 pm#65 -- Sharon
Well done, Great Lady.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:04 pmDouglas G
Actually, your taxes are for whatever America wants them to be for. You get a say in this via your vote, it is after all, your country.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:05 pmYou loon-a-tick liberals. I can go to burger king and get 3 whoppers for a day and enpd up like heart-attack burger bill clinton.
Comment by Patrick1 — May 21, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
Not with $3 in flood stamps, idiot.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:08 pm#57. 1st, i know how to fish.
2nd, I was out of a job for 18 months. I scrimped, did without, worked odd jobs, depended on family for support. Did everything I could to earn money, and NEVER went on the government dole. Never used any free medical service, Never had welfare or benefits, never had food stamps, I would work 2-3-4 different odd jobs a day, come home and 11 pm, get back up at 6 to get out there an find something to do, and to add insult to injury, I am permanently disabled, though not totally disabled, and cannot stand or walk any length of time. I did a LOT of temp work at telephone call centers, fixed computers, tutored children in Math and Sciences, Yard Sales, etc etc, Ad nauseum.
Bottom line, I have TOO MUCh SELF RESPECT, and will not required YOU to work to support me, and my family!
May 21st, 2007 at 3:11 pm#60, actually I WILL support free education, vocational training, and LOW COST LOANS to start businesses.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:12 pmIn South Africa, you are imprisoned either by your poverty or your wealth.
Then go back to America, which started off little better really, and tell me that those urban renewal contracts didn’t do anything.
Comment by Bruce Gorton — May 21, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
Beautifully stated...
May 21st, 2007 at 3:15 pm80% of food stamps go to families children. And the majority goes to families with preschool or younger children. You know the kind of family where the mother just had babies and is having trouble finding child care to go back to work. Anybody who begrudges these families food stamps has some serious issues with selfishness and greed. Trolls, do you recognize yourselves?
May 21st, 2007 at 3:15 pmBottom line, I have TOO MUCh SELF RESPECT, and will not required YOU to work to support me, and my family!
Comment by Douglas G. — May 21, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Any what would you have done without family support or an abundance of odd jobs or (presumably) a spouse to stay home and care for the household or some savings on which to survive? You can't know the circumstances that drive some people to rely on the government for whatever amount of time. Are there leeches who are simply too lazy to make their own way? Yes. Can we forsake all the poor because of a few bad apples? No.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:20 pm#73,
Wow, a self made man who doesn't need no stinkin' government to cover his ass! Nope, you did it all on your own. Well, except for this little diddy:
"I scrimped, did without, worked odd jobs, depended on family for support."
It's a good thing everyone in America has a family that they can depend upon for financial support just like you, Mr. I-did-it-all-on-my-own (with mommy's help).
Good riddance and good luck.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:21 pmI am one of America's poor. I have a severe disability that prevents me from working. I have to wait 1-5 years to get my Social Security. I live in a single room house with a family of 4. I used to be one of the modest income earners making 40-50,000 a year. Since I became disabled, me and my wife (who works) we barely make $1500 every 2 months. We are about to loose our home and our children. Anyone who has had to go through the process of getting food stamps has to go through a very demeaning process and be scrutinized more than a suspected terrorist. There may be people who want to sit on their asses all day and collect welfare but I doubt it now that I have to live like that. With a family of 4 we get $25 a day to feed our whole family. State disability pays me $52 a month to live on, "because that all I'm allowed by law". I wish I could go back to work but that's not so. I am saddened by the people who believe that all we want is a free ride. To all of those people, I hope you never become permanently disabled, but I do hope you have to go through what I have endured just to survive.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:23 pmComment by Douglas G. — May 21, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
So why are you so flipping angry? You made your choices and did what you could do -- no one holds that against you. Why would you hold it against someone else? You should probably be getting some disability payments. Are you too proud to accept it? You paid into that system, you know.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:24 pmactually I WILL support free education, vocational training, and LOW COST LOANS to start businesses.
Comment by Douglas G.
So any social programs that might help you or your family, you're fine with. It's social programs that you will never need, you believe, that are too big of a burden to you. The neocon mantra of me, me, me lives on.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:24 pmBruce:
Gefeliciteered! Sprek ie Afrikaans? I think you hijacked my point. Had we spent all the money that the government doled out to purchase all the US farmlands and Fortune 500 assets, poverty would indeed be non-existent because they would OWN the assets. What is there to show for it after this grandiose outlay of taxpayers money? Nothing really. It's still here and didn't go away. What more proof do you need to show the failure of welfare vs. workfare?
May 21st, 2007 at 3:25 pmComment by A Poor American
Thanks for sharing your story. Hope things get better somehow. Unfortunately the people who most need to hear your story are the people who will act like they didn't read it.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:27 pmI think that statement speaks for itself. Since MOST of the people recivving benefits are more than capable of earning their own way, we need to find a way to encourage this to happen.
Comment by Douglas G. — May 21, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
I hear what you are saying and agree on principal that those who can MUST work in order to get benefits. However, I do have issues with the current system in that it penalizes those who would work. For an example of this please read below:
My sister in-law has an IQ of around 75 and never graduated from high school but did get a GED. She has 4 childern from a deadbeat father (in and out of jail, works under the table and pays her about $20 month in support..yeah that's right ,$20). She also has one son who is mildly retarded and receives Soc Sec. disability. BEFORE she went back to work her total allowance from the Feds was $2500 per month (net). This included food stamps, welfare, social security income and medicare/medicaid. She took a food service job at the local hospital making $1500/month (gross) Her benfit package was cut to $500 per month leaving her with about $1200-$1300/ month (net) to support 4 children. She then quit her job and went back to taking the Fed's $2500/month.
The bottom line is that she makes more money doing nothing and living off the government. When she gets a job in an attempt to better herself and to improve the future of her children she gets penalized.
Does anyone see how totaly f'd up this is. THE SYSTEM IS TOTALLY SCREWED UP AND MUST BE FIXED. OUR GOVERNMENT IS WASTING MAJOR $$ AND IS HINDERING THOSE WHO WOULD WORK IF IT WAS FINANCIALLY PRACTICAL FOR THEM TO DO SO.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:28 pm#73 - I was out of a job for 18 months. I scrimped, did without, worked odd jobs, depended on family for support.
Yeah, thank goodness you had that safety net. Grow a heart and be grateful.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:28 pmI used to be a divorced mother of two very young children. Deadbeat dad was out of the picture. I worked full time at a job that paid 8.50 an hour. I thought I was doing prety well to get a job like that when our state's min wage was 5.15 an hour and I was an unskilled worker. Little did I realize that I would never be able to rent my own apartment or by a new car. (Mine was 10years old and not in the best shape) 2/3 of my paycheck went to daycare for my children while I was working. I repeat 2/3. I lived with friends or family who were willing to put up with me giving them rent money when I could. I was lucky, I had good people in my life. I tried to get help from the state just for helping me to pay for the daycare costs. They said I made too much money.
If I was not working at all and sitting on my a$$ eating twinkies, I could have gotten some help. I chose to work full time and try and make it. Now with the way the system is set up by our govenment, do you really wonder at all why some people mooch off welfare? Because they can't make it living honorably! It is set up for people to fail.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:28 pm#82,
You still didn't answer the question of where all the money went. You gotta know this since it seems like you have put so much thought into this issue.
P.S. I'm an economist and I can tell you exactly where the money went and how. But you probably don't want those facts since they would be so contradictory to the moronic claims that you prefer to make.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:32 pmyears ago I remember reading either Dear Abby or Ann Landers. A woman wrote in complaining how she'd seen another woman buying fresh strawberries (in season) with food stamps. Ann/Abby laid into her, saying that at least it was fresh fruit, in season, and it wasn't drugs or booze, and to "MYOB".
It surprised me that food stamp alloments are so small, I'd bet that fresh strawberries, even in season, are a luxury for recipients.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:33 pmEdie
Comment by Bluedahlia — May 21, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
Thanks for telling your story, Bluedahlia. Now I think you're more of a hero than ever!
May 21st, 2007 at 3:34 pmComment by Zooey — May 21, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
Stop that. You are going to make me cry. :-)
May 21st, 2007 at 3:37 pm#87
No one asked me that question so I don't know what you mean by "still didn't answer". Follow the responses if you're able to. We know the money didn't solve poverty and that's my point.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:42 pm#68, The Founding Fathers said in the preamble that one reason for establishing the Constitution was to “promote the general welfare.†What they meant was that the Constitution and powers granted to the federal government were not to favor special interest groups or particular classes of people. There were to be no privileged individuals or groups in society. Neither minorities nor the majority was to be favored. Rather, the Constitution would promote the “general welfare†by ensuring a free society where free, self-responsible individuals - rich and poor, bankers and shopkeepers, employers and employees, farmers and blacksmiths - would enjoy “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,†rights expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
Writing about the “general welfare†clause in 1791, Thomas Jefferson saw the danger of misinterpreting the Constitution. The danger in the hands of Senators and Congressmen was “that of instituting a Congress with power to do whatever would be for the good of the United States; and, as they would be the sole judges of the good or evil, it would be also a power to do whatever evil they please.†Unlike public officials during Jefferson’s time, our modern-day legislators have a very loose interpretation of the Constitution. The result is that government has mushroomed into a monolithic bureaucracy.
Once the government opens its arms (and bank accounts), it divides the citizens into two groups: those who receive direct (personal, individual) benefit from the government, and those who do not. That is why the founders designed a FEDERAL system of government that provided only for the “GENERAL†(meaning- non-specific) WELFARE of the people by confining its services to things like “national defense†and “interstate commerceâ€. It leaves to the states the issues of HOW or WHEN other services are provided to specific sub-groups. HOWEVER (This is critical) the new government must represent the BEST INTERESTS of all the people, which logically means that it MUST be limited in scope, for the MORE a government undertakes, the more oppressive it becomes. Government MUST be ANCHORED in fundamental principles (see lecture notes).
If you advocate for federal spending on social welfare programs, you are describing a redistribution of income (MY income) for the benefit of Specific individual citizens INSTEAD of (for example) a strong national defense. Which of those activities is the government LEGALLY REQUIRED to perform? (hint: Art. I, Sec. 8, U.S. Constitution.)
http://www.lawandliberty.org/genwel.htm
Freddie, you are an embecile.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:45 pm#88,
Fresh fruits (strawberries included), vegetables, and grains are what those in the nutrition industry like to call "food". If such ever becomes a "luxury", well, have you heard the story of the dinosaurs?
May 21st, 2007 at 3:48 pm#77, I wish I had a spouse. As a single father of 2 daughters, i had to do a LOT of juggleing. Given the fact I live in a neighborhood of good people, I did off jobs for them, whiel they watched my kids. Tit foir tat. If a person really WANTS to make it, they can find a way.
I would NEVER require you to support me. It is NOT your job, you job is to support you and YOUR family!
May 21st, 2007 at 3:48 pmBlessings and a return to good fortune for you and your family Poor American..What state do you live in.? The reason for asking was your extremely low income...Some states are a little better than other's..Know what you mean about the filing paper work and being treated like a terrorest..My neighbor went through all that and I had to help him fill every thing out.A nightmare for him and I....He had to proove he didn't own anything, no auto worth a certain amount, definately not 2 autos even if ancient...Coulden't have any money to speek of and it took month's...Ofcourse he didn't own a home, was making payments on a wreck of a mobile..He was a disabled vet from Nam, on oxogin and unable to walk to the mail box...Now living with a daughter in California....I am distressed for the trouble you are being put through..Blessings
May 21st, 2007 at 3:50 pmNo one asked me that question so I don’t know what you mean by “still didn’t answerâ€. Follow the responses if you’re able to. We know the money didn’t solve poverty and that’s my point.
Comment by Eric — May 21, 2007 @ 3:42 pm
It's a stupid point. Of course money is not going to "solve" poverty. Poverty is not "solveable." Poverty always has existed and always will exist. But you CAN try to alleviate it, and try to make a very inequal society more equitable. Is the welfare system perfect? Of course not. But I see no proof to your statement that the country would be better off had the social safety net never existed.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:54 pm#77, I wish I had a spouse. As a single father of 2 daughters, i had to do a LOT of juggleing. Given the fact I live in a neighborhood of good people, I did off jobs for them, whiel they watched my kids. Tit foir tat. If a person really WANTS to make it, they can find a way.
I would NEVER require you to support me. It is NOT your job, you job is to support you and YOUR family!
Comment by Douglas G. — May 21, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
Again, it sounds like you had a nice safety net of sorts. You may have been short of money, but you certainly weren't short of good will. Though you may not want to accept this, you did not single-handedly wrestle yourself from the grip of poverty. You had your neighbors, your education, and the incomes of those that hired you for odd jobs to thank for your survival.
What are people without all these advantages supposed to do?
May 21st, 2007 at 3:55 pmI would NEVER require you to support me. It is NOT your job, you job is to support you and YOUR family!
Comment by Douglas G. — May 21, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
Well isn't everything just rosy in your perfect little world. However, do realize that we don't all come from the same background with the same advantages or disadvantages. But for an accident of birth we could, any one of us, been born into a situation that would have put us at risk for a life of poverty. It's shocking that people in this country born to parents who are able to care for us don't feel any appreciation for the circumstances we were born into. Instead we feel we are entitled to all the good things that came our way and too bad for everybody else. It is this small mindedness that elected Bush and Cheney. I hold people like you responsible for money out of my pocket not food stamp recipients.
May 21st, 2007 at 3:56 pm94
May 21st, 2007 at 3:59 pmAnd what kinds of priorities/trade offs got scimped on because of it? You said your girls recieved daycare from people you did jobs for. You know those people were safe and created a nurturing enironment for your daughters, or did you just take what you could get? I have to tell you, I looked into daycare from some people who did it privately to try and bring my costs down, but everyone I went to freaked me out with either how their house was kept (that says a lot about someone) or how their children acted around them, etc. Some trade offs are not worth saving your "dignity" by not taking handouts over, if you get my drift. But I understand that is the "manly" way to do things, right? To bad if the kids aren't getting the pre-school education or security or proper nutrition they need, right? You're making it work.........
#91,
Here's helping you keep up:
I asked you that very question in post #58 regarding your post #55.
Now, you state another falsehood/fallacy in your comment #91 when you said: We know the money didn’t solve poverty and that’s my point.
As long as there is wealth then there is going to be poverty, you cannot have one without the other. This is an economic fact. So, money cannot "solve" poverty, money is the cause of poverty.
Also, poverty is not a disease, it is a state of being which, in any civilized and humane society, is dealt with in a manner that does everything possible to ensure that it is a "temporary" state of being. Welfare programs were not invented by the United States' government, they've been going on since the beginning of time and there are excellent historical examples of programs that work and those that don't. Our current system functions, but leans towards the latter because of exploitation by those providing services to the program and criminal incompetence by some who administer the programs, it is by no way the fault of the victims (the impoverished) as you imply.
You need to think this through more. Currently your argument is akin to blaming the woman for a rape.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:01 pm98 Well said Shane.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:01 pmHey Fed the Fcuk Up, take a valium, drink a drink, do something to relax! I tried and clarify, but that wasn't good enough for you, and then you want a "link" to offer proof of what I have witnessed? Are you serious????
May 21st, 2007 at 4:04 pmCorporate welfare DOES take money from deserving folks, no doubt. And there are SEVERAL people that really need "assistance" to get by, and I understand that. (if you would have actually read my first post, rather than hit the key points that you wanted to pick apart, you would have seen that I, myself, was a recipient of goverment programs)
Now, that being said, I then decided I didn't want to live like that anymore, and I (gasp)worked several non-skilled jobs to improve my situation. (while still in junior high and high school). I (double gasp) STUDIED while in school, and didn't whine about how the system was against me. I looked at all my options upon graduation, and opted for a career in the military. I have found sucess, and have done very well for myself. None of this would have been possible if I had simply sat on my ass and cried about how the system had dealt me a bad hand...
Now, I'm not saying my path is good for all, it's not. However, if people decide to try and do something, things can get better. You say you are an economist, and I'm sure you have insight on #'s and figures that I'm not privy to, but don't try and tell me about life on welfare, spanky, cause I've lived it.
Now, come back with some witty comment, and then call me a name...that seems to be your typical pattern.
Great post's Shane and Bluedahlia,Thank you...Blessings
May 21st, 2007 at 4:06 pmI would NEVER require you to support me. It is NOT your job, you job is to support you and YOUR family!
Comment by Douglas G.
Yo are so wrong in so many levels.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:08 pm#77, I wish I had a spouse. As a single father of 2 daughters, i had to do a LOT of juggleing.
Yeah, because if you had a wife, she could take care of all those shit jobs for you, right? Geez...
Given the fact I live in a neighborhood of good people, I did off jobs for them, whiel they watched my kids. Tit foir tat. If a person really WANTS to make it, they can find a way.
Again, lucky guy. As a single mother of two sons, I didn't have that opportunity since I had to relocate and didn't know anyone.
I would NEVER require you to support me. It is NOT your job, you job is to support you and YOUR family!
Comment by Douglas G. — May 21, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
I still don't know why you're so angry. It seems like you have a loving family, lots of family support, and you're back on your feet.
What's your problem?
May 21st, 2007 at 4:08 pmFed up:
You're putting words in my mouth. I'm finding it hard to find things we disagree on. I'm not blaming innocent people for their poverty (some are not innocent if they have addictions). I'm blaming how the US government has doled out the trillions of taxpayer's money and have produced a worse scenario - third generation dependency. You make my point when you say money can't "solve" it. So why are we trying to solve it with money?
May 21st, 2007 at 4:10 pmZooey.......what part of stealing don't you understand? If you take a persons money and give to someone undeserving, it tends to raise the blood pressure a little. I'll be happy to show you if you'd like? Sounds like maybe you've been on the receiving end only and can't see the emotion behind it. Let me guess, you don't understand all the emotion behind illegal immigration as well?
May 21st, 2007 at 4:15 pm98 Well said Shane.
Comment by Bluedahlia — May 21, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Yeah, what Bluedahlia said. :-)
May 21st, 2007 at 4:16 pmSo why are we trying to solve it with money?
Comment by Eric — May 21, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Solving it, as Fed up pointed out, is impossible. Alleviating the burden of poverty (with money) is what social assistance programs like welfare seek to do.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:16 pmPatrick1:
May 21st, 2007 at 4:17 pmWhat is it with you and Bill Clinton. I wasn't real pleased with Ronnie, but I haven't spent the rest of my life obsessing about it. Give it a freaking break already. Go play some midnight basketball for god sake. Maybe it will release some of your pent up anger issues.
#92,
General welfare is core to our government concept, yes. And, Mr. Jefferson was absolutely correct in his concerns about congress abusing this concept for evil purposes, which is precisely why there are the check and balances that exist and why the unitary executive concept is so un-American.
But are you really making the argument that programs to help the impoverished are evil? If you truly feel such, then you truly do not believe in our constitution or our system of government. Read that preamble again. The wording is not ambiguous, though you seem to wish it was.
As far as your federal spending and distribution of wealth comment, it is economically and constitutionally nonsensical so I won’t even begin to correct it for you since it would take pages to do so. It is interesting, though, that you have no problem with your money to be taken from you to be used to kill innocent people, but you object wholeheartedly to having some of your taken money to be used for saving the lives of innocent impoverished people. You are consistent in that you have more interest in killing people than not.
Good riddance.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:20 pmZooey…….what part of stealing don’t you understand? If you take a persons money and give to someone UNDESERVING, it tends to raise the blood pressure a little. I’ll be happy to show you if you’d like? Sounds like maybe you’ve been on the receiving end only and can’t see the emotion behind it. Let me guess, you don’t understand all the emotion behind illegal immigration as well?
Comment by Eric — May 21, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
Wow, what's it like to be so much better than the rest of us that you can decide who is deserving?
May 21st, 2007 at 4:20 pm89 comments on a workday - here's an idea that will make America better - everyone get back to work!!!
May 21st, 2007 at 4:23 pmZooey…….what part of stealing don’t you understand? If you take a persons money and give to someone undeserving, it tends to raise the blood pressure a little. I’ll be happy to show you if you’d like? Sounds like maybe you’ve been on the receiving end only and can’t see the emotion behind it. Let me guess, you don’t understand all the emotion behind illegal immigration as well?
Comment by Eric
I don't think I've said a single thing on this thread about "stealing." Are you talking about taxes? Is that stealing? "Undeserving?" Who decides that? You?
I have never received a dime of welfare money, unemployment, or any type of government subsidy -- unless you've got something against student loans.
Don't try to put words in my mouth, Eric.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:24 pmJust so we're all clear: Since 1965, we've spent $2.5 trillion dollars to "alleviate" the burden of poverty with no intentions on "solving" anything. Congratulations Mensa folk, would't it have been better spent buying the assets of the Fortune 500 and all US Farmlands so we could have annuitized the investment and the residuals could have turned every person on poverty into the wealthiest of the world? Our poverty class would be the richest in the world. Hmmmmm
May 21st, 2007 at 4:25 pmBluedahlia, thanks. And I get the feeling that Douglas G's kids might have been better off with most of the people in the neighborhood. Just a gut feeling though. His children certainly going to learn empathy from him though.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:26 pm# 80 an dotehrs. First off, MOMMY didnt support me. Younger brother and sister made me a loan that I paid back.
2, i am angry that we have created our own welfare state, by instituting a failed policy of providing for people. Americans are the most giving people in teh world, things like welfare should be done by charities, not the government.
3. I advocate government spending in programs that are available to all people equally, without barriers such as wealth, background, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc etc. This is necessary to help build a strong nation and benefits the entire nation, not just a section of the population.
lastly, for people like the "Disabled American", I can justify out tax money to support. he is in a position where he CAN'T work, and having been in that situation personally for a short period of time, I can understand how frustrating it can be. Luckily I was able to heal enough to get back to work, but for people who cannot work, then yes, i agree that we the people share in responsibilty to assist.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:29 pm#102,
What a lovely story. Now, I wonder where you would be if you didn't have those programs that kept you alive until you were able to launch your current brilliant and wonderful career? You know the programs that I'm talking about, the ones that you now think other people don't deserve.
Gosh, if we all could only be as good as you. But it seems that after your success story, they should just shut down the welfare system. Who else could need it besides you? There's definitely no one more deserving.
Good luck to you.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:29 pmSo why are we trying to solve it with money?
Comment by Eric — May 21, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Because hungry children should be fed in a country like this. And you can come up with anecdotal evidence of people who abuse the system but children are the number one recipients of food stamps. And no matter how you try to justify your stinginess, in a country like this they should be fed.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:31 pmMan, are you a total tool, or are you just having an off day?
May 21st, 2007 at 4:32 pmWhen did I advocate shutting those programs down...just curious?
Ahh...it's pointless......have a wonderful day....
Just so we’re all clear: Since 1965, we’ve spent $2.5 trillion dollars to “alleviate†the burden of poverty with no intentions on “solving†anything. Congratulations Mensa folk, would’t it have been better spent buying the assets of the Fortune 500 and all US Farmlands so we could have annuitized the investment and the residuals could have turned every person on poverty into the wealthiest of the world? Our poverty class would be the richest in the world. Hmmmmm
Comment by Eric — May 21, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
So you don't care that we give the poor money, you just think we should gamble with it first?
May 21st, 2007 at 4:32 pmDon't try to play that judgemental crap on me Erock. It's quite easy to determine who is undeserving - those that perpetually abuse the system. There are estimates of 30% fraud which some say is conservative. See how easy that was? Doesn't take an ounce of judgement to determine that. That is why people get upset and that is why others can't understand what the big deal is. Some on this board remind me of the audiences for a Jerry Springer show (which are all probably on public assistance).
May 21st, 2007 at 4:33 pmdbadass, Patrick1 is obsessed with Clinton because he doesn't have enough money to get a blow job and Clinton was getting them for free.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:34 pmCMack:
May 21st, 2007 at 4:34 pmI believe several posters have commended you on principal as do I. I believe the problem is that your convictions relative to hard work and self suffiency lack any balance and evidence of compassion for others. This is the greatest and wealthiest nation on Earth, are we not willing to see to it that all share in this? I hold two master's degrees and work a second job late into the night in a warehouse. Still I barely get by. My situation is the result of divorce in which my ex's family provides and estate on 100+ acres. She doesn't even work for half the year but the system demands nothing of her. Why? Because hers are already the haves and have created a political evironment which is designed to continue the consolidation of wealth! These are the same selfish extremely wealthy who try to convince the rest of us that they are being unfairly taxed to support the "slackers". The folks I work with at the warehouse lack the most basic of services. They are mystified that I have basic medical and dental, something they will likely never have. Until recently one of the guys lived with his wife and kids in their car. Your dealers are criminals and should be treated as such. That example aside I have found no one who chooses welfare except as a last resort. They like yourself have pride. I am with Zooey dude. Respect yourself for your hardwork but recognize and care about those whose lot is such that they need a little help getting going again and try to let go of the anger
Douglas G-
3. I advocate government spending in programs that are available to all people equally, without barriers such as wealth, background, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc etc. This is necessary to help build a strong nation and benefits the entire nation, not just a section of the population.
So if we give the poor, people who can't afford food, food stamps, we should also give them to the rich? Talk about government waste.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:36 pm89 comments on a workday - here’s an idea that will make America better - everyone get back to work!!!
Comment by cohiba joe
Four different time zones with people working all different shifts and posting from overseas, is that too complicated for you? And some of us are self employed and work from 7 am until midnight. But unless somebody here works for you maybe you should just back off.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:39 pmunless you’ve got something against student loans.
Don’t try to put words in my mouth, Eric.
Comment by Zooey
Oh they have problems with student loans too. I believe xyzq (whatever) said they were welfare too, as are veterans benefits. It's all welfare until they collect something then it's all good.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:41 pmI guess we need to put Eric and Douglas G in charge of determining who's deserving of assistance.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:43 pmEric
May 21st, 2007 at 4:46 pmI know it's confusing but many people who were collecting welfare since 1965 have moved on. And guess what, new poor people are born every day. And many people, who were once prosperous, have lost jobs thanks to Reagan and the two Bushes and are now living in poverty. I understand it's simpler for you to think of it as a problem that has a tidy ending but unfortunately you don't have a clue.
Oh they have problems with student loans too. I believe xyzq (whatever) said they were welfare too, as are veterans benefits. It’s all welfare until they collect something then it’s all good.
Comment by Shane
Right. Then it's called benefits.
I don't care what they think. :)
May 21st, 2007 at 4:48 pmDon’t try to play that judgemental crap on me Comment by Eric
Says the asswipe judging everybody on food stamps.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:49 pmunless you’ve got something against student loans.
Don’t try to put words in my mouth, Eric.
Comment by Zooey
Oh they have problems with student loans too. I believe xyzq (whatever) said they were welfare too, as are veterans benefits. It’s all welfare until they collect something then it’s all good.
Comment by Shane — May 21, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
I am the same way, Zooey. And I am pretty sure it is going to me that gets monitarily raped when my loans come due. It's not like I can't not ever pay it back......... Unlike centain companies tht shall remain unnamed *coughenroncough*
May 21st, 2007 at 4:50 pmThere is a banker somewhere who will be able to buy a new boat by the time I get mine paid off. lol
I guess we need to put Eric and Douglas G in charge of determining who’s deserving of assistance.
Comment by Zooey
And all the money would no doubt go to TV preachers.
May 21st, 2007 at 4:52 pmBluedahlia, didn't Georgie just increase the payback amount or interest on student loans?
May 21st, 2007 at 4:54 pmI guess we need to put Eric and Douglas G in charge of determining who’s deserving of assistance.
Comment by Zooey
And all the money would no doubt go to TV preachers.
Comment by Shane — May 21, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
No, it sounds more like they want to set up a huge beaurocracy to determine case by case who is "deserving." Efficient? You bet!!!
May 21st, 2007 at 4:56 pmShane - talk about clueless. Reagan revamped the corrupted welfare system into workfare (remember?) which required people that were THIRD GENERATION welfare recipients - don't give me this "they moved on" crap. LOL. . Since you don't remember, I'll remind you that Reagan was hated for being "cold" and "heartless". Fast forward to today: Almost every Federal and State welfare program has adopted Reagan's "Workfare" policies because the work. The most liberal Democrat has eaten their words and adopted the same policies that Reagan enforced out of political necessity. The ones that didn't were voted out. There's your little reality pill for the afternoon Shane. The reason why I complain on this website about not reading about history is because most don't. Your revisionist history that you are spouting without any facts is the clearest evidence yet that you are flying by the seat of your pants - not checking history. It's so easy to just say things because you've heard from your parents that Bush and Reagan are the bad guys. Class war is what the wealthy liberals have always preached and it appears they're succeeding.
May 21st, 2007 at 5:03 pmShane,
May 21st, 2007 at 5:13 pmI had an interesting conversation with someone when I was inquiring about some interest on my student loan. There is a column for penalties in one of the statement columns and I said I didn't think there was penalties for not paying on my interest (just that I could be paying interest on interest if I didn't), and she said it was there for "future" use. If there came a time when the law changes and they can use the column. Interesting, eh?
Go, Shane!
If were any more on fire, I'd advise you to "stop, drop and roll!"
May 21st, 2007 at 5:17 pmIf there came a time when the law changes and they can use the column. Interesting, eh?
Comment by Bluedahlia
Then can grandfather in all of us who have received student loans in the last several years, right?
More burden on the working and middle classes! Woo Hoo!
Jeebus....
May 21st, 2007 at 5:20 pmEric, dear, this thread is about FOOD STAMPS. Not about third generation welfare recipients. And I believe Bill Clinton enacted more welfare reform than Reagan did. Why don't YOU read more history instead of listening to Limbaugh and O'Reilly.
May 21st, 2007 at 5:20 pmNo, it sounds more like they want to set up a huge beaurocracy to determine case by case who is “deserving.†Efficient? You bet!!!
Comment by erock
More bureaucracy to feed on itself...
May 21st, 2007 at 5:21 pmComment by Zooey
I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more! (Oh I'm plagiarizing of course.)
May 21st, 2007 at 5:22 pmThe war on poverty has failed. I suggest a complete pullout immediately.
May 21st, 2007 at 5:24 pmComment by Eric — May 21, 2007 @ 5:03 pm
Cite?
May 21st, 2007 at 5:29 pmThe war on poverty has failed. I suggest a complete pullout immediately.
Comment by m13
Is this your version of sex-ed? Maybe this idea would be good for the poor.
May 21st, 2007 at 5:29 pmThe war on poverty has failed. I suggest a complete pullout immediately.
Comment by m13 — May 21, 2007 @ 5:24 pm
Perhaps we should build a wall first...
May 21st, 2007 at 5:31 pmhttp://www.nhi.org/online/issues/135/reagan.html
Eric,
Are you referring to these Reagan reforms?
May 21st, 2007 at 5:36 pmEric,
The Savings and Loan scandal that we paid for, was a much worse case of welfare, then anything before or since.
For every 10,000 welfare fraud cases you find, I can find one corporate welfare case, that dwarfs your 10,000 in dollar amount.
Funny how this always pointed at the little guys.
May 21st, 2007 at 6:06 pm#145
No, its my way of saving the hundreds of billions of pork dollars that are going to be dumped into Medicaid.
Bring our dollars home!
May 21st, 2007 at 6:16 pm#149,
What about the $trillions (with a "t") that are being stolen in Iraq or used in an effort of genocide there? Guess you have no problem with them dollars.
But the sick, elderly, and infirm? Well, m13 says "screw 'em".
m13, I see you have your priorities straight. Straight from hell, that is.
Good riddance.
May 21st, 2007 at 6:30 pmGive a man a fish.....
May 21st, 2007 at 6:49 pmI'd like to point out to some of the less compassionate posters here that in addition to the usual "poor and elderly", a good number of MILITARY FAMILIES need to use food stamps (and living in an area near several military bases, you see quite a bit of it). What's REALLY discouraging is the fact that the Miltary Commissaries on base accept food stamps--and you have to be either active-duty or retired military or an eligible dependant to shop at a base commissary. Every holiday season, various local welfare and other support agencies have special programs designed to help out military families "in need"--not simply to provide toys, but also to actually feed military families.
May 21st, 2007 at 6:54 pmI guess these families are just "lazy"--or maybe some of these complaining posters hate our military and their families.
#151,
Let the man starve and you get to keep all the fish. Of course, then it's too much and the excess fish rots and goes to waste. But it's the principal, right?
I wonder if your mother made you pay every time you breast fed. Exact same concept, by the way. Remember, everyone is someone's son or daughter (in SF you can be both, of course, but no need to go there right now).
May 21st, 2007 at 7:00 pmI have been that poor.
May 21st, 2007 at 7:15 pmI spent 6 months eating 1 egg, 1 package of Top Ramen, and if lucky, one piece of fruit a day.
It was the late 70s, I had no car, there was no public transportation where I was and no jobs to be had in walking distance.
It was a real experience, that I fear repeating, so I taught myself some skills and got the hell up the ladder.
But not everyone has that ability, and some people are truly disabled by physical or mental issues, or lack of education, and there will always be people who need the help from the government.
#150
The war in Iraq has existed for 4 years. The war on poverty has existed for about 70.
Which one is going to soak my wallet more, again?
I'll take a cheap $100b Iraq supplemental over the $400b social security budget.
May 21st, 2007 at 7:51 pm#155, I find it hard to believe that you really mean this...
May 21st, 2007 at 7:59 pmYou would rather have death and destruction, the loss of our country's honor, needless suffering of millions of innocent people, than spend four times the money for no death and destruction, to lift our own people out of poverty?
Man, you are a cold one.
#155,
Social security is paid for by employees and employers (no other taxes) and the benefits are returned to the individual during retirement or defined need, so it's an investment and not a cost. The Social Security fund, which is what everyone pays into, is what the Bush administration has been robbing in order to have cash to hand out in bundles in Iraq.
Now, from your asinine comments and false claims, I can see that you are overwhelmed with ignorance. But I will help you with something - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is a logical truism in that it works both ways. If you are nice to people, they tend to be nice to you. If you are hateful, people tend to hate you. You want to kill everyone. Can you now extend out the logical and see the destination that you are running towards?
Good luck and good riddance.
May 21st, 2007 at 8:12 pmIn reality a person living on food stamps would not travel by plane but instead on a greyhound bus or something!
May 21st, 2007 at 11:14 pmThere are some people who truly need assistance and there are some who do not. The point is that this country has turned into a non-humanistic, cold, greedy place and that is due to the fact that what is at the top does trickle down. Jobs are leaving this country at an awesome rate. Those are jobs that many people who are now in need of assistance could be filling right here. But Corporate America is running the country folks and it's all about their bottom line and to hell with everyone else.
This country is just ahead of Third World countries when it comes to general health care giving. Now isn't that something to be proud of............look at who is 'leading' our poor country right over the cliff. Do you honestly think they care about you or me, or the disable vets who come back from fighting their oil war? All they care about is power, control and their greedy asses.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:28 pmI wonder how many Republicans could live on $21 worth of food stamps.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:45 pm#157
What nonsense!
Social Security has a negative return for anyone under the age of 30 with a $60k plus income. I guess those people are evil rich Republicans.
No thanks, I'll take the stock market's 7% growth.
Oh, and barely 1/3 of current social security payments goes into the general budget. The other 2/3 is dumped into the black hole.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:48 pmI wonder how many Republicans could live on $21 worth of food stamps.
Gee, how about earning an income and using food stamps as a supplemental as they were intended?
May 21st, 2007 at 11:49 pmFood stamps are intended to supplement the incomes of low income families, not to replace their incomes. It's true that $21 isn't much to buy food for a week -- it was never supposed to be. What exactly is the point that is being made by this exercise? Are they arguing that we should give poor people enough money to live on so they can avoid working all together and still have a high quality of life?
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:13 amWhat am I going to do now? It’s not like I can just go to Safeway and grab another jar. I have .33 cents and a bag of cornmeal to last today and tomorrow.
WTF has this got to do with anyone or anthing of interest ?
Highlighting the perils facing those who have to live on $3 a day while flying on commercial aircraft are we ?
What about valet parking at 5 star hotels ? Will they take your peanut butter too ?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:43 amAFAIK there's fkall TSA liquid restrictions on buses and trains where your food-stamp-travelling public goes for their transportation needs so who gives a toss what happened to this guy at an airport.
#160 We don't have to, we work!
ROTFL
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:18 am#153 Are you saying money rots if we don't spend it? You sound like a Democrat to me!
ROTFL
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:22 amHey stopthecons do you really expect the TSA to search just say people who are suspected of being a terrorist ? you Silly Liberals , that would be profiling . you want it this way so shut up and quit crying
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:07 amif I had a choice of living on $3 dollars a day with a government I would get a job , funny it seems that food stamps are a Democrat thing . People having kids they cannot afford to have delivered , let alone feed and clothe . Democrats keeping poor people poor because if there were no poor there would be no Democrat Demwits
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:13 amYou people make me sick. Let's forget about the fact that there are SIGNS, ANNOUNCMENTS and MEDIA about the fact that you can not take liquid or gels on Airplaines.
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:27 amEven with that aside, If I take some plastic explosive (which is in a clay form) and place it between two pieces of bread, then you are saying that I shouldbe allowed to take it on the place. What if you were on that same place? Even worse, what if you had a loved one on that place and it blew up. You people would be the first ones in line complaining that there is NOT ENOUGH SECURITY and HOW COULD THEY LET THIS HAPPEN. Even worse, you would be the first ones in line to sue TSA for not protecting your loved ones. YOU MAKE ME SICK.
It's called: get a job. $3/day is meant to supplement your low income - you're not suppose to be reliant on government handouts. If you increase the government handouts, then more people are going to sit back and do nothing. If there is little incentive to better yourself, then people tend not to. Rather than increasing the food stamp handout, I'd rather see them increase the incentive for low income people to get schooled in a trade or degree.
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:33 amThe TSA is a complete joke. I travel from time to time and I have yet to find one with any trace of a brain. Complete idiots .... all of them. The whole process makes me sick. And as for food stamps .... get a job like all the rest of us have to do. I don't want ANY of my tax dollars going to a piece of crap sitting on their a#% all day complaining about how "the man's got 'em down."
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:40 amFood stamp receivers: Must get off a%*.
TSA: Please get some common sense .... PLEASE!
Wait a minute. A Democrat is proving that $3 is enough to eat? Or is he trying to say poor people should not fly so much?
Hey #1, flying is not a right, I will check the constitution again, but I thought it is a privilege that you either play be their rule, or don’t do it!
I am glad they searched him and made him play by the rules. Don’t carry on anything you don’t need during flight or trust to not be broken and/or stolen by baggage handlers.
Food stamps are supposed to be a temporary supplement until you get back on your feet, just like welfare. Not a way of life. There would be more money in the system if there was less abuse. How many people sell their food stamps for 50 cents on the dollar since they can’t by drugs, cigarettes and alcohol with them? It is bad enough you reach into my pocket for even that much.
Comment by Happy Guy — May 21, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
+1 for Happy Guy
-1 for Fed the Fcuk Up!
@Fed the Fcuk Up! would you please cross our unguarded border with your friend Alec Baldwin and make this a better place to live.
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:41 amGovernment needs to get out of the charity business. They take your money (in taxes) at the point of a gun. Then the graft and corruption takes it's share. It cost approximately double to get the money to these people. Would you donate to a charity that takes $50.00 and only gives less than $25.00 to the "poor". I don't think so.
The combined value of federal, state, and local expenditures in FY 2004 was $3.75 trillion. The average cost of governÂment spending thus amounted to $32,706 per household across the U.S. population. The majority of the "poor" in the US all own a car, a microwave oven, a television, subscribe to satellite/cable television and of course live in a house or apartment. Sounds like the richest "poor" in the world to me.
Stop asking me for more of my money and stop calling me names when I ask for some of my money returned to me.
Government is a necessary evil and should be restrained to the samllest role possible, the military/police, the courts, printing money, etc. Government should not do anything else as it will rob and dominate other areas of society until it destroys them. Just like they have done to education and health care.
Kevin
Tax Payer in the People's Republic of Kalifornia
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:46 amI bet poor people don't fly.
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:47 amOK I am extremely offended by some of the comments here!
I have a family of 3 (including myself) and I work a Full Time 40 Hours a week, good paying job. Even so I still qualify for food stamps. After all the bills (electricity rates just went up again) I have about $20 to my name. Anyone out there want to try and feed cloth and pay for medical bills with that much? Oh did I mention, I don’t have medical coverage because then I would have -$30 a week. So the help I get from food stamps allows me to feed my family. Yes it's crapy food and there is no way we can eat healthy so I think it's great that someone else is learning how hard life at the bottom is.
For those that are saying "get a job" Come switch places with me for a week and see what you say when you find out a "job" doesn't equal being able to eat!
While I agree the system us abused, why should people like myself (that are trying to make it on their own, but can't) be punished? Do you really want to put my family on the streets with no roof over our heads just so we can eat? Because that is basically what your saying should happen!
Live in someone else's shoes before you complain they are tracking mud on your hard wood floors!
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:48 amWay to lead by example Rep. Tim Ryan! ! !
This isnt so bad.. I conducted a similar challenge where I survived on only 50 cents a day for a month.
http://50centsdiet.blogspot.com/
It really sucked and I will definitely not do it again. But I did learn that it was possible.
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:58 amOK, first of all. This is not meant to REPLACE your job income. This is meant to subsidize your income. Operative word here is JOB. Get one and then the extra money from food stamps will be plenty.
Second, if the Senators and Representatives would be forced to live within their means and stop spending all this money on crap they don't need, ie lifetime paychecks, secret service protection for life for former presidents, 150,000 a yr pay for sitting on their collective asses passing laws that are already on the books and not enforced, etc etc etc.
Third, if we stop paying for all the illegal immigrants to mooch off of our economy, welfare, medical care, etc etc then we could easily pay more to our own citizens who need help. Find one illegal immigrant living above the poverty line. You can't. You break our laws to sneak into this country and then the loons on the left side of the isle say we have to support you and your offspring.
I am 34 yrs old. Social security will be long gone before we ever see any of it. Once money goes into the social security fund, it should never come out for anything other than social security. Congress should never be allowed to 'borrow' from it to fund other things.
Out generation is screwed because no one in my age group cares enough to vote all these liberal idiots out of office. Hopefully my son's generation can manage to grow a pair and tell the government to live within its means. I make 70,000 a year. If my house payment gets missed because I can't manage my money, I can't just tell my boss to give me more money.
The government works for US. We, the taxpayers, are the employers. The government exists "By the people, for the people". Apparently no one in office at the moment has ever read that part of the document.
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:59 amThree dollars a day? That's a ton of money for a single person. Depending on where you are able to shop, just one dollar can feed you for a whole day. Rice, beans, and oats are all very healthy and very cheap and money would be left over for vegetables/eggs/milk/meat.
I read that the minimum wage was originally enacted so that a man could work forty hours a week and be paid enough to support his family. Why was it allowed to lag so far behind inflation?
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:02 amwell... I have also had my food and drink usurped by TSA. I think this story should focus more on the Food Stamp Chalenge as opposed to a public servant thinking he was unfarily treated. There is enough entitlement mentality in the world as it is.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:03 amThe welfare system was designed to give honest people the assistance they need during hard times, so if you're working for a living and pay taxes into that system, you ought to be entitled to assistance if ever a day comes when it's necessary. Unfortunately, the system is abused by the same freeloaders who abuse the welfare system in general.
I haven't had to try to get food stamps, haven't needed it, but when you have to do without things like health care (and I do indeed go without it) while those who don't work are somehow "entitled" to it, that's a bitter pill...
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:04 amYou people are absolutely cracked. If any of you had an ounce of brains in your heads you would understand that Food Stamps is not supposed to be a way of life. I raised five children and never made more than $7 an hour until all my children were adults, my wife rarely worked, and never made more money than I did.
There were years we recieved food stamps, and it was all the incentive I needed to go out and start my own business, or work seven days a week at two jobs.
I kept working hard, and now my second wife and I own a house in the United States as well as three homes in the Phillipines.
For God sake, get off your lazy asses and get to work, and don't tell me you can't find work, we have 4.8% unemployment, the lowest anywhere on earth. hell, go toake one of the jobs allthese illegal mexicans are taking that you lazy liberals won't do and help solve a real problem.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:22 amwhy do the Mexicans make it here on hard work and the so called poor say that he can not find a Job. Get off your Fat ass and get to work.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:22 amWhat are poor people doing having kids in the first place? Don't have children if you cannot afford it. Oh, but you couldn't get an abortion or afford condoms? Well if you can't cover the possible effects of having sex, don't have it. There's no excuse.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:25 amHaha, "don't have sex"? I'd rather die than not have sex, it's the only reason we young people get up in the morning. If all the women were to die, I think I'd just lay down and die too.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:36 amLatest Announcement by TSA - No passenger will be allowed to board unless the passenger is fully naked and has a total body cavity search. No suitcases or carryons allowed.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:45 amTSA is not a private company, nor is HS or FAA. All of these gov't agencies require airlines to have the security they have. Personally, I'd pay extra to fly on Insecure Airlines, and take my chances. I guess that's not an option because they will be flown into buildings.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:47 amFor all of you who think food stamps = unemployment you should keep in mind that many families use food stamps to help supplement their near minimum wage income. The problem is not that they need to find work the problem is the jobs they find do not pay enough to live on and before you say they should find a better job consider the fact that jobs do exist that a person can not live on.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:59 amI am sick of people with a double-digit IQ and a triple-digit income routing through my damn bags, only to find NOTHING. Can we just stop bombing people we disagree with and let them "liberate" THEMSELVES already so that we don't have to think about a threat that doesn't exist on out damn planes?
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:11 pmThis may have been mentioned already, BUT:
Peanut butter is an substance that can literally kill people who are exposed to it, if they are allergic. And that includes merely opening a jar in an enclosed area.
That's why it was confiscated, and I congratulate the TSA on doing their job in that instance. Laugh all you want, but your "peanut butter breath" CAN be a killer.
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:13 pmSo now that the terrorist's know what the tsa is letting you take on board they will make explosives that look like toothpaste instead of peanut butter!!!
Bar of soap = French terrorist
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:32 pmToothpaste = just a regular guy (with clean teeth)
I just love the comments about able bodied people getting relief, food stamps, welfare or whatever you want to call it.
Take a look at the vast majority of them. Would you hire them? Probably not. If you would not, why would any one else? Sure there are a few.. A very few.
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:37 pmThe "get the bums off welfare policy" was enacted where I live. MILLIONS were spent going over the welfare rolls for all those slackers. Out of all the people they checked they found less than 100. I believe it was far less than that but it was very few. I forget the final figure.
As you can guess, the government never did bother to report that the system was working as it should and that all those slackers that they based their election policy on just did not exist.
I've lived on very little for months at a time, but three dollars a day in America is absurd. I've never once used welfare or even unemployment. One could sustain oneself, but on a very bland diet. Chicken and rice and occasional veggies. and water. The real problems for the poor are the other incidentals ....transport/housing/medical needs. If you live in an apartment, security and lack of ventilation requires A/C as well (in the south, especially). Fuel for cooking and heat/water for bathing and washing clothes. This is what our homeless deal with everyday. If you can't cook, you must rely on prepared foods wich are very expensive and typically unhealthy. If you can't wash and get around, you can't get a job. If you get sick....you will worsen until you either die or are taken to the emergency room and released with the same problems, which will likely return, since you can't afford medication.
This publicity stunt is entertaining, but doesn't inform the fatcats voting against welfare/ and the issue of the TSA is tagential and not typically encountered by the poor. Hollywood could make a national project like this and garner more attention. Better yet they could follow some real people and learn about how mental problems, including drug addictions lead to a significant portion of these issues. Yet we do nothing about this. Our prisons end up housing many of these.
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:54 pm"#1, first, you are traveling in an airplane owned by a company, not the government. Our constitution cannot dictate that a privately owned company is not allowed to have it’s own regulations concerning what is allowable on board."
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU !!!! DID YOU ACTUALLY READ WHAT YOU TYPED !!!!!!!
These are NOT "corporate policies" these are GOVERNMENT MANDATES you go to FEDERAL PRISON if you defy them !!!
This has absolutely NOTHING in any way shape or form to do with a private company deciding ANYTHING.
If this was simple corporate policy with NO government intervention or mandates we would have a COMPLETELY different security environment because passengers would not stand for it !!!
Get your head out if your you know what and TRY to actually comprehend what your talking about.
The constitution APPLIES to private companies as well. NO CONTRACT signing away your constitutional rights is legal except for GOVERNMENT contracts (military etc.. ) and even those are questionable!
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:04 pmAirport security is worthless and it's only purpose is to fuck with people. I recently attended a concert where the performer told a story about how he found a gun in his bag (that he had never seen before) while touring in Germany. The kicker is he flew from Seattle, to Wa. DC to New York to Berlin Germany with a LOADED PISTOL and no one knew. I'm glad they can sniff out pb and j though. I certainly feel safe.
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:35 pm"It’s a stupid point. Of course money is not going to “solve†poverty. Poverty is not “solveable.†Poverty always has existed and always will exist. But you CAN try to alleviate it, and try to make a very inequal society more equitable. Is the welfare system perfect? Of course not. But I see no proof to your statement that the country would be better off had the social safety net never existed."
Not been better off ? %40 of my income goes to "taxes" Health Insurance costs more per month than I MAKE in a month even if I paid NO TAXES but I make too much for low income health insurance.
My sisters boyfriend is on SSI for "ADD" (yeah he really has ADD when he can play a video game for 8-10 hours non stop) he gets over $800 a month in cash and $140 a month in food stamps. PLUS a health insurance policy that RIVALS my fathers policy which costs him $983 a MONTH (the SSI persons policy costs him nothing)
My dad has to pay $20 copay and 25% for generic medicines. the SSI guy pays $5 office visits (which can be waived) and $1 copay on medicines.
He also qualifies for Housing support (a MINIMUM value of $500 $800 if he gets a HOUSE which is actually possible!!)
So here is a kid with a fictional ADD condition making almost a grand a month in cash and food plus a grand in health care and $500-$800 in housing. Between $2400-$2700 a month MINIMUM he receives gratis my taxes. No WONDER my god damned taxes are %40 !!!!
I would have to earn AT LEAST $4500 a month before taxes in order to just EQUAL what he is getting (and that would be with INFERIOR health insurance)
Thats $28.13 PER HOUR at 40 hours a week !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would be SITTING FRAKING PRETTY if I made that kind of money!! thats $54,000 A YEAR
I could ELIMINATE 100% of my debt in 3 months on an income like that !!!!
And one wonders why he does not even TRY to get a job and get off SSI
because there is not a chance in hell that he could come out even EVEN working when he gets this for NOTHING.
I work TWO JOBS over 60 hours a week and do not even make HALF what he is getting for NOTHING !!! Remember I only get %60 of what I make he gets %100 of what is "given" to him.
And you WONDER why people have ZERO interest in getting off welfare ??
YOU WOULD BE A MORON to get off welfare when it pays so damned well!!!!!
I always wondered why these people can afford such nice TV's and Computers etc.. well hell at $54,000 a year I could afford a nice plasma screen too !!! He does not have a plasma but then again he is stupid with his money and just "blows it" he forgets he gets that check ONCE a month and is stupid with his money.
SO when he bought that $250 paintball package I PAID FOR IT
The $200 paintball package for his brother ? I PAID for it
the new Gameboy and Pokemon games ? I paid for those too
His health insurance ? paid for by me and I can not even afford my own coverage.
all against my will without my consent via my %40 taxes !!!
ONE job in the past offered health coverage. it cost me $120 a month ($60 on each paycheck nearly 25% of my paycheck after taxes)
By the time I got done with the $50 office visits (my cost) etc.. it cost me some $740 over 2.5 months to get my SINGLE INGROWN TOENAIL fixed.
I had to drop the coverage. it was BANKRUPTING ME!!
I could have just walked INTO THE GOD DAMNED OFFICE OFF THE STREET and paid less to have my god damned toe fixed. but since I had insurance he "spread" my "fix" out over some 7 visits where I had to pay for each and every god damned visit.
AND THE WORST OF ALL OF THIS !! I have it pretty good !!
Thank GOD I have a family capable of helping me. I do not have to pay for housing. If I did not have a family to let me live at home
I WOULD BE ON THE STREET !!! I could NOT afford to have my own place on my current income from 60 hours of work a week !! I BARELY make enough to pay my bills. I have $26 left over this month. $31 next month will be left over.
AND I AM DOING PRETTY GOOD compares to an AWFUL lot of people!
I am one of the LUCKY ones!!
I can not even afford to finish college and get my teaching degree. (which by the way would still net me some $15,000 LESS than what he is making GRATIS on me)
And you do not think our welfare state is not just harming but OUTRIGHT RUINING our society ???
Where the hell have you been ??? !!!! Wake up and LOOK AROUND !
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:42 pmI thinks it's pretty obvious you did get special treatment. You managed to walk away with all of your expensive personal belongings intact. On one business trip, I had to keep a close eye on the TSA agents to keep them from stealing me blind. I stepped through the metal detector (it never made a sound) and Thief One loudly proclaimed "Step over here!" while Thief Two started unzipping my bags. Thief One ordered me to place both hands on the wall. I placed one hand on the wall and kept my eyes on Thief Two. I had noticed that he wasn't looking in the bags, just running his hands around to feel what was there. Thief One started running the wand past me and repeatedly hitting me with the wand. Each time he hit me, it went off and attracted the attention of the crowd around the metal detector. Thief Two became very agitated and continued to glare at me. When he realized I wasn't going to be a willing victim he became angry and threw my bags to the end of the table. He and Thief One then went on to find a new victim. If you received polite treatment, it was because they didn't want someone with your power calling their boss. Next time, just identify yourself and say "Give it back." They'll fall all over themselves to make you happy. The rest of us, however, will have to live with the laws you pass.
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:43 pmOk we managed to get our reps to see what it's like to wonder how they were going to eat for the next few days..let's take it one step further hows about we get some of the arrogant people who would much rather see the poor beg on the streets then provide basic assistance live on 3 bucks a day. I bet my last bowl of soup thinking would change.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:12 pmnever met a poor person that couldn't have pulled themselves out of it. and I know a lot of poor people. there are plenty of jobs in this country, the only thing keeping people from work is their own laziness. 4% joblessness rate means 4% who would rather take handouts than get a job. What is the alternative? Someone on handouts gets to eat as good as someone with a job? I work my ass off and have 10 bucks a day to eat with. If we raise the stamps to 5 a day, then why the hell would I work? Sorry people, the world is real and it is mean - don't want to work? dont want to eat well either.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:25 pmGenerally, food stamps are for children, not adults. I don't know where this 3 dollar a day number comes from , but it's totally bogus...at least in my own experience. I dated a woman for two years in the early 90's that had a baby and received food stamps. She received about $300 of stamps a month in the state of Washington, in addition to cash and WIC. That was more than enough to feed the child and her every month.
I also knew a LOT losers that were faking disabilities and collecting even more than that in food stamps, PLUS cash. Most of these stamps were then exchanged for cash on the street. These same people also ate well for free most nights of the a weeks through a local Seattle area program.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:29 pmThe good representatives have something that most food stamp recipients do not, self-esteem. They can humorously weather the inconvenience of their peanut butter confiscation and easily envision their ability to recover from even the worst disaster. They are self-made. The disadvantaged people in poverty rarely have that level of confidence.
So we argue. Feed the hungry or disparage them for their condition as if they were the cause of such. The first is obviously an essential humane choice but as is correctly stated such aid does not alleviate cause.
I work directly with the most disadvantaged and I see what is needed. Of course, this must be a solution that does not threaten the establishment so we have to leave out all this talk about common welfare and justice and just get right down to Alleviating cause.
* Self improvement training including awareness, esteem, and respect.
* Skills training including job, health, and nutrition
* Food security. Feed the hungry and teach them to fish. "I will give you groceries but you must care for this patio tomato."
* Energy security. Reduce utility expenses through solar retrofit and weatherization to increase the client's disposable income.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:33 pmWe have the TSA because you sheeple voted and allowed the Patriot Act to take place. You traded your freedoms for "safety" and now, you deserve neither. Live with your choices or choose to take your Government back. Either way, stop bitching about it.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:27 pmI would just like to point out to all of you who say that airplanes are run by companies, and therefore, they can search you: this is completely untrue. The constitution is supposd to be INALIENABLE--that is--you cannot give up the rights granted to you by the constitution of the united states even if you are willing to agree to. You cannot make ANY KIND OF DECISION that somehow leaves you without your constitutional rights. And the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure is a constitutional right. I would like to know, where is the search warrant and what is the probable cause when I get searched at the airport?
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:55 pmThank god for TSA. If the pilot and co-pilot both had a peanut allergy, that plane could have crashed if both went into anaphylactic shock at the same moment, a possibility. As for the jelly, the bottle could be smashed and the broken glass used as a weapon, while smearing grape jelly in the eyes of the flight attendants. I will sleep better knowing that another deadly attack has been averted. Pay raises for TSA!!
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:09 pmHere's the problem with getting people off welfare, you see welfare gives you money for food, HUD gives you money for rent, the state provides you with health insurance, and the state gives you money to live. So if you go and find a job, which in my area means a part-time service industry job, you lose your money for food, you lose your money from HUD, you lose your health insurance, and you lose the money the state gives you to live. So I ask, I go to work at Walmart or Target and make maybe, maybe $200 a week with absolutely no benefits. Is this enough to supplement the income or the subsidy's that the government gives me? I am not in this situation, but my sister is, and I feel bad for her. She is trapped in the system, and the only way she can get out is by finding a job that pays a heck of a lot more than $200 per week, and unfortunately being poor means she can't move to a more prosperous area, because she can't afford it. We have lost the distinction of middle class, there are only rich and poor and I don't think there is many in between.
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:44 pmOh thank you Baby Jesus, George Bush and Ted Kennedy for the TSA who are protecting us from the dangerous peanut butter.
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:56 pmto the people who say well whats the incentive to get a job well i get food stamps i work 40 hours a week i have 4 kids my wife died in a car accident and not all people who need help are sitting at home on there ass some are but there are those of us who really need it and its true its hard to eat healthy when you only have little to buy food with so you get the cheep stuff so you can eat.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:08 pmI've read the Constitution a few times but I can't find the part about how I'm supposed to give over 1/3 of my pay to support people too dumb to work a condom.
Seriously, 2 days every week for the rest of my working life go to support freeloaders and wars I don't want.
And I'm sick of it.
May 23rd, 2007 at 2:35 am#209
The Presentids 2008 budget calls for food stamp spending of $36.7 billion out of $2,387 billion. That is 1.5%. One point five percent of your "2 days" is less than three quarters of an hour.
If I can enhance the nutrition of my neighbors and community for that meager amount of time, they are welcome to it. My consolation then is that my neighbors (fellow citizens) will be healthier which will result in significant healthcare and productivity savings to the community.
That figure for food stamps includes a projected decline in enrollment. Have a heart, give your 45 minutes for the less fortunate.
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:32 am[...] sippy cup wasn’t enough. I guess that detaining a five-year-old wasn’t enough. I guess jerking with a congressman’s PBJ wasn’t enough. I guess declaring war on moisture wasn’t [...]
March 25th, 2008 at 8:32 am